Mary Lou Sandler

Writer · Director · Producer · Actor

Mary Lou Sandler is a Los Angeles-based Black biracial visual storyteller and creative entrepreneur whose work spans film, photography, graphic design, and performance. She is the co-founder and lead visual creative of 3 cubed studios, LLC — named 2016 Outstanding Small Business of the Year by the United Chambers of Commerce — serving as its lead photographer, cinematographer, and graphic designer, alongside her husband and creative partner, Justin Sandler.

Before turning her focus to filmmaking, Mary Lou built a career as a working actress, professional dancer, video game stuntwoman, and fitness cover model. Her acting credits include starring as Sabrina in the Bollywood feature Banana Brothers (2006) opposite acclaimed actor Anupam Kher, and serving as the first motion capture model for Nvidia's landmark Dusk and Dawn technology demos. As a Snoopette dancer on Snoop Dogg's MTV sketch comedy series Doggy Fizzle Televizzle (2002–2003), she appeared in every episode and in over 30 music videos for multiple artists.

As a filmmaker, she served as cinematographer, co-director, and producer on the award-winning short film Welcome to Where You've Always Been, which screened at 22 festivals, won 5 awards including Best Short, and earned her and Justin the 2018 IIFC Inspirational Filmmaker Award before being distributed internationally on ShortsTV and Amazon Prime in the USA and UK. She also served as cinematographer and co-producer on the documentary The Empty Womb, and created and photographed The Beard Book, a collection of over 100 men, their beards, and their stories, with proceeds benefiting cancer charities. As a celebrity photographer, her published work includes multiple publications and a billboard in Times Square.

Her commitment to representation and empowering women in the industry led her to create FemaleFilmmakers.org, a community dedicated to empowering and employing female filmmakers. She is also the writer, director, producer, cinematographer, and host of the forthcoming documentary Caregiving Cancer: The Silent Heroes, and co-director, co-writer, and cinematographer of the upcoming MANtimacy.

WELL(NESS) marks Mary Lou's SAG directorial debut as a writer-director as well as her acting return to the silver screen, and represents over twelve years of lived experience inside wellness culture, weaving personal truth into sharp, compassionate comedy.

To learn more, visit Mary Lou Sandler

Justin Sandler

Producer · Editor

Justin Sandler is an award-winning filmmaker, editor, actor, musician, speaker, and cancer survivor. He is the co-founder of 3 cubed studios, LLC, alongside his wife and creative partner, Mary Lou Sandler.

A graduate of Indiana University, Justin began his career directing and producing cable television in Chicago before writing, directing, producing, and editing commercials for ABC, FOX, and Telemundo in Palm Springs. Since relocating to Los Angeles, he has worked professionally across film, television, commercials, music, and live performance. His acting credits include Surfer, Dude (2008) as Surf Punk #1 opposite Matthew McConaughey, and 17 Again (2009).

Justin wrote, directed, produced, edited, and starred in the award-winning short film Welcome to Where You've Always Been, which screened at 22 festivals, won 5 awards including Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Short, and was distributed internationally on ShortsTV and Amazon Prime in the USA and UK.

In addition to his work on WELL(NESS) as producer and editor, Justin is a TEDx speaker and the creator of the one-man show Embrace Love Free. He is also currently developing a forthcoming memoir expanding on his cancer journey and the life philosophy that continues to shape his creative work.

To learn more, visit Justin Sandler