Production 101

In Production 101, noted producer and executive Raquel V. Benítez Rojas provides a clear, concise and practical summary of the fundamentals of film, television and multimedia production. Topics covered in the book include:

- Copyright and moral rights

- Legal organization of a production company

- Submission forms

- Option, purchase and writing agreements

- Assignment and waiver of rights

- Non-disclosure and non-circumvention agreements

- Teasers and test samples

- Co-productions

- Canadian content regulations

- Budgets and schedules

- Insurance

- Distribution

- Rights acquisition

- Merchandising

The numerous sample agreements and documents included in the book serve as useful templates for students and professionals alike.

“… this handy book by industry veteran Raquel Benitez Rojas is … a fantastic addition to the genre of how-to books dealing with live action and animated filmmaking. 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

Author Biography

Raquel Benítez 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. Benítez 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.