Leaders in Emerging Entertainment

The Producers Guild of America celebrates the honorees for the inaugural Digital V.I.P. initiative and awards gala. Nine Visionaries, Innovators, and Producers who have made significant contributions to the advancement of digital entertainment and storytelling during the past year will be honored on April 11 in Los Angeles.

Honorees for the first-ever Digital V.I.P. are:

VISIONARIES - those who have brought forth new ideas about the creative application of technology to advance storytelling across all media.

• John Raatz (Founder, Board Chairman, CEO), Eckhart Tolle (Honorary Founder) and Jim Carrey (Honorary Founder) of The Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment (GATE)
• Bruce Sterling, multi award-winning science fiction author for his influence upon technology as it relates to storytelling and in co-founding the cyberpunk movement

INNOVATORS - those who have developed new methods or technology that enables the production of storytelling.

• Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, Co-Founders of Instagram
• Bill Westenhofer, Academy Award-winning VFX supervisor for Rhythm & Hues Studios for LIFE OF PI
• Ed Ulbrich (CEO of Digital Domain), Philip Atwell (Geronimo Productions), Dylan Brown (The Yard Entertainment), Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre for Virtual 2Pac

PRODUCERS - those who have created content whose reach, execution, and influence has advanced the audience experience.

• Disney Imagineering team and developers for Disney's Cars Land
• Louis C.K., Emmy Award-winning stand-up comedian, writer, director, actor, and producer for his show "Louie" and re-engineering the role of artist in entertainment distribution
• Ben Donovan (President & Co-Founder), Danny Zappin (CEO & Co-Founder) and Lisa Donovan (GM & Co-Founder) of Maker Studios for pioneering the online multichannel network
• Conan O'Brien, Emmy Award-winning television host and comedian for the "Team Coco" digital experience

Mark Gordon, President of the PGA said, "Congratulations to this outstanding group of honorees. These visionaries, innovators, and producers are leading change and creativity at the intersection of entertainment and technology. We at the Producers Guild are pleased to acknowledge their contributions to our rapidly evolving digital industry, and we look forward to celebrating with them in the spring."

Membership in the Producers Guild was not a requirement for eligibility.

The Producers Guild Digital V.I.P. Committee determined the honorees, in conjunction with Producers Guild of America President Mark Gordon and a distinguished list of Industry Advisory Board members.

Digital V.I.P. Committee members include: Co-Chairs Shawn Gold, Marc Scarpa and Chris Thomes (Producers Guild National Board, Vice President of the Producers Guild New Media Council), Laura Allen (New Media Council), Dina Benadon (Producers Guild National Board, New Media Council), Bruce Cohen (Producers Guild National Board, Producers Council), Jeffrey Lerner (Associate Producers Council), Michael Palmieri (New Media Council) and Christina Lee Storm (Producers Guild National Board and Vice Chair of Associate Producers Council).

Advisory Board members include: Jason Calacanis, Sharon Calahan, Mark Cuban, Illeana Douglas, Dick Glover, Quincy Jones III, John Rubey and Chris Williams, among others.

For any and all questions, please contact Julie Cloutier at 42West (424.901.8712; julie.cloutier@42west.net).



Please visit our sponsors for the Digital V.I.P. Event:

Presenting Sponsor - Real D
www.reald.com

Champagne Devaux
www.champagne-devaux.com

Coca-Cola
www.coca-cola.com

Double Cross Vodka
doublecrossvodka.com

Final Draft
www.finaldraft.com

Heineken
www.heineken.com/us/

Hotel California Tequila
www.hotelcaliforniatequilausa.com

Les Deux Chats
www.lesdeuxchats.com

Poppies and Peonies Florist
www.poppiesnpeonies.com/poppies-peonies/


PLEASE NOTE, THE NOMINATIONS PERIOD HAS ENDED.

August 8 – Nominations Open
September 18 – Nominations Close

If you have any general questions, please contact digitalVIP@producersguild.org.

PRESS RELEASES

08.08.2012 - Producers Guild of America Annouces Opening of Submissions for 'Digital VIP'