While under a first-look producing deal with Goodman/Rosen, Gilmore set-up projects including a television series based on Image Comics' hit series Noble Causes, and a feature based on the best-selling horror/western game "Deadlands" with Artists Production Group and producer David Permut ("Face Off"). He had garnered the first-look deal after delivering video games such as Atari's "Area 51" to the company, which promptly collaborated with the Steve Tisch Company to set-up the property at New Line Cinema. In addition to his successful track record as a producer and development executive, Gilmore has been writing comic books professionally since high school. His most recent work is the best-selling re-launch of the 80's cartoon franchise Thundercats at WildStorm Productions.
Illuminati's primary focus is selling creator-owned concepts for film and television. Secondly, and what makes the company so unique, is its ability to develop and pitch new ideas and properties that are also ideal for development in other media. Illuminati provides extensive creative services, including conceiving and designing imaginary worlds, characters and fresh ideas for ancillary industries, such as toys and video games. The company has a strong emphasis on maneuvering its creators from comics and video games into film and television.
Gilmore says, "Illuminati Entertainment grew out of the convergence of comics, games, film and television. Our clients are the creators behind some of the best-selling and most innovative properties on the market, and they all bring unique voices to the table. While a big part of our business involves representing the titles they've created, our concentration isn't just on established properties‹it's on building new brands and franchises that can then crossover into comics, games and toys. As Hollywood's appetite for comics and video games continually grows, I envision more companies like Illuminati Entertainment emerging as the next logical step in our industry's evolution."
Collectively, Illuminati's writers and artists have worked for every major publishing house on countless comics, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, X-men, Wolverine, Star Wars, James Bond, Transfomers and G.I.Joe. Illuminati clients have designed characters, worlds, and merchandise for video game and toy companies including: Mattel, Electronic Arts, Hasbro, Sony Computer Entertainment, Activision and Toy Biz; working on brands such as Star Wars, Everquest, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Jumanji and Transformers.
Some of the talent signed to Illuminati that include the following:
Dave Johnson has worked as a designer at Warner Bros. on shows including "Batman Beyond" and "Justice League," winning an Emmy Award for the former. In 2002, he was presented with an Eisner Award for his cover design work on such titles as Detective Comics and 100 Bullets. This was his second Eisner nomination, along with nominations for the Harvey Awards and the Wizard Fan Awards.
Phil Noto started as an animator with Disney, working on a myriad of films, including "Lion King," "Pocahontas," "Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Mulan," "Tarzan" and "Lilo & Stitch." He is the regular cover artist for DC Comic's Birds of Prey; he was the artist of Black Bull's Beautiful Killer, which was recently set-up at Universal with Jessica Alba starring; and he is currently working on Danger Girl: Hawaiian Punch.
Tomm Coker has worked as an artist at Sony, most notably on the cartoon "Men in Black." Other work includes storyboarding and designing the Keanu Reeves film "The Watcher," as well as numerous commercials and music videos. In 2003, he will debut his creator-owned (with Judd Winick) horror series Blood and Water through DC Comics' Vertigo imprint. He wrote and directed his first live-action short film, "A Day Between," which recently won Grand Jury and Audience Favorite Awards on the festival circuit.
Howard Chaykin pioneered the graphic novel form in the United States with works like The Stars My Destination. He is the first comic creator ever nominated for a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award. He created the influential American Flagg! and redefined mainstream characters like The Shadow and Blackhawk; he is currently working on a new hardcover graphic novel for DC Comics entitled Mighty Love.. He has served as writer / producer on television series "The Flash," "Viper," "Earth: Final Conflict" and "Mutant X," as well as freelancing in feature films and television.
Steve Lieber is best known now as the artist of the graphic novel Whiteout and its sequel, Whiteout:Melt, which were nominated for six Eisner Awards ‹ "Melt" won for Best Limited Series. The feature film rights for Whiteout were recently sold to Universal with Reese Witherspoon attached to star and produce. Other notable credits include a run on the Batman title Detective Comics and his Eisner-nominated collaboration with novelist Sara Ryan on Me and Edith Head.
Painter and illustrator J.G. Jones is renowned for redefining Marvel Comics' femme fatale Black Widow. He has contributed painted covers for a myriad of titles, including Vertigo's break-out success Y: The Last Man; as well as Codename: Knockout and Just a Pilgrim, which was optioned by Catch 23 Entertainment and is soon to be a major motion picture. 2003 will see him contribute an original story for "The Matrix" (Warner Bros.) website.
Jeff Parker joined Sony as a storyboard artist, working on cartoons like "The Big Guy and Rusty" after spending a decade drawing comics. He's storyboarded and/or designed a myriad of commercial campaigns, including Jeep, Skechers, T-Mobile, and a Coors campaign with "Charlie's Angels" director McG. His music video résumé includes design work on Nelly's "Ride Wit Me." His original graphic novel "The Interman" is due for publication in January 2003.
Dan Norton is a prolific designer. He worked for Sony and VSI on "Everquest" - the most successful online game in the world - creating an entire atlas for the game as well as many new creatures of the expansion "Planes of Power." His comics career spans a decade; his most recent work appeared in Ninja Boy, which was optioned by Warner Brothers Animation. 2003 will see Norton launch his own creator-owned title, Dark Cell, as well as draw Dreamweave's highly-anticipated G.I.Joe / Transformers crossover.
C.P. Smith began his career as a Flash animator. He created several commercials for Avia, controlling the entire process from conception to completion. This brought him to the attention of DC Comics, and he accepted a production job in their San Diego offices. He went on to work on nearly every major DC comic, including Batman and Wonder Woman. He is currently finishing up his run on the new Star Wars Republic comic series for Dark Horse, and is currently working for Activision on a new game based on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four.
About Illuminati Entertainment
Founded by producer Ford Lytle Gilmore in 2002, Illuminati Entertainment is an innovative management and production company focusing on clients with backgrounds in comic books and video games. The company grew out of the convergence of comics, games, film and television and its clients are the creators behind some of the best-selling and most original properties on the market. Illuminati's concentration is not only on creator-owned material, but also on building new brands and franchises that can crossover into ancillary markets. The company has a strong emphasis on maneuvering its creators from comics and video games into film and television. Prior to forming Illuminati, Gilmore was an independent producer, working primarily on licensed properties including video game and comic book franchises. In addition to his successful track record as a producer and development executive, Gilmore has been writing comic books professionally since high school, having created best-selling titles for the likes of WildStorm Productions and Image Comics