iWorld
Netflix to acquire virtual production studio Scanline VFX
Mumbai: Netflix has announced its plans to acquire virtual production studio Scanline VFX. The company is responsible for the visual effects in Netflix series like “Cowboy Bebop,” “Stranger Things,” and “Blood Red Sky.”
The company expects to complete the acquisition by the end of first quarter 2022 subject to regulatory approvals.
Founded in 1989, Scanline is led by Stephan Trojansky, a VFX supervisor whose proprietary fluid rendering system ‘Flowline’ won an Academy Award for Technical Achievement in 2008. The company has offices in Vancouver, Montreal, Los Angeles, London, Munich, Stuttgart, and Seoul.
The company is working on VFX effects for upcoming Netflix content including “Don’t Look Up,” “The Gray Man,” “Slumberland,” “The Adam Project,” and “Stranger Things 4.”
“Netflix will invest in Scanline’s pipeline, infrastructure and workforce and continue to support the pioneering work that Scanline’s Eyeline Studios is doing in virtual production to push the boundaries of what is visibly possible,” said Netflix vice president of studio operations Amy Reinhard.
Apart from Netflix content, Scanline has done ground-breaking work on series like “Game of Thrones” to films like “Godzilla vs Kong” and “Zack Snyder’s Justice League.” “Going forward, the company will continue to operate as a standalone business and work with their variety of clients,” said Reinhard.
Netflix will continue to rely on other VFX studios around the world “to ensure that our creators have access to the world’s most innovative tech,” said Reinhard.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
