CHELSE BENHAM
1707 RENEE LN  EDINBURG  TX 78539  TEL: (956) 3429-2482 CHELSEBENHAM@GMAIL.COM / WWW.CHELSEBENHAM.COM
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HIGHLIGHTS
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“November Warriors”
The History Channel
Associate Producer
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“Empires of Industry”
The History Channel
Associate Producer
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PROJECT
“Mighty Mississippi”
The History Channel
Associate Producer
“America’s Castles”
A&E
Post-Production
Supervisor
“The Healing Journey”
Documentary
Producer/Editor
“Sausalito and Alluring
Getaways”
Documentary
Producer/Editor
“Opera by The Bay 2001
Festival”
Documentary
Producer/Editor
“Caught By A Midwife”
Documentary
Producer/Editor
____AWARDS____
2011 Gold ADDY
(Regional)
Bucky Challenge
Mobile App Game
2010 Webby
People’s Choice Award
http://www.ReeltoRed.com
Website
2010 W3 Award
ReeltoRed.com Website
2010 Telly Award®
“Who Knew?” Web
campaign
2009 Lone Star EMMY
The Heart of Experience
2009 Communicator
Award “The Heart of
Experience”
_AREAS OF EXPERTISE_____________________________
Strategic Development of Television Production Programming Initiatives
Organizational Proficiency of Staff Supervision, Management &
Operations
Grant Writing & Cultivating Funding
Acquired funding for the campus wide TV Network – Supervised
Infrastructure Installation & Operations
Program Development; Pitching, Treatment, Budget and Script Writing
Directing/Producing
Non-linear Editing and Post-Production Supervision Expertise
Media Coverage Coordination, Promotions & Marketing
Public Relations
Public Speaking, On-air Talent
Journalism, Professional Writing
_ UTPA _EMPLOYMENT RESPONSIBILITIES____________
The University of Texas-Pan American - Edinburg, TX · (2003 to Present)
Radio/Television Production Supervisor, Director & Founder of Reel-to-Red Productions and
The UTPA Campus Vision Network, Developer of the UTPA Regional Digital Television Network
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Instrumental in the development of the regional UTPA Digital Network
partnership with PBS affiliate, KMBH TV 60
Supervisor of the University Relations Internship Television Division
Supervisor for UTPA Campus Vision Network
Director of Reel to Red Productions, oversee staff of 10
Grant writer for television production programming initiatives (acquired a total
of $650,000 in funding for equipment, full & part time positions)
On-air Talent/Reporter/Journalist - broadcast
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PROFESSIONAL Highlights/ ACCOMPLISHMENTS at UTPA_ ______
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2007 Meritorious Service Award The University of Texas-Pan American in
recognition of outstanding performance and dedication to the Division of
External Affairs
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Developing a Digital Television Network for UTPA in partnership with KMBH
TV 60 and Time Warner Cable.
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Co-creator of the UTPA TRiO Film Workshop that produced dramatic trigger
film, “Dead Letter”: an educational kit that includes: DVD of the film, a
counseling facilitator’s guide and comic book. A student produced educational
film dealing with serious teen issues – to be used in all TRiO programs across
the country. It created a 1 Week Summer Film Camp on the UTPA campus.
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____AWARDS_____
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Created television production unit in the Office of University Relations from
start-up position to fully functioning. Secured more than $512,000 in resources
for operations budget, production equipment and staff in an effort to reach three
main goals: (1) programming production, (2) duplication and (3) distribution of
Hispanic television programming.
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Initiated, implemented and developed the Reel to Red Productions. R2R has
completed two short films that are used in high schools to “trigger” dialogue
among at-risk teens and counselors. It built a native Apple app sports game
“Bucky Challenge” to promote UTPA. Produced local programming and
managed campus network. http://www.reeltored.com
2007 The Aurora Awards
Platinum
“Dead Letter”
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Secured $148,000 to resuscitate, up-grade and expand the "UTPA Television
Network" closed-circuit television system.
