A Little Bit of Hollywood in Coastal Mexico:

Producer Eddie Dominguez

© Tara A. Spears

One wouldn’t expect to meet famous people tucked away in a little town in the Riviera Nayarit, far from the bling of the Hollywood, USA, film and television industry. Yet this rural beach town of La Penita is becoming an enclave of seriously talented individuals that while they leave their glamour and titles north of the border, still infuse the area with creative impact. One such talent is television producer Eddie Dominguez.  He might adopt the guy next door persona in Mexico, but his intelligence, keen artistic eye, business acumen, and sharp social perceptions are evident even in casual conversation. “Eddie is just such a sincere, nice guy,” said Hala, a neighbor and La Penita business woman.”He cares about people and the community.”

Born in Los Angeles, Eddie is second generation Mexican-American. “I was somewhat late to appreciate my Mexican heritage. I grew up speaking English, accepted the typical American west coast attitude towards culture, music, living.” Eddie credits his mother and the nuns at his private school for influencing his strong belief in community service: “One of my junior high teachers marched with Dr. Martin Luther King. She personified the ‘60’s activism. We would talk about the ‘strive to be equal’ and the anti-war movements and how it affected each individual and the country.” This openness to controversial issues would serve Eddie well professionally. Even though as a child he occasionally visited relatives in Chihuahua, Mexico, Eddie wasn’t interested in learning Spanish or Mexican traditions until he was 18 years old. “When I went to college, I began to appreciate my Mexican heritage and wanted to learn about it. I also decided to learn to speak Spanish.” He graduated with a B.S. in English and Mexican History from California State University.  Living in Los Angeles, which is the mecca of the entertainment industry, Eddie aspired to work in film but after accepting a ’starter’ job with a local television cable station, he was hooked on the potential of the small screen. In his 23 years in Hispanic television, Eddie’s creative vision and astute social perceptions earned his work as Director of Marketing, Program Director, Producer, and station General Manager accolades and loyal Los Angeles and national viewers.

 In order to appreciate the scope of Eddie’s creative achievements it’s helpful to understand the entertainment job titles. It is the producer who has the artistic vision and makes the creative decisions for all production aspects that form the media product; his selection of director, actors, script, and technicians impacts the quality of the final film or broadcast.   In the years Eddie was a television director, the challenge was to be the liaison between the producer, technical and creative teams. It is the director- behind the camera- who imaginatively translates the show’s written script into actual images and sounds on the broadcast- he must visualize and define the style and structure of the program, then “act as both a storyteller and team leader to bring this vision to reality,” explained Eddie. “I wanted to explore contemporary Hispanic issues so I created “Foro 22”, a Los Angeles program that I hoped would stimulate thought and discussion long after the program aired.”

                              Producer Eddie (center) with his Telemundo cable TV staff.

With his movie star good looks and smooth elocution, it’s easy to envision Eddie in front of a camera as a talk show host.  It was during his stint as LA station 22’s General Manager that he conceptualized and produced a very successful weekly public affairs program for six years. Not only did he select the topics, invite the power players and politicians, Dominguez was the talk show host for “Point Counterpoint.”  “The mission of the program was to be a conduit between the Hispanic immigrant community and mainstream society,” said Eddie. “Since it was broadcast live, I was nervous every time until the cameras rolled.” When he took on the responsibilities of Vice President Station General Manager for Telemundo, San Francisco, Eddie added finance and managing the daily operation to his duties, besides overseeing all the creative components of TV production he thrives on. He is proud of handling two stations simultaneously and meeting all the station’s goals for that period, including his innovative “San Francisco Hispanic Business Salute” program that brought together 16 area Chambers of Commerce and is still functioning.  

Actress Ofelia Medina, Eddie                    On the job rehearsal with assistant Vanessa Soto

With such a fast-paced, high profile creative career, Eddie’s choice of domicile is stimulating but more relaxed. Since the mid 1980s, he and partner, Roberto Gil de Montes, have homes in Echo Park, Los Angeles, California, and La Penita, Nayarit, Mexico.  For these two creative intellectuals, Echo Park is a perfect fit: culturally stimulating yet with an intimate neighborhood feel. The Echo Park area was the original center of the fledgling LA film industry before the studios moved to Hollywood around the time of WWI, and ever since it has welcomed innovative thinkers. Contributing to the neighborhood's eclecticism and unique sense of place — and reasons for its selection as one of 10 APA Great Neighborhoods for 2008 — are its varied topography, historic architecture, and engaged citizens who, over the years, have gone to great lengths to protect and preserve their historic arts community. This unique neighborhood is one of the most diversified and creative enclaves in the US, as indicated by the following photos.

