TEAM

Peter Martin

FOUNDER + CEO

Peter is an Academy Award nominated & Emmy winning Producer. He is a Creative Futurist and a recognized thought leader in next generation entertainment.

Peter embraces emerging technology to create engaging, immersive content, his erudition extending to virtual character creation, holograms, and storytelling in Virtual Reality and XR.  Peter is a valued thought leader and has been a keynote speaker about the future of storytelling at conferences around the world.

Specializing in the creation of Virtual Humans, XR and Holographic work, Peter has Directed a number of pioneering virtual productions: M.I.A. & Janelle Monae Audi A3 launch holographic duet, Run the Jewels "Crown" VR music video for NYTVR, Capturing Everest, an Emmy Winning 4-part series for Life VR & Sports Illustrated, Smithsonian Museum Cinematic 6dof VR for Intel, Justin Timberlake’s “Montana”: An Immersive Experience for Paul Allen’s MoPop. And most recently, “The March VR”. a groundbreaking Virtual Production for Time magazine, featuring a virtual representation of Martin Luther King performing his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech in front of a crowd of 300,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial.

Brian Schmitt

CCO

Brian is an image-maker working across media in design and technology, collaborating with athletes, artists, musicians, coders, architects and others to create groundbreaking experiences. His background combines creating iconic visuals for software and communication with space and experiential design to make seamless, imaginative work in any format.

At VALIS, Brian leads creative with Peter Martin, integrating their knowledge to create new engaging formats and content like the Holodome mixed reality experience with Justin Timberlake at MoPop.  At Apple, Brian worked on branding, designing and launching products and software in the Human Interface team and Worldwide Marketing groups.

He has also partnered with Google, Microsoft, GoPro and many start ups to create innovative brand and product initiatives. Brian’s design career started in-house at Nike where he designed multi channel experiential programs for advertising, retail, PR, showrooms, athlete signings, events and energy marketing for Air Force 1, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, the World Cup and the Olympics.

Ari Palitz

COO

Ari Palitz is an award winning Director and Producer in feature film, documentary, commercial, music videos and virtual reality. Palitz produced the live action elements for Arcade Fire’s “The Wilderness Downtown,” directed by Chris Milk.  This interactive video went on to win the Gran Prix at the 2011 Cannes advertising awards in the Cyber category as well as the FWA (favorite website of the year) Award.  

He has also entered into the world of Virtual Reality story telling – working as a Producer with Here Be Dragons and Within on: Clouds over Sidra, Waves of Grace, “The Possible” series, U2’s “Song for Someone”, NYT “Take Flight”, and 30 episodes of TRVLR for Discovery VR and Google. 

Since joining V.A.L.I.S. Ari has been the lead producer on both the Justin Timberlake and MLK “March on Washington”productions.

Lauren Selig

LEAD ADVISOR

Lauren is an entrepreneur and executive with a 18-year track record of global impact in the entertainment, real-estate and start-up communities. Selig executive produced the Elton John biopic Rocketman, the Academy Award winning film Hacksaw Ridge directed by Mel Gibson, and American Made starring Tom Cruise

In the immersive space, Selig was the Head of IMAX VR and created the Facebook 360 studio bringing important content strategies to the emerging VR ecosystem, with a major focus on key areas such as audience development, talent partnerships, and community building.   

Lauren has Executive Produced multiple projects for V.A.L.I.S. including the Smithsonian American Museum of Art VR project and Justin Timberlake’s immersive project for Paul Allen’s Vulcan. She also partnered us with Endemol to produce the first virtual reality summit of Mt. Everest. 

Selig's other up and coming development projects include Neal Stephenson's best selling sci fi book The Diamond Age, the documentary Dudamel with Participant and live entertainment events world wide.

PR

MAY 2020

Where Can Virtual Concerts Go After Travis Scott’s Fortnite Extravaganza?

FEBRUARY 2020

Shockingly real Martin Luther King Jr created for virtual reality experience

DECEMBER 2019

Resurrecting the Dead and Reversing Aging: Why Actors Are Worried About CGI