Oscar-winning production designer Robert Stromberg (Avatar, Alice in Wonderland) is currently filming his directorial debut, Maleficent, but already has his sights set on his next project.  Billed as a mash-up of Avatar and Jurassic Park is the large-scale adventure picture, Safari, which is set up at the new production company Hydra.  Stromberg recently joined the new banner along with established pre-vis company the Third Floor, Avatar concept artist and production designer Dylan Cole and veteran storyboard/comicbook artist Mark Moretti.  For more on what's in production at this unique alternative to studio development, hit the jump.

Variety reports that Stromberg has joined the Hydra team and will sit the director's chair for Safari. The new production banner is set up to give filmmakers a head start in landing studio financing by developing pitch-vis presentations.  From Chris Edwards, the CEO of Third Floor:

"Many of the 'pitch-vis' trailers we've created for our clients have resulted in fully funded, greenlit productions.  These successes convinced us to join forces with world-class filmmakers, production designers and other storytellers."

Here's a good example of a pitch-vis presentation for a Halloween remake from Federico D'Alessandro:

Here's Stromberg's assessment of Hydra:

"Now that I'm doing my own films and seeing what it takes to get something off the ground, I can tell you Hydra is an exciting next step for anybody who has an idea.  With projects that have been sitting around a long time at a studio, it could rejuvenate those that would be potentially never be made."

Also in production at Hydra is The Otherworldly Adventures of Tyler Washburn, a family film based on the children's book written and illustrated by Cole.