Conversations with Daniel Mendoza

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Mendoza.

Hi Daniel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My passion for filmmaking began in the late nineties, but it wasn’t until 2014 that I was able to turn that passion into a career. I had been working as a lab technician in Dermatology for about ten years when a big client informed me that my services would no longer be needed.

It certainly caught me off guard, but fortunately I had about thirty days to figure something out. I really only had two options to consider. I could try to find other clients and continue working in a field I had no true passion for, or finally pursue what I always knew was my true calling.

Until this point, filmmaking was a hobby that consumed most of my free time and presented the occasional paid opportunity. I had known for years that it was what I wanted to do full-time but I never had the courage to let go of the financial freedom being a lab technician afforded me. Sometimes, the universe steps in and gives you the nudge you need to make a big change. So, I seized the opportunity to go after what I wanted most in life: becoming a full-time filmmaker. Establishing Amoroma Productions as a full-service video production company became my mission.

I began finding work in event videography as well as creating content for local small business owners. Though my main goal was to make independent films, I first needed to earn a living doing what I loved. Over the next few years, I worked hard to build up my network and portfolio. Establishing genuine connections proved critical to growing a small business. The quality of your work means very little if no one knows what you have to offer, so having other professionals send me leads was critical to my sustainability during those initial years.

In 2017, my brother-in-law, Robert Bridwell, approached me about a potential editing project. He was the creative director of a boutique creative agency based in Los Angeles called LOLA. I knew instantly this was the break I had been waiting for. They took a chance to hire me, and I made sure not to disappoint them. My relationship with the agency quickly flourished into full productions and led to some of the most memorable experiences in my life. I was able to create content for some large brands like Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, DAOU Vineyards, Lazy Dog Restaurant, and Total Wine & More.

Then, in 2019, my wife, Kellie Mendoza, left her hotel catering sales job to join the Amoroma Productions team. We had been playing with the idea for a couple of years, and the timing finally seemed right. Her sales experience and professional skill set really allowed us to take the business to the next level. Since then, I have been able to focus more on the creative aspects of our company instead of being pulled in every possible direction.

Being able to build something meaningful together in a field that we are both passionate about has truly been special.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey has definitely had its share of struggles along the way. Early challenges stemmed from my own lack of real business experience. Even though I had been successful as a lab technician for nearly a decade, it provided little in terms of tangible entrepreneurial skills.

Those clients always found me through word of mouth, so I never developed any actual sales abilities. For most of us in the creative world, selling ourselves can be very difficult because it is daunting to try to put a price on our art. Plus, we take rejection much more personally. Learning to deal with the discomfort of vulnerability was a real challenge for me at first.

Another struggle I faced was maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Like most entrepreneurs, I was doing whatever it took to continue generating revenue. There is a feast or famine mentality that can be very taxing on the mind and spirit. It took a while for me to begin establishing healthy boundaries and though it might have occasionally led to losing a client, it usually worked out for the best.

Over time, it grew easier to let go of clients who didn’t respect or value my own quality of life. I wanted to continue to love what I did, so I knew it was important to prevent fear and self-doubt from influencing how I operated.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I would say that we specialize in taking a storytelling approach to our projects. Our team’s background in narrative and documentary work has really allowed us to find ways to create content that connects with viewers on an emotional level.

The process for us is very much collaborative with our team and with the clients we serve. It is important to know what their goals are so that we can focus on the big picture as well as the fine details. This allows us to further enhance projects and create an even greater impact for our clients. We love what we do and we truly believe that it shows in our work.

We are known for being quite nimble. We understand that things are ever evolving with clients and projects so our flexibility has allowed us to adapt when necessary to meet various needs. Having worked on production sets where everything comes to a complete stand still because one thing doesn’t go as planned has taught me to not let the momentum slip away or allow anything to lower team morale.

Fortunately, our team shares this same mentality, and we always find a way to see things through with optimism and grace. By focusing on solutions instead of problems, we can always continue moving toward the greater goal.

Finding the right clients has been such an important part of our process, so I’m incredibly proud of the partnerships we have developed over the years, particularly those forged by Kellie since coming onboard. She has really connected us with some wonderful locally based organizations that allow us to highlight the great things happening in our own communities.

We travel all over the country for jobs but being able to have a positive impact on the communities we call home is very special to us. We are a business but we are also artists and I believe at the heart of every great artist is a desire to make a positive impact through their work.

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
One important lesson I have learned along this journey is that you can’t do it all by yourself. Creating your community is key. Surround yourself with people you can trust. People that possess skills and traits you might be lacking in. Be open to the possibility that everyone out there has something to teach you. Find your mentors, find your supporters and find the people who will push you to become the best version of yourself. Those who truly want you to succeed will never allow you to fail.

Be willing to delegate responsibilities that don’t require your direct control. Once I learned to let go of the mundane and time-consuming tasks, it was like my entire world opened up. I never realized how much energy I was exhausted by allowing my ego to believe I had to do everything. As my circle grew, so did the size of the projects and clients we were taking on. Our team continues to grow each year, and we all bring unique skills and experience to the table. This has really allowed us to succeed not only in the outcome of our work but also in maintaining a positive work environment.

Another important lesson I learned was to be a good steward in your industry. Get to know your competitors and see how you can work together to create a community that thrives on helping one another. You never know when you are going to need help and if you don’t have those relationships established with fellow professionals, it’s only going to get harder to succeed in the long run.

Being able to refer a client we don’t feel is the right fit for us to someone we can vouch for is so much better than just turning them away. We want to be a resource even if we are not the company you hire for your video needs.

Most importantly, be genuine in everything you do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amoromaproductions.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amoroma_productions/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmoromaProductions/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amoroma-productions

Image Credits
Kellie Mendoza and Nick Gasmena