Chris mano
Creative Production | Brand Film

a brief introduction

I build production capacity and make the work myself. At Watermark, I lead filmmakers and specialists across film, motion design, photography, and social films, while continuing to develop and direct selected projects. My independent work spans documentary, arts, corporate, and institutional clients. These projects show the ideas I helped shape, the production decisions I owned, and the collaborators who made them with me.

the outsiders

Watermark Community Church campaign film and visual concept | 0:28

My role: Originated the miniature-set video concept; directed the film

For a multi-week series, I proposed telling the story through miniature figures and sets rather than filming people in conventional settings. The creative team developed a related graphic identity in tandem with the film, using the set imagery across campaign materials. The recurring opener played in live gatherings and was also used on web and social channels.

In a break from standard process, the wider campaign identity was developed by the creative team in a response to our video pitch idea.

Additional collaborators:

Jordan Thompson – Miniature set builds and props

Taylor Jenkins – Cinematographer, gaffer, editor

2025 Year in Review

Watermark Community Church year-end campaign film featuring nine leaders | 6:51

My role:
Nine organizational leaders needed to speak as part of one year-end story integrated campaign. Starting with approved campaign talking points and a print piece designed by Victoria Aguilera, I wrote the audiovisual script, adapted the print layout and design for video, guided review and revisions, directed the interviews and production, and filmed portions of the piece. We shot for two studio days and two location days, then brought in footage gathered throughout the year and motion design.

The film was shown in live gatherings and used on the website, in email, and on social channels.

Print-to-film detail: Victoria’s Abiding in Jesus spread sets four church markers against a thin, ticked rule. At about 0:20, the film presents those same four phrases within a ten-marker graphic, carrying the print’s type hierarchy and rule into motion. I guided the video adaptation with motion design by TJ Smith.

Production Range

On independent commissions, I have developed cash budgets and proposals commonly ranging from $5,000 to $55,000; the museum film was about $78,000. I helped produce the feature Seasons of Gray within its approximately $256,000 production budget. I have hired small local and US travel crews, often three to five people on set, and have filmed across the US, UK, Italy, and China.

building watermark’s film production capacity

Leadership case study | Film Director | 2015 – Present

When I became Film Director in 2015, Watermark already had two early-career filmmakers. I provided dedicated film leadership, hired and developed the team, and established early film-specific intake, budgeting, and approval procedures. Today I oversee people producing film, motion design, photography, and social films while personally developing and directing selected work.

As requests grew, I worked with executive leadership on an initial tiered video menu for approvals and developed a self-service studio that shifted roughly 150 recurring videos a year away from the professional film team; that team now leads approximately 75–120 productions annually.

I introduced shared post-production storage for simultaneous editors and advised on the production needs of two additional studios and a podcast room. The Executive Communications Director subsequently expanded the menu approach and refined the approval process across the department.

I build and defend the team budget and plan individual projects against staff time, gear, and any freelance needs. Our project manager handles ongoing budget administration. Watermark projects generally use a time-and-resources plan rather than a separate cash budget for each film. I collaborate with campaign and channel owners, who set their own strategies.

What You Do Matters

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum institutional film | approximately 8:30

My role: Federal RFP response, production budget, producing, camera, and editing

Following a major rebrand, the museum commissioned a film explaining its work and inviting audiences to support it and respond to contemporary genocide and Holocaust denial. At Quin Mathews Films, I submitted our proposal, built the production budget, and produced, photographed, and edited the film with interviews, archival material, and footage at the museum.

The roughly $78,000 production was completed within budget. TycherStein Creative, led by Michelle Tycher Stein, provided creative direction. This project shows my work as a producing partner to an outside agency with a defined institutional brief.

Additional collaborators:

Michelle Tycher Stein – Creative Director

Micheal Haines – Location Sound
Quin Mathews – Co-producer

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

Meat | a visual narrative

Jon Flaming exhibition documentary | 2:04

My role: Interviews, cinematography, and editing

I proposed a series of short films connecting collectors with the people and places behind artist Jon Flaming’s paintings. For this film, I interviewed Flaming and the people whose Texas restaurants inspired his MEAT exhibition, filmed in their spaces and his studio, and built the edit around their encounters. The result gave David Dike Fine Art a story to share alongside the exhibition.

What I learned with jermaine harrison

Watermark Community Church interview-led film with illustration | 1:15

My role: Five-film series concept, audiovisual shooting script, filming, interview direction, and creative direction

I proposed a repeatable 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, photographed and directed Jermaine Harrison’s interview, and led collaboration with the illustrator and editors.

The series played during conference stage resets and was shared online.

Additional collaborators:

Jermaine Harrison – Copy-writing
Jordan Thompson – Illustrations & Animations
Taylor Jenkins – Camera & Editing