Today we’d like to introduce you to Hugo
Hi Hugo, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m Cuban born and arrived to the U.S. via Spain.
Not knowing a word of English, I learned the language taking ESL classes at school as well as watching TV, mostly newscasts.
My parents would encourage me to be outside playing, but I preferred the news and would tell them that one day I would work in television, though I did not know the first thing about the industry.
Cut to finishing High School and starting college, which lead me to my first taste in the entertainment world.
My first gig, so to speak, was as an intern at a local news station in Miami. That internship would develop into the talk show genre as a production assistant at Univision Networks with the Cristina Show, which was considered the Spanish language Oprah.
After several years in the Spanish language market, I began to get opportunities in the general market, still within the talk show genre in Miami, Chicago, and Brazil.
It was until one day an executive producer sold me on a show which would produce in Los Angeles. With that, the west coast was not on my radar. She convinced me to join the production team with the idea of returning to the east coast if I didn’t like Los Angeles.
To my surprise, I fell in love with LA and the west coast!
Soon I was working within celebrity entertainment shows for TV Guide Network, FOX Networks, backstage at the EMMY Awards, red-carpets, etc. I couldn’t get enough!
It wasn’t until I was in Miami one year visiting my family during hiatus that I met who would soon become my current employer.
Eight years later I am still with KSA Entertainment as the Vice President of TV Production.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Is there ever really a smooth road? That would be a hard NO! But, years later, the moments of chaos are the moments in which you learn more and develops you into a better person.
Some challenges I’ve faced are;
Being fired…this one is huge within the entertainment industry, especially with new management, which 95% of the time they will bring in their core group.
Another challenge was being told I don’t look Latino enough! Mind you, I’m dating myself to the times before any “me too” movement.
I didn’t know back then, or even today, what it means to look Latino, let alone enough! I remember that my work spoke for itself back then because I stayed with that company many years.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a seasoned TV Producer with almost 30 years in the industry.
Current title is VP, TV Production for KSA Entertainment. We’re a production company with several shows focusing on lifestyle, entertainment, news, and also a Span-glish show.
I’m most proud of seeing my parents light up when they speak of what I do for a living. Their enthusiasm is worth more than any of my awards or accolades.
I set myself aside from others by showing my passion in what I do. I recently read a quote that says, “the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” That spoke to me as my truth in my worlk!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is different for everyone. For me, success is realizing that you are making a difference and you learn to appreciate what’s important in your life.
For me, there’s room for everyone in your specific industry. Just enjoy the ride, be proud of yourself, and start appreciating traveling, especially on your own.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dailyflashshow.com
- Instagram: @hugoarenas
- LinkedIn: @hugoarenas
- Twitter: @hugoarenas
