Ask A Former Assistant: Michael Vito Valentino (Segment Producer at MTV)
Segment Producer at MTV
Hi Michael! Thank you for taking the time to interview. Tell us more about life as a Segment Producer at MTV. What’s your day-to-day?
Thank you so much for having me! Being a Segment Producer at MTV truly varies from day-to-day and week-to-week. I work on the digital side of things - so depending on company initiatives, specific brand priorities, and tentpole events like the VMAs, my responsibilities are constantly shifting to ensure my team continues to meet our targeted KPIs [Key Performance Indicators] and achieve our vertical goals.
For the most part, I split my time between creative endeavors - such as writing scripts, directing and producing our flagship vertical video show MTV’s Bop Quiz (airing Fridays on Snapchat & TikTok… shameless plug!), and developing new original interview franchises featuring celebrity guests, such as MTV’s 21 Questions. The other half of my time is spent on strategizing and managing operations for MTVE’s syndicated content slate for vertical platforms, with a specific focus on Snapchat. This encompasses over 30+ hit franchises from Paramount’s library, including titles such as Wild ‘N Out, Yellowstone, and RuPaul’s Drag Race.
In addition, the job comes with a few exciting perks. I’ve become the social producer for MTV’s Fresh Out Live. Each week, this project takes me into the iconic MTV Studios in Times Square to interview (and make TikToks with) celebrity guests in front of a live studio audience. I also head the Paramount Award Show Snap Highlight team, which allows me to walk the red carpets and roam backstage to shoot with the biggest names in pop culture at events from the MTV VMAs to the CMT Music Awards!
Wow, that sounds like a dream job! If you had to pick, what would be your favorite part of it?
By far, my favorite part of my job is when we make the news! I've always been very passionate about all things pop culture, so when I get to work with the names and faces behind the biggest moments in culture, it’s a great day.
As someone who writes, produces, and directs his own segments, it’s safe to say your job takes a lot of creativity. In traditional Administrative Assistant and Production Assistant roles, there’s not always a ton of room to flex creative muscles. How did you go about building these skills?
Make the opportunities for yourself! I cannot express this enough. Of course, get the work you were hired to do done first - and make sure to do it well. But, once you create a reputation for yourself as someone who is reliable, that’s when you get your shot - start by asking for more responsibilities and being vocal about your creative interests. I came to MTV fresh off of being a PA, and I hit the ground running. I was passionate about what I believed would make great content, and then when given the opportunity, I took my shot and pitched.
I knew my place and conveyed my convictions in a respectful and humble way so as to not step on anyone’s toes or come across as pompous. (Lord knows, no one likes that person!) But if you walk the line and read the room, there is always a time and place to be heard.
Before you were a Segment Producer (and an Associate Producer before that), you were a freelance Production Assistant for productions including Ellen’s Next Great Designer, Christmas in Rockefeller Center, and the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. What was it like working freelance? And what skills have you taken from those PA days that still serve you today?
The freelance life definitely has its pros and cons, but I’ve learned I prefer joining ongoing projects that allow me to settle in and focus on long-term strategies.
I’d say the biggest skill I’ve taken from my PA days would be learning how to read a room. That is by far the most important thing anyone can do, especially as you rise in your career within the industry. We are surrounded by big personalities and many emotions, so learning how to navigate and adapt on the spot is vital.
Notably, you graduated college in May 2020. It’s pretty incredible how fast you’ve already climbed the ladder! How did graduating in the middle of a pandemic affect your career trajectory?
It affected everything - I thought I had my entire career planned out, and then like everyone else, I had to adapt. I challenged myself to learn the TikTok algorithm to understand Gen Z’s viewing habits. I figured when the industry reopened, it would be beneficial to have something tangible - a reel of sorts backed with analytics - to effectively display what I’d been up to during that time.
My solution was to create the first ever TikTok Talk Show in which I interviewed obscure pop culture icons, such as Nikki Blonsky from Hairspray and Kevin Chamberlin who played the butler on Disney’s Jessie. It paid off when the opportunity at MTV presented itself, because although I may not have had the exact qualifications they were looking for, I had transferable skills earned by creating TikTok videos that effectively displayed my ability to take on the role.
In addition to making your own opportunities, what foremost advice would you give to Hollywood assistants looking to make their footprint in ‘the biz’?
Say yes to everything - and make sure to do it with a smile. But also, never let anyone take advantage of your kindness or see it as weakness. Keep a list of all your successes and fight for a raise and promotion whenever appropriate.
And finally, what’s up next for Michael Vito Valentino?
Only time will tell! Whatever it is, I hope I continue having fun doing it.
