WASHINGTON, DC—Score one for DC economic development officials who succeeded in convincing a fledgling digital animation firm to relocate to the nation's capital rather than Hollywood, CA.
Pigmental Studios, which was co-founded earlier this year by Marina Martins and Adam Miller after they signed deals to provide creative direction and animation modeling on two major theatrical film releases, including "Kong," is considering locations in Georgetown and the Southwest waterfront. The company has plans to open with an initial staff of 24, and could grow its workforce to 60 in coming years, according to the Washington Post.
After considering Los Angeles and Santa Fe, NM, the company decided DC was its preferred location. “D.C. is an international community and we are expanding into an international market with our first picture for China,” Miller said. "We're not a Hollywood company. We're an international company. So to be in a place that helps foster that growth and encourage it is incredible."
The District's incentives package includes a $250,000 grant and access to its tech incentives program that includes reduced tax rates, wage reimbursement for new hires and relocation assistance for non-residents.
The District is "the kind of place that creators want to create in, so it really wasn't a difficult sell. It was a matter of could we put a business deal together that would allow them to make that move," says Pierre Bagley, director of the District's Office of Motion Picture and Television Development. See story in the Washington Post.
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.