Ranz Kyle, Niana Guerrero’s manager on what it takes to be a social media star

MANILA, Philippines – Amron Lopez’s job is pretty unconventional — after all, part of it is taking care of the careers of social media stars, young talents who have built their careers on YouTube channels and Instagram feeds rather than the usual TV or print.

Among his clients are Luke Korns and Mikey Murphy – who have more than a million subscribers between them – and popular Pinoy sibling duo Ranz Kyle and Niana Guerrero.

In an email interview, Amron answered a few of Rappler’s questions about working with Ranz and Niana, what it’s like to be a talent manager in the digital age, and what he looks for in young, aspiring talents. 

How long have you been working with Ranz and Niana? Who are the other stars that you handle?

I’ve been working with Ranz, Niana, and their family for over a year and half now. I primarily work with digital native talent and other notable ones I work with that people might know are Mikey Murphy and Luke Korns. Other than that, I also represent a lot of up and coming actors, directors, and writers as well.

What was it about the siblings that caught your attention when you first met and signed them?

What attracted me to Ranz and Niana is the fact that their very charismatic people and their relationship as brother and sister is one that really is very unique and refreshing. It’s also the fact that they’re both really talented and really great people.

Aside from their careers, how have they changed since you met them?

They’ve become bolder, confident, and ambitious in all the things they do.

Are there any future plans for the siblings that you can tell us about?

I think for now, we’ll keep it a secret and for people to stay tune. However, one thing I can share is that both Ranz and Niana will be attending Vidcon 2018 as Featured Creators. They’ll be the first Filipino native creators to be invited as Featured Creators which is exciting.

What do you look for in young talents?

When it comes to talent, I look for people who have are multi-hynates, meaning that they do more than just sing, dance or act. Also, I love talent who have very interesting stories and a strong point of view.

Digital talent management is a fairly new field – what attracted you to this career?

I think it’s because of the fact that it allows me to touch upon multiple industries on top of film and tv. It’s a very unique industry because it’s constantly changing and there’s always something new to learn. I love that it allows me to be entrepreneurial and innovative in how I do my business.

Given your unconventional job, what’s a typical day like for you?

In my line of job, there’s no such thing as a typical day because each days are different from one another depending on what projects I have going on. However, what a day for usually involves me going to the office, going through my emails, attending meetings, interfacing with buyers, companies and clients.

In addition to that, I create client materials and presentations for pitching purposes. Then, on special occasions, when I travel, it changes because it’s a lot more hectic and my schedule varies. Traveling for my job is usually one of my favorite things to do because I get a chance to meet with different people and learn from them.

A lot of kids nowadays want to become YouTubers or have careers in the digital space. What would you say to parents who are concerned about career sustainability and stability?

Everyone has different opinions when it comes to Youtube as a career. I totally understand why parents have concerns about it because it’s not something that everyone can succeed in. However, If I was a parent, the best I can do is support my kid in whatever they want to pursue. Youtube is such a great platform to share stories and knowledge that it really fosters a community of content creators. For me, as long is someone is passionate about something and works hard to attain it, success will always follow.

In the same vein, how do you ensure that kids like Niana, who grow up in the social media spotlight, can still enjoy a “normal” childhood?

There’s no specific formula because each person’s situation is different. Having known Niana, Ranz and their family. What I noticed is that they are surrounded by great and positive people who encourage them to be the best that they can be.

They allow them to be themselves and make sure they still have time to hangout with friends, go to school and experience important moments in life like family gatherings, and birthdays. Despite of their fame, they stay grounded and humble. – Rappler.com