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Prem Akkaraju

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Film studio CEO
Prem Akkaraju
EducationColumbia University
EmployerWētā FX
Notable workThe White Tiger
TitleCEO Wētā FX
Board member ofWētā FX, The Screening Room
SpouseMary Ann
Children2
Websitewww.wetastudios.com

Prem Akkaraju is the founder of Weta Cloud – which sold to Unity Software on November 9, 2021, for $1.625 billion – and ex-CEO of Wētā FX (formerly named Weta Digital).

Wētā FX is a VFX and animation studio with over 1,500 staff and six Academy Awards, ten Academy Sci-Tech Awards and six visual effects BAFTA Awards. Some of Weta Digital's most notable works include Lord of the Rings, Avatar, Avatar sequels, The Hobbit, Avengers: Infinity Wars, Avengers: End Game, Game of Thrones, Space Force, Mulan and King Kong.

Executive producer

Akkaraju was an executive producer of the 2021 Oscar-nominated feature film The White Tiger. The film is based on the 2008 Man Booker Award-winning book of the same title. Other executive producers of the film include Priyanka Chopra, Ava DuVernay, Ramin Bahrani and Mukul Deora. The White Tiger released on Netflix worldwide on January 22, 2021.

Career

In June 2020, Akkaraju announced Wētā FX will also be producing original content under a newly-formed entity called Weta Animated. Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will be developing and directing original animated content for the venture. Akkaraju oversees all of Wētā FX, including Weta Animated.

Akkaraju and Sean Parker co-founded The Screening Room. The Screening Room, a proposed movie delivery service, includes shareholders Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, J.J. Abrams, Martin Scorsese and Peter Jackson. Akkaraju also served as the CEO of The Screening Room and now serves as executive chairman.

Akkaraju was included in Variety's inaugural Silicon Valleywood Impact Report, in which he was described as a "technology maven". He is an inventor of 26 technology patents in secure-content delivery.

Personal life

Akkaraju has an MBA from Columbia Business school and lives in Los Angeles with his wife Mary Ann and two children.

References

  1. Flint, Joe. "Peter Jackson's Special-Effects Firm Looks to Become a Content Producer". The Wall Street Journal.
  2. Mendelson, Scott. "Peter Jackson's Weta Digital Launches Weta Animated, Names Prem Akkaraju As CEO". Forbes.
  3. "Prem Akkaraju | Weta Digital". www.wetafx.co.nz. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  4. Hayes, Dade (2021-11-09). "Peter Jackson Selling Weta Digital's VFX Tech Division To Unity For $1.625 Billion". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  5. Staff Reporters (2022-05-12). "Wētā FX ditches LA-based CEO, looks for NZ replacement". Business Desk.
  6. Morgenstern, Joe. "'The White Tiger' Review: Funny, Ferocious, Burning Bright". The Wall Street Journal.
  7. ^ Fleming, Mike. "'Fahrenheit 451's Ramin Bahrani Sets Celebrated India-Set Novel 'The White Tiger' At Netflix As His Next Film". Deadline.
  8. ^ Gleiberman, Owen. "'The White Tiger' Review: Ramin Bahrani's Absorbing Tale of an Indian Servant on the Rise Is Like 'Slumdog Millionaire' With More Reality". Variety.
  9. "Oscars awards 2021: Here's why everyone is rooting for The White Tiger". www.indulgexpress.com. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  10. Caranicas, Peter (2021-05-17). "Prem Akkaraju". Variety. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  11. Bhattacharya, Soumya; Dutt, Vijay (2008-10-17). "Aravind Adiga wins Man Booker prize". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  12. "The White Tiger". imdb.com.
  13. Ruimy, Jordan. "'The White Tiger': Netflix Movie Tackles Class Divide in India". World of Reel.
  14. Falconer, Daniel. "Get your first look at Priyanka Chopra Jonas in Netflix original film The White Tiger". FemaleFirst.
  15. Screen, Rama. "New Key Arts And Trailer For THE WHITE TIGER Starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas". Rama's Screen.
  16. Moye, Clarence. "Netflix's 'White Tiger' Releases First Look Teaser". AwardsDaily.
  17. Kaul, Neha. "Netflix Releases the First Look of the Much-Awaited Film, The White Tiger". Netflix.
  18. Giardina, Carolyn. "Peter Jackson's Weta Launches Animation Studio". The Hollywood Reporter.
  19. McNary, Dave. "Peter Jackson's Visual Effects Company Weta Digital Launches Animation Division". Variety.
  20. Verhoeven, Beatrice. "Prem Akkaraju Named CEO of WETA Digital". Yahoo News.
  21. Fleming, Mike. "Peter Jackson & Fran Walsh Launch Weta Animated; SR Labs' Prem Akkaraju Named CEO & Sean Parker Joins Board". Deadline.
  22. Verhoeven, Beatrice. "Prem Akkaraju Named CEO of WETA Digital". The Wrap.
  23. Gilblom, Kelly. "Business Effects Company Behind 'Endgame', 'Hobbit' to Make Its Own Films". Bloomberg.
  24. Dudok de Wit, Alex. "Weta To Start Producing Original Animation, With Peter Jackson Onboard As Director". Cartoon Brew.
  25. Bahr, Lindsey. "Peter Jackson to make original animated content for Weta". Daily Herald.
  26. Kay, Jeremy. "Weta Digital announces first CEO, launches animated unit". Screen Daily.
  27. Lang, Brent. "Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, Peter Jackson Backing Sean Parker's Bold Home Movie Plan (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  28. Caranicas, Peter; Longwell, Todd; Marich, Robert (2021-05-19). "Variety's Inaugural Silicon Valleywood Impact Report". Variety. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  29. Fleming, Mike. "As Pandemic Hobbles Exhibs & Studios, Screening Room Rechristened SR Labs With $$ & Man Jit Singh New CEO". Deadline.
  30. "Patents Assigned to Screening Room Media, Inc". Justia Patents.
  31. Credential System, Digital. "USPTO". USPTO.
  32. Altman, Randy. "Weta opens animation wing led by Prem Akkaraju". postPerspective.
  33. Littleton, Cynthia (2022-02-16). "WetaFX CEO on Growing Peter Jackson's Production Empire: 'We're a Household Name in Households That Make Movies'". Variety. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  34. Turner, Ryan. "IMDB". imdb.com.
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