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TEAM
Zane Vella - CEO
Zane is an proven innovator of entertainment
and technology and an accomplished producer and director.
Prior to founding RCDb, Zane was president and CEO of MX Entertainment
from 2001 through 2006 and worked closely with MX’s
technical and creative leads to create compelling interactive
DVD and Blu-ray user experience. Zane has been an active participant
in the Blu-ray Disc Association since 2004 and a recognized
leader in advanced applications of Blu-ray technology.
Prior to MX, Zane was founder and creative director
of SmashTV, a media technology and development company specializing
in music and entertainment applications. SmashTV was known
for its high-profile work with entertainment brands including
Apple, EXPN, MTV Networks and Wired Ventures. The company
produced one of the first live webcasts in history from the
Lollapalooza Festival in 1994, developed the "Live@Exploratorium"
webcast series for NASA and the NSF, and created CitySpace,
the first user-generated real-time 3D virtual world on the
Internet.
Mark Johnson - Software Research & Development
Mark is the principal architect of the RCDb
BD-Live technology and was formerly Vice President of Research
and Development for Technicolor's Worldwide Technology Group,
Mark is the co-author of DVD Demystified: Third Edition, and
has been an active participant in the DVD industry since its
launch in 1997. An award-winning DVD author, Mark helped define
Technicolor's standards and practices in DVD production on
such titles as Disney's Snow White and Beauty and the Beast.
Prior to Technicolor, Mark was an engineer at Daikin U.S.
Comtec Laboratories, the creators of the Scenarist authoring
system. Mark holds a Masters Degree in Information Design
and Technology from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Ole Lütjens - Product Development
Ole is an accomplished designer, creative director,
and development manager with extensive experience in interface
design for DVD, set-top-boxes and application design. He specializes
in simplifying and visualizing complex ideas and systems and
leading production and development teams through specifying,
designing and producing high-end user experiences. Ole is
currently overseeing RCDb product development and he is a
key part of ongoing R&D, especially in next-generation
disc user experience. Prior to helping launch RCDb, Ole provided
interface design and creative services for clients including
German Telekom, Der Spiegel, Lucasfilm, Disney and SmashTV.
Joe Rice - Research & Development
Drawing upon a 15 year background in audio and
video production and post-production, Joe provides technical
direction for RCDb’s product development and ongoing
R&D, including integration of RCDb technology into professional
disc authoring tools and workflows. Joe has been and active
member of the Blu-ray Disc Association's technical committees
and Technical Directior at MX Entertainment since the company’s
inception in 2001. Prior to MX, Joe served as Technical Director
for digitiz-it!, an audio and video compression firm and Director
of Research and Development at ednet, an audio and video networking
company whose clients include high-end film, video, audio
and post-production facilities.
Mike Dalrymple - Director of Platform Development
Mike is responsible for the technical design, implementation and support of RCDb’s server platform technology. Mike has been designing and
developing software for over 15 years. Prior to joining RCDb, Mike was a consultant for DHAP Digital where he managed the
development and support of highly scalable web applications for Toyota Motor Sales. In 2006 Mike and his team
were awarded the 2006 Webby People’s Voice Award for their work developing the interactive Scion vehicle
configuration utility. Prior to DHAP, Mike was a Principal Engineer with Modem Media where he designed
and implemented web applications for American Century, Gymboree, and PBS.
Eddie Elliott- Research & Development
Eddie heads RCDb's R&D efforts to explore innovative ways that BD-Live can enrich the home theater experience.Prior to RCDb, Eddie worked at Moto Development Group, designing and developing software/firmware in a broad range of products for major consumer electronics manufacturers. Key projects included early Java prototypes for a widely acclaimed e-book reader, smart pens, innovative touch interfaces for MP3 players and forward-thinking automotive components.Since earning a masters degree at the MIT Media Lab, Eddie has also consulted for a variety of clients to produce tools for filmmakers, exhibits for science and children's museums, educational software, real-time video effects and entertainment software titles.
Darren Lepke - Business Development
Darren manages a myriad of relationships with content owners, retailers, CE manufacturers, Blu-ray production facilities and technical partners for RCDb.
Before joining RCDb, Darren was VP of Business Development at Javelin Ventures, which, in a two-year span, launched several professional
DVD production tools, including Scenarist Publisher, which is licensed and sold by Sonic Solutions. At Javelin, Darren was also instrumental in creating a thriving BD-Java development and licensing business and led the efforts to launch the High Definition Training Center, which provided training for Blu-ray production and programming. Darren holds a degree in Psychology with specializations in Business Administration and Computing from UCLA.
ADVISORS
James Mercs
James Mercs has been developing technology for
the entertainment industry for over 20 years. His work has
lead to numerous awards such as an Emmy for Video Effects
and an Oscar Scientific Award for his work in the development
of film soundtrack recording methods. Under his direction,
Mr. Mercs has secured more than 50 international technology
patents for Sony Corporation. Most recently, his position
in Business Development and Strategic Technology involved
planning, producing, and marketing package media for Home
Entertainment (i.e. DVD, Play Station Portable Video, High
Definition Blu-ray, and Video On Demand.) Mr. Mercs was previously
an Executive Vice President and the General Manager for Sony’s
Digital Authoring Center at Sony Pictures Entertainment and
a Board Member of DCE Europe (a content creation and distribution
company.) He holds a dual engineering degree in Electrical
Engineering and Electro-Optics and has graduate studies in
both Business Management and Computer Science. He is a musician
and author.
Richard Fisher
Richard Fisher is currently president of Premier
Retail Networks where he oversees all PRN activities worldwide
and leads the development and strategic growth of the company.
Richard is well known in the media industry as the founder
of ZDTV, now G4/TechTV, the 24-hour cable network devoted
to computers and the Internet. Fisher also served as CEO of
eMotion, a digital asset management software and service provider
acquired by Corbis. Previously, Fisher was President of RespondTV,
an interactive television service provider, and held key positions
with Chronicle Broadcasting and HBO. |
