Michael Vargas is an award-winning filmmaker, visual artist, and writer with over 25 years of experience across documentary, branded, and narrative work. He co-founded Friends We Love with his wife, Moni Vargas, in 2008 to champion creative expression and amplify community-driven stories. As a seasoned director, cinematographer, and editor, Michael has led countless productions from concept to final cut, with two of his most acclaimed projects earning back-to-back Emmy nominations through PBS’s Artbound series. His documentary work has also received four National Press Club Awards, screened at notable film festivals, and reached millions of viewers across digital platforms. From global campaigns for brands like Apple, Nike, and GQ, to intimate artist profiles and cultural documentaries,

Michael’s cinematic approach blends artistry with impact. He remains dedicated to elevating untold narratives and honoring the legacies of underrepresented communities with originality, depth, and purpose.

Moni Vargas is a three-time Emmy-nominated director, producer, and multidisciplinary artist with over two decades of experience in documentary film. She co-founded Friends We Love in 2008 as a platform to tell bold, art-driven stories that center culture and communities of the global majority. Her work has screened at international festivals, the United Nations, as well as cultural institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum and the Bronx Museum. She is the recipient of two prestigious National Journalism Awards and two Southern California Journalism Awards. Moni previously served as Program & Creative Director at Breakthrough U.S., a global nonprofit using media, art, and technology to advance gender equity and human rights. She has taught documentary filmmaking and developed a Care-Centered approach that shapes every project she leads. Her storytelling reflects a lasting commitment to equity, craft, and the power of inclusivity.

Head of TelevisaUnivision’s Uforia Music Digital.

Hector is a multi-skilled media professional with 10 years of experience in digital media + 20 yrs experience in linear audio-content creation. He’s fluent across the media spectrum, including radio, television, digital video & audio content. His curiosity mixed with a creative mindset has earned him a true jack-of-all media trades who has a great passion for music programming, talent development & audio storytelling while having a healthy obsession in mobile app product development, workflows, roadmaps, and product QA & analytics.
He blends data with gut-feel in a goals-driven environment and can communicate effectively to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders in order to reach business goals.

Special Projects, XRM Media Studios

Randy embraces his insatiable love of human creativity, often bridging the gaps between art, music, fashion, technology, underground, and pop culture with innovative or immersive productions. As a curator and producer, he loves to challenge the status quo and create diverse communities, referring to his approach tongue-in-cheek as “exclusively inclusive”. His professional endeavors are often driven by a love of building community and championing various philanthropic causes.