Scott Ross says:
September 12, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Thanks for an interesting summation of the issues that faced DDMG. I know its petty, but I have to say it, because words are indeed powerful and if said enough, those words tend to be believed as the truth
even though they may be totally false.
Digital Domain was not started by James Cameron nor was it started by Stan Winston. Digital Domain was started by yours truly, Scott Ross. I came up with the idea of starting a new VFX company in 1992. At the time, I was planning on leaving LucasArts and starting a new ILM
and in fact, many of ILMs top creative, technical and business folks were part of that effort. And when I say top
I mean all of top management, the two top VFX sups, an ex ILM vfx sup/art director that had become a director and a few very key technical people.
We took many meetings with financiers and investment banks in the hope that George might sell us ILM and the rest of LucasArts. George was not a seller and once we realized that, everyone in that group bolted, leaving me holding the bag.
At that point, with business plan in hand, ( called Phoenix Effects, aptly named I thought) I was contacted by Jim Cameron who had heard on the street ( through Scott Billups) that I was starting a new company. Jim asked if he could be part of this new venture and he wanted to bring his buddy Stan Winston to the party. We all got together and then Digital Domain was born. I changed the name on the Biz Plan and personally contacted many investors. I had a previous relationship w IBM and they brought in the $$$. I ran DD from its inception until the sale to Textor in 2006. I had little to no support from Mssrs Cameron and Winston during the time they were involved (1993-1998). From 1998 until 2006, I never saw them and never spoke to Cameron.
I, of course, had a great deal of help during those years
I did not do it myself. The artists, the clients, the tech folks and the other admin people had a HUGE involvement in its success. And DD was successful. A great culture, great work, and after Camerons departure, mostly profitable. The company was sold in 2006 with a large cash position and NO debt!
What happened after 2006 was a perfect reflection of the new American form of Capitalism. Its corporate ethic was the same as Bain Capital. though without the CEO running for President ( though I would watch what happens in FLA). At the end, most everyone got completely screwed
the FLA employees, the shareholders, the state of FLA, the cities of PSL and WPB, the students at FSU, the investors
. everyone. Lets see what becomes of Mr. Textor.
As for Ed Ulbrich, my heart goes out to him as well as all the employees of DD. I hired Ed back in 1993 when he was just 29. Hes spent 20 years at DD, has three great kids and married DDs ex comptroller. Hes done an admirable job over the years. He helped build the old DD and had run one of the most successful commercial production VFX houses of all time. Im not sure how privy Ed was to Textors shenanigans. Im not sure how much input he actually had. I know Ed as an upright guy. He too had a family and needed to support his wife and kids. I can say that when Ed worked for me those 13 odd years, though at times we disagreed
he always held the passion of DD
. the Company that I started.
I wish him luck.
