Joining Our STORYSMART Storytelling Team 

Ron Watermon • September 1, 2022

We Are Looking For Freelance MMJ Backpack TV Reporters

St. Louis, MO - September 1, 2022 - We are building a nationwide network of freelance video storytellers to fulfill our mission of providing professional premium video storytelling for all.

What came first, the story or the storyteller?

Good question right.

What do you need to tell a story? A storyteller and an audience. You also need the story.

But does a story exist without the storyteller?


When I talk to professional video storytellers who are interested in joining our teamin providing storytelling for all, I own my story and the fact that we (royal we) are still figuring out this whole startup thing.

While I definitely have some of the archetypical personality traits of a successful startup founder, I know that I'm missing that " lets sell it first and figure it out later " trait that some founders have.

I admire that in others, but that isn't me. I would rather figure it out, then sell it . At 55, I've learned that it is better to underpromise and over deliver than do do the reverse. That is why we have focused so much on recruitment over the last year.

For STORYSMART, the storyteller comes first. Before the story.

That might sound crazy to some, but I can't see it any other way.

I actually see the video storyteller who joins the STORYSMART network as one our customers. Maybe our primary customer. I'll leave that to the business gurus to sort out, but from my vantage point the TV reporters we work with have a special gift for telling a compelling story on screen and that is the service we sel l .

We believe a professional video storyteller will do a better job telling your story than you will doing it yourself. I guarantee Paul Schankman telling Ron Watermon's story would be much better than me telling my own story with a video.

DIY certainly has a place with video, but it is no substitute for professional video.

Don't get me wrong. I love the democratization of media technology.

I was the kid who had a super 8 camera and talked his friends into starring in silly silent films during the early 80s. If I had the creative technology that my son has on his new iPhone (yep, we broke down and gave our 6th grader a phone), I'm not sure I would have graduated from high school, much less college and law school.

It is cool what you can do with technology. But let's be honest, no DIY cell phone app will turn you into Stephen Spielberg or George Lucas.

Sure it may empower a budding you filmmaker to hone their craft, but it won't do that for most of us.

Few people are capable of producing a DIY video we actually want to watch, much less remember.

You need the right skills and equipment, not to mention time, money and talent to do justice to a story on screen.

We believe everyone matters and deserves to be remembered. And to be remembered, you need to tell a good story . And while anyone could publish a book or produce a video, most can't do it well.

We believe you should be able to have a professional tell your story in an amazing way and own it. The service we sell is to have a professional storyteller tell your story well on screen with video, but you - the paying client - own it - copyright and all.

Think of our service like the ghost writer a celebrity or pseudo celebrity hires to write their book. It is a work for hire, ensuring that the book is well written, but is under the name of the client. Our service is essentially that, but for video.

While I have dreams of us producing scripted films and TV shows down the road, today we are keeping it simple. We are helping our clients - small businesses, non-profit organizations and families - tell their stories well with video in a premium, cost-certain way that is contrary to how anyone else does it.

We have pioneered a proprietary approach predicated on brand journalism and delivered by experienced freelance television reporters and journalist filmmakers.

Right now, we are actively recruiting highly talented and experienced one person band multimedia television reporters to help us deliver our service to clients. We are growing rapidly, moving beyond proof of concept to roll up your sleeves and tell that story in markets around the United States.

So who are we looking to recruit?

We are looking for sole proprietor and small business owners who are actively doing video production to join our freelance network. Everyone we work with is an independent contractor.

The reporteragrees to our compensation arrangement and to meet our specifications and production standards following our STORYSMART system.

It is highly rewarding "gig" work for highly-skilled television reporters, independent filmmakers and proven video storytelling professionals that can handle all aspects of the production process as a one person band.

We are looking for journalists who love getting paid well (how often do you see that in a sentence) for telling amazing, honest, authentic stories to connect at emotional level with an audience.

Good storytelling includes "humanity" in the story right?

Here are the details and benefits of joining our freelance network.

  • We are looking for experienced MMJ television reportersand independent journalist filmmakers who can shoot and edit video, interview clients on camera, as well as write and track their stories (provide Voice Over).
  • We look for at least five years experience working in television news or related industry after graduating from college. The more the experience, the better.
  • The ideal candidates have at least a decade of experience turning news style stories on a daily basis as a one person band.
  • We expect all our reporters to know how to handle the entire story production themselves and not be learning how to do it while working with us.
  • As a freelance storyteller, you will be responsible for providing your own equipment and managing your production workflow on deadline. Typically you will have a week to turn your story after the video shoot, but that may vary by client. You will know the expectations, including deadlines, before accepting any assignment.

