Simon Fuller to make digital pop stars
- By Zhang Rui
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E-mail China.org.cn, March 23, 2016
The British TV producer behind the "Idol" franchise, the Spice Girls, Kelly Clarkson and other entertainment icons is poised to become largest shareholder of a virtual entertainment technology company.
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British TV producer Simon Fuller [File photo] |
Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment announced on March 18 that it has signed a landmark partnership deal with Pulse Evolution Corporation that will allow the two companies to co-produce a series of entertainment properties and virtual reality experiences featuring Pulse's digital human technology also known as "Digital Life."
Fuller is joining the founders of Pulse Evolution, those responsible for the Tupac Shakur Hologram at Coachella and the virtual Michael Jackson at the Billboard Music Awards, in a transformative deal that will position Fuller to become the largest shareholder of Pulse. The new partners expect to introduce their all-new form of entertainment to global audiences in the next 18 months.
The partnership aims to combine the highest quality visual imagery, including hyper-realistic digital humans, with the most advanced and rapidly evolving display technologies to create immersive content for the stage, virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence.
"I am very excited by all the incredible opportunities virtual reality and immersive technology will provide," said Fuller. "I am very focused on creating some extraordinary music-based properties that can enthrall and captivate audiences around the world. Entertainment will be at the forefront of showcasing this incredible new technology."
Earlier this year, Pulse Evolution received investments of US$10 million from China's Original Force Animation Co. Ltd. and Shanghai U9 Game Co. Ltd., both of which are portfolio investments of Tencent Holding Limited.
An executive from Original Force Animation told China.org.cn that they are mainly working on developing shows for three deceased mega stars, namely, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Marilyn Monroe, while the virtual avatars of living stars and brand new fictional virtual stars are also in development.
Their first project from the partnership is the digital development of Elvis Presley in preparation for a live show experience to showcase the genius of this most iconic performer at his absolute prime, according to their announcement.
"We are thrilled to have Simon and his team join us on this journey," said Pulse Evolution executive chairman John Textor. "Today is a giant step for VR and AR enthusiasts as one of the world's most accomplished producers, and his extended family of collaborating artists, begin to explore the medium of immersive entertainment. There are limitless possibilities for talent to engage their audiences in ways that we can now barely imagine."
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