J Antonio Mendoza

J. Antonio grew up in the very small town of Steger, Illinois; and as early as the age of four, can remember spending all of his time in his childhood bedroom creating stories and watching re-runs of The Dick Van Dyke Show, Get Smart, and Carol Burnett to study the rhythm and timing of each story. Being the oldest of three, Mendoza would force his younger brother to re-enact each sketch with him and the two would start creating their own programming to show their mother, then their grandparents, and then the kids at school.

Mendoza is a graduate of Millikin University with degrees in both English and Theater, with a focus in Playwriting. As the Director of Special Programs at the Illinois Theater Center, he developed the Hispanic Theater Project, giving an opportunity for local Latino artists to create and establish themselves in the Chicago theater community.

Mendoza has written and directed Graham Cracker, Andy & Johnny, & Stuffing the Turkey and is one of the founding members of BSPfilm and is currently the Managing Director for the company.