PRODUCER: RAFAEL ANDREU
Executive Director, Co-owner, RAMM Animation Inc.
Specializing in cartoon
animation, RAMM was responsible for the cartoons in Plaza Sésamo
for Latin America (19 countries)
for more th
an
6 seasons. Other cartoon series include 2 seasons of animated comical
shorts for Canal + (Spain and France) TV series, educational animated shorts
and series for Imevision (Mexico, now TV Azteca), and the Ministry of
Education, Mexico (SEP), music videos using cartoons with live action for
Latin artists Willy Chirino, Jerry Rivera, Francisco Céspedes, and Jannio.
Other animation credits include various projects for Univision, Televisa,
Antena3 (Spain), Canal + (Spain and France), Hanna Barbera/Cartoon Network
among others. Commercial work has been extensive including Cerveza Corona,
Cerveza Modelo, Volkswagen, Chevrolet, Mexicana de Aviación, SONY Music, and
many advertising agencies in Mexico. Rafael Andreu has been the Technical
Director for all of RAMM’s projects and directed and/or produced many of
them as well. RAMM animated a series of interstitials for broadcast in
Spain and work was included in the UNICEF Cartoons for Children’s Rights.
Mr. Andreu has directed over 9 hours of production in animation and many
more in live action both for the movie and TV industries. He still
represents series like “Mafalda” (over 100 episodes) from Argentinean
cartoonist Quino, which he co-produced, for sale all over the Americas. For
Spanish TV in Miami, Mr. Andreu co-wrote, directed and produced two sitcoms:
Segundo Aire and Triunfo Records. He also co-directed and edited both El
Hombre de los Líos and El Crucero de la Alegría, (sitcom series13 - ½ hour
TV episodes each).
As a digital specialist in systems (SGI and Windows-based workstations), Andreu has been a pioneer in the field of digital animation making RAMM a beta test site for various high end software packages and digital output devices, including Windows NT software for Microsoft, Softimage TOONZ; JVC´s Digital line of VTR´s; just to name a few. Directing a staff that at times grew to over 65 artists, 6 computer artists and 3 software and hardware developers, Andreu directed the development of specialized software to meet the needs of a growing computer-based animation industry.
In heading up the RAMM Animation studio Mr. Andreu has drawn upon his vast prior experience as an editor, cinematographer and producer/director in live action, animation and special effects as well as educator to work on projects in the early stages of development. In conjunction with Kevin and DeShaun Humes, Andreu worked on the development and production of an animated cartoon series Angel Babies, consisting of 26 half hour chapters for television. With Nathaniel Shuck and John Grippando Mr Andreu worked on the development and production (ATL) and presentation of the animated feature The Little Miss Misty Cinder. In Aris Pekis, a Spanish language cartoon series (26 ½ hours) for TV, Mr. Andreu provided the production and direction. And for the feature film Jazzbo (in development) Andreu worked alongside Eric Goldberg (director), Dick Hyman (music) and Irv Bauer (writer) to develop the preproduction, the presentation package and the above the line budget for investors.
In addition to work with moving images for television and film, Andreu has always worked in the development of emerging technologies applied in the audiovisual industry. He was responsible for the design, development and administration of various WEB sites including the City of Miami Beach Arts Council and the main cultural citywide event 2nd Thursdays and the Emmy Award winner TM Systems from L.A. He has also been part of team researching new ways to host and provide podcasting services.
1992-1994
Technical Director and Production Director, Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica, part of the “Estudios Churubusco Azteca”, Secretary of Culture, and the National Center for the Arts in Mexico City, Mexico. At Mexico’s largest film studio and school, responsibilities included the design and purchase of a post-production suite, 2 TV studios, and a sound stage, with a multi-million budget. As Technical and Production Director oversaw the production of all student projects (some of which were recognized at Cannes Film Festival) -- 43 shorts in video, 18 - 16mm shorts and 3 - 35mm features per year. Additional responsibilities included the purchase and appropriate distribution of all technical material and equipment used for these productions in both video and film and the development of curriculum and the teaching of that material in both TV and Video Production. He was also in charge of the relations of the Center with the providers: Kodak, SONY, Nagra, and many other service providers and industry companies.
1986-1990
Director of the Video & TV Department and Professor, Escuela Internacional de Cine y Televisión, San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba. International Film School started by Nobel Prize Gabriel Garcia Marquez with students from more than 25 nations.
1975-1986
Unidad de Televisión, Consejo de Estado, Havana Cuba. As Director of the President’s Press and Historical Records Video and Television Department responsibilities included the design, purchase and installation of the post-production suite and the video production units as well as directing the Department, overseeing every aspect of its operations (both equipment and talent). Andreu coordinated all foreign TV interviews with the President (both technically and logistically) with all major TV networks and studios.
Education:
Engineer, Tele-Communications
University of Havana, Cuba.
Professional memberships:
1984-present
Voting member of SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers)
1991-present
Voting member of ACM (Association for Computing Machinery)
2001-present
Member, Florida’s Task Force for Entertainment, Fashion, TV and Film.