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AGBO, the media company founded by the Russo Brothers, has launched its Innovation Department to propel tech-enabled creativity.
This strategic move aims to expand AGBO’s storytelling capacity by integrating cutting-edge technology into its creative processes, blurring the lines between physical and virtual production. I would expect no less from the makers of The Avengers films.
Led by the recently appointed chief innovation officer, Jake Aust, the AGBO Innovation department will focus on developing proprietary creative tools for storytellers, fostering production innovation, and enhancing cost efficiency across diverse platforms. I’m guessing that means AI, but we’ll find out.
The newly established department will be organized into three verticals: production technology, immersive technology, and creative. Aust, who brings over 20 years of experience as a producer on acclaimed titles such as The Office, Community, and Cherry, will spearhead this initiative.
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“With Jake at the helm, this team will fulfill AGBO’s long-term ambition of developing wholly original IP from scratch in-house,” said AGBO partner Donald Mustard, in a statement. “Together, we’re forging a dynamic, silo-less pipeline designed to seamlessly share assets among expressions that exist in different media and different narratives.”
The AGBO Innovation team comprises industry veterans who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their respective roles:
Glenn Derry, president of production technology: A tech innovator in Hollywood, Derry is renowned for his work on groundbreaking films such as Avatar and The Jungle Book. In his role, Derry will further develop AGBO’s virtual production pipeline to enhance artists’ storytelling capabilities.
Josh Andersen, president of immersive technology: Andersen joins AGBO from Epic Games, where he played a key role in developing blockbuster video game franchises like Fortnite. His Immersive Technology team will support the expression of AGBO’s assets across different media.
Ryan McNeely and John Cranston, creative directors: Cofounders of VisualCreatures, a virtual production studio acquired by AGBO in 2023, McNeely and Cranston bring extensive experience in creator-driven storytelling powered by cutting-edge technology.
AGBO chief creative officer Angela Russo-Otstot said in a statement, “Their collective mastery of production innovation, immersive technology, and emerging tools supports a central pillar of AGBO’s transformational approach to fuel creative breakthroughs and unlock practical efficiencies in universe-building and storytelling.”
Aust said in a statement, “Armed with the sharpest minds in the business, our Innovation team will usher AGBO into an exciting new era of large-scale universe storytelling,” he said.
Established in 2017 by acclaimed directors Anthony and Joe Russo, AGBO has consistently shattered audience records with its globally resonant content. With the launch of its Innovation department, AGBO is poised to pioneer the next era of storytelling by developing genre-driven intellectual properties that span film, TV, gaming, and publishing expressions.
