Led by Jake Aust, the newly appointed chief innovation officer, the AGBO Innovation department will focus on developing proprietary creative tools for storytellers, fostering production innovation, and enhancing cost efficiency across diverse platforms. This move reflects AGBO’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of storytelling and embracing new technologies.
The department will be organized into three verticals: production technology, immersive technology, and creative. Glenn Derry, a tech innovator renowned for his work on films like Avatar and The Jungle Book, will serve as the president of production technology. He will further develop AGBO’s virtual production pipeline, enabling artists to enhance their storytelling capabilities.
Josh Andersen, who joins AGBO from Epic Games, where he played a key role in developing blockbuster video game franchises like Fortnite, will be the president of immersive technology. His team will support the expression of AGBO’s assets across different media.
Ryan McNeely and John Cranston, creative directors and co-founders of VisualCreatures, a virtual production studio acquired by AGBO in 2023, bring extensive experience in creator-driven storytelling powered by cutting-edge technology.
According to Donald Mustard, an AGBO partner, with Jake Aust leading the team, AGBO will be able to develop wholly original intellectual properties from scratch in-house. The company aims to create a dynamic pipeline that seamlessly shares assets among different media and narratives.
AGBO’s chief creative officer Angela Russo-Otstot stated that the collective mastery of production innovation, immersive technology, and emerging tools within the Innovation team supports AGBO’s approach to fuel creative breakthroughs and unlock practical efficiencies in universe-building and storytelling.
Jake Aust expressed excitement about ushering AGBO into an exciting new era of large-scale universe storytelling with the help of the Innovation team. With its track record of globally resonant content, AGBO is now poised to pioneer the next era of storytelling by developing genre-driven intellectual properties that span film, TV, gaming, and publishing expressions.
The launch of AGBO’s Innovation Department not only showcases the company’s commitment to innovation but also highlights the growing importance of technology in the entertainment industry. By integrating cutting-edge tools and techniques, AGBO aims to create immersive and captivating experiences for audiences across various platforms.
This move aligns with a broader trend in the entertainment industry, where technology is playing an increasingly significant role in enhancing storytelling capabilities. Virtual production pipelines, like the one AGBO is developing, allow filmmakers and artists to bring their visions to life more efficiently and cost-effectively. This can lead to more ambitious projects and richer storytelling experiences for audiences.
Furthermore, AGBO’s focus on developing proprietary creative tools speaks to the company’s desire to have greater control over its creative process. By creating their own tools, AGBO can tailor them specifically to their needs, ensuring that their storytelling vision is fully realized.
Overall, AGBO’s launch of its Innovation Department marks an exciting development in the entertainment industry. By embracing technology and pushing the boundaries of storytelling, AGBO is poised to lead the way in creating immersive and groundbreaking content that resonates with audiences worldwide.