And here is something you won't hear often. We don't care what kind of camera or editing system you use. We will let other production companies nerd out on the gear side of things. It is not that we think that isn't important, it just isn't as important as you.

So if you love Canon more than Sony, well great. We don't care if you want to edit in Avid, Davinci Resolve, Final Cut or Premiere. Knock your socks off.

The main thing we are looking for more than anything else is proven experience telling stories well as a one person band. We expect a minimum of five years (ideally 10 or more) experience in TV news or comparable experience. Blow us away with your reel. Show us you can do the work.

Right now, all of our work follows a journalism ENG model, meaning you must know how to produce a great story from interviews that you will conduct yourself. You will shoot and edit the video, write the piece and provide your voice over. The work flow is akin to TV news.

Everyone who joins our team is required to follow our StorySMART client service process and our proprietary StorySMART production system, including adhering to our ethical credo and terms of engagement. Each vendor is an independent contractor and not an employee. The arrangement is vendor work for hire.

While you are our vendor, you are also our customer. We value you and what you do. For far too long the industry hasn't valued the creator or the journalist. That isn't right. We see our role as bringing the journalist creator together with the client that has a story to tell to help them tell it in amazing way on screen so that they will always be remembered.

If you want to help us fulfill our mission of providing storytelling for all, I encourage you to go to our information page and if you think you can help, share a bit of your story by filling out the intake form, sharing your resume and reel.

I am hopeful we will get the chance to work together to help others share the gift of their story.

