Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Valencia.
Hi Veronica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a southern California girl born and raised, and while I didn’t have a clear idea of what my journey would be or what type of career I wanted to pursue early on, there were signs along the way that helped shaped my path, I just didn’t know it at the time! One of my biggest passions growing up was anime. I loved anime (still do) even before I realized it was anime when I would watch Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z on Toonami. When I was in middle school, you could say I was a little obsessed. Okay, A LOT obsessed. I was so dedicated, I would even get up at 3 am every morning just to watch my favorite show, Inuyasha. It was through my love for anime I began exploring my creativity. During those awkward years, I created AMV’s or anime music videos and it’s exactly as it sounds. I’d assemble anime clips over Simple Plan and Backstreet Boys songs! At first, I created simple slideshows, then I slowly started playing around with video clips, effects and training myself on more advanced video editing software. Creating AMV’s started out as a hobby, but it gave me experience in content creation, a field I didn’t even know was a thing. Aside from anime, I was also a TV junkie growing up and my first introduction to the entertainment industry came after high school when I took a job as a background actor, another experience I didn’t think much of at the time, but would later prove helpful in deciding my future goals.
When I attended university in New Jersey (which was a crazy choice because I hadn’t visited beforehand or had any family nearby. I was alone and 3,000 miles away from home for the first time), I had no idea what I wanted to do. I’d heard about broadcast media, and after looking back on my past experience with AMV’s and working on a set, I realized my interest in production, but what clicked for me was when I’d appear on camera for film projects. I thought to myself, “I want to be an entertainment host.” I grew up as an artsy kid partaking in dance, cheer, theater you name it! I had no problem putting myself out there in front of an audience, and I felt just as comfortable stepping in front of a camera. For me, hosting was the PERFECT combination of working in media while also incorporating creativity and personality.
After graduation, I landed my first hosting job. Later, I applied to be a host at Maria Menounos and Keven Undergaro’s online broadcast network AfterBuzz TV. I learned how to produce more organized shows, while also hosting content for a variety of genres from reality TV shows like Survivor to comic book adaptations like Deadly Class. I then had the opportunity to work as a content creator for Geek Bomb, delivering content on all things geeky, as well as The Trendy, a brand focusing on celebrity news and entertainment. Most recently, I’m back on the anime train as a writer for Crunchyroll. In 2019, I hosted the Anime Expo Livestream which has been one of my favorite experiences. I attended my first anime convention back in 2007 but never did my 13-year-old self think I’d be on the other side of the event working as a host. It was one of those moments where my life felt it had truly come full circle.
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?
Easy and smooth sounds like a dream, but my journey has been met with lots of bumps and filled with insecurities. I had a couple of breakdowns and anxious nights when I struggled to find a job. I had even more breakdowns and anxious nights when I went through a layoff and my finances were becoming overwhelming to keep up with. I’d heard the horror stories and the struggles people face when chasing their dreams in entertainment. I’d heard people say you need to have thick skin. I’d convinced myself I knew what to expect, that I could handle any negativity thrown my way and brush it off, but boy was I wrong. In order to keep moving, there was a point I was working multiple jobs. I also lived an hour outside of LA and had a grueling commute every day. “It’s not great, but it’s doable,” is what I’d say when people gave me that ouch look. There was a point I wasn’t really taking time for me and I needed to have a serious conversation with myself about boundaries. About what I should and shouldn’t take on. Despite my struggles, I’m so fortunate to have friends and family who support me and would let me vent to them when things got tough. When it comes to the ups and downs, sometimes I just need to remind myself there’s always going to be an uphill battle, sometimes I’m going to have to lose and it ain’t about how fast I get there… and yes, I did just quote Miley Cyrus. I mean… she isn’t wrong! Haha
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Overall, I’m a content creator, and specifically, I’ve been fortunate to work as a script and editorial writer, video editor, voice-over artist for YouTube videos, and a host over the years, covering a wide variety of topics. As I briefly mentioned, I’ve created content for various platforms covering TV, movies, comics, celebrity news, music, anime etc… which is great because no one day has felt the same. Throughout this process, I really started discovering what my niche was and flourished when I’d work on projects focused on that. I now have a new confidence when it comes to taking on projects I didn’t have in the beginning, and I feel so proud of myself for that. For me, I learned it’s best to focus on a few things instead of trying to be an expert on everything because 1) that’s just not possible, and 2) it made me more anxious than excited to create.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
If these challenging times have taught me anything, it’s to protect your health. Both mental and physical.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/veronicavalenciamedia
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsmeveronica_v
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/itsmeveronica_v
