I handed out flyers, babysat, cleaned houses and produced movies. That was the reality of Melissa Gutiérrez Clavijo (Bogotá, 33 years old) when she arrived in Los Angeles to pursue her dream of being an audiovisual producer. She already had a career in her native Colombia and a master’s degree from the New York Film Academy, but when you’re a Latina woman in the United States, opening doors requires extra effort. Her experience shaped her, she taught her to see the world from different perspectives; but she also never takes refuge in any excuse. Now, her portfolio has more than 40 productions, many recognized or awarded; She has been vice president and head of production at a video marketing agency with over 250 employees and has worked on over a thousand commercials. She recently co-founded and became the creative head of another audiovisual production company that produces more than 2,500 videos a month that are distributed primarily on social networks. She is an emerging face, at the forefront of a Latin wave that is slowly changing the landscape of the industry.
Ask. What challenges did you face when moving to the United States?
Answer. The language was a big challenge. Although I spoke and understood it, it is one thing to speak it in Colombia and another to study your master’s degree completely in English and then lead a production set with at least 40 people in charge in English. I also faced challenges with the work permit. It is a stressful process because you never really know where your home is: whether in your country or in the United States, due to the need to renew the permit every two or three years, which generates a lot of uncertainty and anxiety.
Q. How would you describe your production style?
R. I differentiate myself because each person in me set I care, I make them feel valuable and important. When people know that you believe in them, everything changes. My style is very hands on, I’m not the producer who stays in an office. I help my team as much as I can and if I have to move furniture with them, I do it.
Q. What role has your Colombian identity and heritage played?
R. All! Being in Colombia I never had the pride that I have now of being Colombian. Our people are incredible: we are hard-working, friendly, respectful and curious. I think I fell more in love with my people when I left the country and that is why I love maintaining the link with Colombia and helping to make us a reference country for alliances with the United States in the future.
Q. What strategies did you use to establish yourself and stand out in a market as competitive as the United States?
R. I think one, my faith, and two, being myself, without trying to change my accent or my way of being. Many people want to get to the top by “acting like the boss” without knowing how to be a leader. They have chosen me for being humble and wanting to help. This industry is full of egos and conveniences, and I got to where I am by treating everyone equally and being kind. Another strategy has been consistency. I haven’t stopped since I arrived and to get somewhere you have to be consistent and know that the sacrifices will be worth it.
Q. How do you select the projects you work on? What criteria are essential for you?
R. In the past there was no selection, I accepted whatever came because I wanted to make myself known and improve with repetition. Now, I am fortunate to be able to choose the projects I want to invest my time in. I am very interested in stories with substance, especially if they are based on real events. I love well-told dramas, stories that make people leave the cinema questioning things, and in the future I would love to do more faith content.
Q. What advice would you give to young producers looking to make their way in the entertainment industry in the United States?
R. Let them arrive with great humility because the industry is already full of people with egos. Let them continue producing as much as they can in their country so that they have solid bases when they arrive. Let them train, because the United States has very different rules and everything is much more structured. The producer is the owner and manager of the project, if something goes wrong, it will fall to them.
Q. How do you see the evolution of Latino representation in the film and television industry in the United States?
R. It is growing a lot. Both Latinos working here, as well as American projects seeing the advantages of recording in our countries due to tax incentives and the quality of the workers. After the pandemic, I see Latin America as a great ally for the US economy and I believe that in the coming years there will be even more remote opportunities.
Q. Have you faced any cultural or gender barriers in your career and how have you overcome them?
R. Everywhere there are people who will see you as the immigrant woman, but I feel that, beyond receiving a look or comment, it has not happened to adults because I like to show with my work and thus earn respect.
Q. What motivates you to continue innovating and looking for new projects in the industry?
R. Promote employment. There is nothing more rewarding for me than giving people job opportunities and helping others fulfill their dreams, get out of debt and support their families. That for me is a great motivation as a producer and businesswoman. I love the psychology part of the image, how an image or movie can impact someone’s brain and how they make decisions depending on the images you present to them. I love combining that psychology with data, like how many percent of people saw an image because of a flashy actor or because of the story. I will not be the traditional film producer, I will always be at the forefront and in search of how to measure impact through data and AI.
Q. Can you share any memorable anecdotes from your experience working on projects in the United States?
R. I always like to say that in my first jobs at commercial agencies in Los Angeles, I started as an assistant and was quickly promoted to producer. Then I went to another much smaller agency, and unintentionally, I grew it to the point that I was the direct competition of my first bosses for five years. Not long ago they called me again to not only work with them but also co-found a company. It is a nice anecdote because it shows all the steps, from assistant, producer, senior, VP and now Chief and cofounder.
Q. What legacy do you hope to leave in the production industry and how would you like to be remembered in the future?
R. I want to be remembered as the Colombian woman who provided countless opportunities and jobs, helping many people fulfill their dreams. I want you to know when you see a film produced by Melissa Gutiérrez that it will make you think, reflect and cry.