By Ron Watermon October 21, 2025
When Deadline first reported that Bruce Springsteen’s Deliver Me From Nowhere was headed for the screen, I expected it would be more than another typical music biopic because it was based on a book that focused on a sliver of Springsteen’s life. That “sliver” was a singular defining period of Springsteen’s life. When I wrote my book, I took note of the fact that when Hollywood came calling, they first reached out to Warren Zanes who wrote the book and not Springsteen himself. I was trying to make the point about the importance of securing storytelling source material. The real work in telling a story is that of the author. Writing a great story isn’t easy. When it happens, someone in Hollywood is bound to notice. What I didn’t fully appreciate until now is that Springsteen’s story to screen journey is a masterclass in focus — a case study in how a single defining period, a writer who truly understands his subject, and a team of champions can move a story from the page to the screen in record time. Zane’s book was published 2023. A little more than two years later, the film is being released. That is amazing in of itself, but the approach to the story told is also instructive. Most people think you need your whole life story to make a film. Springsteen — and Warren Zanes — show us you don’t. It can be a sliver. The story behind this storytelling is a Boss lesson in storytelling that help you deliver your story from nowhere. 
By Ron Watermon October 13, 2025
Your Clear Eyes, Full Rights, Can't Lose Playbook.  If you’ve ever watched Friday Night Lights, you know the phrase: Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose. It’s the mantra Coach Taylor preached to his team. But when I look at the 35-year storytelling journey of Friday Night Lights—from a reporter’s notebook to a bestselling book, then a film, a beloved series, and now talk of a reboot—I see a slightly different mantra: Clear eyes, full rights, can’t lose. Because underneath the inspirational football story is a lesson we can draw from in how one journalist’s immersive reporting became a durable, multi-platform franchise. And for me, it’s a perfect demonstration of a pathway we advocate for at STORYSMART®. It all starts with investing in good clear-eyed journalism. It is the single most important investment you can make in developing a true story. When you take control of your source material to tell a true story and develop your story properly, your story can live on for years far beyond the page. I’m a big proponent for adopting a story franchise mindset when approaching storytelling projects. That is why I tell clients to think like a studio executive by adopting a media mogul mindset. When you open your mind to that, it opens the doors of possibilities. The storytelling journey of Friday Night Lights helps illustrate what is possible, as well as offer other lessons on what to do and not do in designing your own professional storytelling path. How a reporter’s notebook became a franchise In 1990, journalist Buzz Bissinger published Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream. It wasn’t just another sports book. He moved his family to Texas to immerse himself in this story. Bissinger spent a year in Odessa, Texas, embedded with the Permian High School Panthers, capturing the obsession, pressure, and community identity that revolved around high school football. He conducted hundreds of hours of interviews and built his narrative from a deep archive of source material. Every interview he conducted is his work product, what I often refer to as copyright protected storytelling source material. Make note of that. That depth of Buzz’s reporting gave the book credibility. It also gave it power as intellectual property. It was a fantastic book that was a hit.
By Ron Watermon October 3, 2025
The NCAA just approved new guidance on NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals — and while the headlines mostly talk about money, what’s really at stake here is storytelling. Starting this past August, athletes have had to disclose NIL agreements over $600. Schools will help monitor and even facilitate opportunities, and standardized contracts are being promoted to protect athletes. Meanwhile, new rules for collectives are meant to stop disguised pay-for-play deals while still allowing legitimate business arrangements. ( Full NCAA release here )​ On the surface, this might sound like dry compliance policy. But here’s the STORYSMART® takeaway: Transparency is power. The clearer your contracts and disclosures, the harder it is for someone else to hijack your story or exploit your image. Standardization levels the playing field. Whether you’re a star quarterback or a swimmer at a smaller program, having clear terms makes it easier to protect your rights. Your story is the real asset. NIL isn’t just about a jersey deal or an autograph session. It’s about controlling your narrative — the way your life, your legacy, and your values are presented to the world. ​ This guidance is another reminder that athletes — like families, public figures, and estates — need to see their story as intellectual property. The athletes who win aren’t just the ones who score on the field; they’re the ones who invest in how their story is told off the field. ​ STORYSMART® Rule of Thumb: Don’t just cash a check. Build a story that grows in value over time.
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July 22, 2025, St. Louis, MO - There’s a line in Jerry Maguire that has always stuck with me. Young Ray asks his mom, “What’s wrong, Mom?” And she replies: “ First class is what’s wrong, honey. It used to be a better meal. Now it’s a better life. ” That line hits hard. Because access—access to opportunity, tools, and professionals—changes everything. And when it comes to storytelling, access has long been unequal. For decades, only a small group of insiders had the power to tell stories at the highest level. If you weren’t already in Hollywood or publishing, your story stayed in coach—often ignored, misrepresented, or lost. I wrote STORYSMART® Storytelling for ALL to change that. This book is a roadmap. It’s designed to give you—whether you’re a public figure, entrepreneur, athlete, or someone with a life story worth telling—the same tools used by insiders. The same strategies that power studios, presidents, billion-dollar production companies, and bestselling memoirs. It’s also deeply personal. I’ve seen too many remarkable true stories disappear because people didn’t know how to protect them—or worse, were taken advantage of. I’ve felt like an outsider myself. And I know what it means to want your story told right. That’s why I developed the STORYSMART® Framework. To empower people with meaningful stories to protect their rights, preserve their vision, and share it with the world—on their own terms. I’m making the Author’s Note from the book available as a free PDF download as part of this post. And if you’ve got 90 seconds, I invite you to watch the short video message from me below. This is your story. Let’s tell it the right way. About The Book In a world hungry for authentic narratives, STORYSMART® Storytelling for ALL™ : How to Take Control, Own Your True Story and Profit Like a Hollywood Insider delivers a rare insider’s guide to turning a true story into a cultural and financial asset while