MUST WATCH: Final Trailer For KONG: SKULL ISLAND

I have a soft spot for this magnificent creature ever since seeing KING KONG as my first theatrical movie experience in 1976 (I did see WESTWORLD at the drive-in at a younger age). I was thoroughly thrilled and I truly hope there are some out there that are making KONG: SKULL ISLAND their first cinema experience too. I was hooked on movies ever since. Kong makes an impression, let me tell you.

And the tradition continues. Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures is going all out with this production and their final trailer for KONG: SKULL ISLAND is no exception. Honestly, I didn't want to visually spoil more of the movie for myself but what it did really, was amplify my need to see this on the biggest 3D screen possible! You've got to see this in all its glory. Prime Focus is the 3D conversion company of record.

Here's the movie's storyline:
When a scientific expedition to an uncharted island awakens titanic forces of nature, a mission of discovery becomes an explosive war between monster and man. Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman and John C. Reilly star in a thrilling and original new adventure that reveals the untold story of how Kong became King.

Interact:
http://kongskullislandmovie.com
https://www.facebook.com/KongSkullIsland
https://twitter.com/KongSkullIsland
http://instagram.com/KongSkullIslandMovie

KONG: SKULL ISLAND opens on March 10. My ticket is already acquired :-)

Possible Bankruptcy Looming For Digital Domain - What Will It Mean To All Of Their Operations? Potential Silver Lining? And A Michael Bay Statement...

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With a recent filing with the SEC, Digital Domain Media Group states that they are defaulting on a $35 million loan now, bringing their now owing number to $51 million plus another $16 million in interest and penalties. But further than that, it also told the SEC: "An inability to quickly access additional sources of liquidity to fund the company’s current operating cash needs would materially adversely affect its financial condition and would require it to seek relief or protection from its creditors."

The local Florida newspapers are tearing up not only the leadership of Digital Domain, but also of their political leaders who bought into the glitz of having a big piece of Hollywood in their backyard. DDMG had received promises of $135 million in cash, financing, land and tax credits from Florida and the cities of Port St. Lucie and West Palm Beach. Apparently DDMG only had $6.6 million in cash back on June 30.

It seems that Digital Domain's film school built in cooperation with Florida State University will be able to continue operation. Says FSU's Andrew Syder (Director of Digital Media Programs): "We’re in bed with Digital Domain. But if Digital Domain went belly-up tomorrow, we’ve designed our curriculum so we can still serve our students. Our students wouldn’t be left high and dry."

The film school is unique in that it allows the $28,000 / year program students to work for Digital Domain while learning. That option may now not exist if a bankruptcy ensues. Hopefully that's not the case.


Many well known celebrities have been associated with Digital Domain over the years. The company's website still lists James Cameron and Stan Winston almost as if they are still involved as founders (remember this t-shirt from 1996 when they were working on AVATAR) - clearly that's not true with Cameron busy with Lightstorm Entertainment, his world breaking dives and other projects, and the sad passing of Winston in 2008. Dan Marino was also a very visible investor in the company.

Here's a statement from Michael Bay on Digital Domain:
"For those people and press asking: I stopped being an officer or director of the company over three years ago, and have not owned stock in the company for some time. I have remained a loyal client and supporter of the company however. It has amazing people and talent, and it still can be a great company! During this difficult time, my thoughts are with the great people I've had the pleasure to work with at DD."

I have also received word from someone who works for Digital Domain and it's not looking like there is much silver lining to any of this:
"Things are up-side-down here. It looks as though the In-Three Re-Vamping-Expansion is going to be a bust. Cuts are coming across the board."

In-Three was a top tier 3D conversion specialist that Digital Domain bought out in 2010.

SAME DAY UPDATE: I just received a great email from Barry Sandrew of Legend3D. In it, he passes on his comments about the state of the industry and DD itself:

"At issue: Here is a company, DD laying people off while another, Legend3D is hiring like crazy. The question is… which is indicative of the current state of the industry? My message is that the industry is alive and well. Florida was a very unfortunate anomaly that is not representative of the Industry. Lots of talented people, many that had jobs and some that were promised jobs, are unemployed today because of DD closing down their Florida operation. I know of at least one family that sold everything and was driving out to Florida for what turned out to be a non-existant job. But fortunately, these people do not have to be unemployed. Legend3D is hiring to meet an increasing demand for both our expanding 3D conversion business as well as our StereoWorks service that offers both 2D and 3D post production and VFX.

