Meet Niko Mendez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Niko Mendez.

Niko, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Well, it really started years ago back home in Austin, TX. I was throwing shows for local artists. I needed a cameraman to recap the shows. I didn’t know anyone so I bought a camera and did it myself. From there, I got my first paid gig to shoot a commercial for a start-up app. Since then, I’ve moved to LA, have lived here for three years now and I’m working with amazing people I’ve only dreamed of working with. I can definitely say I have my dream job.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth road, in fact it has been a very rough road. A lot of the main struggles come from everyday life. I mean we all have to live and pay bills. Not having steady income and chasing your dreams always comes with certain consequences. But once you get to the other side and start to build your network, you’ll start to find the right people that also want to see you win. Those will be your angels that get you by those rough times. Moving to a big city where you don’t know anyone can be hard but if you’re willing to get yourself out there like myself, you’ll see the rewards from it.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a Director and Editor here in Los Angeles. I work alongside many artists, brands and companies producing/directing content for them to market and advertise. I would like to think I’m known for my cinematic work and uniqueness. The truth is being in LA, you need to be able to adapt to everything that comes your way. I find myself doing a lot of set design work, lighting, location scouting, sound design and on some occasions, I’m the one running around making sure everything is ready for the shoot. I think that’s what sets me apart from others, is that I’m willing to do it all. As long as the results make the client happy!

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I’ve had lots of great people come into my life and help elevate my work and get me in positions I never thought were possible! A huge thank you to these people and I appreciate every one of them. Will I met back home in Texas but he was the one that saw the potential in me from the beginning and told me I needed to be in LA for this kinda work. When I moved here, we kept in contact and he helped me get some of the best gigs of my life. They were truly life-changing. Another big thank you goes to Cami Fatat, she helped me elevate my cinematography as a whole. She taught me about the details and how much they matter. There’s many more that I’ve worked with and I’m still working with that just motivate me and inspire me everyday and because of that, I am grateful for everyone I work with.

Contact Info:

• Email: directorniko@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirniko/

Image Credit:
Cami J Fatat, Darrian Dinero

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