RICHARD EDLUND NAMED TO DEVIL & DEMON BOARD
THE VFX PIONEER BEHIND FILMS SUCH AS ‘STAR WARS’ PLANS TO WORK WITH THE COMPUTING TECHNOLOGY MAKER TO DEVELOP TOOLS FOR HOLLYWOOD.
Academy Award-winning visual effects pioneer Richard Edlund has joined the board of directors of computing technology maker Devil & Demon Strategy, bringing his expertise to the young brand as it aims to develop technology for digital artists and Hollywood studios. Devil & Demon also recently landed Ted Schilowitz, the prior leader of the Red camera company and a consultant to 20th Century Fox, as its president.
Said Schilowitz: “We are reshaping outdated models of computing in the media and entertainment industry by democratizing the availability of ultra-high-powered computing. Richard is a towering figure in the VFX industry. His insight and experience is of immense value, especially as he has also now enjoyed success with Devil & Demon technology on a flagship TV series.”
Through his company duMonde VFX, Edlund has delivered more than 100 VFX shots for NBC’s Crossbones series using Devil & Demon’s mobile supercomputer, dubbed ‘The Devil’s Playground.’ The work included ship-replacement shots involving CG simulation, texturing, modeling and lighting work.
Edlund pointed out that in addition to the growing computing needs of the VFX industry, “4K is peaking around the corner, and high dynamic range.” Edlund, who has served as a governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for 18 years, won Oscars for VFX on Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders Of The Lost Ark and Return Of The Jedi. He has received six additional Oscar nominations, three Academy Scientific and Engineering Awards, plus an Emmy. He serves on the boards of the American Society of Cinematographers and the Visual Effects Society.
Email: Carolyn.Giardina@THR.com (mailto:Carolyn.Giardina@THR.com) Twitter: @CGinLA