Our team

Orla manning

Executive Director, Founder

Orla Manning is a multimedia producer specializing in reality and docu-series programming. Her work has aired on a variety of broadcast and digital channels, including MTV, BET, CBS and Oxygen. A native New Yorker, Orla holds a B.A. in Communications from The State University of New York at Cortland. She is also a graduate of the Made in New York Production Assistant Training Program and credits the course with helping her discover her passion for storytelling.

As a content creator, Orla’s mission is to find innovative ways to give people a glimpse into the lives of others. That includes bringing awareness to issues and causes that impact local communities, as well as communities around the world. She’s also a huge believer in giving back and sharing her knowledge with others. In 2018, she began volunteering with The SHALK (Sharing Hope And Leadership in Kliptown), a community center in SOWETO. In 2019 she partnered with Johannesburg-area production crews to introduce local young adults to video production careers, creating the media program “Pathways to Production: Storytelling in South Africa.”

A couple of Orla’s most memorable projects include traveling the country as a video producer for the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, where she produced several of the campaign’s most viewed and shared social videos; and documenting the journey of first- time filmmakers on the Go90.com series Rebel Without A Crew, a project led by acclaimed filmmaker Robert Rodriguez.

Our Volunteers

Jasmine Garcia

Producer

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Jasmine Garcia is a Los Angeles-based video producer with a Bachelor of Arts in Film from Columbia College Chicago. Jasmine’s goal is to tell the stories of underrepresented communities with the hope that people from all walks of life will understand how closely related our experiences are.

Lyra Manning

Writer

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Lyra Manning is a professional writer, editor and journalist with nearly 20 years of experience in broadcast and digital media. A graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Lyra currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where she also dabbles in standup comedy.

Burton Lewis Jr.

Editor

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Burton Lewis Jr. is a New York-based video editor who specializes in promotional content. His work has aired on a variety of networks, including MTV, Bravo and ESPN. He currently works with BET networks as an editor/producer. An avid photographer, Burton loves to travel and share his pictures with friends and family.

Sikhumbuzo Nhlapo

Editor

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Sikhumbuzo Nhlapo is a seasoned TV and film editor based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He specializes in editing reality shows but also enjoys working on films and TV dramas. He is an avid gamer, a novice baker and loves to spend time with his family and friends.

Kofi Zwana

Director / Filmmaker

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Kofi Zwana is an award-winning filmmaker originally from Zimbabwe. He attended the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance and is currently based out of Johannesburg where he directs commercials for the production company Hungry Films. He also works in TV, short film production, and is working on his first feature fiction film. Kofi’s extensive background as a director, photographer, assistant director, editor and sound designer make him a well-rounded filmmaker, and he’s always looking for new projects to take on and new stories to tell.

Que Ntuli

Director

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Que Ntuli (BA Motion Picture) is a young, ambitious director/writer with a passion for portraying the essence of African Stories and their uniqueness in his films. Que began his career by directing TV dramas, as well as storytelling and performance-based pieces. He got the opportunity to direct his first TV drama while completing his final year of studies and since has gone on to direct numerous TV shows. He is currently plying his craft in the commercial industry and has already worked with big brands such as “Brand South Africa,” “Edgars,” “Dawn” and “Boston Media House.”

Dan Teffo

Cinematographer

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Dan Teffo is a young cinematographer based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is passionate about telling African stories and always eager to learn more about filmmaking.

Kate Ngwenya

Production Assistant

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Kate Ngwenya is a production assistant based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is a graduate of Pathways to Production and a strong believer in women’s empowerment and Africanism. Kate is a team player that is open to learning more about the production industry and establishing new ways of filmmaking.