Digital production company Digital Domain Media Group (NYSE: DDMG) announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with CORE Media Group (formerly CKx) to jointly develop, produce and own a series of “virtual” Elvis Presley likenesses for a range of entertainment projects–from shows and appearances to film, TV and multi-platform productions throughout the world.
Digital Domain Media Group created the CG likeness of Tupac Shakur for Dr. Dre’s recent show at the Coachella Valley Music Festival. CORE Media Group, a portfolio company of Apollo Global Management LLC, is the driving force behind such iconic brands as Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.
“This is a new and exciting way to bring the magic and music of Elvis Presley to life. His lifelong fans will be thrilled all over again and new audiences will discover the electric experience of Elvis the performer,” said Elvis Presley Enterprises‘ president/CEO Jack Soden. “The high level of quality entertainment that both CORE Media Group and Digital Domain deliver gives us great confidence that these projects will help continue the growth of Elvis’ rich legacy all over the world.” Elvis Presley Enterprises is a division of CORE Media Group.
The companies have already begun work on the virtual Elvis Presley likenesses and will announce when and where audiences can expect to see the first virtual Elvis performances.
“As we look for new ways to offer audiences our intellectual property across multiple platforms, this partnership is the perfect fit for CORE Media, and exactly the type of announcement you can expect to see more of from us,” said CORE Media Group president Marc Graboff. “Clearly the team at Digital Domain is at the leading edge of the virtual experience arena, and we are anxious to get working on this exciting project.”
From Digital Domain’s work on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to TRON: Legacy, X-Men: First Class to Tupac Shakur, the company has spent a decade and tens of millions of dollars in perpetual development perfecting its technology, tools, and techniques to create realistic computer generated humans.
Director Cassandra Brooksbank Joins Monument Content For Spots and Branded Content
Monument Content has signed director Cassandra “Cassie” Brooksbank for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. She brings to her directing and storytelling the experience and skills of a writer, conceptual artist, editor and visual effects artist.
Her body of work as a director includes Pepsi’s “Selfie” featuring Lionel Messi amid a flurry of fans, Barclays madcap women’s Soccer League spot where she collaborated closely with the agency to develop the creative, ultimately winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Sports Industry Awards, and a grass-roots campaign for Fellow Coffee. The latter just didn’t brew buzz; it helped raise $1.2 million on Kickstarter.
Prior to joining Monument Content, Brooksbank had been repped in the U.S. for commercials by production house Hey Wonderful.
On the long-form front, she is repped by CAA for film and television. And on the horizon is her debut feature, My Masterpiece, produced by Sylvester Stallone’s Balboa Productions and backed by Amazon.
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