We were lucky to catch up with Blake Vaz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Blake, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I have taken quite a few risks in the pursuit of my creative passions. I moved to LA almost 20 years ago chasing a music dream. I left everything behind to try to make it with my rock band in Los Angeles. We knew no one in LA, we had no connections, nothing. I knew there was nothing for me back in my home town.

I grew up in the border town if El Paso/Juárez, in those days there was not a scene or as much opportunities for creative people so the only way to pursue my goals was to leave to LA. My first marriage had just ended, I had to young children, I had just graduated from College and I was struggling to find work. Leaving my children, my family and friends behind was one of the hardest things I’ve done, and it was a struggle to adjust, but I knew I had to leave to reach my goals.

We struggled as a band in LA to find our stride but once we did we had an amazing run selling out local venues and developing a solid following. I was visiting my children every time I could and every time I was able to afford it. The troubles of a struggling artist were multiplied for me since I had to provide for my children. Eventually the kids moved to LA with me and I was a single father for almost 10 years. In the process the direction of my creative life changed, from being focused on the band to being focused on my filmmaking career.

Little by little I was kicking down doors. I ended up working at the LA Times as a programmer – my bachelors degree is in Computer Science – but I wanted to move to the content side. I convinced my boss to let me do both. I started covering games, concerts and events with the reporters, we started to create short form content when youtube was barely starting.

This career move landed me in an ad agency where I became the Director of Branded Content. It was there that I had a trial by fire, learning to produce and direct, and expanding my editing skills on the job. In the process we created amazing branded content for brands like Lexus and Wells Fargo, and even ended up wining an Emmy Award for my work as a producer.

I was in a comfortable place but I wanted to keep growing, I made a decision at the agency to move to the production department which ultimately resulted in me being pushed out of the agency. A risk that back then seemed like a bad one but once I left I was able to finally focus on launching my own production company Valagardo Productions.

It’s been 5 years and we’ve produced award winning content and films and I have been able to finally focus on producing and directing horror films which is my ultimate passion, None of this would have happened without the risks I took on the way.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a native of the Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas borderland, I am a singer, writer, musician, director, and EMMY® AWARD Winning producer.

I have over 12 years experience creating digital and branded content, I started my content career on the news media side working for one of the largest publishers in the country, the TRIBUNE COMPANY.

As the Digital Products Manager for Tribune’s Hoy Newspaper, I was part of the team that was instrumental in the development of new digital properties, curating and creating content as the Newspaper world transitioned into a digital first strategy.

As the Director of Digital Content for Walton Isaacson, I had the opportunity to create unique multicultural content for international brands like Lexus, Spalding, McDonald’s and Wells Fargo. At the agency I brought “VIDALEXUS PRESENTA Té Para Tres” to a larger audience by spearheading the relationship with the Lexus Brand and the show’s creators, to produce two seasons of the Emmy Award Winning TV show. As a producer of the show, I received an Emmy Award in the Magazine Show category.

As part of the production team at the Dallas, Texas based advertising agency WALO, I produced the social media content campaign for the NETFLIX show, THE TACO CRONICLES. At WALO I also produced branded content and commercials for brands like JARRITOS, 7Eleven and others.

Some of the projects I am most proud of include, the music documentary web series, VIDALEXUS PRESENTS: Reengineering Popular Music with Raquel Sofia. A widely successful music series that I created, developed, wrote, produced and directed for Lexus, we even released an EP and a live series of shows to promote the project. I also directed and edited the Youtube series HYUNDAI HELPERS, a DIY show that teaches the audience how to do the basics of everything from car upkeep to maintenance with the help of a few furry friends. And HYUNDAI HIGHWAYS, an acclaimed travel show that takes viewers on a
road trip to 6 National Parks across the United States in an electric vehicle.

I also own a small production company called VALAGARDO PRODUCTIONS, we produce branded content, commercials, films and TV shows like Adventure Nation, an outdoor adventure reality show which I cohosted and produced, and short films like BLOOD STAINS, which I wrote, produced, directed and scored and has won various awards at prestigious film festivals around the world. The horror short film “L.U.N.A.”, a modern take on the Haunted House genre, with hints of gothic horror and Italian Giallo which is currently in the film festival circuit and has already won multiple awards at prestigious horror film festivals. L.U.N.A. just had its LA premier at the Academy Award qualifying festival LA Shorts.

Other projects in development include the Giallo Inspired feature “JAUNE” and the crime short film “MATCHES”.

I am extremely proud of VALAGARDO PRODUCTIONS and the team we have put together, our clients are constantly praising us for the professionalism, talent and over all vibe on set.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

As I mentioned before, I have pivoted a few times in my career. I have always been a creative mind, I was involved in music and video since my teenage years but it in the back of my mind I always thought it would be close to impossible to make a viable career in the arts, especially in my home town.

Because of this I decided to study Software Engineering, I have always been interested in programming and the tech world, plus just like now, the internet was starting to take over and the career possibilities in that world seemed endless.

While I was going to college I got married and became a father, so my life took a turn and I was focused on graduating and getting a good job to provide for my family. Unfortunately my marriage didn’t last but I had to wonderful children that I am extremely proud of.

As my life shifted so did my goals, and I decided to give my creative career a real chance, that is when I moved to Southern California. I pursued music for years but we realized that popular music, as it always does, was going through shift and the brand of rock we played was not something that labels were interested in. So I pivoted again, this time focusing on creating content for brands and becoming a full time filmmaker.

The great thing that came from having experience in those other avenues is that I can use those skill in my current career. A great example of this is music, my band and I score most of the films I produce and sometimes even get to write music for my clients commercials.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I am an extremely hard worker and super passionate about what I do, but if I wasn’t also resilient, I would not be where I am now.

Perseverance is a super power, and it has been the number one thing that has kept me alive in this business. EVERYONE gets rejected, sometimes your art is not viewed or appreciated in the way we wish it did. I have learned that most of the time it’s not because it’s not good but because it’s not being appreciated by the right audience.

All I can say. is never compromise your creative vision; adapt, pivot, search, collaborate, listen to advise from the right people, but never compromise. If you absolutely love what you do, if you are passionate about the art you are creating, don’t stop, the right audience will find you.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.blakevaz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blakevaz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blakevaz
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakevaz
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/blakevaz
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BlakeVaz
• Other: https://www.valagardoproductions.com http://www.valagardo.com