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UTB-CBIRD Report: “At The Crossroads” Economic Development 149
Aventura Entertainment
Digital Maquilla Creation
Know-how Capital Talent Infrastructure Research
Media/Software VC/Incentives Skilled Labor User 3D Animation
Brian Godinez was born in Houston
and grew-up in the Rio Grand Valley
near the city of Pharr. He has 30
years of professional experience: 21
years devoted to media and
entertainment in Hollywood,
followed by 9 years as an Austin
Technology Incubator (ATI)
entrepreneur where he started two
successful .COM companies. He
lives in Austin, but works in the Rio
Grand Valley five days a week.
Brian Godinez has a unique
perspective on starting a high
tech business in the Valley. It
centers on an understanding of
regional hi-tech resources,
binational industry advantages,
Hollywood business experience,
and the “track record” of being
a successful entrepreneur.
He believes that within twenty
years the RGV could become a
global media center, if a
successful shift into the digital
economy can be achieved.
Aventura Entertainment was started in 2001 to develop video games and
animation content with Latino themes for Spanish television. Traditionally the
majority of animation is outsourced to overseas companies in Asia, to which Mr.
Godinez responds, “Why not create digital maquillas in the Rio Grande Valley to
manufacture Latin American and Mexican media here instead of Asia?”
Aventura plans to corner the lucrative Latino animation market by building an
industry for the creation of digital content. Mr. Godinez’s business model is
focused on two main goals: Creating significant return for the investor, and
creating new media jobs throughout the South Texas border region and Mexico.
Mr. Godinez believes in the regional importance of higher education and he is
currently working with both UTB/STC and TSTC to link course offerings to
Aventura Entertainment projects. Digital imaging media programs at TSTC in
Harlingen have an enrollment of 270 and Mr. Godinez states, “In three to four
years, the program should produce students with state-of-the-art programming
skills who are also competent in the creative aspects of media production.”
Aventura Entertainment is not relying 100% on Valley talent. The company is
also recruiting animators in Mexico City and increasing industry awareness in
greater Mexico. The plans are to locate this digital media maquilla on the U.S.
side of the border and connect to Mexican operations via fiber to establish and
maintain binational partnerships.
One obstacle to nurturing such a digital animation cluster in the Valley is the
need for “regional smart infrastructure” that specifically relates to digital
media/entertainment including legal services that can address intellectual
property issues. The key challenge, however, has been to raise venture funds.
But as more businesses come into the creative content cluster it will spawn more
companies coming to the region. The thought that Hollywood companies might
bring their competition to the LRGV leaves Mr. Godinez undaunted. “I would love
to see Sony or Disney come to the Valley and set up their own digital maquilla.
As an entrepreneur, it would be beautiful to see this region become a star in the
digital arena.”
One Region -- One Future
Within twenty years the
RGV could become a
global media center
producing high quality
digital animation for
games, television,
feature films, and
similar markets.
“The region needs to
have local angel
investors. While regional
investors are
accustomed to investing
in maquila deals, digital
media is new to them. If
these investors are
educated and organized,
they should find the
digital media industry an
exciting new opportunity
with tremendous
potential returns. This is
not a dot com or a
software company. I’m
talking about a fast
growing segment of the
video and digital gaming
industry. There are huge
opportunities for
investors.”
Brian Godinez
President, Aventura
Entertainment, 2002