Draft:Nigel Mongerie

** Nigel Kendaka Mongerie** (born September 22, 1991) is an American cinematographer, filmmaker, photographer, writer, and entrepreneur. He is known for his work in narrative storytelling and action-based films, as well as for founding multiple business ventures centered around nerd culture.

** Early Life and Education**

Nigel Mongerie was born on September 22, 1991, in Chicago, Illinois. He moved to Opelika, Alabama, where he currently resides. Mongerie graduated from Auburn High School in 2009. From a young age, he developed a keen interest in martial arts, studying Karate, Taekwondo, and Wushu. After high school, he expanded his martial arts repertoire to include Capoeira and Jeet Kune Do, and participated in Live Action Role Play through the game Belegarth.

Mongerie attended Southern Union Community College from 2009 to 2011 but did not graduate. He struggled academically and lost his grant due to poor performance. He then attended Auburn University from 2011 to 2014 without officially enrolling, taking advantage of the public campus to attend classes in business and graphic design alongside his roommate.

** Career**

In 2012, Mongerie began his career as a freelance filmmaker and editor, working under the screen name "Nitro Hot Fire" on YouTube. This platform allowed him to learn the filmmaking process and production techniques. He released a hip-hop music album, "Whole Heart," in 2013 and attempted to create a web series called "Net Nation," which he later deemed premature.

Driven by a lifelong dream to create his own anime, Mongerie started writing "Chi-Flow: Journey for the True Master" in 2012, a project still in production.

** NERDtorch Ventures**

In 2015, Mongerie launched the Instagram channel NERDtorchTV to cater to fans of anime, comics, and gaming. He interviewed actors and voice actors to gain industry insights and created the NERD clothing brand to monetize the channel. In 2017, he founded NERDtorch Cafe, a video game café designed to be a community hub for nerd culture enthusiasts. The café also served as an incubator for several ghost kitchens, including The Sloppy Burger, Cilantro Express Kitchen, Sexy Pizza, and Southern Sparkle.

** Blood Brothers**

In 2019, while managing NERDtorch Cafe, Mongerie began work on his first feature film, "Blood Brothers." During this period, he worked on professional sets for companies like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney as a background actor, photo double, and production assistant to gain further industry experience. "Blood Brothers" was released on YouTube on May 23, 2024.

** Personal Life**

Nigel Mongerie is married to Leilani Mongerie, and they have one child, Damian Kendaka Mongerie