Digital Domain Announces Abu Dhabi Expansion, Receives Dollar 100M Grant
for Animation Studio and Educational Institute
Company Behind Tupac Shakur Virtual Performance to Establish New Animation/VFX
Studio and Digital Domain Institute at twofour54 Media Campus
At the Cannes Film Festival, digital production company Digital Domain Media
Group, and twofour54, the Abu Dhabi government-backed media and
entertainment hub, announced that they are collaborating to drive
development of the local film, TV and media production industry in the
Middle East.
Digital Domain Media Group (DDMG) will establish an animation, visual
effects and motion capture studio and Digital Domain Institute media school
in Abu Dhabi. The collaboration is designed to support the Emirate's goal to
become the region's center of excellence for media content creation, growing
both the industry and national talent.
DDMG will begin production of visual effects and animation in studios in
twofour54 at the beginning of 2013, with plans to recruit and hire staff
immediately from local and international talent pools. Over time the studio
will employ upwards of 500 people. DDMG will develop a purpose-built 150,000
square foot (14,000 square meter) state-of-the-art entertainment production
complex, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2015.
The new Digital Domain studio will create animated feature films, produce
visual and 3D effects, engage in the production of original Middle
Eastern-branded entertainment for global audiences and contribute to
international productions. The studio will become part of Digital Domain's
global feature film VFX and animation pipeline, connected to its studios in
Los Angeles, Vancouver, San Francisco, London, Florida and Mumbai.
The Digital Domain Institute/Abu Dhabi, modeled after the Digital Domain
Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida, will train students in the essential
skills of digital media production for entertainment, simulation and related
applications. Classes at the Digital Domain Institute/Abu Dhabi are
scheduled to begin early in 2014. The market development initiative and
creation of the DDMG studio and school are funded by $100M (US) in grants
from the Abu Dhabi government.
This marks the first time a major, global studio has established a presence
in the region, highlighting the impact that twofour54 has had on the media
industry in the Arab world. By bringing leading edge technologies and
creative techniques to Abu Dhabi, DDMG will support the wider film and TV
production industry and provide massive opportunities for talent and
creative development in the region.
Separately, earlier this week, twofour54 announced that the Emirate of Abu
Dhabi now offers one of the world's most competitive production incentives
-- a 30% rebate for film, television and commercial media projects.
"We are incredibly excited to join twofour54 in building a strong foundation
for the filmmaking industry in Abu Dhabi," said DDMG CEO and Chairman John
Textor. "There is tremendous opportunity to produce original entertainment
content for Middle Eastern audiences worldwide, and to bring Hollywood work
and our own original productions here as well. Pairing the studio and school
enables us to help the Emirate to build a sustainable creative industries
base. Abu Dhabi was the natural location for us given its strategic
location, modern infrastructure and supportive government. We're looking
forward to grooming up-and-coming Arab filmmakers at a time of such great
awakening in this part of the world."
"Digital Domain represents the next great leap forward for twofour54 and Abu
Dhabi -- a strong move into digital production and the development of
locally created feature films and TV content," said Wayne Borg, Deputy CEO
and Chief Operating Officer of twofour54. "The establishment of DDMG in Abu
Dhabi is a significant event in the evolution of the media industry in the
Middle East. It will provide incredible opportunities for young Arabs to
develop skills and careers in an area of the media industry that has simply
never existed before in the region."
An award-winning digital production company founded in 1993, DDMG is a
leading provider of digital visual effects and has contributed to more than
90 major motion pictures. twofour54 is the Abu Dhabi government-backed,
media and entertainment hub which focuses on training and talent
development, supports creative entrepreneurship and provides enabling
production, post-production and broadcast facilities. twofour54 is home to
more than 160 local, regional and international media companies including
CNN, BBC, Ubisoft, Fox Intl Channels, Cartoon Network, Financial Times and
Charisma. |