Mill+ in L.A. has brought creative directors Ilya Abulkhanov and Lisha Tan on board. A creative collective within global visual effects and content creation studio The Mill, Mill+ comprises an award-winning team of directors and designers who focus on concept-to-delivery partnerships.
Abulkhanov joins Mill+ full-time after working with the company since 2014, bringing with him 14 years of experience in the feature film, music, gaming and advertising industries. Previously, as creative director at Prologue, Abulkhanov created title sequences and cinematics for franchises such as Iron Man, X-MEN, and Destiny along with numerous show packages for MTV. Since joining Mill+, Abulkhanov has led high-profile projects including the music video for Rihanna’s “Sledgehammer,” Apple’s viral “Meet iPhone X,” and the iconic title design for JAY-Z’s music video, “The Story of O.J.” for which Tan served as creative director in 2017.
Tan began her career at Mill+ in 2014. With an emphasis on illustration and story-driven character animation, she has since led jobs for brands such as Google, Facebook, and director Bryan Buckley’s latest feature, The Pirates of Somalia. Tan’s creative direction for the two-time Grand Prix-winning “The Story of O.J.” has been recognized by LIA, Ciclope, Shots and The GRAMMYs, and recently earned the #1 slot on Rolling Stone’s 10 Best Music Videos of 2017.
Phil Crowe, executive creative director at The Mill Los Angeles, said, “We’ve had some incredible talent join Mill+ over the past year, and it’s exciting to see that momentum carry into 2018 with the addition of Ilya and Lisha to our team of creative directors. As individuals, each with their own unique style, their leadership contributes significantly to the future of Mill+.”
Managing director Rani Melendez added, “I couldn’t be more impressed with the level of talent Ilya and Lisha bring to the team. Most importantly, we’re now better positioned than ever to meet the evolving needs of the industry.”
