Vega Montanez shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Vega, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
It sounds a little bit cheesy as I type it, but I feel like I’m chasing a better world for everyone. Through my work, I hope to provide new perspectives to others, that may help them be more understanding and considerate of the complex natures of other people. I believe, with the influence of the internet and dedicated spaces for groups of people, we’ve lost touch with the idea that there are more people in the world who are having a different experience then there are having the same experience. Growing up I used to hear the phrase “You have more in common then you think” and now I feel like that phrase has been over applied. In today’s current world it feels like people are so committed to finding the commonalities we’ve lost the ability to hold space for our differences.
People need People from all walks of life.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Vega Montañez, Bronx-born, Providence-raised, and built to tell unforgettable stories. I’m a filmmaker, writer, and creative rebel with a completionist streak. I run Coin Theory Media, a production brand built on the idea that storytelling doesn’t only happen through the standard perspectives we’ve been fed for decades.
Since the launch in 2019, I’ve produced and/or directed 6 feature films, including “The Hurt We Share”, “The Burden of Nine Lives”, “Beyond Detention” and “Nico”, all streaming on Tubi and Amazon Prime. I started in music — indie hip-hop, to be exact — then evolved into film when I realized my stories needed more than three minutes and a good groove.
Now, through the combination audio and visual that is cinema, I get to create projects that are raw, culturally rich, and powered by purpose. Whether I’m directing a fast-paced action thriller or a heartfelt drama, it’s always rooted in real people and real communities — especially underrepresented voices. Right now, I’m deep in pre-production on my first series “Deep Thoughts” and in development for my feature film which will either be “Shadow Ops: Homegrown”, a military action shooter, “HeartBreakation”, a laughed filled vacation comedy, or a dance drama I recently finished writing . I’m also in the process of launching, in partnership with TourHero, an Independent Filmmakers Retreat and I offer one-on-one consulting for emerging storytellers trying to bring their vision to life.
Bottom line: I believe good energy always wins and if you mix that with hustle, heart, and a little chaos? You just might change the world.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Communication is Key but Comprehension is Critical. That’s always been my model. I think a lot times bonds between people get lost in the words that are said and never meant and the words that are meant and never said. I myself have been victim and culprit in these situations.
I’ve been the person who said something I didn’t mean because emotion took over costing me people I loved, cherished, and valued. And I’ve been the person who didn’t speak my truth early enough leaving me watching people I cared for disappear from my life. I say all the time, and it’s possible I’ll say it forever, I love technology but the use of technology for social engagement and practice is not good for humanity.
From a social Perspective, the internet and technology give us access to people all around the world. The amount of time we spend in the online social landscape impacts our ability to communicate and problem solve in person. In many cases people are more willing to seek validation from strangers who align with their thought process rather than understand the person in the real world’s concerns and work through them together.
And the bonds we hold with the strangers around the world, despite the incredible unique stories we have as amazing examples, tend to be extremely superficial and only last as long as our thoughts are aligned for mutual benefit.
I might be asking for a lot, but lets get back to congregating in the town square and getting to know the people in our immediate communities.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Not everything is your fault. Growing up there were alot of moments in life that I could never seem to relinquish to others. Part of that was learned trauma came from being made to feel like others failures were direct results of my actions. I would take responsibility for everything that went wrong, because at least if I was at fault, I could confidently believe someone would be trying to make it better. That someone being me,
As an adult, it took me a long time to shake that. I won’t pretend that the mentality didn’t have it’s benefits here and there, but over all you shouldn’t blame yourself for things going wrong that you had nothing to do with. When I finally learned and accepted that I didn’t need to own the failure to take ownership of the solution, my emotional balance and regulation was improved significantly.
Find the balance between being accountable for the things that don’t work out in your life and not holding responsibility for the shortcomings of others just because you can offer better outcomes.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Taking a step away from the depth we were just in for a second, let’s talk about my dream project. I’ve always been a huge fan and alleged participant in the world of Automotive Street Racing. When the Fast & Furious film franchise began, I could not have been more ecstatic. It was the greatest thing of all time for me. But like all great things, it must come to an end eventually.
And the end should have came a few movies ago. It didn’t because every other attempt at a street racing movie, under delivered so horribly, Fast & Furious had to continue or leave a massive void for racing fans. I believe I have written the film to fill that void. This is one of two projects that I am determined to get made, and done right, at all cost. The racing movie franchise of the future is written and is called “Midnight Club” (Title Pending).
The other Project is the one everyone has heard me talk about for years. Bandai Namco is going to give me the green light any day now so we can make a “Tekken” Film Trilogy. Yes, I already wrote it. I have loved the “Tekken” video game series since it’s launch on the PlayStation 1 console in the 90’s. With the recent successes of video game movies, plus the Street Fighter movie entering production this year, now is the time. I am the guy.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Waiting. If I knew exactly how much time I had left, I wouldn’t wait to accomplish anything. The pressure would be turned on for every single thing I want to experience or do in life. Both the movies I previously mentioned would go into production immediately at any cost. I’ve got 10 years left, the only thing I’m going to stop doing is leaving space and time for things to happen comfortably cause I would have the time left.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.whatupvega.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatupvega
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/cointheorymedia
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