Meet Neil D’Monte: Producer/Director + artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Neil D’Monte and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Neil, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
Honestly, I have a few habits that I do routinely that I feel helped me succeed. The first thing is waking up and making my bed every morning. Secondly, working out twice a day with cardio + weights. It helps me to stay focused. And finally, once I decide on making an idea come into fruition, I COMMIT to it. I don’t ever doubt myself, I just go for it!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My main influences as an artist really came from fantasy painters. I remember falling in love with Frank Frazetta’s (whom I discovered from the Savage Sword of Conan novels) and H.R. Giger’s work as a kid. Then I slowly got into comic book art. Gil Kane, Brian Bolland, John Byrne and Michael Golden were all faves of mine. Their prespectives and linework really influenced my style and sense of proportion. Because of these two genres of art, I kind of “fused” them together to come up with a style that my friend dubbed as the “Gothic Nagel” – essentially really clean, tight lines with a flair for the macabre. I would say that style is what defines me. Most people can look at my work and know that I drew and designed it.

I literally worked my ass of. Before there was the little thing called the internet, I had to print copies and mail portfolios, go out and knock on doors to get people to see my work. It was NOT easy but I was always persistant and ambitious. My friends and family al had my back and kept me motivated. So I never thought of quitting or taking the easy way out and getting a 9 to 5.

I have a few things I am proud of right now. Two shorts I directed, THE EX and JINGLE TRAILS are streaming on Amazon Prime with a third, a political comedy series called FRONT MEN, about to be released on streaming platforms. I am also the Head of Development and Producers with SONY’s Robots of Awesome. And I started a clothing line called HELLBILLY in collaboration with Wicked Cat Clothing and some help from GhostCircusApparel which I am pretty stoked for all of you to see and to be wearing within the next month or so.

Some lessons I learned along the way? If you have a vision, stick to it. Once you do that, FOLLOW THROUGH AND COMMIT TO IT! Don’t have the attitude of “I’ll do it tomorrow” or “I’ll get around to it”. Make it happen. Just do it! No time like the present.

I think my brand is really all about precision and having a “wow’ factor. If I do something and don’t get a WOW!! reaction, then I just keep refining it until I do. Sometimes being a perfectionist helps. I have never been a “pick the low-hanging kind of guy”. You have have style and a little bit of flair in order to have your own ‘brand’.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would definitely start with a drive up the coast to Big Sur/Carmel and back, hitting coastal cities along the way and beaches like Leo Carillo and Pfeiffer. I would also stop off at Neptune’s Net and Duke’s for food, catching the sunset at El Matador on the way back. Hitting the comedy clubs/bars/hotel lounges/rooftop pools and restaurants on Sunset Blvd and DTLA would also be a must. I would also take them on a private golf cart tour of a film studio and/or a movie premiere so that they can have that one of a kind experience. And of course one of our live music venues from The Roxy/Viper Room to The Greek Theater or The Hollywood Bowl. And definitely a haunted tour of Los Angeles’ underbelly. And let’s not forget one of out lovely hiking trails like Fryman Canyon or a trip up to the back of the Hollywood Sign. A rollerskating/bike riding day along the boardwalk from Santa Monica to Hermosa Beach would also be fun! And for my vegan friends, a visit to Wolf Mountain Sanctuary where you can play and feed wolves and some of our amazing vegan places like Crossroads or Sage Bistro.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to give a shoutout to my Mom and Dad who never once doubted my passions and whom encouraged me to follow my dreams in the arts. They sacrificed everything to help me get to where I am today.

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1548702/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clanofthevein/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-d-monte-61631134/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/neildmonte

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neil.dmonte

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYJipJGCEA9XmYD1LPSD10A

Image Credits
Photos by Renard Garr, Albert L. Ortega, Bobby Delgadillo, Pascal Cooper, Glenn Francis/PacificProDigital, Jethro Alaba