MadBoy Productions, LLC
Makers of Film. Not Content.
Our Story
Meeting on the set of his second short film The Big Wait, writer-director Brandon Vega brought together who would become the genesis of his film production company: Wendy Guedea as his whole crew and Jonathan Ripley as the lead actor. Wendy would go on to be his main creative collaborator and producer on Vega's next two short films and Jonathan would be the lead actor in his award-winning short film, Smart Alex.
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Vega reunited with Wendy and Jonathan to bring his feature film directorial debut, In Witness Protection, to life. Believing in each other's talents and abilities, MadBoy Productions was born and, with the credo "No Basic Shit" set out to create films that pushed boundaries, set standards and above all left audiences feeling SOMETHING.
On the set of The Big Wait: Brandon Vega, Jonathan Ripley, Carlos Lerman and Wendy Guedea
The Filmmakers
In 2005, Brandon Vega quit a lucrative career in mortgage financing in Hawaii to fulfil his destiny of being a filmmaker. While tending bar in Texas, and after five years of literary labor, he finished his first screenplay NICKY BATZ and then wrote his second script, THE 6 - in a mere six weeks.
Vega drove cross-country and rented a room in Los Angeles house. He quickly received his first writing gig, networked, hung out at Burbank mall, made a few great contacts, and got hired to write more scripts.
During the pandemic of 2020, Vega wrote, shot and cut a poignant short film called MADS AND INVISIBLE BOB, with nothing more than his family and puppy. A year later, Vega shot his 2nd short film, THE BIG WAIT, with a cast of 2 and crew of 1. This is where he first met Wendy Guedea (future Producer and Production Designer) and Jonathan Ripley (actor and future Producer). They would later become the heart of MadBoy Productions.
Vega finished his 3rd short film, SMART ALEX (adapted from his feature screenplay of the same name) in 2023. It was accepted into four film festivals, including the Gulf Film and Video Film Festival as a Finalist and the Life Fest Film Festival XXV where it won the Audience Favorite Award and Best Actor Short Film for Tom Vera - who would become a constant collaborator. His latest short film, FANBOY (2024) is currently making the rounds where he has already garnered the Best Director American Short Film at the Los Angeles Movie and Music Video Awards.
Raised in Mexico, Wendy Guedea Valdez is a writer and filmmaker with over a decade of experience crafting stories with hands-on experience across multiple platforms.
Earning a Bachelor's degree in Communications and Digital Media, with a minor in filmmaking, Wendy's storytelling techniques significantly improved. Bringing a rich and diverse background to storytelling, her work reflects a rich blend of cultural perspectives and a deep commitment to authenticity.
Her filmmaking experience spans over dozens of sets. She has worked in music videos with national artists like Mariano Barba, Old Natives and Sin Luna, as director and production designer. In documentaries with important brands such as David Yurman, the NBA, Teletón and the Smart Cities Summit held in Guadalajara Jalisco, she's done camera, audio, directing and production design. She has also contributed to award-winner short films, such as FANBOY, SMART ALEX, ENTRE BROMA Y BROMA, COLMILLO, FRANCIS and PAUSE, producing, production designing, script supervising and audio recording. In feature-length movies like PISTOLAS DE JUGUETE, and UNA GRINGA PARA CENAR, she has worked as production assistant .
Additionally, Wendy has built a small but loyal community through her work as a YouTuber, leading several projects that showcase her versatility and passion for storytelling in the digital space.
Born in Leeds, UK Jonathan Ripley, was raised in a farming village in Yorkshire before earning a Ph.D. in Earth Science from The University of Manchester. Developing a first career in oil and gas, Jonathan has spent three decades with major energy companies, achieving senior executive positions living and working in the UK, USA, Malaysia, Singapore, The Philippines, China, Australia, The Netherlands, Alaska, and most recently in post-ISIS northern Iraq—where he served as Director General for a major oil operator based out of Dubai.
Jonathan is also co-founder and Corporate Officer for Deltalon, a Dubai-based proprietary digital asset and power hedge fund trading firm. He provides high-level guidance on governance and risk, combining business leadership with strategic direction.
For the past 15 years, he has called Houston, Texas his primary home. He is a proud father of four. In 2019, Jonathan transitioned part-time into acting, signing with Pastorini-Bosby Talent Agency. Since then, he has appeared in independent films such as Smart Alex, The Big Wait, commercials for W.L. Gore and Schlumberger, role-played for major charity fundraisers such as St. Jude’s Hospital, and done voice-over projects. Jonathan is now active in executive film production with Texas-based MadBoy Productions.