Not only did Anthony E. Zuiker develop a blockbuster television series; he built an entertainment empire that transformed television programming and advertising as we know it. A world-wide phenomenon, the CSI franchise has taken up regular residence in Nielsen’s weekly Top 10 broadcast ratings, received an astounding 28 Emmy nominations and helped CBS regain its spot as the number-one rated network on television. In July of 2011, Zuiker, and his production company Dare to Pass, signed a three-year first-look deal with ABC Studios to develop new scripted series in partnership with Brillstein Entertainment Partners. They are currently in development on their first project for the network, a one-hour drama called Chameleon.
At the podium, Zuiker shares his journey from a down on his luck kid from Las Vegas to television luminary in an inspiring and motivational program that ignites ambition and brings audiences to their feet. Zuiker’s innovations and success in cross-platform story-telling also provide an insightful and informative look at the future and ever-changing landscape of media and society. He encourages corporations to react to today’s changing economic climate and throw traditional paradigms out the window. While many do not understand the digital space and are constantly trying to catch up, Zuiker is consistently years ahead of the game. With boundless energy and enthusiasm, Zuiker inspires the creative side of any corporate team to increase productivity, visualize new strategies and identify creative solutions.
Zuiker’s trek to the pinnacle of success is a legendary Hollywood rags to riches story. As a struggling young writer, Zuiker operated a tram for Las Vegas’ famed Mirage Hotel to make ends meet. Soon enough, his talent for writing brought him to Hollywood, where his work found its way to Hollywood mega-producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Through endless creativity and determination, he wrote and produced his first feature film, The Runner, and soon followed his success with the launch of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Currently, Zuiker is applying his creative talents to the emerging world of cross-platform storytelling. This fall, Zuiker will debut Cybergeddon, a motion picture event in partnership with Norton that will launch on Yahoo! in a series of installments over 10 weeks and in 10 different languages. True to his storytelling form, Zuiker engaged Norton by Symantec to leverage its technical credibility and security insights to help inform and guide the narrative.
In addition, on Friday, April 13, 2012, Zuiker fittingly launched BlackBoxTV, his new YouTube premium channel in partnership with director Tony E. Valenzuela and Collective Digital Studio. BlackBoxTV will introduce new horror, thriller and sci-fi online programming and feature Zuiker’s own anthology series, Anthony E. Zuiker Presents, creating a testing ground for new pilots and projects that push the boundaries of scripted entertainment.
In addition to re-inventing television, online programming and motion pictures, Zuiker has delved in the world of publishing. His interactive three-part Digi-Novel series Level 26. The Digi-Novel took the best features of books, film, and interactive digital technologies and combined them into a unique storytelling experience. Written and directed by Zuiker, the digital component of Level 26 has been collectively viewed more than a million times and the site has grown to include over 100,000 members.
Zuiker’s memoir, Mr. CSI, published by HarperCollins, was released in November 2011.