2007 McAllen Film Festival
Audience Award for Best Film
“Dead Letter”
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Wrote a Texas Parkes and Wildlife grant and secured $41,000 in funding to
build a 1.5 acre native garden & outdoor lab. (Project Manage / UTPA Campus
community Service)
2007 Lone Star EMMY
“Dead Letter”
Screen Writer/Director/Editor
2007 Ava Awards Platium
“Dead Letter”
2007 Lone Star EMMY
Nomination
“UTPA Today Show”
Supervising Producer/Talent
2007 Ava Awards Gold
“UTPA Today Show”
2007 Videographer Awards
Award of Excellence
“Dead Letter”
2006 Aurora Award
Gold
“Going Nowhere”
2006 The Communicator
Award
“Going Nowhere”
2005 Lone Star EMMY®
Nominated
“Going Nowhere”
2005 Telly Award®
Finalist
“Going Nowhere”
2002 Telly Award®
Finalist
“Caught By A Midwife”
2002 New York Independent
Film Festival
“The Healing Journey”
2001 New York Festival finalist
“The Healing Journey”
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
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Virtual Media Mavens, LL (2011-present) – Principal Owner - Boutique Online
Marketing, Web Design, and Digital Media Production Agency
www.virtualmediamavens.com
Cycle Vision Network (2011 -2014) – Chief Marketing and Programming Officer
– Online television network centered on the global Moto GP racing circuit
Silhouette Studios – Knoxville, TN · (1998 to 2002) Owner/Producer – Full
television production & promotion services
WVLT TV CBS – Knoxville, TN · (1995-1998) Promotions Producer/Director
AVID Editor
Jupiter Entertainment, Knoxville, TN (contract) Assoc. Producer “Mighty
Mississippi” and “Empires of Industry” mini series The History Channel
Cinetel Productions, Knoxville, TN (contract) – Post-Production Supervisor for
“America’s Castles” series for A&E; Associate Producer for “November
Warriors” mini-series The History Channel; “Carol Duval Show” Home &
Garden Television
Shadowplay, Knoxville, TN (contract) – Producer/AP in commercial production
John Henson Associates, (1991-94) Austin, TX – Office Manager
Kevin Madison Law Offices, (1989-91) Austin, TX - Paralegal
2001 Vision Award Finalist
“Caught By A Midwife”
2001 Vision Award Finalist
“Beyond the Golden Gate”
2001 The Communicator
Awards
“Caught By A Midwife”
EDUCATION___________
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The University of Texas-Pan American –
MBA – Marketing (18hrs)
MFA-Creative Writing (18hrs) consecutively
MA- Film and Theater (Graduated 2007)
2
Academic Awards
__AWARDS_cont.___
2001 The Communicator
Awards
“Beyond the Golden Gate”
2001 AXIEM Award
“The Healing Journey”
2001 Jade Award
“The Healing Journey”
2001 Telly Award
“The Healing Journey”
2000 AXIEM Award
“Celebrating Knoxville”
2000 AXIEM Award
“Celebrating Knoxville”
1999 South East Regional
EMMY
“Celebrating Knoxville”
1999 Platinum Aurora
“Celebrating Knoxville”
G
1999 Society of Professional
Journalist,
Golden Press Card
“Celebrating Knoxville”
1999 ADDY
2007 Golden Key International Honor Society
2007-2008 UTPA Excellence Scholarship
2006 CLASE/Coors Light Academic Success in Education Award Recipient
2005 Lone Star EMMY Scholarship - Graduate Student Recipient,
2005 Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities &
Colleges
The University of Texas, Austin – Bachelor of Science in Radio, TV and Film
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COMPUTER SKILLS______
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Proficient Final Cut Pro Editor, Adobe Creative Suite CS5 proficient – Motion
Graphics, After Effects Motion Animation, Photoshop, Word, Powerpoint, Prezi,
Web Designer – Wordpress for Developers, web design
- eCommerce – multi product/multi view, 1-click Checkout
- Membership websites
- Promotion Landing Pages
________ PUBLICATIONS__
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* Columnist for Rio Grande Valley Woman Magazine (2006)
* Columnist for the South Texas regional newspaper The Monitor provided
weekly business article front page of the Valley Jobs section, Sunday edition.
(2003-2005)
* Two chapters published in the University of Texas’ “Communication
Technology Update Textbook,” Austin, TX (1994)
* “Hungarian Media After Communism” (1994)
http://www.utexas.edu/ftp/pub/eems/hungary.html
1998 ADDY
SCREENPLAYS
“Descartes’ Folly”
Sci-Fi Thriller
Author/Screenwriter
“Lawn Chairs”
Comedy
R2R Productions’ story
Scriptwriter
“Dead Letter”
Drama
Author/Screenwriter
“Going Nowhere”
Drama
Author/Screenwriter
THEATRICAL PLAYS
“Arcadia”
Director
of
UTPA Jeffers Theater
___________AFFIIIATIONS_____
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* Board of Directors for the Texas Motion Picture Alliance (TXMPA)
* Officer, Board of Directors for the RGV Film Commission
* Officer, Board of Directors for the RGV Educational Broadcasting
KMBH-TV60 PBS affiliate, Harlingen, TX
* RGV Association of Grant Writers, TX (RGV AGP)
* National Academy of Television Arts Sciences (NATAS)
* International Television Association (ITVA)
* Chair, UTPA Staff Senate
FELLOWSHIPS & PROFFESSIONAL AWARDS__
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* 2007 U.S. Professional Development Fellowship for INPUT 2007 - One of 10
Producers chosen as a U.S. Delegate, awarded by
The Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB) Lugano, Switzerland
* 2007 Meritorious Award for the Division of External Affairs The University
Texas-Pan American
* 2006 Digital Content Lab Fellowship AFI (American Film Institute)/CPB
* 2005 U.S. Professional Development Fellowship for INPUT 2005 from CPB
U.S. Delegate, San Francisco, U.S.A.
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