MARK VALADEZ, MULTI-TALENTED PRODUCER

Social media has certainly raised my profile and that of a number of writer-producers I work with. It’s put faces to the names for a lot of the audience. It’s also functioned internally within the industry as a great networking tool. What’s more, social media platforms have revolutionized the promotion of all kinds of shows, including Queen of the South. Over the last five years, the show has amassed a loyal following, much of it manifesting as this very vocal online community that has done quite a bit on its own to promote the show in its fifth and final season. Through live-tweeting and other promotions, the producers and some of the cast have interacted with the fans in a way that was really unheard of even ten, fifteen years ago.

How did “Queen of the South” come to be? And how did you grow it to become what it is now?

Queen of the South is based on a widely regarded novel by the Spanish author Arturo Perez Reverte. It was first adapted as a highly successful Spanish-language telenovela. Then in 2015, producer David Friendly got together with Fox 21 and the USA Network to reboot it as an English-language series. Scott Rosenbaum was the original showrunner, then Natalie Chaidez took the reins in Season Two. I didn’t become involved until Season Three, when my good friend Ben Lobato, one of the original season one writers on Queen, who I had worked with on two previous shows, introduced me to Natalie, who read and liked my material, and invited me to join the staff. I’ve been with them ever since then, through this final season. When Natalie left to do other projects, Ben became showrunner alongside Dailyn Rodriguez. Scott and Natalie laid the foundation for the mythology of these characters, then Ben and Dailyn built that out in some daring new directions, growing the show that it’s become, that’s struck a chord with its audience.

Alice Braga, she is so good and believable in her part and the arc of her development is as smooth as can be. What do you attribute that to?

Alice Braga has a thriving international film career, and came to the show out of that world. I wasn’t privy to the show’s development in that early stage, or the process of putting together that core cast, but landing her was a huge get. Alice had a strong affinity for this material, based largely, I believe, on her love of the book. She was dialed into the character of Teresa Mendoza on a very deep level almost from the first. Alice was also an executive producer on the show, and she deserves a lot of credit for developing Teresa’s arc, not to mention embodying her on screen in such an indelible way. It was just a great synergy of an actor and her character, and it was about just as lucky as we could have gotten.

How did the pandemic affect you and the cast of Queen of the South ?

Well, the pandemic delayed production of our fifth season. We were about a week into filming on the first episode of the new season when the shut-down happen ed. That was around March of 2020. We were finally able to resume several months later in the fall. It was pretty crazy, and of course, new safety protocols were put in place when we did resume filming. So I think it was an adjustment for everybody. Safety was paramount. I also think it had the effect of making us all step back and appreciate. When the season finally wrapped earlier this year, and when the episodes began airing… It felt special and precious.

How do writers such as yourself get involved in decisions on the actors/writers/directors you’ll use in the production of a series?

Well, we have great casting directors, in Los Angeles and also in New Orleans, where we were filming. The show runners hire the writers and directors. Ben and Dailyn took care to assemble a team of writers who really complemented each other’s strengths. And we have a number of mainstay directors who’ve been with us throughout the show’s run and have a real feel for the visual language of the show. And of course, each new season, new voices come in.

How has the business of TV changed from when you first started out? What advice do you give to young creatives who want to pursue projects like you have?

Well, it remains a highly competitive field, of course, and there are so many factors that go into building a career, some that have little to do with your actual ability, and more to do with how well you network. I was fortunate in that I came in at a time when a number of programs had sprung up that mined for new talent and sought to afford them access to the industry where they might not otherwise have it. I got into the ABC-Disney TV Writing Program, then called the ABC-Disney TV Writing Fellowship, and that’s what got my foot in the door and exposed my material to agents, managers, executives, etc. It was all about getting on the radar of people with the ability to hire. The best advice I can give for a creative is to create and polish that great piece of work that can serve as your calling card, then get it seen wherever and whenever possible. If you’re a writer, write that script you feel most passionate about and make it as polished as possible. Then get it out to the competitions out there, like the Warner Bros. Writers Workshop, the new program that Universal just put together, etc. If you’re a filmmaker, make that short film and get it out to the competitions and festivals. If you’re an actor, there are showcases. These days, there are great training and mentorship programs out there for those that want to produce. A quick internet search will reveal opportunities you had no idea were out there. But what’s really important is to always have that portfolio ready, the samples of what you can do, ready to show when those opportunities do come up… Finally, one way that the business has changed in the last couple of years, as streaming platforms have become so dominant in the world of scripted entertainment, there are so many new streamers out there with a need for content, which makes for more opportunities.

How has your family been affected by your career?

My parents were retiring as my career was finally starting to gain some traction, and they relocated to Southern California. I think it was very exciting for them, and in a lot of ways, it changed their lives as well… One of my most precious memories will always be of seeing my onscreen credit for the very first time while surrounded by my family. The cheer that went up in that room… It was gratifying, and they shared in it! What do or did you do to promote yourself? What exciting projects are you working on now?

For me, networking was key. This is a business based largely on relationships. On my first show, I developed relationships with people that I’ve continued to work with. What’s interesting to see now is that there are some great online communities of working creatives in the business, utilizing social media as they seek to boost each other… As to future projects, I’m developing a couple of new series pilots. One of them is based on a pretty successful series of thriller novels, and we’re pitching it to networks this summer. But at this early stage of the game, I can’t reveal too much beyond that.

What are your ultimate goals and how they factor into your life?

I want to continue to do work that I’m passionate about, that makes me feel fiercely proud of myself. I would like to get into feature films at some point, and longer-term, I would like to get back to my first love of fiction and write a novel.