Megan Ellison is bringing virtual reality to Annapurna Pictures.
The production company behind awards-winning films like “Her” and “American Hustle,” as well as one of this year’s critical favorites “Foxcatcher,” announced a joint venture on Thursday with VRSE.farm and artist Chris Milk, to develop and produce virtual reality content.
Milk’s “Evolution of Verse,” which premieres as part of the 2015 Sundance Film Festival’s New Frontier section, will serve as the first piece to come out of Annapurna’s new V.R. division and the VRSE.farm partnership.
Annapurna, under the guidance of Ellison, hopes to help visionary filmmakers explore and push the limits of V.R., as well as push the boundaries of storytelling. VRSE.farm will assist in providing the audio/video technology, craftsmen and crew necessary to help filmmakers testing out new V.R. ideas.
Milk, a veteran V.R. artist, is best known for directing music videos for artists like U2, Kanye West and Arcade Fire. ”
Megan has the most vision and foresight of any producer working in cinema today,” he said in a statement. “I’m humbled and honored to be exploring the virtual reality medium alongside her. We can’t wait to help our fellow filmmakers write a completely new storytelling language.”
“Evolution of Verse” is also being presented by Digital Domain 3.0 and will be available to the public via the VRSE app, which will be available Friday in the Apple and Android app stores.
As TheWrap previously reported, Ellison was targeted by producer Scott Rudin in emails sent to Sony chief Amy Pascal regarding Aaron Sorkin‘s “Jobs.” The emails, which referred to Ellison as a “bipolar” and a “lunatic,” were leaked by North Korean hackers in an attempt to thwart the release of James Franco and Seth Rogen‘s controversial comedy “The Interview.”
Ellison, 28-year-old daughter of Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, fired back with a witty response saying she thought of herself as “eccentric.”
Bipolar 28 year old lunatic..? I always thought of myself more as eccentric. pic.twitter.com/EYKyXOGUEb
— Megan Ellison (@meganeellison) December 10, 2014
“Foxcatcher” has been nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Actor, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Rudin’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is up for six, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.