Visual Effects Studio Hires 3 Executives From Rival

Digital Domain, the creator of pioneering visual effects for such movies as “Titanic” and “The Day After Tomorrow,” has hired three executives from rival Industrial Light & Magic.

The Venice-based company is expected today to name Mark Miller as its new president. He is a 22-year veteran of ILM, “Star Wars” creator George Lucas’ special effects operation.

Cliff Plumer, formerly of LucasFilm Ltd., is being named chief technology officer, and Kim Libreri, a former visual effects supervisor at ILM whose credits include the “Matrix” movies, joins Digital Domain as vice president in charge of advanced strategy.

Miller, who has overseen visual effects on such movies as “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” “The Hulk” and “Jurassic Park,” replaces C. Bradley Call, who resigned after Wyndcrest Holdings bought Digital Domain in May for about $35 million. The Florida investment group includes “Pearl Harbor” director Michael Bay and former NFL great Dan Marino.

Wyndcrest bought out Digital Domain’s owners, which include IBM Corp. and Cox Enterprises Inc., along with its founders: director James Cameron, effects legend Stan Winston and Chief Executive Scott Ross.

New CEO Carl Stork praised Call’s contributions but declined to comment on his departure.

He said Miller and the other two executives would help transform Digital Domain into a full-scale digital production studio that specializes in new technologies as well as the convergence of video games and feature films.

“These guys bring a wealth of experience and vision, not just from the effects industry but for the future of digital filmmaking,” Stork said.

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richard.verrier@latimes.com