Established in 2005 as a one man band, Maestro Filmworks was founded upon two principles: that our work should impact others and that we create a space where talent can thrive. Since then, Maestro Filmworks has grown into a full service video production company, with work spanning across commercial, corporate, narrative and documentary projects. Storytelling is at the core of what we do. Being an independent and minority-owned company, we recognize the power of storytelling and its impact.
Kris Mendoza
Founder & Executive Producer
Whether it’s entrepreneurship or producing a film, “creating” something and seeing it “all come together” is what continually motivates Kris. With an NYU film degree and a Wharton MBA, Kris has the skills to create real balance in the film business at Maestro.
Kris Mendoza
Chief Multitasker
Having no shortage of interests, Kris is often running from one thing to the next, whether that’s woodworking, photography, running a triathlon, or badly managing his fantasy football team. Nowadays, you can most likely find him trying to keep up with his two young sons, Leo and Teo.
Jo Shen
Creative Director
Jo believes moving images can help tell a story that touches others. Raised by Chinese immigrant parents in America, she is fascinated with discovering untold stories that highlight diversity and unique experience while finding the universal and relatable significance within them.
Jo Shen
Aspiring Daydreamer
When you do find Jo taking a break, she will most likely be hanging with her pup, Brownie, taking on a culinary endeavor, scribbling in her notebook or simply people watching. To her, every human interaction has a story.
Matt Gray
Production Manager
Matt’s work has taken him to every continent minus Antarctica (fortunately) and Australia (unfortunately). He’s filmed endangered Leatherback turtles in Costa Rica, chanting Buddhist monks in the Himalayas, and wild NBA all-stars in the USA. Variety is the spice of life!
Matt Gray
Sunbird
Matt’s a native Philadelphian, but after years of enduring Philly’s oppressive summer humidity he packed up his toys and moved north to the state of Maine. While he still calls Maine home, he’s returned to Maestro for a helping of Brotherly Love!
Lexi Morrison
Post-Production Manager
A jack-of-all-trades, Lexi started her career by building a live video production department from the ground up. She has developed a passion for managing creative teams, tapping skills in logistics and operations.
Lexi Morrison
Modern Day Carmen San Diego
Lexi is an avid traveler and enjoys practicing photography to celebrate the places she’s been. She spends her free time enjoying live music, a cosmo or glass of wine, and settling into a good binge of Criminal Minds with her kitties, Ozzy and Bowie.
Kris Mendoza
Founder & Executive Producer
Whether it’s entrepreneurship or producing a film, “creating” something and seeing it “all come together” is what continually motivates Kris. With an NYU film degree and a Wharton MBA, Kris has the skills to create real balance in the film business at Maestro. Jo Shen
Creative Director
Jo believes moving images can help tell a story that touches others. Raised by Chinese immigrant parents in America, she is fascinated with discovering untold stories that highlight diversity and unique experience while finding the universal and relatable significance within them. Matt Gray
Production Manager
Matt’s work has taken him to every continent minus Antarctica (fortunately) and Australia (unfortunately). He’s filmed endangered Leatherback turtles in Costa Rica, chanting Buddhist monks in the Himalayas, and wild NBA all-stars in the USA. Variety is the spice of life! Lexi Morrison
Post-Production Manager
A jack-of-all-trades, Lexi started her career by building a live video production department from the ground up. She has developed a passion for managing creative teams, tapping skills in logistics and operations.
Amanda McDonnell
Producer
Amanda has gained experience from a wide range of roles across the industry, and is therefore able to understand many of its moving parts, combining her creativity and planning skills to find the story and tell it in an engaging way.
Amanda McDonnell
Spreadsheet Enthusiast
On her off time you can find Amanda experimenting with new crafts and occasionally fostering a litter of kittens.
Maria Vattimo
Producer
Maria is a film producer and director who creates visually striking pieces that inspire and spark discussion amongst viewers. Her latest film, Kim, played in over a dozen film festivals including Philly’s own, Philadelphia Film Festival.
Maria Vattimo
Cool Kid Alert
When she’s not working, you’ll find Maria out hiking with her Australian Cattle Dog named Boots, rewatching Succession, or experimenting in new culinary endeavors.