maintaining control. Designed for public figures, entrepreneurs, and individuals with powerful life stories, the book introduces the STORYSMART® Way, a step-by-step framework to organize, preserve, and professionally develop your story for books, film, and television. The book pulls back the curtain on how stories move through publishing, Hollywood, and streaming—and empowers readers to navigate the process like seasoned insiders. Topics include copyright and licensing, collaborating with elite-level professional filmmakers and ghostwriters, developing a pitch-ready treatment, and monetizing true stories through publishing, streaming, and merchandising. STORYSMART Storytelling for ALL is available currently as both a paperback and e-book. It will be available soon be in hardcover and audiobook formats. About the Author Ron Watermon is the founder of STORYSMART®, a cinematic storytelling consulting service and story development film studio. A lawyer, filmmaker, and Emmy-nominated television producer and writer, Ron’s led strategic communications for an MLB team, advised high-profile clients, and has produced both film and television productions. Ron lives in St. Louis with his family. Learn more about Ron at storysmart.net and ronwatermon.com #STORYSMART #StorytellingForAll #NewBook #MediaRights #TrueStories #BookLaunch
By Ron Watermon April 24, 2025
We are honored to share some big news. Our documentary, A Steak Guerrilla in St. Louis: The Dr. Arturo Taca Story, has been selected as one of five projects to receive funding from the St. Louis Film Project , a collaboration between the Regional Arts Commission (RAC) of St. Louis and Continuity . This recognition comes from a highly competitive pool of 115 applicants. The grant—up to $100,000—represents a decisive vote of confidence in our story and our approach to telling it. It also offers meaningful momentum as we enter the next phase of production. Most importantly, it reinforces what we believe: Dr. Arturo Taca’s story matters and deserves to be told. A Story Rooted in St. Louis — and Felt Across the World “A Steak Guerrilla in St. Louis” is a documentary rooted in the unlikely convergence of midwestern Americana and Filipino resistance. It follows the story of Dr. Arturo M. Taca, a Filipino surgeon and political exile who made St. Louis his home while taking a stand against Ferdinand Marcos's brutal dictatorship. Before terms like “fake news” and “disinformation” became common in American discourse, Dr. Taca uncovered the truth behind the Philippine president's fraudulent war record. That investigation began here—in dusty archives just outside of St. Louis—and set off a chain of events that toppled a brutal dictator. Our film uses a hybrid storytelling format, combining animated reenactments, interviews, and archival research to tell this story in an emotionally resonant and visually striking way. The Grant That Helps Make It Possible The St. Louis Film Project grant, funded through RAC and administered by Continuity, is part of an initiative to uplift the film community in St. Louis. RAC’s press release states that the fund was created to “support local filmmakers and organizations to tell stories rooted in St. Louis.” The evaluation process was rigorous. “Choosing five projects from over 100 submissions was no easy feat," said Vanessa Cooksey, President of RAC. "The talent and stories presented were incredible.” That’s why being one of the five chosen is more than just a financial boost—it affirms this story’s value and connection to our community. It means much to us, and we don’t take it lightly. A Delayed Start But a Firm Deadline While the grant announcement arrived months later than initially expected, we’ve been working behind the scenes to be ready to go once we receive funding. With this grant officially in place, we’re full steam ahead. The grant contractually obligates us to deliver the completed film by January 2026. That’s a fast turnaround in documentary filmmaking, especially for a story with historical depth, international relevance, and a visual style that blends live action with animation. That means every day counts. While the grant covers significant production costs, it also comes with essential parameters: 75% of funds must be spent within the City of St. Louis. We’re proud of that requirement—it aligns with our belief in investing locally and elevating regional talent. But it also means we must be innovative, strategic, and resourceful with every dollar we spend. We have our entire team in place, minus one critical position. We need a gifted DP to join our elite team. We are eager to work with a tremendous city-based production company or cinematographer who calls St. Louis home. If you know a great cinematographer who would like to join us, please have them email me at ron@storysmart.net. Why We’re Still Seeking Donor Support Even with the RAC grant, bringing this film to life in the way it deserves will take more. Animation, archival licensing, original score composition, color grading, distribution planning—it all adds up. And some of this can't be sourced in a way that fits grant guidelines. And because of the ambitious deadline, we’ll need to scale quickly without cutting corners. That’s where you come in. We’re seeking additional donor support to help us: Expand our animation sequences and visual storytelling capacity. Secure the rights to key archival materials that deepen the film’s historical accuracy. Shoot at least a couple of interviews with key individuals who live outside our region, including the Philippines. Invest in editorial and post-production tools that allow us to move efficiently without sacrificing quality. Ensure the finished film reaches the broadest possible audience, from film festivals to classrooms to international broadcast platforms. Your contribution—no matter the size—helps ensure that Dr. Taca’s story is told with the care, accuracy, and cinematic impact it deserves. If you believe in the power of truth-telling… if you value stories that connect communities and illuminate buried history… we hope you’ll consider becoming a supporter. Click here to donate Learn more about our film at steakguerrilla.com A Final Word: Why This Story Matters Now We often think history is distant, locked away in textbooks or museums. But A Steak Guerrilla in St. Louis reminds us that history is constantly being rediscovered—sometimes in our backyard. It’s a reminder that exile doesn’t silence the truth, that one person in one city can stand up to a dictator and change the course of a narrative written in lies, and that the work of defending democracy happens quietly, persistently, and often without recognition. Now, it’s time to give that recognition. With this grant—and with your support—we’re going to finish the film. And when we do, we’ll bring a hidden chapter of St. Louis history that reverberates far beyond our city limits. Thank you for sharing this journey with us, and a special thanks to each member of our talented filmmaking team. I'm grateful for your willingness to work to bring this story to the screen, your patience through this process, and your unselfish (uncompensated) work to make it happen. I have no doubt it will all be worth it! --Ron Watermon, Executive Producer & Director, A Steak Guerrilla in St. Louis: The Dr. Arturo M. Taca Story
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