Highlighting Fort Collins as a Music City

Fort Collins has a thriving live music scene, world-class instrument makers, and a community of artists that spans genres and generations. Visit Fort Collins, with support from the Colorado Tourism Office, set out to tell that story on a larger stage and brought Manifest Filmworks on to produce the video content that would bring it to life.

“If I’m telling somebody about Fort Collins and why I think of it as a music city, every single night of the week you can go out and find some incredible live music happening somewhere.”

– Greta Cornett

Our Approach

To highlight the diverse range of music ambassadors in Fort Collins, we worked with Visit Fort Collins to develop an interview-driven video series featuring six voices from across the Fort Collins music ecosystem:

Lolita Castañeda – Lolita, 2MX2
Jamal Skinner – Dubskin, Founder of The Cultural Enrichment Center
Michael Emanuele – Backstage Flash Photography
Chris Beeble – Engineer/Producer at The Blasting Room, Musician
Greta Cornett – Founding Member of FoCoMX, 12 Cents For Marvin
Michael Bashkin – Owner of Bashkin Guitars
Chris Beeble – Engineer/Producer at The Blasting Room, Musician

Each subject offered a distinct window into what makes Fort Collins a genuine music destination. From working musicians who fill the city’s stages night after night, to the craftspeople building the instruments they play, to the fans and community members who show up and keep the scene alive – the series captured Fort Collins’ music culture from every angle. Together, their perspectives painted a portrait of a city where music isn’t just entertainment, it’s a way of life.

The Creative Process

Leading with authenticity.
Every music ambassador in this series has a real relationship with the Fort Collins' music community. We honored that by keeping the approach simple with genuine conversations, real locations, and no manufactured moments. Filming raw live shows of every genre to accompany genuine experiences from respected voices in the scene.

Structured interviews, human moments.
Working with Visit Fort Collins, we developed a consistent interview framework that still left room for each person's personality and perspective to come through. The goal was content that felt personal, not produced.

Pairing the stories with local music.
From the beginning, we felt strongly that the music shouldn't just be background, it should be part of the story. We pitched Visit Fort Collins on the idea of syncing local Fort Collins artists to each video, matching the mood and vibe of each subject's story rather than reaching for generic sync music. VFC backed the vision with a dedicated sync licensing budget, allowing us to source and clear original local tracks for each piece. The result was a series where the music and the storytelling worked as one. Songs authentic to the city, authentic to the subject, and unlike anything a stock library could deliver.

“What sets Fort Collins apart as a music city is the diversity, the energy, the camaraderie, the community.” – Michael Emanuele

Local Music Ambassador Profiles

The "Local Music Ambassador" profiles are thanks to the support of the Colorado Tourism Office.

By The Numbers

Manifest Filmworks documented the city's live music landscape, capturing 6 in-depth interviews with key figures in the scene, footage across 25 venues, 10 concerts, and 2 festivals. But we didn't stop at music. To paint a complete picture of Fort Collins as a destination, we wove in additional footage capturing the outdoor recreation, mountain lifestyle, and natural landscapes of Fort Collins and the surrounding region. The result was comprehensive coverage that gave Visit Fort Collins and the Colorado Tourism Office the depth and versatility to tell Fort Collins' full story.

Filming & Editing

0 + Hours

Bands

Venues

Concert Series

Interviews

Festivals

Live Shows

Filming & Editing

0 + Hours

Bands

Venues

Concert Series

Interviews

Festivals

Live Shows

“Fort Collins is not too big and not too small… it’s kind of the right size for artists.” – Chris Beeble

Working Within the
Tourism Sector

This project reflects our experience navigating the specific demands of destination marketing work. Coordinating multiple talent subjects, aligning with DMO and state tourism priorities, and delivering content that serves both organic storytelling and paid media goals. Working with Visit Fort Collins and Colorado Tourism Office funding means understanding that every piece of content needs to earn its place in a broader strategy.

About Manifest Filmworks

Manifest Filmworks is a Fort Collins-based video production company specializing in documentary-style storytelling. From tourism boards and DMOs to local businesses and nonprofits, we partner with organizations that have real stories to tell.

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