Documentary filmmaker · Video journalist · Producer · Creative leader · Educator
I find the heart of a story and bring it to life.
Now playing: The Funeral Singer · San Francisco Chronicle
For 20 years I’ve made non-fiction films, series and social stories for outlets like The New York Times, PBS and KQED. Five regional Emmys later, I still love the craft, and I’d love to help tell your story.
Open to new roles and projects. Based in the SF Bay Area & Washington, DC. Remote, hybrid and travel.
NYT Op-Docs
America ReFramed
Science Friday
Start here
Two series I built and led
Short on time? These two show how I develop a series, lead a creative team and bring complex stories to a wide audience.
Beyond the Menu: What is Chamoy?
Regional Emmy nominee 2025 · SPJ Award
A food history series I created and led from concept to launch for YouTube and PBS, writing the treatments and scripts and directing a team of creatives.
California’s Road to Reparations
Regional Emmy nominee 2024
As senior producer, I led the editorial vision for this five-part, animation-forward series on a politically sensitive story, working with reporters, legal and community stakeholders.
What I do
Whether you’re hiring for your team or have a story that needs telling, here’s where I can help.
Documentary & series
Long- and short-form documentaries and digital series, from first idea through festival and broadcast.
Branded & social stories
Short, human stories for nonprofits, newsrooms and brands, made to work on every platform.
Creative leadership & teaching
Leading creative teams, mentoring new storytellers, and teaching documentary craft and video journalism.
Hi, nice to meet you
I’m Manjula (Mun-joo-lah)
I fell in love with stories in library aisles and neighborhood video stores. Today I make them: I founded Mirrorlake Films in Salt Lake City, earned my master’s at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, and have spent two decades helping people tell the stories that matter.
I believe everyone has a story. What I do best is find its heart.
More about me →Have a story worth telling?
Hiring for your team, planning a project, or looking for a speaker? I’d love to hear from you.
Let’s talk