JOE MENENDEZ bio

"I believe the key to good directing is in understanding and knowing how to implement film grammar (when and how to move the camera, when and why to cut, etc). Be it in TV or film. Which is why in my own work, I always strive to meticulously craft every episode or movie I direct. It all starts with point of view. POV informs design, and design informs craft. Nothing brings me more joy than finding the best way to design and craft a scene. As my bio shows, I've worked in a variety of genres, so any well-written story with compelling characters attracts me, but if I had my druthers, I would personally favor stories with strong fantasy/sci-fi/action elements, which allows me to use my skills in crafting grand, visually complex sequences with VFX and stunts, while always keeping the stories grounded and emotionally truthful. "    -Joe Menendez

WIKIPEDIA    ​IMDB   

Award-winning filmmaker Joe Menendez is both a successful feature film director and a prolific television director/producer as well -- having moved seamlessly between both mediums his entire career.  Menendez has directed over 102 hours of television, written a handful of teleplays, produced several TV series and films, and has directed eight feature films and TV movies so far.

He is a multi-genre veteran of drama, action, horror, Sci-Fi, comedy, family and rom-com. His numerous and varied credits show that he is a skilled craftsman and an accomplished, versatile storyteller.

Joe Menendez is the Co-Executive Producer/Director for season 2 of the hit one-hour drama SIREN for Freeform, for which he has directed multiples since season 1. This is the second time in his career that he's been the P/D on a series, as Menendez was also the Producer/Director on Disney's IMAGINATION MOVERS from 2009 to 2010.

He's also directed multiples of the one-hour drama series 12 MONKEYS for SyFy Channel/UCP, QUEEN OF THE SOUTH for USA Network/UCP/Fox 21 and episodes for the horror anthology series 12 DEADLY DAYS, produced by Blumhouse Productions for YouTube Red.  Additionally, Menendez has directed multiple episodes of the one-hour drama FROM DUSK TILL DAWN: The Series for Robert Rodriguez and his El Rey Network including the final two episodes of the series.

Menendez directed the TV movie NIGHTCLUB SECRETS a thriller for Lifetime which premiered June 2nd, 2018, and the action-adventure TV movie LEGENDS OF THE HIDDEN TEMPLE for Nickelodeon, which was based on the popular game show of the same name, from the 1990s. The movie premiered November 26th, 2016.

He's also directed multiples of the Amazon Series JUST ADD MAGIC and the Prequel Series plus the "uncensored" episodes for the 2nd season of HULU's drama series EAST LOS HIGH. 

Menendez directed the action/comedy, LADRONES (THIEVES), which was released by Pantelion Films October 9th, 2015, and received a CinemaScore of "A". LADRONES is the sequel to his 2007 feature film LADRON QUE ROBA A LADRON (TO ROB A THIEF), which opened at the time to a record-grossing opening weekend at the box-office for a Spanish-language film in the U.S..

Menendez's other features as director include, the Spanish language romantic comedy QUIERO SER FIEL (WHY DO MEN CHEAT), which was released in the summer of 2014 all over Latin America, and remained in the top ten of Mexico's box office for two weeks. Another romantic comedy 3 HOLIDAY TAILS which Menendez directed for MarVista Entertainment, premiered under its TV title "A Golden Christmas 2: The Second Tail" on ION Television in December 2011. The indie drama HUNTING OF MAN, which Menendez edited, wrote and directed, 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. His feature debut was the action/thriller LORDS OF THE BARRIO, which was released in 2002.

Menendez directed several episodes of various Disney series: FAST LAYNE, ANDI MACK, STUCK IN THE MIDDLE, KIRBY BUCKETS, ZEKE AND LUTHER and was a Co-Executive Producer of Disney's IMAGINATION MOVERS, for which he also directed 22 episodes. He has also directed multiples for Nickelodeon's 100 THINGS TO DO BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL, BIG TIME RUSH, TRUE JACKSON VP, JUST JORDAN, UNFABULOUS, NED'S DECLASSIFIED SCHOOL SURVIVAL GUIDE, TAINA and THE BROTHERS GARCIA for which he won an Alma Award for OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A COMEDY in 2001. 

Menendez also directed multiple half hours of LOS BELTRAN, VIVA VEGAS and SOLO EN AMERICA for Telemundo. Additionally, Menendez directed (and edited) 215 ten minute reenactments PLACAS, also for Telemundo.

Menendez got his start directing over 20 reenactments for the nationally syndicated TV series: REAL STORIES OF THE HIGHWAY PATROL, after HBO commissioned Menendez  to write "Cinderella" and "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" for HBO's animated series HAPPILY EVER AFTER: STORIES FOR EVERY CHILD.

He has now added author to his eclectic career, having published his debut novel MINDSHOT, a Sci-Fi thriller, in January of 2013.