Born and raised in small-town Minnesota, Maxwell J. Mootz, the founder of New Eye Productions, discovered his passion for film and video-making as a child. After experimenting with the craft in his youth, he decided to start a production business while still a sophomore in high school. He taught himself basic skills and was able to build a network of clients around him. During his junior year, he entered a video contest hosted by Gunderson Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin and was awarded first place.

He later studied at Columbia College Chicago where he expanded his skills in several different areas of film. Although his focus was editing and post-production, he took courses in directing and screenwriting as well, and worked minor roles on various productions through the campus. During his final year, he held an internship at Roc Star Studio, which allowed him to gain real world experience by carrying out tasks in a studio setting and through the cutting of several different forms of media such as web series, music videos, and PSAs. He received his Bachelor of Arts in the Spring of 2023, and is eager to see where his career path takes him next!