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.
Trump Asks Supreme Court To Delay TikTok Ban
President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a "political resolution" to the issue.
The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk.
"President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act's deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case," said Trump's amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case and was written by D. John Sauer, Trump's choice for solicitor general.
The argument submitted to the court is the latest example of Trump inserting himself in national issues before he takes office. The Republican president-elect has already begun negotiating with other countries over his plans to impose tariffs, and he intervened earlier this month in a plan to fund the federal government, calling for a bipartisan plan to be rejected and sending Republicans back to the negotiating table.
He has been holding meetings with foreign leaders and business officials at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida while he assembles his administration, including a meeting last week with TikTok CEO Shou Chew.
Trump has reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined the TikTok during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger... Read More