Juan Valenzuela is a master of cinematic storytelling. He uses his visual skills to create compelling content that attracts clients and helps brands stand out. 

Despite being a one-person team, Juan seamlessly balances his career’s business and creative aspects, staying attuned to industry trends. 

In this exclusive interview with Net Influencer, he shares unfiltered insights into his life as a solo creator, his passion for helping businesses elevate their content, and his strategies, aspirations, and advice.

Who is Juan Valenzuela? 

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Juan is a solo content creator who does cinematography for a living and wants to transition into a professional acting career eventually. This starts with his focus on scaling his business with inbound content and communicating his talents to a broader audience.

Juan explains that he manages everything alone as a solo creator, from business to filming and editing.

Managing all aspects of his career, Juan made content creation a full-time profession through brand collaborations, promo pitches, learning to negotiate, and learning how to market by brand guidelines.

Understanding the business aspects of content creation and working on mastering the creative side, Juan has secured significant brand deals and collaborations, including partnerships with DJI, Shiftcam, and others.

Why Content Creation and When Did It All Start?

“I started content creation with the rise of Vine, then took things to TikTok, and now it’s a mix of platforms and the specific format of visual storytelling,” Juan told us in this exclusive interview.

“I had a period where I was doing skits, which contributed to the level of success I enjoy today, but at the moment, my social platforms are simply a showcase of my work,” he added.

How Does Cinematography Tie into Your Content Creation Career?

Juan suggests that learning cinematography has granted him greater creative freedom in translating his ideas into videos, resulting in a more accurate reflection of his vision through impeccable editing.

“It’s all highly related. Cinematography opened my eyes to professional experimenting, so any new thing I tried was done on a professional level,” he explains. “Everything from lighting to angles and editing was made into a one-man creative team.”

“Additionally, my content is a balance of both worlds, ‘short films’ like I like to call them, engaging like a TikTok video, but also more thought-out and planned.”

What Are Some Tips on the Business Aspect of Being a Creator?

“Be authentic in what you provide, brands value the engagement and a close relationship with followers,” Juan states. “Creators that have a strong personal brand and high engagement rates are likely to navigate the business space with higher success rates.”

What Are the Most Important Elements of a Viral Video?

Being Good at Being Yourself

Juan understands that not every creator is naturally compelling enough to attract attention by being completely unfiltered in their approach. He stresses the importance of having a distinct presence and original content.

“I see many creators replicating each other in every industry, and I think that we’ve reached a point where being simply genuine and true to yourself is what sets you apart.”

Some people, he says, are better communicators than others. He adds that it feels weird when you’re communicating something you’re not, eventually leading to exhaustion.

Have A High-level of Attention to Detail

As a perfectionist, Juan prioritizes quality in editing and production. 

While there is a growing appreciation for a raw, imperfect approach, he believes achieving a perfectly imperfect aesthetic is also possible.

“From the backdrop of the video to the delivery of content, I think creators can always find ways to improve and make their content better,” he tells us.

Find Your Ideal Online Self

Juan stresses that creators can only get so far with one format; trying new content formats builds upon a creator’s online personality and helps tap into new audience segments.

He states, “Keep exploring different approaches and content ideas, even when you find a successful formula.”

What’s the Ultimate Goal with Content Creation?

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Juan explains that his main goal is to have a greater impact on followers with his content, making each video more emotionally evoking and expanding his reach.

He says, “I’d also love to create my brand at some point when it comes to teaching people more about filmmaking and how to make viral content.”

“I’ve always admired teaching, and I think it’s one of the best ways I can provide meaningful value and give back to my audience.”

What Does the Business Aspect Look Like?

The business aspect involves proactively contacting brands that align with your image and values. 

“It’s a process of reaching out to brands you think you’d be a good fit to promote, and describing your plan for the campaign,” Juan explains. 

This initial contact is followed by handling the official side of things, including contracts and paperwork.

Most of his collaborations involve gear and tools related to his profession. However, Juan is flexible in the types of brands he can work with, as there are no strict limitations. 

What Inspires Your Next Video?

Juan tells us that his sources of inspiration vary depending on his creative state; although he often seeks creative direction from top-performing content, that isn’t always the case.

“Sometimes inspiration is found through completely disconnecting from social media and finding inspiration in external media projects, and translating that to align with the online world and the limited attention spans,” he elaborates.

During this brainstorming process, Juan likes to document and envision his conclusions to better align with his creative capabilities and editing skills.

“Content that is planned and scripted often performs better,” Juan adds. “Though the difference isn’t significant, when I perceive my work through the eyes of a viewer, my scripted work certainly flows more smoothly.”

What Are Some Trends You See Emerging in The Cinematic Niche?

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“I think one of the more popular trends in the space is working with aspect ratios, Juan explains. “Creators are starting to use 1:1 and 4:5 video ratios while adding smooth edges to stand out. It is one of the most prominent trends in the space now.”

“Creativity in general when it comes to formats, editing, and design are key differentiators between viral and average content at the moment,” he adds.

What Advice Do You Have for Creators Who You Inspire?

Invest in Learning Cinematography

Through endless attempts to improve his content, Juan concluded that Learning the basics of creating cinematic-grade content offers a significant advantage for creators aiming to elevate their work to the next level.

“At its base, cinematography is the art of using the varying brightness levels, colors, and grades to communicate a story,” he says. “Learning cinematography will add more depth to your content, as it works to enforce and support the narrative you’re communicating.”

Pace is Everything

Juan points out that although many content creators view cinematography as a nice-to-have extra, it’s crucial to control the pace of a video, regardless of the creator’s size, the content type, or the niche.

“This often boils down to properly trimming videos, adding the right transitions, and making your video as easy to consume as possible,” he notes.

Authenticity is Key

Juan highlights that authenticity sets cinematic work apart from relatable short-form content. He notes that people gravitate toward voices they can relate to, contributing to the rapid popularity of platforms like TikTok.

He adds, “The entertainment world is starving for creators who can freely express themselves without the need to adopt fake online personas.”

“When you become famous for doing something completely different from what everyone else is doing, it’s like you own that niche, and growth is inevitable as there is nobody to compete with.”