“originality is nothing but judicious imitation”
– Voltaire
I am a fixer, assistant producer and production manager with over 8 years experience in managing budgets, international & local crews, locations, casting and all things production.
REALITY
Director: Rick Castañeda I UAE Producer: Joy Mwendwa I UK Producer: Omar Kenawi I Production Company: Vibrant Penguins
I have produced, managed, facilitated and coordinated numerous shoots from pre-production to post. This includes a mix of TVCs, documentaries, broadcast, brand campaigns for clients such as Truly Original, Abu Dhabi Tourism, Dubai Tourism, National Geographic, BBC World, Burberry, Discovery Channel and many more.
A Nyx Creative Awards Gold Winner and a heartfelt tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s founding father. As the nation celebrates #EidAlEtihad53, we reflect on his values, vision, and the spirit of unity that continues to shape the nation.
Client: Mubadala, Executive Producer: Arwa Merchant, Director: Dimitri Yuri, DOP: Mik Allen, AD: Ryan Domigpe, Production Manager: Joy Mwendwa,
Production Team: Neo Apel, Mansour Ahmed, Laasima Basheer, Abdelrahman Nazeh, Aaron Sebastin, Art Team: Bora Batur, Rodil Panim, Caesar Macaya, Ernan Singian, Sound Recordist: Mahmoud Sukkar, DIT: Shajahan, VTO: Sai Rohith, Drone Operator: Bachir, Photography: Ralf Jigger, Cee Jay Rosario
Focus Puller: Habib Kadamani, Grips Team: Bob Touma, Rob Babikian, Ruelito Dagos, Muhammad Naeem
Gaffer Team: Sharfuddin Mohiuddin, Imram Ahmad, Santosh Kumar, Babar Hussain, Muhammad Awais, Husnain Farooq, Bharat Dholi, Audin Gul, Glam
Team: Jhoanna, Syma Ahmed, Production House: Orca & Aura
Hermes Creative Awards Platinum Winner – A film about young changemakers setting trends and shaping the future.
Creative Director & Executive Producer: Arwa Merchant, Director: Nada Hashish, Serbia DP: Marko Mladenovik, Kenya DP: Ishmael Azeli, UAE DP: Rober Babekhul, Studio Shoot DP: Jad Saabi, Production Manager: Joy Mwendwa, Art Direction: Aces of Space, 1st AD: Lora Brugioli, Gaffer: Don Hoffman, Grip: Jeremy Connell, 1st AC: Jimmy Sawma, Studio & Equipment rental: High End Films, Editor: Roopansh,
Production Company: Orca & Aura Films
MEADOWLARK presents in association with FIRELIGHT FILMS “SKATEPARK SISTERHOOD” Executive Producers JOHN SKIPPER GARY HOENIG STANLEY NELSON SMRITI KESHARI DALIA PENZIK HATTIE BOWERING Line Producer SARI SKIER Supervising Producers KIRAN ALVI SIAN-PIERRE REGIS Executive in Charge of Production KEITH BROWN Edited by DANI BENAVIDES TODDY STEWART Director of Photography DARYL VISSCHER Produced and Directed by ANGELA HARTWICK. Ethiopia Producer JOY MWENDWA Production by WILD MEDIA
SKATEPARK SISTERHOOD
A short film about a group of Ethiopian young women fight to create a skatepark of their own and to spread their love of skateboarding, and the liberation it offers, to girls across the country. Despite the challenges of red tape and civil war, what never fades is their pure love of skating.
Skatepark Sisterhood is a powerful evocation of exuberant youth, pursuing the thing you love and the passionate desire to share it with others.
I am proud to have produced this film alongside an amazing Director and Producers who have been a beautiful force to work with.
Filming in Ethiopia during conflict was a challenge but everyone came together and pulled all stops to make it all happen. Proud of everyone who took part in making this a reality, including the beautiful ladies who shared their life with us.
SELECT Works
UK Producers: Marcus Jones, Rosie Wells I DoP: Oliver Schofield, Candida Richardson I PH: Wild Media
Series, UAE Producer
UK Producers: Marcus Jones, Rosie Wells I DoP: Oliver Schofield, Candida Richardson
Digital content, Production Manager (Remote)
UK Producers: Marcus Jones, Rosie Wells I DoP: Oliver Schofield, Candida Richardson
Broadcast, Production Manager
WORD OUT THERE…
“Joy is an absolute pleasure to work with. She brings positivity, tireless energy, and a diplomatic touch to every project, no matter the size or complexity. Her adaptability and calm leadership under pressure make her a true asset to any team. Always reliable and always delivering beyond expectations, I’d highly recommend her to anyone.”
— Jax Dyer-Donaldson, Independent Production Consultant / Executive Producer
“Joy came onto a quick turnaround project and took the lead early on. The brief developed as we went through pre-production, and she was quick to adjust and jump on location opportunities. She ran a well-organised production and returned her recons with a profit. Highly recommend!
— Rory McLoughlin, Executive Producer, People & Co.
“Joy is a fantastic, highly experienced producer who I’ve worked with many times in projects in the Middle East. Diligent & reliable, and always a pleasure to work with. Would recommend her strongly.”
— Jacquie Beaumont, Founding Partner and Creative Director, THINK MAKE CREATE
“Professional, reliable and personable – Joy is great to work with! An expert at managing crews and productions with grace, Joy also possesses an excellent local knowledge of Dubai’s distinct working practices.”
— Nick Kwek, Freelance TV Producer, Director, Presenter, Technology Journalist, BBC World
“I had the pleasure of working with Joy during the World Government Summit, where she was a valuable part of the production team. Joy consistently demonstrated professionalism, reliability, and a strong ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. She was highly organised, proactive, and always willing to support the team wherever needed to ensure smooth event operations. Her communication skills, positive attitude, and attention to detail made her a great person to work alongside during such a large-scale international event. Joy brings dedication, teamwork, and a calm approach to production, and I would confidently recommend her for future production and event roles!
— Charlotte Palmer, Film Producer and Managing Partner, Analog Productions
“Joy was a pleasure to work with during the World Government Summit. We worked alongside each other as fellow producers in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, and she brought a strong sense of professionalism, calm, and teamwork throughout. She is reliable, collaborative, and great at what she does. Joy communicates clearly, supports the people around her, and approaches challenges with a positive, solution-focused mindset. We worked really well together, bouncing ideas back and forth and keeping things moving smoothly. I would be very happy to work with Joy again and would gladly recommend her to any team!
— Nawal Qaddoumi, Freelance Creative Producer and Filmmaker
“Joy was such a joy to work with, to be very frank, I haven’t encountered many people with her very positive attitude. She was able to break down the project into manageable bits and move the whole thing forward without any disruption. I would highly recommend her to people who are looking for a can-do attitude and a team player. She really knows how to move things forward and get things done. Kudos to Joy!
— Nora Bensahli, Project Manager and Marketing Business Developer
Joy Mwendwa 