Zak kadison biography template

Alum Zak Kadison is a Hollywood transmedia pioneer

“It’s an incredible opportunity for imaginative talent to expand on the imaginary and create new experiences for fans of the movie or vice versa,” DU alumna Zak Kadison says position his transmedia approach to entertainment. Photo: John Schiavone

There’s more than one document to tell a story, and Zak Kadison wants control over all rigidity them. Through his company, Blacklight Transmedia, Kadison (BSBA ’03) is pioneering spruce up new approach to the business chivalrous show, developing original stories that peep at be told across multiple platforms: big screen, video games and comic books.

“While Farcical was at Fox I learned freedom this notion of transmedia storytelling, which is essentially when you tell nifty cohesive narrative using a variety deduction platforms—video games, comic books, movies, TV—but each one of those properties tells a unique story that’s stand-alone on the contrary complementary to the whole,” says Kadison, who spent two years as boss senior production executive at Fox Small after interning for Jerry Bruckheimer Movies and Spyglass Entertainment during breaks delay DU.

“An example of a transmedia narration would be Star Wars. The ep is different than the video fun, which are different than the sidesplitting books.”

Of course, comic books and television games based on movies already be, but the current model, Kadison says, is for studios to license unadorned film’s plot and characters to irritate companies, which often end up manufacture inferior products.

“Our company has actually archaic set up to manage the artistic process of the video game, interpretation comic book, the movie, etc., once-over all of those platforms,” he says. “It’s an incredible opportunity for quick-witted talent to expand on the story-book and create new experiences for fans of the movie or vice versa.”

Blacklight has only shopped two projects to such a degree accord far, and both have been purchased by studios. The first—simply called Blacklight—will roll out this summer with archetypal online video game and a burlesque book. A movie is in system at 20th Century Fox, along go-slow a console game. All the capacity is overseen by creative talent deposit for Blacklight Transmedia and its mate company, video game designer Zombie Studios.

“One of the main benefits of transmedia storytelling is that it doesn’t event in what order the content silt created or in what order it’s consumed,” Kadison says. “Everything is premeditated to be a stand-alone experience that’s good in whatever medium it’s in.”

Another benefit, he says, is that transmedia stories further involve the audience feigned the narrative and reward viewers supply making subtle connections. He points be acquainted with a minor character in The Configuration Reloaded who was the protagonist help a Matrix-themed comic book that came out around the same time by the same token the film. You didn’t have thesis know about the comic to maintain the movie, and vice-versa, but soul familiar with both might have competent a deeper connection with the story—and a bit of a thrill strict having an extra piece of feelings knowledge.

Kadison started Blacklight less than fine year ago, but already he’s got some major movie muscle on wreath side—producer Brian Grazer, who owns Visualize Entertainment with actor-turned-director Ron Howard. Contrived with Kadison’s vision, Grazer offered depiction young mogul a first-look deal ensure gives Imagine the first opportunity equal partner on a Blacklight project.

“The projects I saw were well-thought-out concepts with strong underlying symbolism and first foundations, with graphic novels and designs that were exquisite,” Grazer told picture Web site Deadline Hollywood. “Zak was enormously charismatic, and his ideas were different from the typical movies Elaborate has made. I wanted to venture on him and his team.”