Meet the Studio's Storyteller

Matthew Vaz is the founder and creative voice behind Phoenix Studios. After beginning his career in filmmaking, Matthew gradually expanded his focus toward literature and creative analysis, through his work as both an educator and a YouTube creator.

Whether he is developing an original story, breaking down the mechanics behind an existing one, or helping students discover their own creative voices, Matthew’s work is driven by a fascination with how stories are built and why they connect with audiences. Phoenix Studios has become the home for those interests to meet, allowing him to explore storytelling across film, television, novels and whatever project comes next.

Writer. Filmmaker. Educator.

Where It All Began:

Phoenix Studios began as a small group of aspiring filmmakers brought together by a shared love of movies and storytelling. During its early years, the team produced student projects, wedding videos, and independent short films while learning the craft through hands-on experience.

As the years passed, the members of that original team gradually followed their own creative paths and careers. Phoenix Studios evolved with them, shifting away from being a traditional production crew and becoming a broader creative outlet for Matthew’s work in writing, filmmaking, and education.

Those early productions remain an important part of the studio’s history - and helped shape the creative philosophy behind everything Phoenix Studios does today.

Every story has an origin.

Friends & Collaborators:

Phoenix Studios would not have gotten far without the artists, performers, and friends who helped bring its earliest projects to life. Many of these collaborators worked alongside Matthew during the studio’s formative years, contributing their talents both in front of and behind the camera.

Although the original team has since moved on to pursue their own creative paths, their contributions remain an important part of Phoenix Studios’ story. Below are some of the people who helped make those early productions possible.

Wesley "Wes" Righetti

Cinematographer

A longtime friend and collaborator, Wes Righetti helped bring many of Phoenix Studios’ earliest projects to life behind the camera. After meeting Matthew at the Art Institute, Wes went on to serve as cinematographer for projects including Disillusioned, Knots, and Terminus.

Patti Coelho

Patti Coelho helped keep Phoenix Studios’ early productions running behind the scenes. Drawing from her experience in Human Resources and theatre, Patti served as executive producer on several projects, handling much of the organization and practical logistics needed to turn an idea into a finished film.

Logan Wildey became one of Phoenix Studios’ most frequent collaborators during its early filmmaking years. Trained at the Bay Area Acting Studio, Logan appeared in leading roles in projects such as Disillusioned and The Witch’s Crow.

Logan Wildey

Actor

Every production is a team effort.

Producer

Chris Coelho

Photographer

With a background in photography, Chris Coelho helped document the early days of Phoenix Studios from behind the camera. In addition to assisting the electrical department on Disillusioned and Knots, Chris provided behind-the-scenes photography that captured the productions as they came together.

TheDarkLord

Co-Writer

Originally one of Phoenix Studios’ early YouTube subscribers, TheDarkLord eventually became a friend and co-writer on several of the channel’s larger projects. He made his collaborative debut with Pitching a Skyrim TV Show before contributing to later projects such as Rewriting MCU Phase 4 and other story pitches and rewrites.

A true jack-of-all-trades, Thalia Costa contributed to Phoenix Studios as a concept artist, animator, storyboard artist, VFX artist, and musician. Thalia also stepped in front of the camera as a performer for several early productions, including Knots and The Witch’s Crow.

Thalia Costa

Actor, Artist & Filmmaker