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Steven Ilous

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Steven Ilous
Born (1981-06-02) 2 June 1981 (age 45)
Seattle, Washington
Occupations
Years active1999–present

Steven Ilous (born 2 June 1981) is an American entrepreneur, director, writer, and producer. He is the founder and CEO of Feature (Feature.io), an entertainment technology company behind the racing franchise Lollipop Racing.[1][2] He began his career in visual effects at Stan Lee Media and worked on over 18 films, including The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions and The Polar Express.[3]

As a director, Ilous's short film Polis won New Regency and Defy Media's PROTOTYPE competition in 2015, earning a first-look development deal at New Regency.[4] In 2016, Mandalay Pictures purchased his science-fiction project Apex.[5]

Career

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Ilous has worked independently as well as for some of the leading film makers including Sony Imageworks, New Regency, Legendary, Warner Bros, DreamWorks and 20th Century Fox.[6]

Early career and visual effects

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He began in visual effects at the age of 18 working with Stan Lee at Stan Lee Media, where he became a Senior Animator.[7] He was part of a core team to produce the first ever webisodic animated series using Macromedia Flash.[8] One year later, he became a part of the visual effects team on The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. In 2004, Ilous helped create facial motion capture technology used in The Polar Express, Monster House, and Beowulf.[9]

Directing and writing

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In 2008, Ilous teamed up with Michael Davidoff, Bill Rosenthal, and Steve Freeman to write The Life and Times of Jimmy Jaxx for 20th Century Fox, an animated series loosely based on the life of Tommy Lee.[10] Ilous then made his directorial debut in commercials with the World of Tanks video game teaser for Gamescom 2011. The video has received over 10 million YouTube views and took 60 artists 60 days to create.[11] He has also directed and produced music videos for Electric Youth, Bloody Beetroots, Theophilous London, Gary Go, and Benny Benassi.[12] His music videos have appeared on MTV, VH1, and CMT. Ilous also created original video content for Kanye West's live tour which debuted at Lollapalooza in 2011.[13]

2088 and Polis

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In November 2012, Ilous released a proof-of-concept teaser for his sci-fi feature film project 2088. Described as "a visual style reminiscent of Blade Runner",[14] Wired.com summarizes "The brief piece of “found footage” sells a gritty urban vision of the future, when cops from Los Angeles’ Non-Human Crimes Division get squashed by a Transformers-meets-King Kong robotic thug."[15][16] 2088 was subsequently developed as a feature-length film project.[14]

In January 2015, New Regency and Defy Media announced Ilous and Daniel Perea the winners of their filmmaking competition PROTOTYPE.[17][18] The two won with their 5-minute short film, Polis, a sci-fi thriller.[19] The competition's prize was a development deal with New Regency to develop Polis into a feature-length film.

In March 2016, Mandalay Pictures purchased Apex, a science-fiction project by Black List writers Dan Frey and Russell Sommer developed with Ilous, who was attached to direct.[5]

Feature and Lollipop Racing

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In 2021, Ilous founded Feature (Feature.io), an entertainment technology company.[2][1][20] In July 2024, Feature signed with WME.[2] Ilous is the named inventor on the company's patent applications covering its Smart Content technology, filed in the United States, Europe and Singapore.[21][22]

Feature's project is Lollipop Racing, a racing franchise combining a 10-episode scripted series with an interactive motorsport game, written and executive produced by David Ayer with showrunner Marisha Mukerjee.[23][24] In October 2024, Porsche Cars North America announced its participation, integrating the 911 GT3 RS and 911 GT3 R, with Mobil 1 as presenting sponsor.[23][25][26]

In May 2026, Lollipop Racing partnered with Bingo Racing to field a Lollipop-liveried Porsche 911 GT3 R in the SRO Japan Cup; the car won Race 2 of its debut round at Sportsland Sugo.[27][28][29]

Filmography

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Feature films

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YearTitleCreditNotes
2016Poor BoyExecutive ProducerReleased
TBA2088Director, writerScript
TBAPolisDirector, producer, co-writerIn development at New Regency
TBAApexDirectorPurchased by Mandalay Pictures[5]
2020Drunk BusProducerReleased

Short films

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  • 2088 (2012) (director, writer, editor, producer, visual effects)[30]
  • Polis (2014) (director, co-writer, editor, producer)[31]

Television

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Commercials

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Other credits

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Public speaking

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In 2017, Ilous gave a TEDx talk, "The Hidden Power of Questions", at TEDxCulverCitySalon.[6] He spoke at the Outer Edge LA conference in 2023[36] and presented Lollipop Racing at Avalanche Summit LATAM in 2024 and Avalanche Summit London in 2025.[37][38]

Ilous has served as a guest lecturer at the USC School of Cinematic Arts along with DJ Hauck. He also acted as Gotland Games Awards judge and guest lecturer from 2009 to 2011 at Gotland University a division of Uppsala University in Sweden,[39] an institution with the first video game education program in Northern Europe.[40]