“We were vacationing in Puerto Vallarta in the mid 1980s when a friend invited us to visit La Penita,” said Eddie. “We instantly loved the scenery, the quiet, the authentic Mexican culture, so we returned for numerous vacations. We bought a house here in 1994- it was still a sleepy village then.” The gregarious Eddie soon got involved in his adopted neighborhood and connected with local artists, becoming a mentor and offering encouragement to all. “I’ve always enjoyed being around artists (of any type media) because they refuse to conform; they are the world’s true innovators.” Ever the social activist, even when on vacation, Eddie and Roberto began encouraging neighborhood improvements by providing a gathering place at their home for dialogs and planning sessions that evolved over the years into the civic organization, Los Amigos La Penita. Eddie remains an officer in the group, putting his heart and business acumen into the ongoing community improvement projects. Eddie believes that “Each individual’s actions either contribute to the life of a community or take away from it.”

La Penita main street                                           Hector Lopez, Eddie, Sebastian, Marin

Even with a successful media career and his involvement with two communities, Eddie still finds time for world travel to exotic places such as Spain, Cuba, historic areas of Mexico and Thailand.  (see photos below)  “I’m fascinated by the uniqueness of each culture,” he says with a laugh, “Besides, I’m always looking for fresh ideas for TV shows or a series.”

Left:    Italia, Spain

Havana, Cuba, right                    

Aztec pyramid in Teotihuacan: Eddie with godsons Genaro & Victor;  Roberto   (Below, left)

Right photo:  Receiving award for being one of “25 Most Influential San Francisco Hispanics”

Since 2006, Eddie has channeled his creative energy into two special projects, one on each side of the border. In California, he produces the annual “El Grito” Mexican Independence Day Celebration for the City of Los Angeles and East Los Angeles Parade-a huge event that draws 100,000 people. The annual El Grito festivities in Los Angeles have long had a rural and traditional feel, recalling bygone days in areas of Mexico that have sent millions of immigrants to the city over the years.

The celebration begins with a festive and colorful parade that features a bevy of Latino artists from TV and the Big Screen, along with many local elected officials, equestrian units, Los Angeles area high school bands and drill teams, and folklorico dancers that will entertain and delight along the parade route. El Grito’s evening music festival with dancing at the LA City Hall stage rounds out this popular Mexican celebration. Photos, below, are from last year’s El Grito event that Eddie produced:

For the other half of the year, Eddie infuses rural Riviera Nayarit with culture and sophisticated entertainment at his Xaltemba Restaurant & Gallery in La Penita. The restaurant combines a chic LA edge to traditional Mexican décor to create a relaxing ambiance that compliments the fine cuisine offered. The gallery portion is managed by renowned artist Roberto Gil de Monte’s: a series of fine art exhibits and artist openings are scheduled November through March. The restaurant reflects the same qualities as those of the man: smooth, artistic, welcoming. Utilizing his years of entertainment experience, Eddie has booked a variety of performers that range from a Mexican guitarist to cabaret dancers to author readings, offering a nice change of pace from typical tourist style venues. “The restaurant is my means of self expression,” said Eddie. “My vision is to provide a place that has cross cultural appeal and that invites conversation about arts, culture, and the community while enjoying a great meal.”   With his usual hard work and flair, Eddie has succeeded as Xaltemba has quickly become one of the area’s top restaurants. While most people may never visit Hollywood, it is possible to experience a little glamour south of the border in the Riviera Nayarit at Xaltemba Restaurant and Gallery.

The dynamic and talented Eddie Dominguez may have many professional achievements, but he feels his biggest success is to be living his dream and giving to his community.  He looks forward to traveling with Roberto, encouraging good relations between international immigrants and local people, and staying involved with grassroots organizations such as Los Amigos. He is proof that one individual’s concern and vision can have a large impact. Even without the Hollywood glitter, Eddie shines as a friend, businessman, and community leader.

Contact Eddie:  eddie@xaltemba.com or telephone: 327-274-3238

 Contact author: tara.sprs@hotmail.com