Bay Area Documentary Filmmaking for Mission-Driven Organizations
For sixteen years, I've helped nonprofits, public agencies, and advocacy organizations turn complex missions into stories that build trust and move people to action — from board-approved fundraising films to executive summits for teams like PayPal.
Whether you're documenting history, launching a public initiative, advocating for change, or introducing a new idea, the right story shapes how people understand your mission.
My work combines documentary filmmaking, strategic communications, and cinematic production to help organizations connect with the people who matter most.
Over the past sixteen years, I've collaborated with nonprofits, public agencies, advocacy organizations, community groups, corporate teams, and filmmakers to create authentic stories that educate, inspire, and move people to action.
01Documentary
A suppressed chapter of civil-rights history connects the experiences of families imprisoned during World War II with present-day questions of immigration and civil liberties.
02Corporate
A two-day hybrid summit that launched PayPal's global AI strategy — captured through executive interviews and a live podcast studio built to turn the room into content.
03Commercial
Cinematic brand stories designed to help organizations connect products, ideas, and people.
04Community
Authentic stories centered on the people, organizations, and communities behind meaningful work.
05Music and Performance
Amy Banter plays a saxophone cover of 'Clocks' by Coldplay at sunset on the Northern California coast — a performance piece shaped by open air, golden light, and the rhythm of the shoreline.
06Sports / Youth Athletics
Character-driven stories that follow young athletes, coaches, and communities through the seasons that shape them.
"Leomar has a way of finding the human story inside a complicated subject — our team trusted him from day one."
"Professional, fast, and the kind of storyteller who makes everyone on camera feel comfortable."
Thinking on documentary storytelling, nonprofit communications, and the craft behind the camera.
Production
A NorCal Premier Soccer Community Spotlight
Image coming
Production
Planning photo and video coverage for a 12-hour adventure race with no fixed route — and the logistics puzzle of catching a cannon that only fires once.
Interviews
Trust begins before the interview. A thoughtful production environment can help people feel prepared, respected, and able to speak naturally.
I translate complicated subjects into clear, human stories that people can understand and remember.
Meaningful stories begin with listening. Thoughtful interviews and careful observation reveal the people behind an organization's mission.
People respond to honesty. Every creative decision should help the audience feel closer to the people and ideas on screen.
A beautiful image only matters when it supports the message, audience, and purpose of the project.
My work can include strategy, scripting, interviewing, cinematography, lighting, location audio, editing, color, motion graphics, captioning, and platform-ready delivery.
01
Understand the organization, audience, purpose, opportunities, and constraints.
02
Gather context, identify people, study the subject, and uncover the heart of the story.
03
Define the message, audience journey, format, channels, and production priorities.
04
Shape the narrative through creative development, scripting, interview planning, and visual direction.
05
Capture interviews, documentary moments, environments, and supporting visuals with professional camera, lighting, and audio practices.
06
Edit the story, refine sound and color, create graphics, add captions, and prepare accessible deliverables.
07
Deliver platform-ready versions for websites, social media, events, email, paid programs, and internal communications.
08
Review audience response and apply lessons to future communication.
2010 – Present
Partnering with public agencies, nonprofits, advocacy organizations, community groups, and mission-driven organizations.
Dates to be confirmed
Vite Ramen
Led in-house video production supporting campaign launches, branded storytelling, social content, studio production, and digital marketing.
Dates to be confirmed
California Transit Works! (CTW)
Produced internal and external communications, community stories, executive interviews, employee spotlights, public outreach content, event coverage, photography, and motion graphics.
2025 – Present
Peek Media
Filming a feature documentary focused on suppressed civil-rights history, survivors, descendants, and the relationship between historical events and present-day immigrant-rights and civil-liberties movements.
Whether you're documenting history, producing a documentary, launching a campaign, communicating with your community, or sharing your organization's mission, I'd like to hear about your project.
