Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jacobo Aparicio Garcia. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Jacobo thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?
Among the different key subject matters that are impacting the entertainment industry at the moment, the potential incorporation of artificial intelligence might be one of the most discussed in 2023. It’s something that I’ve been trying to research as much as possible throughout this year, especially as a way to better understand, identify and anticipate upcoming trends. For that reason, I recently attended a three-day conference with experts and companies from numerous fields to learn as much as I could –all of us coming with tons of questions, and a healthy desire to learn and share experiences. It was fascinating to see the different possibilities of application that this technology can have, and moreover, it was interesting to know that for the most part, it’s something that is currently being regulated. Hence, arguably some of the most interesting panels and conversations were with lawyers (within the entertainment field, but also beyond), as they are focusing on building safe guardrails for our society to utilize such an impressive technology, while also studying the ethical dilemmas that stem from some potential uses of AI, and making decisions accordingly. It felt clear that AI can be used in highly impactful ways (likely to keep growing and improving quickly), yet, one of the main takeaways shared at the event, and most interesting for me, was that Storytelling is meaningful to the degree that it comes from a human idea, themes and voice – otherwise, what’s the point?
Jacobo, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I work at Anonymous Content, a production and management company, primarily across film, TV and commercials, and where I mainly focus on our global efforts to produce mostly TV, as well as film and documentaries. I got into this industry after college, where I had started studying journalism and mass communication, and halfway through I decided to focus on what I was personally enjoying the most: film and TV. I first worked in New York, in advertising and later in production, later moved to LA to focus on development and writing, then moved back to Madrid (where I’m from) to work at Warner Bros., and after a year I returned to LA, doing the Producers Program at UCLA while working at a management company and developing a series. In February of 2020 I finally started working at Anonymous Content, where I still am, enjoying the vibrant atmosphere built by the legacy of founder Steve Golin and the incredible colleagues and mentors that lead the company today and with whom I have the good fortune of working with.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I had always been very interested in two seemingly disconnected things, that in my life, became increasingly intertwined: Soccer and Film/TV. Growing up in Madrid, I played soccer, reaching a point in which I joined Rayo Vallecano, a professional team that currently plays in La Liga (Spain’s first division). However, as the prospect of having a long career as a professional player was feeling increasingly unlikely (injuries, seeing other teammates who I thought were outstanding being cut, etc), and with Spanish soccer clubs of that type of tier, and top Spanish universities not really offering much support to continue doing both things, I ended up setting my sights on the US college sports system, where it was possible to combine both. That allowed me to study and finish my undergrad education in the America, already in one of the capitals of the global media industry (New York City), and helping me to access professional opportunities in the field that I had always dreamed of being part of.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
This is something that I work on a daily basis, hoping to constantly improve, but for the most part, I tried to follow the advice and behavior of the mentors that I’ve had at past jobs, and especially at my current company (Anonymous Content) – among many others, I’ve tried to learn from all of them: diligence, respect, honesty, creative integrity, and being empathetic with the hard work that others put in their own work, and appreciative for them sharing it with you. All of that is being built above a pillar of responsibility, teammate mindset, collaboration and discipline that my years playing soccer forged on me.