Producer / Director

@monimusically

Moni Vargas is an AfroIndigenous, 3x Emmy-nominated filmmaker, artist, and creative facilitator with 20 years of experience rooted in gender justice, radical inclusivity, and care. She has directed and produced award-winning films and series for PBS/KCET, Vice, Westbrook, and Paramount, including Con Safos (Emmy-nominated, multiple journalism awards), Our Stories in Vivid Color, and Audrey’s Poem. As co-founder of Friends We Love/Nuyorktricity with her partner Michael Vargas, her work has screened at international festivals, the United Nations, and major museums. She’s led inclusive productions and developed a Care-Centered Approach to Filmmaking, teaching for organizations like Skoll, Represent Justice, and SCMS.

Director / Director of Photography / Editor

@everydayhigher

Michael Vargas is a two-time Emmy-nominated filmmaker and co-founder of Friends We Love. He blends cinematic storytelling with bold visual art, creating for brands like Apple, Nike, GQ, Diesel, and Pepsi, and collaborating with PBS, Sony TV Pictures, and Westbrook Entertainment. His documentaries have been featured at The Bronx and Brooklyn Museums, and he exhibited in a 2023 group show at Transformative Arts in Downtown LA. Versatile in directing, editing, and crafting abstract art collections on MichaelVargas.Art, his work invites viewers into a vibrant world of color, texture, and form, appealing to art enthusiasts globally.

Founding Artistic Director of CASA 0101

Josefina López, Founding Artistic Director of CASA 0101, began her writing career at 17 and has produced over 80 impactful plays in the U.S., advocating for underrepresented communities. Her iconic work, "Real Women Have Curves," resonated with audiences and became a celebrated 2002 Sundance Award-winning film. López’s bold storytelling delves into identity, culture, and femininity, inspiring many. The Broadway adaptation of "Real Women Have Curves" champions body positivity, identity, and resilience, maintaining the original's essence while showcasing women's struggles and triumphs over cultural expectations. Its powerful melodies and vibrant choreography engage new audiences and promote the celebration of all women.

Executive Director of CASA 0101

Emmanuel Deleage, Executive Director of CASA 0101 Theater and Executive Producer of the film, said: “This year CASA 0101 Theater is celebrating our historic 25th Anniversary Season. To preserve this moment in time we are proud to announce that a documentary film is in process chronicling all we have accomplished serving the community of Boyle Heights in Los Angeles, CA over the last 25 years.

Development Director of Casa 0101

Mark Kraus began at Casa 0101 as the organization’s first full-time Administrator and led the technical and infrastructural overhaul for the organization when Casa 0101 opened it’s new home in 2011.  With the growth of the organization since then, he has transitioned into his current role as Development Director.