Technology

Layered Reality, creators of the forthcoming immersive experience ‘Elvis Evolution’, sign strategic partnership with Technicolor Group, home of The Mill

Published

6 months ago

July 1, 2024

Technicolor Group’s The Mill will first be tasked to create the most realistic & authentic Elvis using AI under Layered Reality Studio head Simon Reveley

The Mill was one of the earliest pioneers of VFX for icon replacements, winning a BAFTA & Oscar for their work on the movie ‘Gladiator’ and most recently winning 3 Cannes Gold Lions with FCB NY and Michelob for the virtual Williams Formula 1 race “Lap of Legends”Layered Reality also announce the expansion of their in-house studio team with world class production talent from Harry Potter, Royal Albert Hall, Eurovision, Royal National Theatre and Commonwealth Games

LONDON, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Layered Reality, the UK’s leading immersive entertainment company, has penned a strategic partnership agreement with Technicolor Group, famed for its global network of BAFTA and Academy Award-winning visual effects studios. The partnership will be executed via Technicolor’s advertising and experience studio, The Mill, which is headquartered in London and has offices in Paris, New York, LA, Seoul, Shanghai and Bangalore.

The agreement will see The Mill partner on multiple projects with Layered Reality, including using AI technology to create the most realistic and authentic version of Elvis, led by Layered Reality’s newly expanded in-house studio team. Layered Reality Studios has recently welcomed world-class talent to bring back the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, including Executive Producer Oran Doyle (Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience, Stranger Things: The Experience); Digital Producer Catherine Hayward (Commonwealth Games); Production Manager Al Parkinson (Royal National Theatre, Cameron Mackintosh); Technical Director Ollie Jeffrey (Royal Albert Hall) and Producer Sophie Scotchford (Eurovision 2023).

Simon Reveley, Head of Layered Reality Studio says “The Mill has a history of being pioneers, innovators and world class artists. We’re thrilled to work with them, utilising the latest in Artificial Intelligence to deliver more for our audiences. The integration of AI into The Mill’s arsenal of world class VFX tools, in the hands of their global network of award-winning artists, will help us deliver truly magical moments; the kind of moments that take your breath away.”

Mark Benson, President, The Mill says “We are very excited about the potential for our partnership with Layered Reality and helping to put Elvis back in the building. We are tasked with bringing Elvis back digitally by collecting and ingesting images and film archive clips to train AI models on Elvis’s face so we can recreate famous Elvis live performances. The Mill’s outstanding creative and tech talent will once again push the boundaries of what is possible, to deliver an extraordinary, authentic and thrilling theatrical event.”

In January this year Layered Reality announced they had secured the global licensing rights to create ‘Elvis Evolution’ from the owners of Elvis’ estate Authentic Brands Group. The immersive experience will bring the global musical icon back through the power of AI, augmented reality, live theatre and multi-sensory effects in a celebration of his life and legacy. Tickets go on sale later this year and ‘Elvis Evolution’ is due to open in Spring 2025.

Andrew McGuinness, Founder and CEO of Layered Reality comments

“Securing the best talent and partners is crucial for us to deliver outstanding immersive experiences. The Mill has an unrivaled pedigree in creating extraordinary digital effects spanning back to one of the earliest examples of icon replacement which won them a BAFTA for their work on Gladiator. They are at the forefront of utilising new technologies for creative innovative entertainment and we are delighted to have secured their partnership. Their support, and our talented new in-house team, means we are confident of delivering a superlative immersive experience for Elvis fans everywhere.”

Layered Reality is the creator of London’s longest running and most highly rated immersive experiences, with Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds celebrating its fifth year and being placed in the top 10% of attractions globally by TripAdvisor reviewers. They also have a pipeline of global IP’s which will be announced over the coming months.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Layered Reality

Layered Reality’s multi-award-winning experience Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience, has over 10,000 five-star customer reviews, and has won Tripadvisor’s Travellers choice, ranking top 10% of all attractions globally. In addition, it is London’s no. 1 immersive night out and top rated 5/5 on Tripadvisor. Other experiences by Layered Reality include the highly successful The Gunpowder Plot https://gunpowderimmersive.com, currently running in London, and ELVIS EVOLUTION https://elvis.layeredreality.com/, a new immersive experience celebrating the world’s biggest star of stage and screen, launching in 2025. For more information about Layered Reality, visit https://www.layeredreality.com/

Layered Reality (www.layeredreality.com), the UK’s leading immersive experience specialist, has secured the global rights to celebrate Elvis Presley in a digital form. The rights provide Layered Reality with global exclusivity for the creation of immersive experiences based upon Presley’s life story and music. *The global rights were secured from Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) (https://corporate.authentic.com/) who obtained ownership of the rights to ELVIS™’ estate in November 2013.

