Chris mano
Executive Storytelling
Video Production Leadership

a brief introduction

I help leaders say what they mean on camera and build films around the people who can make an idea real. I coach senior leaders for direct-to-camera delivery and guide interviews from research and audiovisual scripting through production and editorial review. At Watermark, I also lead the film team and build and improve the production systems behind its work.

2025 Year in Review Watermark Community Church

Year end campaign film | 6:51

My role: Nine organizational leaders needed to speak as part of one year-end story. Starting with approved campaign talking points and a visual identity developed for print, I wrote the film’s audiovisual script, guided review and revisions, directed the interviews and production, and photographed portions of the film. We shot across two studio days and two location days, then worked with footage gathered during the year and motion design.

The finished film was presented at our member gathering and used on the website, in email, and on social channels.

Additional collaborators:
Tristan Lazor – Co-writer
David Penuel – Co-writer

Jordan Thompson – Camera, Editing

Jeff White – Camera

TJ Smith – Motion Design

How I build production capacity

Leadership case study | Film Director | 2015 – Present

When I joined Watermark as Film Director, two early-career filmmakers were already in place. I developed the team and established early film-specific intake, budgeting, and approval procedures while continuing to direct selected projects.

When projected demand approached 250 requests a year, I worked with executive leadership on an initial tiered video menu. A later self-service studio shifted roughly 150 recurring videos a year away from the professional film team. The team now leads approximately 75–120 productions annually.

I also introduced shared post-production storage so editors could work simultaneously, advised on the production needs for two additional studios and a podcast room, and designed and directed three video podcasts. The Executive Communications Director later refined the approval process and expanded the menu approach across the department.

AI-assisted script development

I developed an AI-assisted script-development workflow that uses organizational source material and previous audiovisual scripts as references to create initial drafts. Human editorial review remains essential for factual accuracy, organizational voice, and production decisions.

The workflow reduced the initial drafting process from about 1.5 days to approximately half a day.

Church at Home
Watermark Community Church

Leader-to-camera communication | 20:00

My role: Directed filming and editing; art-directed the motion-graphic opening.

When a winter storm threatened the weekend’s in-person gatherings, our team prepared a 20-minute Church at Home video for members. We took three days from planning to a video ready for distribution; the decision to play the video came the day after we finished editing. I directed the filming of lead pastor and elder Timothy Ateek and art-directed the animated opening.

His on-camera message told members the storm would not keep them from meeting. The accompanying email and social posts carried the details about canceled in-person gatherings. This excerpt shows the opening and part of his direct-to-camera teaching. I did not write his message.

Additional collaborators:
Timothy Ateek – Co-writer
David Penuel – Co-writer

Jordan Thompson – Editing

Jeff White – Camera

TJ Smith – Motion Design

What I learned with jermaine harrison

Watermark Community Church leadership reflection | 1:15

My role: Series concept, audiovisual shooting script, interview direction, camera, and creative direction

I proposed a five-film format for a leadership conference: one speaker sharing one useful idea directly to camera, supported by illustration. For this episode, I wrote the audiovisual shooting script, filmed and directed Jermaine Harrison’s interview, and led the collaboration with the illustrator and editors. The illustrator created the drawings; editors assembled the films.

The series played during conference stage resets and was shared online. It shows how a short, repeatable format can preserve the speaker’s voice while giving an audience a clear takeaway.

Additional collaborators:

Jordan Thompson – Illustrations & Animations
Taylor Jenkins – Camera & Editing

Why We Care About Equipping

Watermark Equipping Podcast Video series | 1:29 opening excerpt

My role: Concept and video format, episode structure, host approach, set and lighting design, production workflow, direction

For the Watermark Equipping Podcast, I established the video concept and production format, including the visual language, episode structure, host approach, set, lighting, and repeatable production workflow.

In this episode, hosts Caitlin Van Wagoner and Oren Martin sit down with senior leader Blake Holmes to explain the purpose of the series and its approach to questions about faith. I directed the recording and designed the visual presentation around a three-person conversational format that could be used consistently across episodes.

The hosts and ministry leaders owned the subject matter and discussion. My role was to create and direct a production system that gave organizational leaders a natural, repeatable setting for longer-form conversations.

Additional collaborators:
Caitlin Van Wagoner -Showrunner
Jeff White – Camera and edit
Jordan Thompson – Camera

TJ Smith – Motion design show open

Awakening in the UK
Watermark Community Church

Research-led documentary | 4:25 opening excerpt

My role: Research, writing, interviews, direction, and cinematography

Watermark asked me to investigate reports of renewed interest in faith in the United Kingdom for an American audience of church leaders. I researched the subject and interviewees, developed the story, wrote the script, directed the interviews and film, and photographed the UK production. Original conversations and location footage were combined with archival and contextual material.

The film premiered for more than 4,000 conference attendees. An interview subject traveled from the UK to participate in a live discussion after the screening. The full film was subsequently made available to churches and has received more than 52,000 views on YouTube. Jordan Thompson contributed additional camera work and editing.

The full 25 minute version can be found HERE.

Additional collaborators:
John Mcgee – Executive Producer
Todd Proctor – Associate Producer

Maddy Mcgee – Production Manager
Jordan Thompson – Additional Camera, Edit

What You Do Matters
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Institutional film | approximately 8:30

My role: RFP response, budgeting, producing, camera, and editing

After a major rebrand, the museum commissioned a film to explain its work and invite people to support it and respond to contemporary genocide and Holocaust denial. At Quin Mathews Films, I submitted our response to the federal RFP, built the production budget, and produced, photographed, and edited the film using interviews, archival material, and footage at the museum.

The approximately $78,000 production was delivered within budget. TycherStein Creative provided the creative direction, led by Michelle Tycher Stein.

Additional collaborators:

Michelle Tycher Stein – Creative Director

Micheal Haines – Location Sound
Quin Mathews – Co-producer