Interviewed and recruited by Creative Art Director Ryan Daoust

I’m Douglass Mendonca. I am a Brazilian-American who has lived in South Florida his whole life. I have been walking the creative path since the age of 13. I’ve done everything from writing and audio engineering to photography and now videography. You can expect dad jokes here and there. You will also find a collection of crazy socks and Hawaiian shirts. I have a love for foreign-made films!

Understanding other people as individuals is crucial to the message I want to convey. Other cultures also hold great importance. That message being: “The day we can all understand each other is the day that we will have true peace.”

Why Videography?

I decided to work in videography because it is an immersive experience. By producing video, you’re capable of creating something that can be experienced by the viewer’s other senses. It’s the best way to tell stories that need to be heard.

In terms of style, I believe it depends on the type of project. Depending on what you’re selling is how you shoot and what you’re looking for. I aim to tell a story and give a message with almost everything I shoot. I believe video should be both subtle and impactful.

My favorite sports teams are the Miami Heat and the Miami Dolphins. I do notice I have a lot of influences in sports. On set, I shoot a lot of events and look for moments. I think it’s important to give people the freedom to have fun. I also try to learn from the people I work with. It’s one of the perks of the production. You can make them feel special. Make them a key character. By doing that, you can add more interesting angles to your story.

I believe the best way to capture true emotion is to film a person’s expression. This is especially true when it comes to shooting sensitively. How the viewer reacts to something shows more. Capturing someone’s perception reveals more than simply just capturing what is happening. Sometimes, when looking for the pivotal moment, you need to be the one to create the moment. I used to shoot a lot of events. Looking for moments is great. Getting people hyped to have fun is even better.

Process and Advice

I work in videography because it’s essentially getting into Narrative Film-making, which is formatted in a fictional story. I love it because it requires more problem-solving and critical thinking to achieve the result you’re looking for. That means more collaboration with others and learning more about the different rules of film-making in general.

I got pulled into working on “Sofia”. I realized I can put myself in a Narrative Film-making situation. It was a situation that I had been looking for. I learned a lot about the scope of work in planning out a longer project. This was something beyond what I normally would have worked on. Additionally, you have total control over it. I hope to learn more about playing a role in the production to avoid being the entire production team. I pulled into it because I had the opportunity to learn how much I would learn and was priceless.

Many aspects of film-making that I hadn’t considered or understood became clear to me. This happened by working on the short film and choosing my path into film-making. I discovered the roles I envision for myself in the full production process. The knowledge I gained from working on Sofia has been a catalyst in my life. I am profoundly grateful for this. It showed me what I wanted and made me realize I should focus on the process of creativity. It taught me about seeing what’s important in a story.

YouTubers online are a big inspiration for my style! I follow Matt Olivella, who is excellent at storytelling, Danny Gavirz, and the Sorensen brothers. I watch the guys at Film Riot, amongst many others that I watch and learn from on a daily/weekly basis.

Whatever camera you have, learn everything about it, and learn how to light and record audio properly. Be careful looking at gear all the time. It will trap you. It can make you think that your problems will be solved with a new lens. Only buy gear with your credit card if it’s necessary. Buy items only when you truly lack access. Get other people’s opinions on your work and take the criticism; don’t lash back for something you asked for. Ask forhelp.

Right now, I’m presently working on a documentary about elections and voting in Florida.

If someone wanted to hire my company as a film crew, they can reach out to us through different channels. One choice is via our website https://www.brimbok.com. Alternatively, you can hit my email: douglassm.brimbok@gmail.com. Our main director/producer’s email: producers@brimbok.com.

DM