We were lucky to catch up with Joe Menendez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Joe , looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I grew up the projects down in Miami. Food stamps, government cheese, government peanut butter. We were poor. So I had zero advantages when I moved to Hollywood in 1992 to try and become a director. I didn’t know anyone. For me, there was only one way I was going to rise above the station in life that I inherited, and that was having a strong work ethic. Subsequently, I honed my craft as a director every chance I got by making as many films as I could and then deconstructed why they worked and why they didn’t. I was obsessed with improving and becoming undeniable. That work ethic came from my humble beginnings.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I tell stories. Only, I do it with a camera and actors. Directing movies or television is all I’ve ever wanted to do my entire life. I started making Super 8 movies as a kid, and then 16mm ones later in to get my foot in the door. So, I’ve been at it for well over 30 years and while it’s now a career, that same kid I was is still in there, still giddy that I’m still pointing a camera at someone and yelling “action.” That same sense of joy I had directing as a kid exists to this day.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1.) I was focused on learning all I needed and could learn to make it and excel in the entertainment business. 2.) I honed my craft.
3.) I remained self aware — how I came across to others. How my work came across to others. This kept me humble.
For me, once you find the thing you love doing, find a way to get someone to pay you to do it. When it becomes hard (and all jobs become hard work at some point), you’ll at least love doing it.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My mother and father were exiles from Cuba. They raised me in Miami, as far away from Hollywood as could be (for me). But they never discouraged me to pursue my Hollywood dreams. They always told me the United States, and the world for that matter, was open to me and that I could be whatever I put my mind to — they made me feel the American Dream was accessible. At my fingertips. They instilled in me a sense of worth and possibly that undoubtedly fueled my confidence to succeed.
Contact Info:
- Website: joemenendez.com
Image Credits
Alessandra Sierra