About The Mill

We create and deliver world-class content & visual experiences. We do this by leveraging creative technology to deliver famous, trail blazing work, across any screen, app, theatrical, art, ride, event, fashion, sport, and immersive experience with an unwavering commitment to creative excellence in all that we do, across every stage of the process. Our content creators and experience makers, directors, artists, animators, technologists and producers partner our clients to bring their vision to life and delight consumers world-wide.

About the Technicolor Group
Technicolor Group is a creative technology company providing world-class production expertise driven by one purpose: The realization of ambitious and extraordinary ideas. Home to a network of award-winning studios, MPC, The Mill, Mikros Animation and Technicolor Games, we inspire creative companies across the world to produce their most iconic work. Our global teams of artists and technologists partner with the creative community across film, television, animation, gaming, brand experience and advertising to bring the universal art of storytelling to audiences everywhere.

About Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley is one of the most influential pop culture figures of the 20th century. Often referred to as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Elvis’ commanding voice and charismatic stage presence unleashed a musical and cultural revolution that changed the world. Over the course of his extraordinary career, Elvis was nominated for 14 Grammy Awards (3 wins), sold over 1 billion records worldwide, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and was named “One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation” by the United States Jaycees, as well as the 2018 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In addition to his musical accolades, Elvis starred in 33 films and made numerous television appearances. More than 60 years after his global debut, Elvis’ legacy is stronger than ever. His life and music have inspired countless hit musicals, movies and TV series’, fiction and non-fiction books, musical covers, and commercial endorsements, as well as a robust merchandise program spanning collectibles and fashion collaborations. An enduring symbol of “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s” stardom, Graceland, Elvis’ Memphis home, is the second most-visited home in the United States after the White House, drawing over 600,000 visitors annually and tens of thousands of fans for its Elvis Week celebration. With more than 17 million fans across social media and a growing multimedia presence, the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” continues to inspire today’s most influential musicians, designers, entertainers, and social influencers and captivate audiences around the world.

About Authentic Brands Group
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) is a global brand development, marketing and entertainment platform, which owns a portfolio of more than 50 iconic and world-renowned Lifestyle, Entertainment and Media brands. Headquartered in New York City, with offices around the world, Authentic connects strong brands with best-in-class partners and a global network of operators, distributors and retailers to build long-term value in the marketplace. Its brands generate more than $29 billion in global annual retail sales and have an expansive retail footprint in 150 countries, including 13,100-plus freestanding stores and shop-in-shops and 370,000 points of sale. Authentic is committed to transforming brands by delivering powerful storytelling, compelling content, innovative business models and immersive experiences. It creates and activates original marketing strategies to drive the success of its brands across all consumer touchpoints, platforms and emerging media. Authentic’s brand portfolio includes Marilyn Monroe®, ELVIS™ Presley®, Muhammad Ali®, Shaquille O’Neal®, David Beckham®, Dr. J®, Greg Norman®, Neil Lane®, Thalia®, Sports Illustrated®, Reebok®, Brooks Brothers®, Barneys New York®, Judith Leiber®, Ted Baker®, Hunter®, Vince®, Hervé Léger®, Hickey Freeman®, Frye®, Nautica®, Juicy Couture®, Vince Camuto®, Lucky Brand®, Aéropostale®, Forever 21®, Nine West®, Rockport®, Eddie Bauer®, Boardriders®, Quiksilver®, Billabong®, Roxy®, DC Shoes®, RVCA®, Element®, VonZipper®, Honolua®, Spyder®, Volcom®, Shark®, Tretorn®, Prince®, Airwalk®, Izod®, Jones New York®, Van Heusen®, Hart Schaffner Marx®, Arrow® and Thomasville®.

For more information, visit corporate.authentic.com.
Follow Authentic on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.

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SOURCE The Mill

Technology

XTransfer and OCBC Jointly Announce Comprehensive Partnership

Published

23 minutes ago

December 23, 2024

“Global Multi-Currency Accounts” Empowers SMEs with New Market Opportunities

SHANGHAI, Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — XTransfer, the World’s Leading & China’s No.1 B2B Cross-Border Trade Payment Platform, and OCBC, the second largest financial services group in Southeast Asia, jointly announced the comprehensive partnership. OCBC China will leverage the OCBC Group’s extensive regional network and resources in its key markets of Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia and Indonesia to collaborate with XTransfer to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaging in international trade with one-stop innovative cross-border financial solutions, including payment, FX, risk control and wealth management. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 18 December 2024 by Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, and Ang Eng Siong, CEO of OCBC China.

Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, stated, “This collaboration marks a significant milestone for XTransfer, greatly enhancing our global payment capabilities. By leveraging OCBC’s extensive global payment network, XTransfer saves a substantial amount of market costs and accelerates our business expansion in Southeast Asia, saving on local expansion efforts. XTransfer looks forward to expanding its business with OCBC in the future in a variety of areas, including wealth management and lending, and is looking forward to working with them to capture the vast opportunities in Greater China and ASEAN.”

Ang Eng Siong, CEO of OCBC China, said, “OCBC uses Singapore and Hong Kong as our twin-hubs, radiating out to Greater China and ASEAN regions. XTransfer’s business development plans in these areas align closely with our network layout. As XTransfer’s global account manager, OCBC China will support XTransfer and its clients in facilitating cross-border settlements through close collaboration with various business subsidiaries of the group. This will help meet the growing demand for cross-border development and business growth, helping them achieve their aspirations in Greater China and ASEAN.”

XTransfer and OCBC collaborate in several areas of cross-border business. In particular, XTransfer leverages the strong banking networks and service capabilities of OCBC to offer its customers the “Global Multi-Currency Account” provided by OCBC Hong Kong, allowing clients to make payments and collect funds globally. The Global Multi-Currency Account supports not only major currencies, such as the Renminbi, US Dollar, British Pound, Euro, etc., but also currencies from ASEAN and various countries and regions. This will benefit SMEs in foreign trade settlement in the corresponding countries and enhance global cross-border trade efficiency. The partnership will provide XTransfer’s over 550,000 clients and their buyers with more payment and collection options. Additionally, clients can make payments and collect funds through CHATS or FPS, the local clearing network in Hong Kong, offering convenience similar to local bank transfers.

In recent years, trade exchanges between China and ASEAN have become increasingly close. According to data from XTransfer, from January to September 2024, the amount received by small and medium-sized foreign trade enterprises on the XTransfer platform from ASEAN grew by 80% compared to the previous year. The partnership between XTransfer and OCBC will address this growth in international trade by SMEs, and help them capture opportunities in trade and capital flow between China and ASEAN.

XTransfer continues to build its global payment infrastructure for foreign trade through partnerships with renowned international banks and financial institutions. This partnership with OCBC brings XTransfer a new upgrade in its global payment infrastructure, offering substantial benefits to global cross-border traders. By utilising the Global Multi-Currency Account provided by OCBC Hong Kong, buyers can easily make payments in various currencies to overseas suppliers and collect funds from worldwide customers. This partnership is expected to enhance cross-border trade by significantly broadening the payment methods and scope for SMEs.

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SOURCE XTransfer

Technology

TECHTRONIC INDUSTRIES JOINS THE UN GLOBAL COMPACT

Published

23 minutes ago

December 23, 2024

DEMONSTRATES TTI’S COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS AND PRACTICES

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Global cordless power tool, outdoor power equipment and floorcare company Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. (“TTI” or the “Company”) (stock code: HK:0669, ADR symbol: TTNDY) today announced that it has joined the United Nations Global Compact, reaffirming its dedication to sustainability and social responsibility. With over 25,000 signatories in over 160 countries, the UN Global Compact is the world’s largest voluntary corporate sustainability reporting initiative. By joining, TTI is committing to communicating its progress to stakeholders annually through our ESG Report and UN Global Compact’s website.

TTI’s CEO Steve Richman remarked: “As the industry pioneer in lithium-ion battery-powered, energy efficient power tools and outdoor power equipment, TTI’s commitment to sustainable products and business practices has long been a fundamental part of the way we do business. We began publishing ESG reports in 2015 and we aligned our goals and targets with the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2018. Every year we make progress in areas including safety solutions, noise reduction, supply chain traceability, decarbonization, and governance. While we have demonstrated our commitment, by joining the UN Global Compact, we have officially aligned our sustainability strategy with the Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.”

As part of TTI’s ongoing sustainability efforts, our objective is to implement initiatives that deepen our support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace culture. We are dedicated to advancing our sustainability journey, setting measurable goals, and continuously monitoring our progress.

Learn more about TTI’s efforts by reading our latest ESG publications here. Our 2024 ESG report will be published in March 2025.

