After relocating legally to the United States, Sam Villegas earned a degree, a prestigious job, and accolades from his employer, who said Villegas’ rare talent has led to sales for the Company, Bureau Gravity.
Digital marketing agency Bureau Gravity in Aurora was host to a gallery show and artistic presentation recently from Sam Villegas. He is a digital artist, born in Bolivia, who demonstrated his cinematography skills and described his personal journey, “of coming to the States to pursue the American dream.”
During the program, Villegas showed examples of his videography and photography and discussed how he makes his work impactful. Villegas is a bilingual commercial filmmaker whose work serves as an economic engine of his community because he can boost revenue more effectively than an old-school sales department for small business owners who rely on him to captivate online consumers.
Bureau Gravity CEO, Jimi Allen, understands the value that digital artists bring to local economies. Allen was host to the presentation and gave the audience an update on the film industry in Aurora and the development of a sound stage at his media hub, TalkLab.
Villegas arrived in the United States five years ago to study film and media production at Taylor University in Indiana. He said he started getting professional freelance work as a college sophomore, which was rare among his peers. “By senior year, I won the award of best cinematographer of my whole school. It was a big deal. I was one of a few who worked outside school,” Villegas said.
Villegas continued freelancing while searching for a full-time job after graduation. “It was a time to realize: What can I do differently to achieve more? I did research about the art of film and strategy that goes into that and landed a job,” in January 2023, he said.
Tackform in Addison hired Villegas as a full-time digital content creator to develop its vehicle accessory brand, so he moved to Wheaton. He must renew his visa to stay in the U.S., so his boss, Tackform owner, Nick Lullo, offered to sponsor him.
“It’s very difficult hiring talent,” Lullo said. The small business owner said he sees “hundreds of resumes of graphic designers and social media designers. Most don’t have taste or vision or ability to execute like we need here. It’s been challenging. Finding good talent is incredibly difficult.” Lullo said Villegas adds additional benefit to his Company because he is bilingual and can create a variety of advertisements and marketing assets that are in English and Spanish and appeal to different cultures.
Lullo said he sees some persons with talent in one area, such as copywriting, videography, or design, but not in all areas of brand development. “It’s hard to find one person who can handle all that and spearhead videos and finish. Sam is one of the few who has the ability to do that. His editing and taste is top notch. In college they learn the tools and theory, but aren’t artists yet. Sam has a lot of skill with the tools but has a strong creative eye and good taste and ability to execute, which is difficult to find nowadays,” Lullo said.
Villegas showcased what makes his work so special at the gallery show in Aurora.
Villegas said, “You have to prove your work and have superior work and have a lot of talent, and that’s a reason for the U.S. to keep you. I fill the majority of the boxes, but one thing I’m missing is articles about my work,” Villegas said. “Anyone can produce stuff. It’s completely different to produce something that causes people to take action. Majority of my work has been production for small businesses that are selling products. Majority of the work I’ve done are advertisements that bring in sales.”
Allen owns a digital marketing agency and video production studio that donated its event space to host the presentation because he said Villegas “has an incredible portfolio. We need professionalism in the media space, especially the social media space.”
Allen said too many of those in power don’t value the work of artists, which is ironic in a society where everyone looks up to Hollywood stars.
“Immigrants come here, contribute, and then get kicked out,” Allen said. “The American Dream is not de facto. People can work as hard as possible and still not get that dream.”
Diane Moca is a reporter and community liaison person for Talk Labs.