AGBO is going AI — at least it sounds like it is, at least in part.
The Russo Brothers‘ independent studio announced on Wednesday the formation of a new Innovation department, which will blend AGBO’s “physical and virtual production capabilities.” The studio’s technologists will “build proprietary creative tools for storytellers, fostering production innovation and cost efficiency for content across diverse platforms,” the press release reads. The tools will be used in development, production, and post-production.
When reached by IndieWire, a spokesperson for AGBO declined to clarify how much of these tools will be AI or generative-AI. The use of AI in Hollywood is considered sacrilegious by some and an efficient use of technology by others. The truth is it can be both. AI has been the primary — or at least the most public-facing — issue in contract negotiations between the guilds and the studios.
AGBO’s Chief Innovation Officer Jake Aust (“The Office,” “The Gray Man”) will lead the Innovation department’s three verticals: production technology, immersive technology, and creative.
Aust’s bosses, Joe and Anthony Russo, have directed two “Avengers” films, two “Captain America” movies, “Cherry,” Netflix’s “The Gray Man,” and “You, Me, and Dupree,” to name a few projects. Aust’s direct reports — and their bios as provided by AGBO — are listed here:
Glenn Derry, President of Production Technology
One of Hollywood’s leading technological innovators, Derry is a longtime practitioner of cutting-edge tools at the forefront of modern filmmaking. As the chief technological architect on films such as “Avatar,” “The Jungle Book,” “Real Steel,” and “Minority Report,” Derry introduced the concept of “virtual production” to the film and gaming industries. As president of Production Technology, Derry will further develop and expand AGBO’s virtual production pipeline to enhance artists’ storytelling capabilities and optimize production economics across mediums.
Josh Andersen, President of Immersive Technology
Andersen joins AGBO from Epic Games, where he served as lead programmer and a vision-holding leader in game development. Over more than a decade at Epic, Andersen steered the development of blockbuster video game franchises such as “Fortnite,” “Shadow Complex,” and “Infinity Blade”and was instrumental in metagame design and critical success factors on innovative mobile games. Andersen’s Immersive Technology team will be fully integrated within AGBO and support expressions of its assets across different mediums.
Ryan McNeely and John Cranston, Creative Directors
As co-founders of the state-of-the-art virtual production studio VisualCreatures, McNeely and Cranston have deep experience working with high-profile companies like Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Allstate, Apple, and Epic Games. In 2023, VisualCreatures was acquired by AGBO, resulting in a natural synergy of the pair’s creator-driven ethos. Now as creative directors, McNeely and Cranston will collaborate to expand the boundaries of artist-driven storytelling powered by cutting-edge technology.
And now all of the requisite quotes:
“Through years of close collaboration with Ryan, John, and Josh at Epic Games, I’ve witnessed firsthand the dedication and ingenuity they bring to every project. With Jake at the helm, this team will fulfill AGBO’s long-term ambition of developing wholly original IP from scratch in-house,” AGBO Partner Donald Mustard said. “Together, we’re forging a dynamic, silo-less pipeline designed to seamlessly share assets among expressions that exist in different media and different narratives – a pivotal juncture in our evolution as a modern studio.”
“Jake, Glenn, Josh, and the entire Innovation team will lead a strategic evolution of our brand. They bring expertise from the forefront of bold filmmaking, television, and video game production where they leveraged decades of cutting-edge technologies,” AGBO Chief Creative Officer Angela Russo-Otstot said. “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.”
“At AGBO, we pride ourselves on defying industry norms and pushing the boundaries of traditional production to deliver exceptional entertainment across media platforms,” Aust said. “Now armed with the sharpest minds in the business, our Innovation team will usher AGBO into an exciting new era of large- scale universe storytelling that maximizes the most sophisticated technological tools available to empower artists to reach new creative heights and provide even more meaningful opportunities for fans to explore, play, and live through our worldbuilding.”
