LEGEND3D Appoints Industry Veteran Ian Jessel As President

One of Hollywood's top tier 3D conversion houses just got better! I love Legend3D's work (Especially HUGO) and I'm looking forward to more...

Elite Studio Executive Brings Four Decades of Global Production Experience to Leading Stereo VFX Company

SAN DIEGO (April 17, 2012)—Legend3D, Inc., a leading digital media technology and visual effects company and innovator in 3D storytelling, today announced an executive appointment of Ian Jessel as president. Jessel, an entertainment industry veteran who was the founding president of Miramax International, is charged with enhancing Legend3D’s market visibility and nurturing studio relationships, specifically driving the company’s growth initiatives in the Hollywood entertainment industry and thriving international film markets. Jessel enters Legend3D during a time of rapid growth, as the company recently relocated its Los Angeles offices to Hollywood Center Studios to be closer to its expanding client base and also secured venture capital financing, including a $19 million Series E Preferred Stock offering.

“I am fortunate to join Legend3D’s accomplished, creative and innovative executive team—during a time of entertainment’s resurgence, largely driven by 3D titles,” said Jessel. “Together, we look forward to setting new benchmarks domestically and in Europe and Asia, while further strengthening the company’s position as a driving force in the worldwide 3D industry.”

Jessel brings a rich history of global studio relationships and major international marketing management to the president role, previously held by Legend3D’s Founder Dr. Barry Sandrew, who will now focus on his client relationship building as well as his chief creative officer (CCO) and chief technology officer (CTO) responsibilities. Prior to joining Legend3D, Jessel was president of Miramax International, one of the industry's leading independent companies which, during his tenure, acquired, produced and distributed films of class and distinction such as Jane Campion's The Piano, Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures, Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway and Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. Before his role at Miramax International, Jessel was president and CEO of Nelson Entertainment, where he supervised the worldwide distribution of critically-acclaimed films, including Rob Reiner’s When Harry Met Sally. He also served as vice president of international distribution and marketing at CBS Films, where he was responsible for all international acquisitions and distribution activities. Jessel graduated from Oxford University with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in modern languages. He speaks fluent French and German and is currently studying Mandarin.

“Legend3D continues to successfully move the needle forward in the VFX industry and our strategic appointment of Ian, a respected peer among studios and expert with international distribution, sales and marketing, enhances our leadership and technical team’s power to expand and bring to audiences across the globe immersive 3D stories, ” said Dr. Sandrew. “We’re confident in Ian’s ability to help us effectively meet 3D conversion demands and exceed customers’ expectations with our first-class stereo techniques.”

Jessel is based in Legend3D’s Los Angeles office at Hollywood Center Studios with Barry Nulman, senior vice president of business development and Jenny Powers, senior marketing associate. He is a long-standing member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the British Film Academy.

For more information about Legend3D, please visit www.Legend3D.com. For press inquiries, contact Robin Dwyer at 619-234-0345.

About Legend3D
As the largest U.S.-based 3D conversion studio in the film industry, Legend3D, Inc. is a dynamic digital media and visual effects company. Founded in 2001 by Dr. Barry Sandrew, Legend3D utilizes patented 2D-to-3D image conversion technologies to enhance filmmakers’ storytelling by creating the highest-quality dimensional conversions. Legend3D is the most experienced 3D conversion company in the industry and has completed 3D conversions for major motion pictures such as Hugo, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Green Lantern and The Smurfs. Legend3D’s clients include Bay Films, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Walt Disney Studios, DreamWorks Animation, Lionsgate, Screen Gems, Hewlett Packard, M&M Mars, New Balance, the Michael Jackson Tour, and MTV. Legend3D’s conversion artists are rapidly setting the industry standard for 2D-to-3D conversion and continue to help filmmakers connect with audiences worldwide. For more information, visit www.Legend3D.com.

World's First 3D Public Service Announcement Delivers

Jim here. I was invited to a special screening yesterday at Empire Theatres for the world's first stereoscopic 3D public service announcement. Sound boring? Well, it wasn't. The PSA was written and directed by James Stewart of Toronto's Geneva Film Company for the Tema ConterMemorial Trust. James and I have known each other for awhile and this time he really delivered - the 60 second spot had the difficult task of presenting an awareness message about Post Traumatic Stress in the lives of Emergency Workers.

To tell you the truth I was thinking that it will be very challenging to show this to a movie going audience and resonate in an appropriate fashion - its tricky. One thought going through my mind was to show a firefighter or similar emergency worker doing his/her job through the day, but at night show the effects of the stress they are under.

James took it a step beyond that by using children dressed up as police officers, firefighters and paramedics discussing their dreams of having those careers when they grow up - but also having them discuss the problems they might incur too like post traumatic stress, lack of sleep, etc. - very real adult situations. It worked extremely well. I was moved by the thing and it is only 60 seconds!

I want to thank James for the invitation as well as Empire Theatres for the facilities. These awareness messages are very important for the public and certainly draws attention to this worthy cause.

Here is that 60 second PSA that helps bring awareness of the sacrifice that emergency workers and their families make by serving their community:



If you have a worthy cause that would like to get its message out using stereoscopic 3D for movie going audiences, contact me through the "Contact Me" form below.

For more information on this post's content see www.tema.ca and www.genevafilmco.com/3d