PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
Raquel Ben�tez is an award- winning media executive with extensive experience in children's and family entertainment. She has worked in a variety of academic and professional positions in the United States, Canada, Asia, and Europe, with a particular focus on conceiving, creating and developing audiovisual properties and preparing them for the international market. Ben�tez holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in cinematography, broadcasting and communications from the Complutense University of Madrid, where she is also a doctoral candidate in arts and communications, an MBA from the University of Barcelona, a master's degree in broadcasting and various audiovisual diplomas from other institutions, and a certificate in entertainment law from Osgoode Hall at York University in Toronto. She is a member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers and many international audiovisual organizations, and has served as a curriculum developer, guest speaker and instructor at many colleges and universities, including the Complutense University of Madrid, Louisiana State University, the University of Teesside (UK), the University of the Balearic Islands (Spain), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain), Centennial College, Kennedy College of Technology (Canada), Digital Media Arts School (Canada), the Boss program (Jamaica), Krea8tif (Malaysia), Programa de Aceleracion Naranja (Costa Rica), and the Toronto Film School, among others. She has written a number of software programs and books that are now considered the industry standard, and currently works as a producer and executive producer at Comet Entertainment Inc., where she is also the chief operating officer.
Throughout the years, there have been numerous how-to books written by experts on how to bring your creative project from the page to the screen. The number of guides on producing entertainment content for the market can often be overwhelming. As the explosion of streaming content in recent years changes the media landscape, up-and-coming producers have more opportunities than ever before to roll up their sleeves and get to work as soon as inspiration strikes. That's why this handy book by industry veteran Raquel Benitez Rojas is such a fantastic addition to the genre of how-to books dealing with live action and animated filmmaking. Raquel, who is a well-respected producer internationally, is the founder and president of Toronto-based Comet Entertainment Inc., a global company that offers advice on obtaining rights and producing properties for the worldwide market. She has over 35 years of experience in animation, production, licensing, and distribution, and knows the ins and outs of production and distribution in many territories around the globe. What makes her take on the business different from others is her practical knowledge of the inner workings of the industry, because she herself has directed and produced content for TV, digital media, and theatrical releases. She reviews all the various steps of a project, from the earliest stages of development, through financing, clearing rights, hiring writers and artists, production, signing co-pro deals, and taking advantage of global tax credits, all the way to licensing, merchandising, distribution and residuals. --Ramin Zahed, Editor, Animation Magazine
