11/30/2006: E1: Eric Christensen, CEO of RotoFactory in Santa Rosa, rotoscapes a music video Tuesday. Rotoscoping allows filmmakers to digitally isolate objects from their surroundings in the frame of an image. They can then be placed in a new background. PC: Eric Christensen, CEO of RotoFactory in Santa Rosa, rotoscapes a music video on Tuesday, November 28, 2006. (The Press Democrat/ Christopher Chung)

RotoFactory expands to New Orleans

STEVE HART
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

RotoFactory, a Santa Rosa startup that creates visual effects for Hollywood movies, is opening a second location in New Orleans, a growing center for film production.

"It's a hot spot right now," said RotoFactory founder and CEO Eric Christensen. "They're getting a lot of production work."

New Orleans also offers tax incentives for movie companies to relocate there. "It's really a great deal," Christensen said.

The new location will be headquarters for a RotoFactory division, Factory VFX, that specializes in 3D and other advanced effects.

RotoFactory opened in 2006 and Factory VFX started last year. They have done work on more than 30 feature films, including "Fantastic 4," "Get Smart," "Enchanted," "The Spiderwick Chronicles," "Nightmare Before Christmas 3D," "Wolverine," "Bedtime Stories," "Escape to Witch Mountain" and "2012."

RotoFactory will keep its location in Santa Rosa, where it has about 10 employees.

Christensen, a digital artist, is a veteran of George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic. RotoFactory also works on TV shows, commercials and video games.

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