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Joel M. Gonzales' journey began with a broken heart and just nine-hundred dollars to his name. A native of Los Angeles, he grew up in the inner-city community of Watts. Despite these early challenges, he has gone on to become an accomplished entrepreneur, a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA) and an award-winning producer.
Joel's passion for filmmaking led him to produce his first set of feature films, "Followed Home" and "Exorcist: Prayers in the Dark," both made on a shoestring budgets; both films are still available on many digital platforms and box retailers as prime examples of no-budget filmmaking.
Through his dedication and hard work, Joel quickly gained a reputation as the go-to producer for filmmakers seeking quality on a micro-budget. In 2014, he founded Action Faith Media, producing his first film, "Crave: The Fast Life," which has won over 22 awards worldwide and ranked in the top 10 trending Faith/Latino films on Amazon. Other notable releases from Action Faith Media include "Riding Faith" (Netflix), "Redeemed" (BET Originals), "Blanco" (Amazon), and "My Brother's Keeper" (Amazon), which was nominated for the coveted GMA Dove Award.
Joel's talents and expertise led to his appointment as SVP, Head of Latinx Content and Physical Production for Confluential Films, where he produced the HBO documentary "Juice Wrld," the feature film "Die Like A Man" starring Cory Hardrict, and developed "The Cola Wars," the amazing true story behind the "Coke versus Pepsi" battle of the 80s.
Today, Joel is at the helm of Untold Content, which develops and produces film, television, documentaries, and podcasts that are diverse, authentic, and culturally reflective of today's global audience. Among his recent achievements, he developed and co-produced the 2023 SXSW Spotlight Audience Choice winning film, "The Long Game," starring Dennis Quad and Jay Hernandez, as well as the BET Original "The Life of Me," starring Brian White and Danielle Nicolet. Joel is in production of "Los Regionales" a 6-part docuseries for Amazon Originals which he developed.
In addition to his work in the entertainment industry, Joel serves as the president of Nosotros, the oldest Latino Arts Advocacy non-profit founded by the iconic Ricardo Montalbán in 1970. He is also a national speaker, a board member of the International Christian Film Festival in Orlando, a mentor for the Los Angeles Film Connection program, and serves on various steering committees for the Producers Guild of America.
Residing with his family near the City of Angels in the City of Trees, Joel's collaborative spirit, networking prowess, and commitment to inspiring others make him an invaluable resource for aspiring artists and industry professionals seeking knowledge and guidance.
