Meet EUGENIO GUERRA | ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCER

We had the good fortune of connecting with EUGENIO GUERRA and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi EUGENIO, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
One of the most important decisions I made in my career was to diversify my work. I have always had the opportunity to work in two of the most important areas in the entertainment industry: television production and talent public relations. I have managed to intertwine these two professions, in addition to having a broader vision of what music and Latino entertainment are in the United States and Latin America. Coming from Mexico, the birthplace of Ranchera music, Tex-Mex, Pop music, Rock in Spanish, Regional Mexican music, and all the new fusions, has helped me understand the vast spectrum as well as the large audience for all of these genres. Moreover, life has given me the opportunity to work at the two biggest TV networks in the United States, which has greatly contributed to expanding my contact and relationship network.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Of course, the path has not been easy. As an immigrant, you always have your heart divided in two, thinking about family but also about professional development. My first project was at a local television station in Miami, a daily magazine program where we talked about various current topics. I proposed talking about entertainment and bringing artists, singers, and actors to present their projects. That’s where my career began, 22 years ago in Miami. At that time, the industry was growing, and I was fortunate enough to meet professionals in the television field, such as producers, journalists, and many talents who were looking for an opportunity to be on TV, acting or singing as well. That’s when I saw a job opportunity: to bring together the talents with producers or find a production for each of these people. And if there wasn’t a production, then I would create one from scratch. I became a producer of music video programs, interviews, and reality shows. I’ve had the privilege of working on the most important special events in the television and music industries, such as Premio Lo Nuestro, Premios Juventud, Latin Grammys, Billboard Music Awards, Latin Music Awards, and Teletón. The latter became quite a challenge because it’s a television show with a positive message for the audience; we had to raise funds, but above all, “entertain” our viewers with a live show for 18 hours.

The biggest challenges in this career are that it’s a very changing world, but life gave me one of the tools I value most: my adaptability to work. I enjoy my job and the environment so much that I can do everything and enjoy it equally. It’s a very competitive world, but I’ve learned that every person is unique, and each one has their own talents and singular way of working. I really enjoy working as a team to achieve a successful final show. Working in the entertainment industry is working with hundreds of people at the same time, and perhaps the people who watch television or listen to a song have no idea how many people are involved in 5 minutes or 3 hours of a television show.

Technology has advanced so much in recent years that the television and music industries have changed a lot, but I think it’s a matter of working as a team and never letting the magic of seeing our artists on screen, listening to their music, or watching their videos or a concert on television fade. We must always be encouraged to continue reinventing the way we produce. Let’s remember that the main goal is always to entertain the audience.

What would I like the world to know about me? That I love my work and that I respect each and every part that moves this great machine called the entertainment world. That my passion is seeing my colleagues realize their dream of recording a song, making a telenovela, presenting an award, singing with other artists, seeing them in a theater play or in front of thousands of people at a concert. I want the world to know that I believe in the magic of creating success stories of talented and persevering people. And above all, knowing that I have contributed to their success, which becomes part of mine. Collaborating in the success of everyone I work with makes me successful too.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Definitely, Miami has a magic and charm that everyone wants to experience. I’ve been fortunate to witness the development of this great city, which, although part of the United States, is made unique by its majority population, with almost 90% being Latino. Its beaches are filled with Latin music from Cuba, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Brazil… All these countries and more have turned this city into a blend of flavors and rhythms. South Beach is an iconic place for any visitor to Miami. It’s the birthplace of this great city, as it’s where the first celebrities came to live. Having a meal at Smith and Wollensky in South Point while watching the Miami sunset is, for me, a spot no one should miss. Also, catching a glimpse of the departing cruise ships passing in front of you is magical. Meeting up there with friends I’ve known for 25 years and being able to introduce them to new friends in such a place is relaxing, and you can spend hours talking about old anecdotes while enjoying the Miami sunset, the view of downtown, the port, and of course, Fisher Island.

Miami offers a great breakfast in Brickell, a relaxed afternoon in Wynwood, a little walk while people-watching in the Design District, and why not? End the day in Key Biscayne at a very laid-back spot in front of the bay like El Chiringuito, a Spanish place where, between sangrias and tapas, you can enjoy the sea breeze and Miami’s blue skies. Calle 8 holds history for me, so I would never leave it out of a tour, and Coral Gables with its beautiful trees is an important part of the experience for any guest of mine in Miami.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The success in my personal and professional life is primarily due to the support I have always received from my family. Graduating from one of the best and most recognized universities in Mexico helped me take my first professional steps. Working in the private sector in the areas of marketing and advertising was the first big step in my career. Once I arrived in the United States, I was introduced to the world of television production and became part of the growth of the Latin music industry in Miami, as well as the production of soap operas and series made by Latinos for Latinos living in the United States. Starting from the bottom many years ago laid the foundation for my experience, and new technology has made it possible for a dream to become a reality simply by opening my contacts list in the industry. Writers, singers, musicians, actors, directors, models, photographers, composers, hosts, presenters, journalists, announcers… all of them and more can be found in my phone list. There is a great passion that drives my life, and that is the entertainment industry, music, television, the media… transmitting all of that to the public, that’s what moves my life.

Instagram: @EUGENIOMIAMILIFE