Born and raised in South Florida (West Kendall), Joel Sotolongo served in the US Navy (USNS Kilauea T-AE-26, USS Wabash AOR-5.)  He earned his Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Film from International Fine Arts College, now called the Miami International University of Art & Design. During this time, he directed his first independent short "The Men with Green Faces."  Next, he partnered with Chris Vinetas, Terence Lee, Michel Grandchamp and Leo Codias in 2006 to form STUDIO 214 LLC. From that collaboration came the independent feature film "Work of Art" and he is currently developing the feature film "Rolling 20's" and the documentary "That Was Piddie Korn."