Mike Kaiser
Creative Producer
All across the globe, Mike has devoted his talents to video production by shooting, editing, writing, and collaborating with lots of talented creative folks. He loves to uncover a great story and develop it into something that shines.
Mike Kaiser
Pop Culture Encyclopedia
When he’s not producing or chasing his dog Rooney around, Mike enjoys catching up on every British crime drama and travels every chance he gets.
Katie Feher
Project Coordinator
Armed with an exacto blade and an iron will, Kate is a 2-time Emmy Award winning Art Director who contributes out-of-the-box problem solving and critical thinking to the team. She hunts for stories, using every art she has to practice, listen, and ask questions of the world around her.
Katie Feher
Stud Finder
Katie is curious about everything, especially human behavior and experiential knowledge. She’s prone to asking deep questions, zeroing in on the stud that structures any story, person, or belief. You’re bound to learn a little more about yourself when talking to Kate.
Amanda McDonnell
Producer
Amanda has gained experience from a wide range of roles across the industry, and is therefore able to understand many of its moving parts, combining her creativity and planning skills to find the story and tell it in an engaging way.
Maria Vattimo
Producer
Maria is a film producer and director who creates visually striking pieces that inspire and spark discussion amongst viewers. Her latest film, Kim, played in over a dozen film festivals including Philly’s own, Philadelphia Film Festival. Mike Kaiser
Creative Producer
All across the globe, Mike has devoted his talents to video production by shooting, editing, writing, and collaborating with lots of talented creative folks. He loves to uncover a great story and develop it into something that shines. Katie Feher
Project Coordinator
Armed with an exacto blade and an iron will, Kate is a 2-time Emmy Award winning Art Director who contributes out-of-the-box problem solving and critical thinking to the team. She hunts for stories, using every art she has to practice, listen, and ask questions of the world around her.
Charles Morabito
Producer
With the right balance of humor and grace, Charles seeks out stories of the strange, rare, and untold. Regardless of genre, Charles approaches every project with a bold touch, often bridging commercial and documentary worlds.
Charles Morabito
Cat Daddy
Charles never thought he could get along with the feline species, until one fateful day he met a sweet tabby girl named Ella Fitz. Now humbled, he is a legitimate cat daddy and can often be found photographing portraits of window cats.
Geoff Nichols
Producer
With a background in broadcast journalism, Geoff brings his passion for storytelling and technical know-how to all projects he produces.
Geoff Nichols
Jack of all trades, Master of puns
Geoff is a curious traveling foodie, with only a few culinary regrets, and he'd like to apologize to that Icelandic whale
Shantini Munthree
Brand Strategy
Shantini’s joy is positioning a brand through its narrative, its visuals, and other communication elements. As a strategist, Shantini applies her global brand leadership experience combined with her straightforward street-sense to unpack a higher level brand impact.
Shantini Munthree
Brand Whisperer
When Shantini is not conjuring up great branding, she can be found soaking up the Californian sunshine and fresh air, enjoying cultural travel and cuisine, sustainable treasure-hunting, mentoring, and volunteering.
Brandon Wyche
Photographer
Brandon’s background in fashion photography shows in every image. He’ll help you see your best-self by inspiring confident, genuine presence.
Brandon Wyche
Aspiring Penman
Whenever he gets curious about something, from tech to craft, Brandon has a penchant for digging in deep to learn every bit he can. His current passion is fountain pens and penmanship.
Charles Morabito
Producer
With the right balance of humor and grace, Charles seeks out stories of the strange, rare, and untold. Regardless of genre, Charles approaches every project with a bold touch, often bridging commercial and documentary worlds. Geoff Nichols
Producer
With a background in broadcast journalism, Geoff brings his passion for storytelling and technical know-how to all projects he produces. Shantini Munthree
Brand Strategy
Shantini’s joy is positioning a brand through its narrative, its visuals, and other communication elements. As a strategist, Shantini applies her global brand leadership experience combined with her straightforward street-sense to unpack a higher level brand impact. Brandon Wyche
Photographer
Brandon’s background in fashion photography shows in every image. He’ll help you see your best-self by inspiring confident, genuine presence.
Rob Jennings
Senior Editor
Rob Jennings is the one you call when you really do need to “fix it in post.” He’s the one-stop-shop for all things creative finishing, with a keen eye for color and sound.
