Hollywood and social games are forging an alliance as both pursue wider audiences. The latest link between the two is Zynga’s appointment of DreamWorks Animation chief executive Jeffrey Katezenberg to its board of directors. Katzenberg is the first member of the social game company’s board who isn’t from Silicon Valley.
The move will certainly raise awareness of Zynga in Hollywood, as Katzenberg is one of the most important movie moguls, with film credits such as the Shrek animated film series. With Katzenberg on board, Zynga could have a much easier time making movie-based games, winning promotional tie-ins or even seeing movies based on Zynga games.
“Jeffrey redefined storytelling when he launched DreamWorks Animation,” said Mark Pincus, founder and CEO of Zynga. “He turned an independent studio into a brand name, and his vision will be an asset as we work to define the future of play. Jeffrey and I have been friends for some time, and I knew he’d be a great fit for the board after he suggested that the blockbuster of 2011 could be ShrekVille."
Continue Reading at VentureBeat
