Meet Vega Montanez | Director, Writer, & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vega Montanez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vega, other than deciding to work for yourself, what else do you think played a pivotal role in your story?
Interestingly enough, working for myself has never been my focus. The true driving force behind everything I do is the aim to have complete control over my time. Working for myself allows me to determine how I’m going to spend every second of everyday. It allows me to decide who I interact with for how long and, in the best cases, how those projects and relationships grow. Alot of people I know, business owners, entrepreneurs, working class they are all chasing the idea of Financial Freedom. I’m simply chasing freedom.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My creative endeavors drive my business. I decided to go into Cinematic Production and Filmmaking because when I was a musician, I would have the hardest time finding people who fit my budget tp complete the king of work I was looking for. I spent some time with filmmakers like David Kirkman and Victor Ramos to understand more about what I was embarking in and then made my first film about mental health and depression (The Hurt We Share). One huge lesson I learned along the way was actually about myself. In 2019 I wrote an album called Self which was reflective of my journey to understanding myself as a person. Working in film has given me the opportunity to truly understand what I stand for. Every script I’ve written and every project I’ve jumped on board since has been very expressive of my opinions and thoughts of the world. Creatives see the world through a transformative lens based on what we see could be improved. Films allow me to show the world what I see.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is easy, i play tour guide for anyone who visits. We got the comedy shows in the upper west side. We got The Rose Garden Events run by Jasmine “JRose” Rosario and Canvas Cultures run by Shay Marie with events popping up all around the city that never miss. They are always the greatest time. I live for experiences so anytime I can find something new to do that sounds exciting, that’s where Im headed.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are tons of people along the way that have helped me develop into the man I am today. Shoutouts start with my mother, grandmother, and siblings and go all the way through past relationships and current friendships. I believe everyone you meet has the potential to change your life forever, whether you know it or not. If I had to name a few specific people, I would absolutely mention my high school mentors George L. Ortiz and Steve Cronin. I’d mention the first person to let me produce a high capacity event, Emelda Benitez. I’d mention J Jesses Smith and that’s a pretty new relationship, but the impact has been just as significant for my growth. Every single person you meet can change your life for better or worst, but the latter part is in your control.

Website: www.whatupvega.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/whatupvega

Facebook: Vega Montanez

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/cointheorymedia

Other: www.cointheorymedia.com

Image Credits
Chris Blair John Gutierrez