Creative Artists Agency may establish a colony in Silicon Valley, in order to get metaphorically and literally closer to those at the heart of technology.
The plans under consideration by CAA, Hollywood’s leading talent representation organization, reflect a dawning belief that software developers and computer engineers are the new creative community, and that tech company executives are the “rock stars” of the business world, according to the Reuters story that broke the news.
Reuters cited two unnamed people familiar with CAA’s talks about opening the northern California office as the basis for its report, adding that CAA declined to comment.
Creative Artists Agency, to give its full name, already has many tech leading lights in its CAA Speakers division. Among these are Twitter founder Biz Stone, futurist Ray Kurzweil, game designer Will Wright (pictured, best known for The Sims, Spore) and others. Being nearby could be a factor in expanding this roster.
Additionally, CAA currently has equity in Will Ferrell’s Web property Funnyordie.com and the invitation-only social media platform for celebrities Whosay, among other companies.
This is not the first time CAA has looked at delving deeper into technology. CAA still has a thriving games division, for example. However Seamus Blackley, who had been key to all things Xbox while at Microsoft, was with CAA from 2004 until May of this year. His successes at CAA include the sale of sale of game developer Harmonix (Dance Central, Rock Band, original developer of Guitar Hero) to Viacom. Larry Shapiro, who created and co-headed CAA’s Games Division, left the agency in 2007.
Also in 2007, CAA was involved in sourcing movie, television and music talent for the pioneering but unsuccessful Internet television service Joost.
Reuters described CAA’s capabilities regarding tech as advising companies about Hollywood, partnering with venture capital firms to incubate start-ups, and matching clients who have digital media ideas with companies that can make them a reality.
Related Link:
Reuters – http://tinyurl.com/42g5vav
photo of Will Wright courtesy of the Stupid Fun Club
