BENJI PEREZ GONZALEZ

Benji Perez Gonzalez is a seasoned director/producer and documentary filmmaker passionate about exploring issues related to education equity, social justice, and cultural identity. As a first-generation immigrant, Benji has a unique storytelling lens that unites his traditional Mexican upbringing with an infinitely different American experience. As a child of both worlds,  Benji uses the art of filmmaking to unite people through empathy, understanding, and storytelling.

  • Benji is one of those special people that comes along and you're forever grateful you had a chance to work together. While a marketer and video production manager at NMDP/Be The Match, I hired Benji to pick up a video production project midstream that included producing three videos for Spanish-speaking patients and caregivers. There were some hurdles along the way and like the top-notch professional he is, he gracefully jumped each one. At every turn, Benji was there to move the project along with his editing and native-Spanish speaking skills. He's a great communicator, talented at his craft, and went above and beyond to create a successful project. He also created beautiful Spanish videos for Be The Match in 2022. My only regret is we didn't hire him as the director and producer from the start! I'll jump at the chance to work with Benji again and recommend to anyone to hire him to help tell their story.

    Jara Fairchild, NMDP

  • There is an art to telling a story through video, understanding the vision, the characters and the story. There is a science to the lighting, the sound, the shot selection. Embracing both art and science, Benji is a talented storyteller who takes time to understand the people, craft a message and bring the story to life. I’ve worked with Benji on a variety of projects that need to evoke joy, introspection and celebration. He knows how to capture emotion, fun and humanity. He is approachable and unassuming. Open to suggestions and feedback, in the end, he will always make decisions in the best interest of the story. And more than once I’ve seen him make magic following a video shoot that seemed flat or incomplete. Benji is a pro and a joy to work with, and he delivers a compelling video that keeps the audience engaged.

    Janet Swiecichowski, EdD, APR, Fellow PRSA

  • I had the chance to work with Benji on a City of Altoona, Wisconsin video project. He and his team at Captivate Media did a top notch job for the City at all stages of the project. Benji was fantastic to work with and I would recommend his services to all that are interested.

    Roy Atkinson, City of Altoona WI

  • I had the opportunity to work with Benji on multiple video projects over the past year. I couldn't be more pleased with the results! First, he was fun and easy to work with. Second, he was always fast with delivering drafts and making edits–meeting and exceeding my timeline expectations! And last, the quality was great! From promotional videos to program videos to graduation videos–he covered it all for us this year and really helped us to tell our story.

    Jennifer Valley, Richfield Public Schools

  • Benji is an outstanding videographer, editor, and human being! He approached our video project with the utmost care and professionalism. From the first meeting to the final delivery of the finished product, every interaction with Benji was thoughtful, thorough, and timely. We are so grateful for the careful way he crafted the story and message of our organization and its mission through video. He has given us a powerful way to share our organization's WHY!

    Katherine Myers, LiveMore ScreenLess

  • I worked with Benji to produce PROFE, a one-hour documentary for PBS about culture-affirming education for the Latine community in Minnesota. He was a wonderful collaborator from early conception and story development throughout filming and editing assemblies and rough cuts of the final film. Benji's creative eye and story sense were crucial in finding a balance between pushing the limits of what we could do budgetarily while also creating a broadcast documentary for public media. His passion for storytelling and equitable education shines through in so many aspects of this film. I look forward to hiring him again for future projects as a producer and collaborator.

    Sergio Mata’u Rapu

  • Benji worked for me at Captivate Media for more than five years. He is an incredible cinematographer and editor, but most importantly a great person. Benji formed strong relationships with members of my team as well as with clients. Many clients would reach out to me and request Benji to be the cinematographer for their projects. He is self-motivated and has great instincts. His roles and responsibilities increased during his time at Captivate because he was so talented and skilled at his craft. I continue to hire Benji as a freelancer for projects because I trust him and his abilities to create outstanding work that will be exactly what me and my clients expect.

    Jake Sturgis, APR, Captivate Media + Consulting