The Company Behind the Tupac Hologram Is Now Bankrupt...

Wednesday, September 12, 2012
by  paul

Looks like 'projected' revenues failed to keep the 'lights on' at Digital Domain Media Group, the company responsible for the splashy Tupac hologram at Coachella this summer.  According to Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings surfacing last night, Digital Domain was simply 'running out of cash' despite going public roughly 10 months ago.           

As of June 30th, total assets at Digital Domain were about $204 million, with liabilities topping $215 million.  According to initial details, the core of Digital Domain is being fire-sold to private investment group Searchlight Capital Partners LP for $15 million, with no guarantees on what happens next.  The company has indicated that day-to-day operations will not be affected, and debtors have agreed to a $20 million fund to power any restructuring.  Meanwhile, massive layoffs and shelved construction plans are happening immediately.

It all seemed like a fun company until recently.  Digital Domain was created by James Cameron, and generated special effects for dozens of advertisers and Hollywood films (including Cameron's own, Titanic).  The picture included Academy Awards and lush government grants, though Wall Street was extremely cool to Digital Domain: shares quickly dropped below expected ranges, and plunged into the sub-$10 single digits.  The Tupac splash created a temporary spike that failed to sustain, much less keep the company afloat.

This is also bad news for Elvis fans (or, good news, depending on the perspective).  Shortly after the Tupac frenzy, Digital Domain sealed agreements to create an Elvis-inspired hologram, and shuttle a King-in-lights to numerous stages.  That expansion now seems highly unlikely.

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Game Talks 50 Cent Beef on 'Behind The Music' Episode

by Erika Ramirez, N.Y.  |   March 22, 2012 10:35 EDT

Game and 50 Cent's rap beef, which began in 2005, still "haunts" Game's career.

On VH1's "Behind the Music: Game," premiering tonight (March 22) at 9 p.m. ET, the rapper goes into depth of how the rivalry unraveled after 50 Cent claimed to have written his songs.

"50 didn't write my songs, that's just his ego rising above the team aspect of what Aftermath was all about," Game says. "I could easily say, 'Yo, I wrote this song on "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" it was a team effort."

Game continues to explain how his anger towards 50 Cent and G-Unit turned into a movement. ""300 Bars," when I wrote that I was angry I wanted G-Unit to die as a brand, a record label, a group... There was a bar that said 'you sell records but a G-G-G you not.' And all it was, was a metaphor. I didn't know what I created. Next thing I know fans started yelling G-G-G U NOT! [They] started making T-shirts and the movement it got bigger than me."

Check out a sneak peek at tonight's 'Behind the Music' episode, starring Game.

Earlier in the month, Game told Billboard.com that he's already working on new music. He's currently working on his fifth studio album, "FIVE: Fear Is Victory's Evolution," and is set to release his mixtape, "California Republic," by the end of the month. While in the studio, Game continues to promote his recent album, "R.E.D. Album." Yesterday (March 21), Game debuted his video for the Kendrick Lamar assisted, "The City," on RollingStone.com.

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