Brent Mata is a cinematographer and entrepreneur. He founded the artist agency NEER, and the development company HASBEEN Productions.
He is known for his exceptional skills in visual storytelling and leadership in the film industry. Born and raised in Michigan, Brent showed an early interest in art and movies. His passion only grew stronger as he pursued his education and career.
Brent obtained his Bachelor of Science in Film Production. During his time in the camera department, he honed his craft and gained valuable experience before going full time as a cinematographer.
Throughout his career, Brent has worked on numerous high-profile projects. He has garnered a reputation in beauty and fashion.
After observing how the production landscape for stills and motion were evolving, he founded NEER, an artist agency specializing in the management of Cinematographers and Director/DPs. Through his leadership and innovation NEER has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry and helped create better standards for production in the fashion industry.
Outside of his work in film production, Brent is also a devoted husband and father. He enjoys spending time with his family and pursuing his hobbies in music and art.
COFFEE & FILM RECCOS - MAY ‘23
While updating my Stage & Broadway section I popped on one of my favorite flicks from the college years “Closer”. Being a hopeless romantic and guilty of a fascination with complications of
romantic entanglement, I recall this film being an intoxicating experience. Rewatching it again did not change those notions. It’s a bitter story about juvenile people with little control over impulse
causing turmoil for their partners due to their selfish behavior all the while you can’t help but believe that their desires for one another are authentic. Everyone of our leads gives a strong
performance. This was the first time I had heard Damien Rice’s “Blowers Daughter”, a beautiful haunt of a song that feels like it was written for this movie and that era of the 2000’s.
It’s difficult to put a label on that time in film. I feel like it was a mish-mash of genres, but it certainly was the last hurrah before the gigantic comic book era we’re in now where you could catch
a paper back novel-esque film like this.
Interesting coincidence: I was adding my promo work for the opera Cosi Fan Tutte while watching this movie only to find out that Closer, also a play, was inspired by that very opera. Weirdness.
COFFEE! Longing for my old stomping ground in Pasadena, California Copa Vida. Their cold brew was a morning staple for many years. I’ll be ordering some of their whole bean to try and replicate,
but if you can pop in their brick and mortar, specifically their Old Town address, it is a lovely flavor. Slightly fruity, with a bitter after taste, almost always correctly diluted to keep a thick, chocolatey
flavor as well.
