Alaric McAusland, a veteran of the visual effects industry, has been appointed CEO of DNEG’s new animation and visual effects studio in Sydney, Australia. He takes office from January 2023.
Former CEO of technology company Deluxe Entertainment Service Group Australia (which included Iloura in Melbourne and Method Studios in Sydney), McAusland was also COO of Los Angeles-based production company Grace: A Storytelling Company.
Earlier in his career, McAusland was a member of the foundation team, VFX producer, and general manager of Australian VFX company DFILM, which received an Oscar for his work on “The Matrix.”
In addition, McAusland was Chairman of the Australian film promotion body Ausfilm and was CEO of the Australian Directors’ Guild.
“Alaric has an impressive history of significant contributions to the film industry. His extensive industry experience and extensive contact list will be an invaluable asset to DNEG as we continue to establish our local presence in Sydney and integrate our new studio into our global network,” said Merzin Tavaria, President of Global Production and Operations. of D.N.E.G. .
The global effects and post-production giant confirmed last month that it will open a new full-service VFX studio in Pyrmont, Sydney. Located within Sydney’s Tech Central district, the unit is scheduled to open in early 2023 and will have a total seating capacity of up to 500.
He is scheduled to take the lead on complex VFX projects for feature films and episodic television projects, with VFX work on “Furiosa,” George Miller’s highly anticipated “Mad Max” prequel, among his first assignments. The facility will also be home to a new studio for DNEG Animation, the animation studio behind Kid Cudi’s stylized, animated love story “Entergalactic” for Netflix.
Andrew Jackson (“Tenet,” Christopher Nolan’s upcoming “Oppenheimer,” “Mad Max: Fury Road”), Academy Award- and BAFTA-winning visual effects supervisor and Australian citizen, has moved from DNEG London to spearhead the studio’s work as creative director. for DNEG Sydney, it was announced last month.
“After a record-breaking year for the Australian visual effects industry and with the film industry in Australia going from strength to strength, attracting more international blockbuster films and series, as well as fostering a roster of incredible local projects like ‘Furiosa,’ we I can think of a better time for DNEG to open its latest global study in Sydney,” McAusland said.
A Screen Australia report recently showed that visual effects and post-digital spending on Australian and foreign drama titles totaled a record A$553 million ($378 million) in the period July 2021 to June 2022. That was a 71 % more than in 2020-21 and 56% above the 5-year average. “Driving the result was A$289 million ($197 million) POS spend on foreign POS titles, more than double the previous year and 93% above the 5-year average,” the report said. . PDV spend for Australian titles was A$196 million ($134 million), the highest since 2009-10, up 51% from 2020-21 and 17% above the 5-year average. POV spending on overseas film titles for 2021/22 totaled a record A$69m ($47m), up 21% from 2020-21 and 86% above the 5-year average years.