Visual effects company DNEG has announced the hiring of Emmy-nominated producers Ron Ames and Jesse Kobayashi as in-house filmmakers. The duo recently delivered over 9,000 visual effects shots for Amazon Prime’s upcoming series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. With a combined industry experience of over 50 years, Ames and Kobayashi will be utilizing their expertise to enhance DNEG’s service offerings and provide creative solutions to filmmaking challenges.
In their new roles, Ames and Kobayashi will collaborate closely with DNEG’s in-house teams, offering filmmaking, production, and technical advice. They will also work with DNEG’s filmmaking partners, guiding them through the digital production process and recommending technology approaches to optimize their projects.
Ames expressed excitement about joining DNEG and advocating for the wise use of technology in film art. He commended DNEG CEO Namit Malhotra for the innovative approach of bringing independent filmmakers on the vendor side.
Kobayashi highlighted the unique opportunity to combine all aspects of modern storytelling and leverage innovative approaches like Artificial Intelligence and technology at DNEG. Having worked in both Hollywood and the video game industry, he sees DNEG as a platform to explore new film techniques.
Namit Malhotra, the CEO of DNEG, expressed his delight at the addition of Ames and Kobayashi to the team. He praised their extensive experience and their ability to streamline operations, foster collaboration, and deliver work efficiently and within budget.
Ames and Kobayashi aim to leverage cloud-based production and challenge the conventions of contemporary production. With their decades of experience, they are poised to unlock new efficiencies and technologies in the digital production process, especially as DNEG ramps up operations following the industry-wide disruption in 2023.
The hiring of Ames and Kobayashi represents a strategic move by DNEG to strengthen its capabilities and provide top-notch filmmaking services. As the industry continues to evolve, DNEG is positioned to remain at the forefront of visual effects and storytelling, embracing technological advancements and creative solutions.
These new additions to the DNEG team are expected to contribute significantly to the company’s growth and success, bringing their wealth of knowledge and experience to elevate the quality and efficiency of DNEG’s work. As filmmakers on the vendor side, Ames and Kobayashi will have a unique perspective in shaping the future of visual effects and digital production.