About TTI

Techtronic Industries Company Limited (“TTI” or the “Company”), founded in 1985 by German entrepreneur Horst Julius Pudwill, is a world leader in cordless technology. As a pioneer in Power Tools, Outdoor Power Equipment, Floorcare and Cleaning Products, TTI serves professional, industrial, Do It Yourself (DIY), and consumer markets worldwide. With more than 50,000 employees globally, the company’s relentless focus on innovation and strategic growth has established its leading position in the industries it serves.

MILWAUKEE is at the forefront of TTI’s professional tool portfolio. With global research and development headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, the historic MILWAUKEE brand is renowned for driving innovation, safety, and jobsite productivity worldwide. The RYOBI brand, headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, remains the top choice for DIYers and continues to set the standard in DIY tool innovation. TTI’s diverse brand portfolio also includes trusted brands like AEG, EMPIRE, HOMELITE, and leading floorcare names HOOVER, ORECK, VAX, and DIRT DEVIL (based in Charlotte, North Carolina).

TTI’s international recognition and renowned brand portfolio are supported by a strong ownership structure that underscores the company’s global reach and stability. The Pudwill family remains the company’s largest shareholder, with the remaining ownership held largely by institutional investors at North American and European-owned firms. TTI is publicly traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is a constituent stock of the Hang Seng Index, operating globally with a strong commitment to environmental, social, and corporate governance standards. For more information, visit www.ttigroup.com.

All trademarks listed other than AEG and RYOBI are owned by the Company. AEG is a registered trademark of AB Electrolux (publ.) and is used under license. RYOBI is a registered trademark of Ryobi Limited and is used under license.

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SOURCE Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd.

Technology

New 2025 ezPaycheck Paycheck Payroll Software Is Now Available from Halfpricesoft.com

Published

23 minutes ago

December 23, 2024

REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Halfpricesoft.com has just announced the release of 2025 ezPaycheck payroll software for support for small businesses, freelancers, and sole proprietors as well as many other clients. The new ezPaycheck includes 940, 941, W2 and W3 forms and 2025 tax tables.

Clients can still acquire the 2024-2025 bundle version at a cost reduction for a limited time. For those utilizing the 2024 ezPaycheck please note:

Do NOT install this new version before you complete 2024 paychecks. ezPaycheck 2025 installation will update the tax tables. With ezPaycheck 2025, you can still access your 2024 paychecks, view reports and print 2024 W2 forms.

Dr. Ge stated, “The software, ezPaycheck 2024 and 2025 is still available for purchase to those clients that need to process year-end tax forms.”

Priced at just $169 per installation for a single installation of 2025 ezPaycheck software. The bundle 2024-2025 version is $199 for a limited time. ezPaycheck payroll software is affordable for any business. With paycheck software, business owners can easily calculate taxes, deductions, and other payroll-related tasks. Potential clients are welcome to download ezPaycheck free demo version with no obligation and no risk at halfpricesoft.com

Despite its cost and ease of use, Accountants, CPA and Tax Professionals should not assume ezPaycheck 2024 runs short on features. ezPaycheck 2025 is packed with all the features a business needs to run payroll quickly and easily, including:

Supports daily, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly and monthly payroll periods. Features report functions, print functions, and pay stub functions.Automatically calculates Federal Withholding Tax, Social Security, Medicare Tax and Employer Unemployment Taxes.Includes built-in tax tables for all 50 states and the District of ColumbiaEasily calculates differential payPrints miscellaneous checks as well as payroll calculation checksPrints payroll checks on blank computer checks or preprinted checksCreates and maintains payroll for multiple companies, and does it simultaneouslyPrints Tax Forms NEW 943 Form, 940, 941, W2, and W3 (Copy A preprinted form required)Supports multiple accounts at no additional chargeSupports network access to share data from different computers and locations (additional cost)30 day no cost trial. No registration required and absolutely no obligation

ezPaycheck is compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and other Windows systems. We also sell a MAC version separately.

ezPaycheck payroll software is affordable for any size business. Customers seeking a way to simplify payroll processing with more accuracy to start the no-obligation 30-day test at https://www.halfpricesoft.com/index.asp

About halfpricesoft.com

Halfpricesoft.com is a leading provider of small business software, including online and desktop payroll software, online employee attendance tracking software, accounting software, in-house business and personal check printing software, W2, software, 1099 software, accounting software, 1095 form software, and ezACH direct deposit software. Software from halfpricesoft.com is trusted by thousands of customers and will help US Business owners simplify payroll processing and streamline business management.

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SOURCE Halfpricesoft.com