Los Angeles NALIP Convention

The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) is a national membership organization that addresses the professional needs of Latino/Latina independent producers. NALIP is the first such effort aimed at Latino production in thirty years, and it is the first to last more than one year and to provide ongoing support for the Latino independent film and video makers. We stand as the premiere Latino media organization, addressing for nine years the most underrepresented and the largest ethnic minority in the country – (Nalip.com, 2009).

I became member in October 2008, when my Executive Leadership class professor sent us an assignment to participate in a professional organization where we could work and present our ideas.

In April 2009 I flew to Los Angeles just to attend the Nalip Convention in Newport Beach. That was a really nice experience. When I arrived to Los Angeles I immediately

set up different meetings with different TV and movie producers. I had the chance to meet several professionals who transforms their passion in facts.

The facilities were amazing. Each booths had different products such as: new technology, professional film festivals around the world, TV networks (HBO, Lifetime, NBC, Spike TV, Telemundo), conferences and others presented a fun of the weekend.

As I said, I met important professionals from NBC, HBO Latino, Focus Films, Televisa Mexico and Puerto Rico. I dealt and negotiated with all of them. I had several products that I interchanged with them. Right now I’m talking with one of the producers (from Mun2 – NBC) regarding a musical TV production that I have. The negotiation and communication between us is good. I have my fingers crossed. Wish me luck!!!

Negotiation and deal making with foreign producers

Discovery Kids’ Lazy Town (2008) and Hi-5 (2009) are two of my favorite works. I produced these live shows for the first time in Puerto Rico. Lazy Town presents an excellent and colorful show that broke record in assistance with 40,000 Puerto Rican kids. My work as a producer included: negotiation and deal making with clients, coordination, finance aspects, supervision of my production staff and to make important decisions.

I love producing live shows in Puerto Rico. People know me and know how I make things right. I became a leader and a respectful professional because I represent (produce) serious projects and I can deal with all the requirements the client ask me. Organization is the key to develop a successful project.

The Brazilian executive producer of Lazy Town Live Show Celia Rafael from EXIM in Brazil sent me a thankful note thanking our attention during this production in Puerto Rico. The email was written half in Portuguese and half in Spanish:

Josema, Quiero agradecer la atencion dispensada a mi equipo e principalmente o cariño que ustedes nos dispensaram em estos dias. Para nosostros fue maravilloso esta experiência con ustedes. Espero realmente que podamos trabajar juntos en otros proyectos. Espero ustedes en San Pablo en breve.

(Josema, I want to thanks all the attention you gave to my staff especially for the help you gave us those days. For me these past few days were wonderful with you. I hope to work with you again in other projects. I will wait you soon in Sao Paolo.)

With Hi-5 I had the chance to shine. I really know (for the second time) what I did. I presented a convenient platform to develop this entire extraordinaire project. Once again we presented a great, organized and wonderful live show to the kids and they, for sure, loved it. My labor as producer was done. I made things happen and I transformed this show in a big success. Once again I received a note thanking me for the professional attention:

Josema querido! Mil gracias por tu mail, desde ya fue un placer conocerlos y como te dije… para

mi ha sido una hermosa experiencia. Éxitos en todo, espero verlos muuuy pronto! Estamos en contacto. Besos! Andre. – (Andrea Donato, Production manager for AINES Argentina, 2009)

(Dear Josema, thanks for your mail. It was a pleasure meeting you and as I said it was a wonderful experience. Good luck and I hope I can see you all very soon. We'll keep in touch. Kisses, Andre).

I felt very satisfied. I felt that I am good of what I do. I felt great!!!

Producing excellence to our people

I as an event producer have the opportunity to work with many artists in different ways. For example, when I first started to work in this Industry I worked with “reggueton” artists. Puerto Rico is the home of the “reggueton”. “Reggueton” is a controversial urban rhythm with dirty dancing movements that has an important position within the Latin entertainment industry. I had the chance to work with the most important “reggueton” artists. I work with: Don Omar, Tony Dize (as a road manager), Jayko, Zion, Akon, and Wisin & Yandel among others.

Another important execution I made was the creation of a new department inside our office. Acisum Group Kids is a new office that is in charge of kids needs, presenting colorful and dynamics live shows. The goal of Acisum Group Kids is to produce and work with educational shows including themes of nutrition and family unification.

During this year (2008-2009) I have the chance to apply the elements I learned on Full Sail in my Master Degree program (Entertainment Business) and definitely, as a leader, I can say that these elements gave me more security and strength executing my daily obligations. Artist management, negotiation and deal making, finance, global business, mobile and Internet marketing are classes helped me to present myself in this competitive world and be more secure and success.

From 2008 to 2009 I had the chance to work with important shows such as: Discovery Kid’s Lazy Town, Don Omar Sinfónico (international and successful reggueton artist and actor), Objetivo Fama Concert (Puerto Rico first reality show viewed by more than 10 million Latinos in PR and USA) a Christmas eve TV special (for an important Latin Network: Univision Puerto Rico), Grammy Award winner Elvis Crespo’s Concert (tropical music), Discovery Kid’s Hi-5 and many others.

As you see, producing is my passion and it creates and promotes the leader within me.