Marketing Filmmaker Joins Big Heavy World as YLAI Fellow
BURLINGTON, May 30, 2023: El Salvadorean marketing CEO Juan Manuel Bonilla has joined Big Heavy World’s development team as a 2023 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellow.
The Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) is the U.S. Department of State’s flagship program for emerging entrepreneurs and business leaders from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. Designed to promote mutual understanding and build a network of young business and social entrepreneurs, the program brings young leaders to the U.S. for entrepreneurial leadership training and fellowships with U.S. companies and social enterprises. The YLAI Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IREX.
Bonilla said, “Being part of YLAI has been terrifying and great at the same time. I’ve always been more of an introvert and the idea of being part of a program that emphasizes networking and connections as its main appeal has been a challenge. But a necessary one. I have tried to take the best out of this opportunity because I know that this is what my business needs. The other very important aspect of YLAI, was to work in a fellowship with a business or an organization in the United States that has a necessity or similar areas of work. I came to Vermont to partner with Big Heavy World and it couldn’t be a better fit; I love music and will be working on creating visual content for them.”
Bonilla is nearing completion of a video project for Big Heavy World that helps promote the organization, including real life experiences from artists, volunteers, government officials and staff and their perspective on the organization’s role within the arts and culture of Vermont. Bonilla said, “It is a great opportunity for me to work with U.S. standards and provide my services and experience to a cause I identify with.”
Bonilla described his career trajectory: “I started my career working for a small travel company doing social media and graphic design. From the very beginning, I’d always wanted to make art, more specifically: music and film. I studied Communications and Marketing and have been working towards creating a balance between my marketing experience and my love for filmmaking. On the other hand, I started working on video creation in 2012 with some small ideas for videos and scriptwriting. Later, during 2016, I started working with one of the biggest TV ad production companies y El Salvador called Imagen. I worked creating “Making of” videos and behind the scenes of the big TV ads made there. I was doing camera work and editing these videos, which helped me practice my skills and get more experience. Later, I started working as an Assistant Director and official Editor for the main TV ads. In 2018, some of my contacts from the agency and friends gathered to create a short film called “Estigmas” which won best short film in the FAV Festival in El Salvador and was nominated as a selected short for the film festival Ícaro 2018. On 2019 I started my own company with one of my best friends and have been working towards my dream of mixing marketing and cinematography together.”
James Lockridge, Executive Director of Big Heavy World, said, “It’s intensely fulfilling to share our organizational culture and environment with a talented Fellow who has such distinct vision and talent. Vermont is benefitting from Juan’s energy, and we’re valuing the fresh outlook he brought from far away.”
Big Heavy World is an independent, nonprofit volunteer-run music office serving the state of Vermont. Founded in 1996, it has leveraged a technology-heavy D.I.Y. ethic and inclusive philosophy to support musicians and advance the music sector, preserve Vermont’s music legacy, and empower young adults in an environment that focuses their passions and intellect. The organization was selected by an international jury to receive the 2020 Music Cities ‘Best Global Music Office Award.’
Contact:
Juan Bonilla, +503 7216 9514, juanmabonilla7@gmail.com
James Lockridge, (802) 373-2890, jim@bigheavyworld.com, bigheavyworld.com