References

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  1. 1 2 "David Ayer Officially Boards NFT Series 'Lollipop' Which He Will Write And Exec Produce". Deadline Hollywood. April 26, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Entertainment Technology Company Feature.io Signs With WME (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. July 24, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  3. ↑ "VIDEO: SCI-FI TEASER 2088 CRIMINALIZES ROBOT PUNKS". Wired.
  4. ↑ "New Regency, Defy Media Announce Winner of Short Film Competition (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter.
  5. 1 2 3 "Mandalay Bolsters Slate Following 'Birth of a Nation' Sale (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  6. 1 2 "The Hidden Power of Questions | Steven Ilous | TEDxCulverCitySalon". YouTube. March 3, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Stan Lee Tweets Shout Out To Sci-Fi Film Competition Finalist". Empty Lighthouse Magazine.
  8. ↑ "Stan Lee's Original Webisodes to be Auctioned as NFTs". CBR. 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  9. ↑ "FacePro Automates the Task of Realistic Facial Animation" (PDF). Computer Graphics World. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 28, 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2008.
  10. ↑ "Tommy Lee tooned up as 'Jaxx". Variety.
  11. ↑ "In a Place Post Brings Epic Scale to World of Tanks Trailer". BTL News. Archived from the original on August 6, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Internet Music Video Database". IMVDB.
  13. ↑ "Kanye West Visuals". Youtube.
  14. 1 2 "ROBOTS TERRORISE LA IN FOUND FOOTAGE TEASER '2088'". NewMediaRising.com. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  15. ↑ "Video: Sci-Fi Teaser 2088 Criminalizes Robot Punks". Wired.com. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  16. ↑ "Cops Vs. Killer Robots, in the Dazzling First Teaser for the Short Film 2088". Gizmodo. November 19, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  17. ↑ "DEFY MEDIA AND NEW REGENCY ANNOUNCE THE WINNER OF SHORT FILM COMPETITION "PROTOTYPE"". Escapist Magazine. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  18. ↑ "Defy Media Chooses Sci-Fi Thriller As Winner Of 'Prototype' Contest". Tubefilter. January 21, 2015. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Short of the Week - POLIS". OneRoomWithaView.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  20. ↑ "The Feature Inc. (company no. 5669016, incorporated March 25, 2021)". OpenCorporates, from Delaware Division of Corporations records. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  21. ↑ WO application 2024233322, Steven Ilous, published 2024, assigned to The Feature, Inc.
  22. ↑ EP application 4705984, Steven Ilous, published 2026-03-11, assigned to The Feature, Inc.
  23. 1 2 "Porsche joins first-of-its-kind streaming series and interactive motorsport game, "Lollipop Racing"" (Press release). Porsche Cars North America. October 10, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  24. ↑ "'Minecraft' With Jason Momoa Lands 2025 Release; 'Aquaman 2,' 'The Color Purple' Swap Dates – Film News in Brief". Variety. April 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  25. ↑ White, Emmet (October 10, 2024). "Porsche Bringing 911 GT3 RS, 911 GT3 R to Interactive Streaming Series". Road & Track. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  26. ↑ Vega, Gabriel (October 10, 2024). "Porsche To Star In Interactive Racing And Fictional Series". duPont Registry. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  27. ↑ "From Screen to Grid: Fictional Racing Phenomenon Lollipop Racing Brought to Life with Bingo Racing in SRO Japan Cup" (Press release). PR Newswire (The Feature, Inc.). May 27, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  28. ↑ O'Connell, RJ (May 18, 2026). "Hitotsuyama Ferrari, Bingo Racing Porsche Victorious At Sugo". Dailysportscar. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Porsche makes victorious Japan Cup start along with Nürburgring top-10 trio" (Press release). Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific. May 18, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  30. ↑ "The Future Is Teased In Our First Look At Indie Sci-Fi 2088". Twitch Film.
  31. ↑ "Watch: Steven Ilous' Futuristic Sci-Fi Short Film 'Polis'". The Hollywood News.
  32. ↑ "Tommy Lee tooned up as 'Jaxx'". Variety.
  33. ↑ "In A Place Post Delivers Epic Vibrancy To Latest World Of Tanks Trailer". Broadcast News Room. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015.
  34. ↑ "World of Tanks. Gamescom 2011 Teaser". Youtube.
  35. ↑ "World of Warplanes trailer". CGPress.
  36. ↑ "Steven Ilous". Outer Edge. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  37. ↑ Lollipop Racing: Transforming Traditional TV with Avalanche with Feature — Avalanche Summit LATAM. Avalanche via YouTube. November 10, 2024. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  38. ↑ How Lollipop Racing is Leveraging Smart Content Tech w/ Mobil 1 & Porsche — Avalanche Summit London. Avalanche via YouTube. May 28, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  39. ↑ "Guest Lecturers Steven M. Ilous, Writer & Director". Department of Game Design. Gotland University. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  40. ↑ "SPONSORS DONATES OVER 300 000€ TO STUDENT GAME SHOW" (PDF). Department of Game Design. Gotland University Press Release. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
[edit]
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