About

Friends We Love (FWL) is a boutique production company and video series conceived by filmmaker Mike Vargas and multi-media artist Moni Pineda. Our mission is to produce dynamic online content that documents the creative process of artists and inspires dialogue and self-expression through a global online community. FWL consists of various artistic initiatives including a short-documentary series, educational programs and public performance events, including but not limited to art installations, festivals & film screenings. Our programming seeks to educate & celebrate artists through cultural exchange, community building and collaborations between the online and offline community.

Since inception, FWL has produced 70 short films which have been seen in over 135 countries, designed our current website which hosts not only videos but also the “We Love” blog, photography and music galleries, begun to implement our educational initiatives, and organized an Arts & Music Festival with some of NY best known street artists and bands. We pride ourselves in high quality, socially conscious content that inspires and ultimately benefits the greater good.

Meet the Friends Behind the Love

djmoni-filteredMoni Pineda is a Colombian-born, New York-based multimedia artist whose work spans through music, theater, photography, writing and video production. Her music career began as a DJ on college radio while earning an International Relations degree from American University in Washington, DC. Since then, she has shared billing with artists such as Paul McCartney, Amy Winehouse, Mos Def and DJ’d in England, France, Japan, Colombia and the Philippines. Moni’s profound love of music led her to work in theater as a music director, scoring various plays with her original music and remixing for Blue Man Group. As an on-stage DJ, she earned a Helen Hayes Theater Award nomination for the production, Flow. As a video and stills photographer, she has worked for clients like Sony Music, Adidas, Verve Records and Giant Step with photos published in numerous magazines including Rolling Stone, Spin, The Fader and Time Out NY. In 1999, she began her work as an Associate Producer for documentaries broadcast on Discovery’s Travel Channel, Court TV and Channel Four in the UK. In her spare time she teaches after school arts programs in the NY public school system, writes and photographs for her monthly column in the Japanese magazine Luire and DJs around the globe. Currently, she co-produces and directs the video series, Friends We Love, with Mike Vargas.

vargasfaceMike Vargas is the founder and head hancho of Nuyorktricity, a multi-media familia comprised of motion pictures, music production and photography. As a New York native and Film BFA graduate from SUNY Purchase, Mike brings a fierce artistic passion to his independent filmmaking, writing, and photography. His cinematography credits include Estilo Hip-Hop, a theatrically released feature length documentary that chronicles the rise of hip-hop activism throughout Latin America (estilohiphop.com). It premiered at the HBO Latino Film Festival and will air nationally on PBS in 2009. In addition, Mike has shot and edited innumerable live events, music videos and promotional packages. His recent clients include Will Smith / Overbrook Entertainment, Nike, Pepsi, Absolut, Philips, Diesel and G-Unit / Interscope Records. Mike recently self-published his first book of street life photographs, which were exhibited at The Brecht Forum in downtown New York. He has also begun production on his next comedic film project entitled, “Disguise The Limit”. Currently, Mike joined forces with Moni Pineda to create Friends We Love – a video series exploring the creative process of artists and creators.

Contact Us:

Moni Pineda :: moni@friendswelove.com

Mike Varags :: vargas@friendswelove.com

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Information :: info@friendswelove.com

Public Relations :: pr@friendswelove.com