Colorado Video Production
This case study details how Manifest Filmworks worked with Chris Bates of Mighty Fine Art for over a decade to highlight the creation of murals and art in our local communities through storytelling focused video and photography.
“Visit Fort Collins brought Manifest Filmworks on board to cover the documentation of the process of this mural, similar to some of the projects that we’ve done with Chris Bates in the past, including the Harper Goff Mural at The Exchange, and a recent project down in Windsor, Colorado with the City of Windsor.” – Cory Clarke, Manifest Filmworks
Working closely with Cynthia Eichler, the president of Visit Fort Collins, and their team, we developed a vision to capture the mural process over a 5 week period.
Working with Chris on his past murals, we knew how much impact using timelapses can have to show the art being painted. We utilized timelapses and drone hyperlapses to bring the long spans of painting to life. Visit Fort Collins entrusted us to communicate with Chris directly. This allowed us to plan our shoots and timelines in a streamlined manner and make sure we captured the most impactful coverage we could.
“The visitor board is really enhancing its own profile by using creatives. They’re hiring myself and Manifest Filmworks. It’s a way for them to highlight not only the local talent that exists in Fort Collins, but serves as an example of how a city and its tourism board can inject money into its creatives and create local landmarks for tourists and locals. It really shows that they’re into investing in the betterment of the community.” – Chris Bates
Community impact grows when local organizations, creatives, and community partners come together around a shared vision. By investing in local talent and collaborating across creative disciplines, projects like this create more than a single piece of work. They strengthen the local creative economy, showcase what makes a community unique, and create lasting landmarks that residents and visitors can experience together. This kind of collaboration demonstrates a commitment to investing in people, supporting local creatives, and contributing to a lasting, positive impact in the community.
Working closely with the City of Windsor, the Windsor Art Commission, and the Downtown Development Authority, we developed a vision to capture Chris Bates’ mural project and the creative process behind it.
Our approach focused on showing the transformation of the space from beginning to end while giving viewers a sense of the time, scale, and craftsmanship involved in creating the mural. We documented the progression of the artwork while capturing Chris at work.
The project culminated in an unveiling ceremony with the Mayor, giving us the opportunity to capture the community celebrating the completed mural and the impact of bringing public art into the heart of Windsor. By documenting both the process and the people who came together to celebrate it, the final video tells a more complete story of the mural’s role within the community.
For these mural projects, the partnerships work seamlessly because each organization brings a distinct role and perspective to the project. The cities and organizations provide the vision and investment, Chris Bates brings the local artistic voice and talent, and Manifest Filmworks captures the story and process behind the work. Whether documenting his mural for Visit Fort Collins or for the City of Windsor, these collaborations create an opportunity to tell a larger story about each community, its creative talent, and the people and places that define it. This shared investment allows the videos to become more than deliverables. They became tools for showcasing the projects, amplifying local talent, and demonstrating the impact of collaboration.
Working with Visit Fort Collins and Chris Bates on this project shows our experience navigating the specific demands of destination marketing work, while using video storytelling to create content that aligns with a broader strategy, serving both organic and paid media goals.
Manifest Filmworks is a Colorado-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.
Is your city or organization investing in people, places, and projects that deserve to be seen? Let’s tell that story. Manifest Filmworks partners with cities, tourism organizations, and community leaders to turn local projects into compelling stories that showcase impact, amplify local talent, and connect with the people who matter. Let’s create something meaningful together.
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