It's important that people understand… DD has historically been and continues to be an exceptional, if not iconic VFX studio. Indeed, the industry would be negatively affected if DD were not here. Legend3D has worked closely with DD on several projects, the most memorable of which was Transformers: Dark of the Moon. The cooperation and professionalism from their very talented artists and management was instrumental in making that project a success. I believe it's positive that they are currently in reorg mode. The downsizing will be very difficult for many people but it will likely mean the long term survival and a healthy turn around for DD."

I'm uncertain as to where this leaves Prime Focus and their licensing of Digital Domain's (In-Three) 3D conversion technology. I've reached out to someone I know at Prime Focus and we'll see if everything's good on their end. Hopefully it's full steam ahead for them and that this potential bankruptcy doesn't affect other companies and individuals.

**UPDATE, Sep 12: I've heard from my friend Bobby Jaffe, CSO and Vice Chairman of Prime Focus and here's his comment on the situation: "Our agreement with DD is a perpetual agreement and forever unaffected by any changes to the management or financial situation at DD."

A silver lining? Potentially. Those unemployed artists can perhaps take solace in the fact that there are other companies hiring - and hiring many. Legend3D for example is currently on the hunt for 150 compositing and depth conversion artists, rendering technicians, software programmers and data managers for upcoming projects that they have secured from three major studios. Their timeline for hiring? The next 3 months. Perhaps this is the opportunity that many have been looking for and perhaps some good can come out of this bad situation.

I want to firmly state my opinion on this matter: DDMG's demise has nothing to do with 3D or conversion. 3D Conversion is very much alive and thriving. DDMG's condition is due to over zealous leadership and decisions that were made by many (including politicians that should have known better) that has caused these events to take place. Best of luck to everyone involved - I hope that you will land with your feet on the ground in a timely fashion!

Sources: DigitalDomain | ShootForTheEdit | South Florida Business Journal | Palm Beach Post | TCPalm

3D Conversion Tech Legal Disputes: Digital Domain And Prime Focus Settle; Thomas Randolph Sues StereoD Including Giovanni Ribisi

There have been some interesting legal developments in the 3D conversion space this week, one disagreement being settled amicably and the other just starting to develop.

First off we have a software producer, Thomas Randolph who has made a claim against 3D conversion specialist StereoD for failure to pay him a 5% cut of the company.

Here's a portion of the story taken from Courthouse News Service:
Randolph and his company Interactive Artists LLC sued William Sherak (son of nonparty Tom Sherak, president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and a former partner of Revolution Studios); movie producer Christopher Mallick; actor Giovanni Ribisi; Kuniaki Izumi, the owner and developer of VDX software; and Hollywood agent David Phillips, who along with Sherak allegedly introduced Randolph to Mallick.

Mallick formed MRSR LLC fka StereoD LLC in 2009 to market and sell Izumi's VDX technology, according to the complaint. Randolph claims that he created the business plan for the 3D conversion company and introduced Mallick to Izumi's software, which converts 2D movies into 3D.

Randolph says he met with Mallick in late 2008, while he was a principal of Kerner Technologies, when the filmmaker expressed an interest in converting 2D movies into 3D.

Randolph says he told Mallick about the VDX technology, and persuaded Izumi to combine VDX technologies with Kerner's CPX technologies and with Kerner's consent entered into a venture with Mallick.

Under the terms of deal, Randolph would be the venture's Chief Technical Officer, own a 5-10 percent stake and license FrameFree and CPF technologies from Kerner, according to the lawsuit.

Randolph is seeking damages for breach of contract, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, intentional interference with contractual relations, fraud and negligent misrepresentation. His representation is Alexander Volchegursky, with Lvovich, Volchegursky & Szucsko, in San Francisco.

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Secondly we have a settlement between Digital Domain (who recently bought the top tier conversion house In-Three) and Prime Focus. The two companies will be actually working together in the future so it is my understanding that this is an amicable arrangement.

