Today we’d like to introduce you to Maureen M. Maundu.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Maureen. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. After completing college at AUSI studying Mass communications, I knew my heart was not fulfilled. I spoke to my parents and told them about my dream of working in film and my father suggested for me to find an affordable school where I can learn more about filmmaking.
In 2008, I traveled to the United States to study Cinematography at the Motion Picture Institute of Michigan. I graduated in 2009 and moved to Louisiana to work as a Camera PA on short films, features, and series. I was lucky to work on an episode of ‘American Horror Story Season 3’ as a Camera PA and that is where I realized being in the ‘Village’ as they call where the Director is located, and watching their power on how to create their vision, I knew I wanted to do more than just camera work.
I later moved to Chicago to study Bachelor of Science in Post Production at Flashpoint College, Campus of Columbia College Hollywood where I am currently set to graduate this June 2018. Learning how to edit film has taught me how to direct and shoot to edit. I am currently in post-production with my short film TranHeist, a fun short crime drama about Morgan, a transsexual woman in pre-operation who steals money from her friend’s drug dealing boyfriend to fund her gender confirmation surgery. Once completed, we will submit to festivals.
My past works include short films: ‘21 Days’, ‘Small World’, ‘Worse’, and a music video ‘Asphalt Heart’. I am blessed and lucky to be able to work in different departments in a film including sound and lights. I am currently dabbling in the make-up department. I don’t set a limit on myself because I came to pursue my dream without family in America and I have never been happier. My dream is to make a film that is socially relatable and current with the times. My dream is to sit next to Ava Duvernay, Stephen Speilberg, Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu and Quentin Tarantino among others and feel like I worked hard to belong.
My website is for mostly camera work as an independent filmmaker.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth road but the lessons I have learned from the struggle has made me who I am today.
To be a female who wants to be in the camera department, was not easy when I moved to Louisiana in 2011. Women are given a harder time generally in the camera department. I would walk on set the assumption would be wardrobe or make-up department or just a PA. The camera department is mostly men and to get in, you have to work twice as hard to be included and I did. If it meant walking three blocks to get coffee for the camera department or stand in one place to watch the camera equipment truck, I did it with a smile on my face because I wanted to be there and I was finally granted the opportunity to be a second camera PA which was a great learning experience for me.
For the short films that I wrote, directed and edited, the issue was making everyone believe in your vision and work for you for free because you are a student or independent. I have accomplished that several times but it takes longer. You have a smaller crew and everyone has to wear different hats so as a director for my short film ‘Worse’, I ended up being the make-up artist and I also had to work the camera for one of the scenes. This is why I love learning about different departments so I can jump in and show people I just don’t yell directions, I can actually do it.
www.momaundu.work – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am currently in the process of creating my film production company, A Maundu Production. This will help me completely dive into the production aspect of my films which I did with TranHeist. I currently have my website where I am a freelance camera operator and editor.
What sets me aside from others is, I am always happy to be on set, to work with a camera, to move to different positions in the department to complete a project in a timely, precise and direct manner using digital cameras and selective editing softwares, that results in a beautiful, transparent work of film.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success as being able to make your audience or clients see your work or projects and feel like you know them personally and you snuck into their hearts without them knowing it. To feel like a good neighbor or a distant friend from the past who understands their vision and bring it to life visually.
I look for truth, a different perspective, progressive art, and originality.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.momoaund.work
- Phone: 248-761-1604
- Email: maurine.mweni@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moluscious6/, https://www.instagram.com/tranheist/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momaundu.work/, https://www.facebook.com/TranHeist-438068393288480/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mo_maundu
Image Credit:
Main photo: Chad Husar
Photo with the mask on: Xiaonee Woo
Flashpoint College Students
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