Molly Hansen has added the title of vp to her existing portfolio as the general counsel and head of business affairs of Digital Domain, the Academy Award-winning full-service digital studio and production company that was acquired last week by South Florida-based Wyndcrest Holdings Llc. Director Michael Bay is one of the principals and co-chairs the Digital Domain board with John Textor.
Hansen, who has handled a number of key production, development, financing, licensing and litigation matters during her eight year tenure with the company, has headed up the business and legal affairs units for Digital Domain and its subsidiaries for the past three years. In her new role as vp, she will also oversee the companys human resources and recruiting group. Hansen will continue to report to C. Bradley Call, Digital Domains president and coo.
The strong surge in the popularity of digital special visual effects for television and feature films has created additional complexity for companies like ours, and were fortunate to have someone with Mollys stature and wide-ranging expertise to help us continue to grow our business, Call said.
Carl Stork, newly elected ceo of Digital Domain and a Wyndcrest investment principal, said he was pleased to approve the promotion of Hansen. Molly is a great example of the depth of talent and experience that resides within this company, said Stork, who joined Digital Domain after a successful career in the computer software industry, including 21 years with Microsoft Corp.
Hansen graduated in 1990 from USC Law School, where she received The Norma Zarky Memorial Writing Award for excellence in entertainment law. After law school, she joined OMelveny & Myers, and after five years moved to Rosenfeld, Meyer & Susman. In 1998, she joined Digital Domain as the director of business affairs and deputy general counsel. Hansen has lectured on various topics relating to intellectual property rights in digital visual effects, and is on the board of trustees of the Los Angeles Copyright Society.
Founded in 1993, Digital Domain (www.digitaldomain.com) is an award-winning full-service digital studio and production company that creates special visual effects and other visual imagery for feature films, commercials and music videos. A pioneer in digital effects, Digital Domains business units have been recognized with awards from the top industry organizations. In its 13-year history, Digital Domain has won five Academy Awards: two for Best Visual Effects (TITANIC, WHAT DREAMS MAY COME); and three for Scientific and Technical Achievement for its proprietary imaging software. The company has also been nominated for three other Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects (APOLLO 13, TRUE LIES, I, ROBOT). In addition, its excellence in digital imagery and animation has earned Digital Domain multiple British Academy (BAFTA) Awards, and Prix Arts Electronica and Prix Pixel INA awards.
Digital Domains Commercials division provides digital imagery and animation for television commercials, working with the top commercial directors. Serving Fortune 100 companies, the division has built a reputation as an innovator and industry leader in television commercial production and is the largest and most-awarded creator of digital imagery in its field. To date, it has been awarded 34 Clio Awards, 22 AICP awards, 8 Cannes Lion Awards and numerous other advertising honors. The Commercials division has also produced multiple music videos working with artists that include The Rolling Stones, Faith Hill, Creed, Janet Jackson, Busta Rhymes, Bjork, Celine Dion, Michael Jackson and Nine Inch Nails, and has earned Grammy and MTV Music Video of the Year Awards.
Digital Domains D2 Software subsidiary was established to productize the software tools developed by Digital Domain, such as the companys Academy Award-winning Nuke compositing package.
Wyndcrest Holdings Llc. (www.wyndcrest.com) is a Florida-based private investment and acquisition firm focused on technology-related opportunities in entertainment, telecommunications and the Internet. Wyndcrest actively supports its portfolio companies to assure the optimal positioning and deployment of associated technologies as well as the efficient execution of related business plans.
Wyndcrest is comprised of five investment principals with significant financial and legal expertise in the closure of public/private mergers, acquisitions and investments, and in the operation of large, small and start-up companies. The principals, John Textor, Michael Bay, Jonathan Teaford, Carl Stork and Dan Marino, have direct extensive experience in the disciplines of management, technology development, strategic planning, business development and investment banking.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
