John Tarnoff
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John Tarnoff (b. 1952) is a 30-year veteran of the media/entertainment business, with broad management experience as studio executive, film and interactive producer, and technology entrepreneur. He is based in Los Angeles, CA.
Tarnoff’s current focus is to develop stronger ties between the Media/Entertainment industry and higher education, addressing the challenges of preparing new talent for this rapidly evolving industry in the digital age. As a consultant, he is developing strategies and programs for clients including Carnegie Mellon University Heinz College's Masters of Entertainment Industry Management graduate program,[1] the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, and ACME Network, a digital distance learning company.
Previously, he served as Head of Show Development at DreamWorks Animation.[2][3][4] His department oversaw a number of future-oriented agendas for the company, including the company’s internal artistic enrichment program, its outreach program to schools in the CG animation space, and developing strategies for the “front end” of the animation process, including visual development, design and storyboarding.[5]
Some of the films he has been responsible for include Diner, The Year of Living Dangerously, Pink Floyd The Wall, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and The Power of One.[6][7] A co-founder of Village Roadshow Pictures, he pioneered U.S./Australian co-productions in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[8][9]
Tarnoff branched into multimedia development in 1994, licensing the interactive rights to Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four[10] and creating the game BIG BROTHER based on the book. He and director John Badham co-wrote the successful PC/PlayStation game WarGames, based on Badham's hit movie[11]).
From 1995 to 2003, he was the co-founder of Talkie, Inc[12] a technology company that created online conversational animated characters for marketing, brand building, lead generation, customer service and training.
Tarnoff holds a B.A. from Amherst College, and a M.A. in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. He grew up in New York and Paris, and is a passionate still photographer.
References
- ^ "John Tarnoff Named Head of MEIM Industry Relations for Heinz College". Carnegie Mellon University. 2010-05-28. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
- ^ Nominees Unwind at the DreamWorks Brunch http://oscartour.animationblogspot.com/2007/02/25/nominees-unwind-at-the-dreamworks-brunch-chocolate-foscas/
- ^ Ringling Hosts DreamWorks http://spotted.heraldtribune.com/photos/index.php?id=1870648
- ^ Oscar Tour Comes to a Close at DreamWorks http://www.awn.com/blogs/oscar-tour-travelogue/oscar-tour-comes-close-dreamworks
- ^ Toon Talent Flourishes at Annecy - Variety June 11, 2006 - http://variety.com/2006/film/news/toon-talent-flourishes-at-annecy-1200337995/
- ^ Time Magazine: "Running the Film Backwards," March, 1980 - http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,921905,00.html
- ^ Digital Media Summit 2009 - http://www.digitalhollywood.com/%231-06MediaSummit/UnivMedia06Three.html
- ^ NYTimes:"The Delinquents" credits http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/131969/The-Delinquents/credits
- ^ National Library of Australia: "Blood Oath" (aka "Prisoners of the Sun") credits http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34705255?versionId=42986735
- ^ Zeitgeist Werks Consulting Deal w. Tarnoff re: Big Brother http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Zeitgeist+Werks+strengthens+senior+management+team%3B+signs+consulting...-a018534547
- ^ Mobygames listing Wargames Defcon1 credits http://www.mobygames.com/game/playstation/wargames-defcon-1/mobyrank
- ^ Talkie Launches Online Characters for Conversational Customer Service http://www.tmcnet.com/enews/061301a.htm