Chris Daniel Biography Chris Daniel is an award-winning Video Producer/Director/Editor. Daniel has been around the U.S. and abroad working for major corporations and the U.S. Government. He has produced dozens of creative, award- winning programs including documentaries, training, PSA’s, public relations, entertainment, exhibit videos, etc. He has worked with top level corporate executives and high ranking military officers (West Point, US Army, USMC), as well as entertainment professionals. He is also President of Converging Visions, a 501 (c)(3), whose mission is to create socially relevant video programs and use media, technology & art to educate and enlighten. He produced an award-winning Documentary with a grant from the NJ Historical Commission entitled “ The WBGO Story...Bright Moments from Newark to the World”. It features WBGO Founder, Bob Ottenhoff and Mrs. Dorthaan Kirk (widow of Rahsaan Roland Kirk and NEA Jazz Master recipient). He worked with John E. Harmon, Sr. to create and develop the Telly Award winning TV series, “Pathway to Success” for the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, which airs on NJTV (NJ’s PBS TV station) and on PBS online. He directed and edited the Central Jersey Jazz Festival (a 5-camera virtual concert). feat. Matthew Whitaker, Mark Gross & Alexis Morrast. He is working on an oral history documentary with Newark Historian, Junius Williams Esq., about the 1967 Newark Rebellion, which will be displayed in the upcoming Newark Community Museum.
He produced a multi-award winning documentary featuring Mr. Walter Cronkite that told the story of West Point’s 200-year history; promoted benefits of living in Okinawa for Marine Corps personnel and families; and excited audiences about science and spirit of discovery at the National Science Center. His videos helped the Ronald McDonald House increase its fund-raising efforts with a heartfelt and award-winning program. Daniel produced and directed a series of dramatic training programs for Traumatic Event Management special- ists to help soldiers with PTSD (the video featured a cast of 30 professional actors). Chosen from hundreds of Producers nation-wide, to create a Marketing Video for the Government Agency responsible for fulfilling major DoD video requirements. Scripts and schedules that he produced were published in a national Document that gives examples on how to produce successful video programs.
He has interviewed several top Jazz Artists such as Christian McBride, Jimmy Owens, Joey DeFrancesco, Don Braden, Matt Garrison, Kahil El’Zabar and Billy Harper. Daniel has worked with the Studio Museum of Harlem to record several top Jazz, Film and Literary artists (Randy Weston, Max Roach, Andrew Hill, the David Murray Big Band, Amiri Baraka, Melvin Van Peebles, Clyde Taylor and Virginia Hamilton), for a Jazz/Literary series. In addition to his work at Daniel Productions, he has taught video production, writing and entrepreneur workshops , for the NJ Juvenile Justice Commission (The Empowerment through Media Workshop), Newark Housing Authority, The Edenwald Housing Authority, Southern Residential Group Home, Bronx, NY, the NY State Division of Youth (at various locations in New York City) and at the NJ Drug Alliance and The Summer Neighborhood Evening Recreation Program (Neptune, NJ). He has Independently produced and marketed three special interest video programs; “Kid to Kid: Staying Safe!” (Featuring Dr. Loretta Long, Susan from Sesame Street; “Shotokan Karate Basics”; and “For Sale By Owner”. Personally, Mr. Daniel is a life-long Jazz enthusiast and martial artist (2nd degree black belt in Wado Ryu).
Television/Film Industry Awards: NJ Film Festival, Garden State Film Festival, Thomas Edison Black Maria Film Festival, Aurora Platinum “Best of Show” Award, Aurora Gold Awards, Vision Award, Gold and Bronze Telly Awards, Media Communications Association International Silver Award, Bronze AIME Award (Awards in Media Excellence), U.S. International Film/Video Festival Silver Screen Award, plus many client commendations.