Award-winning filmmaker Joe Menendez is both a successful feature film director and a prolific television director-writer-producer as well - having moved seamlessly between both mediums his entire career.
Menendez directed the action-comedy feature Ladrones (2015), for Pantelion Films, which received a CinemaScore of "A".
He has also directed multiple episodes of the one hour drama Une nuit en enfer (2014) for Robert Rodriguez's El Rey Network, episodes for the new Amazon series Just Add Magic (2016), and the Prequel Series and Uncensored episodes for the Hulu series East Los High (2013). Menendez was also a Co-Producer on another Pantelion feature Aztec Warrior (2016).
In 2013, Menendez directed (and edited) the Spanish-language romantic comedy Quiero ser fiel (2014). The film premiered in Latin America in 2014, remaining in the top ten of Mexico's box office for two weeks.
In 2011, Menendez directed 3 Holiday Tails (2011) for MarVista Entertainment. The film premiered under its TV and DVD title, "A Golden Christmas 2: The Second Tail" on ION Television in December 2011.
In 2007, Menendez directed (and edited) Un voleur qui vole un voleur (2007) (To Rob A Thief) for Lionsgate Films, which opened on 340 screens nationwide on August 31, 2007 and went on to boast a record-grossing opening weekend for a Spanish-language film in the U.S.
Hunting of Man (2003) , which he edited, wrote and directed in 2002, won best picture at the 2003 New York Latino International Film Festival and the coveted Festival Director Award For Excellence at the 2003 Method Fest where Menendez was also nominated for Best Director.
Menendez was a Co-Executive Producer for the final season of Disney Channel's Imagination Movers (2008), for which he directed a 1/3 of all the episodes produced. Menendez was with the show since season one (from 2007 to 2011) working as a director and/or producer.
Menendez has directed multiple episodes for several other Nickelodeon and Disney series. Shows including: 100 choses à faire avant le Lycée (2014), Zeke et Luther (2009) for Disney XD including the June 15th, 2009 World Premiere "Bros Go Pro" which scored record ratings, coming in at #1 for the night, Big Time Rush (2009) True Jackson (2008), Jordan (2007), Allie Singer (2004), Ned ou Comment survivre aux études (2004),Taina (2001) and The Brothers Garcia (2000) for which he won an Alma Award for Outstanding Directing In A Comedy in 2001.
His company Narrow Bridge Films produced the live action music videos and end credits sequences for Disney Junior's hit animated series Jake et les pirates du Pays Imaginaire (2011) as well as the live action sequences for a spin-off series of shorts based on Disney's animated show Agent Special OSO (2009) called "Three Healthy Steps". Menendez served as Executive Producer on both.
Narrow Bridge Films also produced the live action segments for Disney Channel's Tasty Time with ZeFronk (2008), on which Menendez served as Executive Producer. Menendez also served as a Consulting Producer on What's Cooking with Cat Cora! (2008) for Disney Travel on Demand.
Between 2003 and 2005 Menendez was very busy doing all sorts of television, from sitcoms, to reality, to animated:
--In 2003, Menendez was a Staff Writer on the Fox sitcom, Luis (2003) starring Luis Guzman. --He directed an episode of Cuts (2005) for UPN. --He wrote two episodes for the PBS kids show "Dragon Tales" (1999)_. --He produced a reality TV series called,Urban Jungle (2004).
From 1996 through 2001, Menendez worked almost exclusively in the Spanish TV world.
Menendez directed multiple episodes for three different Spanish language Columbia Tri-Star multi-camera half hours: Los Beltrán (1999), ¡Viva Vegas! (2000) and the "One Day At A Time" remake, Solo En America, which aired on the Telemundo Network since 1998. Menendez also wrote several episodes for Los Beltran. Menendez went into half-hours after a three-year run on another Telemundo show, called Placas (1996), where he directed 215 ten minute reenactments.
In 1995, Menendez directed over 20 reenactments for the nationally syndicated TV show: Real Stories of the Highway Patrol (1993).
In 1994, HBO commissioned Menendez to write "Cinderella" for HBO's animated series Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995). Then in 1996, Menendez wrote "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" for the same HBO series.
Menendez has now added author to his long list of credits, having published his debut novel, the science fiction thriller, "Mindshot" in 2013. The book is available in print and eBook everywhere.
Born in New York City, at the raw age of 7, Menendez commandeered his grandmother's Super 8 movie camera and began directing, shooting and editing movies starring his little brother, cousins and friends. He moved to L.A. in 1992, and since then, he's never stopped working as either a writer or a director or a producer. Or all the above.
Joe Menendez is a founding member of The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco and resides in Los Angeles with his wife their young daughter.
