International visual effects company Pixomondo has announced the opening of a new studio in Detroit, bringing its global network total to 13 facilities spanning three continents. Formed through the acquisition of boutique VFX company With A Twist, the new studio, now dubbed Pixomondo DTW, will focus on feature film, television and commercial work, handling both local and international projects.
With A Twist has a long-standing relationship with Pixomondo, as a sub-vendor on several feature film projects including The Amazing Spider-Man, Fast Five, Sucker Punch and Hugo, for which Pixomondo supervisors won the Academy Award® for Best Visual Effects. The updated Detroit facility will be fully integrated into Pixomondo’s global workflow. Pixomondo founder/CEO Thilo Kuther noted that talent is a key factor when considering new facility locations and in collaborating with With A Twist, their talent tuned out impressive work. This favorable experience laid the groundwork for their coming together on the launch of a Detroit studio.
“We were fortunate to have been so successful thus far and had reached the point where we needed to grow to remain competitive,” said David Burton, co-founder of With A Twist. “Pixomondo has already accomplished much of what we aspired to do, and done it well, so it was a natural progression to join into their team. Our cultures mesh well and the timing was right.”
With A Twist co-founder Pam Hammarlund added that linking with Pixomondo provides wherewithal to deal with a VFX industry that has become “a worldwide marketplace. It is a tremendous asset to have access to global resources.”
With extensive experience in the automotive industry creating visual effects for such companies as Audi, VW and MINI, Pixomondo is aptly suited for work in the Motor City. The Detroit location will enable the company to service clients locally while simultaneously working on other diverse projects for its other studios around the globe, including Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Berlin, L.A., Shanghai, Beijing, London, Munich, Burbank, Toronto, Hamburg and Baton Rouge.
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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