Rob Jennings
Chief Horticulturist
Rob’s career path began the day he brought a coloring book to math class, and he hasn't stopped since. How many adults get to say they color for a living?
Stephen Yia
Editor
Stephen believes in the power of creativity and what it does positively to the human consciousness. He plans on becoming a public advocate for the protection of creative classes in schools.
Stephen Yia
Professional Keyboard Clicker
Stephen enjoys reading and writing as a way to challenge his creative mind. Through these outlets, he hopes to develop a positive impact in many people's lives. He also loves to play video games as a way to relax.
Hunter Davis
Editor
As a filmmaker, Hunter strives to connect people through storytelling, admitting that if he can make you laugh, cry, or empathize in any way then he’s done his job.
Hunter Davis
Human Embodiment of a Cocktail Wiener
If he’s not making movies, Hunter is hanging with his lovely partner, Isabelle, and their cat, Peggy. He is trained in Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu, boasting a blue belt as well as the ability to play 5 instruments!
Ray Ermel
Equipment Technician
Ray has been creating content from a young age, inspired by the beauty of life-long friendships, music, and adventures in skateboarding. He values team collaboration as he works towards becoming a successful DP and finds fulfillment as part of a team hustle towards a job well done.
Ray Ermel
Swiss Army Knife
Ray is known to throw a camera in his backpack and ride his bike around the city, using his spare time to notice and appreciate all those little moments spent with friends and family.
Rob Jennings
Senior Editor
Rob Jennings is the one you call when you really do need to “fix it in post.” He’s the one-stop-shop for all things creative finishing, with a keen eye for color and sound. Stephen Yia
Editor
Stephen believes in the power of creativity and what it does positively to the human consciousness. He plans on becoming a public advocate for the protection of creative classes in schools. Hunter Davis
Editor
As a filmmaker, Hunter strives to connect people through storytelling, admitting that if he can make you laugh, cry, or empathize in any way then he’s done his job. Ray Ermel
Equipment Technician
Ray has been creating content from a young age, inspired by the beauty of life-long friendships, music, and adventures in skateboarding. He values team collaboration as he works towards becoming a successful DP and finds fulfillment as part of a team hustle towards a job well done.
Andrew Czudak
Motion Graphics + Animator
Andrew is a lover of short form media and minimalist design, prized for developing elegant solutions to visual problems. He is a self-proclaimed creative generalist who knows how to value progress over perfection.
Andrew Czudak
Unofficial IT Guy
Professional procrastinator with the attention span of a puppy. Will upgrade your computer for $$. Probably thinking about video games at this very moment.
Emily Delp Poppa
Motion Graphics + Animator
Evolving from her earliest Microsoft Paint doodles, Emily has worked in fields of print design, web design, and illustration before finding her home in animation and motion here at Maestro. She’s hungry to learn and ready to work!
Emily Delp Poppa
The Delpening
Emily is devoted to clearing out her extensive IMDB watchlist, but when she's not in front of a screen, she can be found playing guitar, goofing around with her cats, hiking, and playing tennis with her husband, Vince. Andrew Czudak
Motion Graphics + Animator
Andrew is a lover of short form media and minimalist design, prized for developing elegant solutions to visual problems. He is a self-proclaimed creative generalist who knows how to value progress over perfection. Emily Delp Poppa
Motion Graphics + Animator
Evolving from her earliest Microsoft Paint doodles, Emily has worked in fields of print design, web design, and illustration before finding her home in animation and motion here at Maestro. She’s hungry to learn and ready to work!
Our mission is to be the trusted storytellers that shine a light on stories that need to be told, doing so with the brightest and most creative talent, for the world’s top brands and companies.
Our vision is to be the leading advocates for sustainable careers and lifestyles in the film industry in order to enable our people to make an impact in their communities.
Our ethos is to approach our work with a focus on diversity and inclusion, ensuring that we are intentional in empowering and employing members of marginalized communities in our industry.
Our mission is to be the trusted storytellers that shine a light on stories that need to be told, doing so with the brightest and most creative talent, for the world’s top brands and companies.
Our vision is to be the leading advocates for sustainable careers and lifestyles in the film industry in order to enable our people to make an impact in their communities.
Our ethos is to approach our work with a focus on diversity and inclusion, ensuring that we are intentional in empowering and employing members of marginalized communities in our industry.
