Fannen Bass
digital technology pioneer Fannen Bass Has been appointed CTO of an award-winning visual effects studio digital realm.
Basse will oversee the studio’s continued development as it expands its global presence, while helping to develop new technologies and techniques to ensure the highest level of quality across all media.
Basse joins Digital Domain at a time of unprecedented growth for the company. The VFX company with offices around the world — including a new 500-plus-person studio in Montreal — will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2023 with projects ranging from blockbusters to high-profile TV shows and large-scale advertising campaign.
As CTO, Basse will oversee the continued development of Digital Domain’s industry-leading digital human and autonomous human technology and its artificial intelligence tools. He will also help ensure clients and artists have access to the most advanced VFX and filmmaking technologies, including everything from virtual production to real-time CG.
“For the past 30 years, Digital Domain has provided the industry with best-in-class artistry and groundbreaking matching technology,” said Digital Domain CEO Daniel West“In a fast-growing content industry with multiple emerging platforms and media, Hanno is the right person to help us take our leading technology offerings to the next level.”
Basse is an entertainment industry veteran with over 30 years of experience helping companies integrate and implement new technologies.His resume includes most recently as CTO Microsoft Azure Media and Entertainment, where he oversaw the implementation of Microsoft’s Azure cloud technology and edge and artificial intelligence technologies. He also handles the studio’s content production and post-production workflows while working with clients, partners, industry groups and suppliers.
Before joining Microsoft, Basse twenty Century Fox, where he helped position the company for the emergence of next-generation entertainment technologies, including high dynamic range and ultra-high definition.Before joining Fox, Basse was live tv, as SVP of Broadcast Systems Engineering, was integral to the transition to HD in 2005, the largest of its kind at the time. In 2009, he also helped launch DirecTV’s video-on-demand infrastructure, leading the way towards a new content distribution model.
In addition to his corporate achievements, Basse is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and a member of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. He has also been granted 30 separate patents.
“The next few years will be critical for the VFX industry as studios adapt to the needs of clients and audiences,” Basse said in a statement. “We can’t just keep up, we need to continue to innovate and develop new tools and pipelines, Giving content creators more choice while ensuring our artists have everything they need to succeed and thrive. I’m excited to be a part of Digital Domain and can’t wait to see where we go next.”
Digital Domain aims to create type-defining experiences that are entertaining, informative and inspiring. Over the past 25 years, the studio has established itself as a leader in the cinematic visual effects industry, expanding to include series, commercials, and game films, as well as pre-visualization and virtual productions. Digital Domain has also become a pioneer in digital humans and virtual reality, with a rich legacy that includes hundreds of blockbusters for every major studio, thousands of commercials, music videos, game animation and digital content from world-renowned directors and brand.
A creative force in visual effects and premium content, Digital Domain brings art and technology to film, including Titanic, rejuvenated, and blockbuster ready player one, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. Staff artists have won over 100 major awards, including Oscars, Creos, BAFTAs and Cannes.
Digital Domain has also successfully become the first independent visual effects studio to enter Greater China. It has branches in Los Angeles, Vancouver, Montreal, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei and Hyderabad.