Framestore Promotes Christine Cattano to EP of its Virtual Reality Studio

Oscar-winning visual effects and creative content studio Framestore has promoted Christine Cattano to Executive Producer of its Virtual Reality Studio in New York from her previous position of Producer. In the new role, Cattano will continue to work directly alongside the department’s founder, Executive Creative Director Mike Woods. She will continue to serve as a primary client liaison and will oversee a growing team beneath her in response to rapid project expansion within the department. Accompanying the promotion and department growth, Framestore has also brought on Collin Walters and Ron Fosner as recruiters within the VR studio.

The news comes on the heels of an incredible year for Framestore’s VR studio, which opened its doors last April after the massive success of the “Ascend the Wall” activation for HBO’s Game of Thrones at SXSWi. Since then, the studio launched more than 9 pioneering projects across Oculus Rift, Google Cardboard and Samsung Gear VR that brought together talent from many of Framestore’s practice areas. Highlights include Merrell’s “Trailscape,” the first-ever commercial “walk around” use of virtual reality that just premiered at the Sundance Film Festival; a tour of the spaceship in Christopher Nolan’s film Interstellar; “The Teleporter” for Marriott Hotels; and the “Volvo Reality” app to test-drive the auto brand’s XC90 vehicle.

“When we started up the virtual reality studio last April, we were entering a world of complete unknown.  Christine has been at my side since the beginning of it all, and because of her drive, determination, and superb ability to go above and beyond for our clients, we’ve been able to dominate a truly fascinating field that most had barely cracked the surface of just a year ago,” said Mike Woods, Executive Creative Director, Framestore. “Elevating her to this new role was essential and will only further the possibilities for our upcoming projects.”

“Working hand-in-hand with Mike on so many mind-blowing VR projects over the past year has been such a wonderful labor of love,” said Cattano. “It’s so exciting to be able to say that we’ve been the first in nearly every case to set the trajectory for where the VR medium is going – whether it was immersing fans in blockbuster films or TV shows; being the first ones at the table with new platforms like Samsung Gear VR and Google Cardboard; or pioneering the use of motion-capture technology for VR, we’ve seen and done it all. I couldn’t be more honored to work alongside him in this new capacity.”

In her previous role at Framestore, Cattano served as a production lead for all digital and integrated projects. Before joining Framestore, Cattano was Senior Producer at marketing agency Campfire, where she handled production for transmedia initiatives across multiple platforms, including digital, experiential, social and PR. With extensive experience managing non-traditional projects, she played an integral role in creating campaigns for brands such as National Geographic Channel, HBO and Harley Davidson.