Here's the press release for the settlement:

Digital Domain Media Group and Prime Focus World Settle DDMG Patent Infringement Claim on 3D Technology Through Licensing

Companies Will Collaborate on Visual Effects and 3D Conversion for Feature Films

Port St. Lucie, Fla. And Los Angeles, CA — July 18, 2012 — Digital Domain Media Group (NYSE: DDMG) and Prime Focus World NV have signed an agreement whereby Digital Domain Media Group (DDMG) will license its 3D conversion technology to Prime Focus World. The agreement settles and terminates the patent infringement litigation action filed by DDMG against Prime Focus World in 2011. Under the agreement DDMG and Prime Focus World will collaborate on visual effects and 2D-to-3D conversion services work for feature films.

“Ultimately this was a lawsuit between two companies that enjoy working together, so we’re happy to put it behind us and resume our prior relationship with Prime Focus one of performing high-quality VFX work collaboratively,” said John Textor, CEO and Chairman of DDMG. “We understand that Prime Focus has its own significant 3D technology and we are pleased to report, as this license suggests, that they respect ours as we respect theirs.”

“Prime Focus is dedicated to delivering the highest level of conversion to its clients. The technology that we’ve licensed from Digital Domain Media Group enhances our own robust proprietary processes and increases our efficiency for our customers. We look forward to continuing our work with DDMG on their most important VFX projects,” said Namit Malhotra, CEO and Chairman of Prime Focus World.”

Through the Digital Domain Stereo Group, DDMG owns the six U.S. patents that represent the original commercially feasible computerized process for converting 2-dimensional filmed imagery into 3-dimensional stereoscopic imagery. The DDSG patents provide fundamental coverage of any modern conversion process that involves rotoscoping (i.e., computerized, semi-automatic and semi-automatic conversion with roto), and relate to any conversion process that includes horizontal image displacement / transform. In 2011, DDMG made its patent portfolio available to select companies in the broader industry through a studio-friendly licensing program. Prime Focus joins Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., which licensed DDMG’s technology in 2011 for use in its consumer electronics, components, services and software businesses.

About Digital Domain Media Group
Digital Domain Media Group (DDMG: NYSE) leverages its expertise in digital visual effects (VFX) and computer-generated (CG) animation across a group of interrelated businesses. At its foundation is Digital Domain Productions (DDPI), an award-winning digital production company founded in 1993. This leading provider of visuals has contributed to more than 90 major motion pictures, including Titanic, the Transformers series, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and TRON: Legacy, hundreds of commercials, and recently created the virtual likeness of rapper Tupac Shakur for Dr. Dre’s show at the Coachella Valley Music Festival. Mothership, a DDPI subsidiary, focuses on creating advertising, entertainment and branded content from concept to completion, across multiple media platforms. DDMG, its work and its employees have been recognized with numerous awards, including seven from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The company is building on its success in VFX to participate as a co-producer in major productions and is currently co-producing the upcoming live-action sci-fi feature film Ender’s Game, as well as virtual likenesses for Elvis Presley that will be jointly owned by CORE Media Group and DDMG. DDMG also converts two-dimensional (2D) imagery to three-dimensional (3D) imagery and holds key patents in this area. The company is also applying its CG expertise to produce original, family-friendly animated feature films at its subsidiary Tradition Studios. The first movie, The Legend of Tembo, is in pre-production and two more features are in development. The company’s education subsidiary, the Digital Domain Institute, sets a new standard in digital media education through a pioneering public-private partnership with The Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts. DDMG is expanding its worldwide footprint of the highest quality visual effects and animation at the lowest possible cost through global partnerships in India and China. The company has studios in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Florida, Vancouver, Mumbai and London, and is currently establishing studios in Beijing and Abu Dhabi. http://www.ddmg.co

ABOUT PRIME FOCUS WORLD
Prime Focus World is a leading global technology services company providing comprehensive creative and technical services to the film, broadcast and advertising industries. Providing 2D to 3D conversion, visual effects and animation services for major media and entertainment companies, the Company has brought its expertise to many wide release Hollywood films, including Men in Black 3, Star Wars: Episode One – The Phantom Menace, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Green Lantern, Immortals, Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Avatar. Prime Focus World has global operations with a presence in key centers of creative content production – Los Angeles, New York, London, Vancouver and Mumbai.

This post makes no interpretation of who is right and wrong in these legal matters that are in the hands of the courts.