Community Highlights: Meet Agustin Caccuri of Operative #16 Entertainment

Hi Agustin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began my journey in entertainment at a fairly young age. By the time I was  thirteen years old, I was already visiting TV studios in Argentina to help out  with production. I was fortunate enough to grow up with my stepdad, who is a  producer and had his second series Abanderados (a late-night variety show  focusing on Argentinean soccer players) airing around that time. It was heaven  for a kid like me, hanging out with my soccer idols and getting to know people  who would eventually go on to become major stars in the European Leagues!  

After high school, I started working “officially” as a production assistant for my  stepfather’s company while studying International Relationships at university. I assumed the job at the production company was a temporary gig, something to  

keep me busy until I completed my studies, but it turned out I was wrong. I  became even more attracted to the entertainment industry, its unique dynamic,  and the challenge of getting compelling projects over the finish line. I became  an assistant on the unscripted show Resto del Mundo which had a fun-loving  host, Donato de Santis, who was known as Gianni Versace’s chef during the  ’90s. He used to cook in the studio, and I was in charged of getting the  ingredients he needed for the menu every week. I’ll never forget the time he did pasta with calamari and black squid ink. I was in the studio bathroom,  scrubbing to get all that ink out of the pots and pans… it was such a mess!  

My stepfather’s production company was growing at a fast pace, securing high profile clients, and running three shows simultaneously. It was the best hands on learning experience I could ever ask for. Branded content, commercials,  travel documentaries, historical series, even fashion-related shows: I got to  experience the inner-workings of all of them. A favorite of mine was working  with the classic French automobile brand Citroen, covering the World Rally  Championship with eleven-time world champion pilot Sebastien Loeb and the  amazing Citroen Rally Team.  

After eight intense (but amazing) years, I decided to step aside. I realized that it was time for a change. In 2014, I moved to LA to pursue the TFT Producing  Program at UCLA. It was a life-changer for me. I followed up the program with  my first internship at Langley Park Pictures (founded by Kevin McCormick) on  the Warner Brother’s lot. It was a huge shift from a smaller, independent production company doing unscripted series to a major studio releasing global  blockbusters like Gangster Squad and Arthur. I had to learn everything all over  again, from the ground up, and in the process, I fell in love with development,  filmmaking, and the industry in general. I realized Los Angeles was the place to  be, the “big leagues” as the saying goes. I enrolled in school again, this time at  UCLA Extension, with a focus on development and screenwriting. I co-wrote my first screenplay Treasure Hunt, a comedy/action-adventure (Pineapple Express meets The Goonies), alongside my writing partner and close friend James Rabb,  another former Langley Park intern. Later, I became an assistant at Voltage  Pictures, working under Academy Award-winning producer Nic Chartier and his fearless team. Another amazing opportunity to learn and grow with the best  executives in the industry. Currently, I’m tapping into my experience in  scripted and unscripted content to create and develop projects in both spheres,  under my own production company, Operative 16 Entertainment. It’s a relative  new endeavor, but I am very excited about this new opportunity in my life. It  feels the right direction to take, and in this industry, you always trust your gut.  

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every day is a struggle. That’s filmmaking, and the entertainment industry in  general. LA truly is a jungle, and you have to fight every minute you’re out here  or you’ll be eaten alive. Throw in frequent earthquakes, blazing forest fires, and  day-long rush hours, and you’ve got an idea of what to expect. One of the first  things I was told when I arrived that stuck with me was, “This town is  aggressive, you have to be aggressive.” I wasn’t sure quite what that meant  initially, but in time I understood. You have to work hard and deliver  consistently exceptional results.  

This whole year was a challenge. I launched a production company right before  a worldwide pandemic struck, endured months of uncertainty and a crushing  personal loss (my father passed away in Brazil due to complications from Covid 19), and still had to juggle a short film shoot and proof-of-concept for a travel  docu-series. You think everything is going in one direction, only to have it turn  upside down the moment after. That’s the industry in a nutshell. So, you have  to face these new realities, take on those new responsibilities, and move forward. I’m thankful for what I’ve achieved, mindful of what I’ve lost, and  ready for whatever comes next.  

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Operative 16 Entertainment was founded in January 2020. With an ever increasing slate of projects, now felt like the right time to bring it to life. The  name was inspired by Los Angeles and the golden age of Hollywood, specifically those film noir classics like Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, and Sunset Boulevard.  It’s actually based on a true story I’m working on turning into a mini-series with my writing partner. 

The goal of Operative 16 Entertainment is to create and develop original  content for film and television, both scripted and unscripted, within various,  sometimes unexpected, markets. We seek to find a perfect balance between the  artistic, commercial, and above all, the entertaining. By examining different  markets at the same time and looking at what’s being produced, we can  determine where that content overlaps and has universal appeal. I’m also  leveraging my experience in domestic US and Latin American markets to tap  into a much wider scope of viewership.  

At Operative 16, we are strongly committed to developing concepts in more  creative, exciting ways. For example, our latest project, Cemetery Man, is a  travel docu-series about cemeteries and the afterlife, hosted by Tommy  McLoughlin, the writer and director of Friday the 13th: Jason Lives. The show is  currently in development, and I am extremely proud of our one-of-a-kind  contribution to the travel documentary format. The entire team is passionate  about the project, and we’ll be shooting the pilot at one of the most iconic  places in Los Angeles, Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Plus, Tom is a true silver screen legend!  

Another thing that sets Operative 16 Entertainment apart from others is the  amazing team surrounding it. My right-hand man and writer/co-producer,  James Rabb, who loves writing horror films but will dive head-first into any compelling story, and my left-hand lady, Lisa Eaton, a creative genius/director  with a dance and choreography resume a mile long. Then there’s me, the  persistent, ever-optimistic (you have to be) producer with an ceaseless passion for the pitch! So, we all bring something unique to the table, and it makes us  very versatile, open-minded, and creative.  

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those  who are just starting out?
Be patient, be calm, be tenacious. I know its hard (the things worth doing  always are)! Savor the learning and growing process, be the absolute best  version of yourself, and don’t forget about your values and human decency.  Those things should come with you to LA, or wherever you venture. Don’t  change because others think you should or tell you it will make you successful.  It won’t, it’ll just make you generic. Be nice, be kind, be cool, and enjoy the ride!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://operative16ent.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/operative16ent/

Image Credits
James Rabb Tommy McLoughlin Lisa Eaton