Startup Provides Storytelling For All

Ron Watermon • June 25, 2022

Former Cardinals Executive Bringing Video Storytelling To Families & Small Businesses Throughout the United States

St. Louis, MO - June 23, 2022 - I had a chance to sit down with Chelsea Haynes of Fox 2 to talk about the work STORYSMART is doing to provide storytelling for all. A Houston native, Chelsea is multimedia journalist who graduated from the prestigious Missouri School of Journalism and hosts Studio STL, a wonderful show that highlights all the great things happening in St. Louis.

What follows is a transcript of the interview. The video is shared courtesy of Fox 2 News and Nexstar.

Chelsea Haynes, Fox 2

Well, if you want to be remembered, you need to be able to tell an amazing story on screen. That's what one local startup is doing for their clients. This next segment has been sponsored by STORYSMART. And here with us today is founder and CEO of STORYSMART Ron Waterman. Now, if his name or face looks familiar, it is because he is an executive, a former executive of the St. Louis Cardinals. And he has worked with the media for all of its needs. Ron, we're so happy that you're here with us.

Ron Watermon, STORYSMART

I am so grateful that you are having me on and I value what you're doing.

Chelsea Haynes

Like I value what you're doing, because storytelling is so important. And I mean, this is an amazing idea that is coming to life with your vision. Tell us a little bit about STORYSMART.

Ron Watermon

Yes. We believe everyone matters and has a story to tell, and we want to help them bring their story to the screen with video and motion picture filmmaking. We want to help them tell their story in the amazing way that they deserve. And so we are helping small businesses. That is really our bread and butter. We are building a network of storytellers, people like yourself, multimedia journalists, and independent journalist filmmakers to help people tell their stories in an honest and authentic way. So, you know, the idea is that if a professional storyteller like a Steven Spielberg were to tell your story, it would probably be more amazing on screen than if you just did it yourself.

Chelsea Haynes

And so, which is very true.

Ron Watermon

And so, so, you know, somebody like yourself, you've trained to be a good storyteller and you've honed your craft over the years producing stories. And so that's the premium service that we're bringing to small businesses and to families by pairing them up with a trained journalist to tell their story.

Chelsea Haynes

Well, the art of storytelling is a powerful tool. And you said it yourself, you're using these independent filmmakers, multimedia journalists. How is their expertise bringing your vision a lot?

Ron Watermon

You know, somebody like I'll just use Paul Shankman as an example of the type of storytellers we engage to help our clients. Paul is a 32 time Emmy award winning alum of Fox 2 two, right. He could read the back of a cereal box and you'd tune in, right? Because that beautiful voice of his, you know, what he's able to do is he puts people at ease. We have this proprietary process that's based on journalism, where, you know, he sits down and does an interview with people to produce a story. And that's sort of the STORYSMART process as we identify, what's the purpose of the story. So it might be a grandmother simply wanting to be remembered by her grandchildren, right. We're not trying to reach a huge audience. We're just trying to tell her story in an impactful way that connects with her grandchildren. Right? And so what somebody like Paul or yourself as a trained journalist, or any other journalist brings to the table is that emotional intelligence, that ability to interview make me feel comfortable on with all these lights and cameras and stuff, and to tell a story and to do it in an honest and authentic way that connects with others.

Ron Watermon

And that's, that's what this is all about. It's all, it's all about being remembered. We want, we want to help people be remembered.

Chelsea Haynes

So whether you're a small business or family, you've even working with college athletes as well to tell their stories

Ron Watermon

Yes.

Chelsea Haynes

I mean, if you're doing it for a fraction of the price

Ron Watermon

Yes, our pricing is a fraction of what other production companies charge clients. We are doing things in a very different way than anybody else. We have this vision of creating the Airbnb or Uber of video storytelling and making it available to everyone. And here is the key. We want you to own your story, but we want a professional to help you tell it. Right. So it's, it's owning it as though you shot it yourself with your cell phone and edited it yourself, but you're not doing all of that work. We are. Right. Like it's a professional comes in and does it for you. It is a premium service. And so, yeah, that's the, that's the vision behind what we're doing. And, and we're getting there by engaging these talented storytellers and, you know, they're excited, you know, I actually see them as much, my customer, as the person we do the story for.

Chelsea Haynes

we get excited about this.

Ron Watermon

We are Filming this today, or we're gonna get this shot. We're gonna make this look good. Yeah. Yeah. And that shows, it shows in the work, right? Like you just look at Paul's stuff. And it just, I mean, it's just beautiful. I mean, I, you know, every time he shares a new video with me, I'm so excited to open it up before I share it with the client, because I know it's gonna be amazing. And you know, I that's, that's the gift. And that's the, that's the idea behind storytelling for all is we want to make that gift available to everyone. It is because everyone matters.

Chelsea Haynes

Yes they do. It's the gift. It's the secret sauce. He's making sure a professional is bringing your story to the big screen, whether it's at home or on social media, if you're at home and you're watching and you're interested in using story smart services, where can people find you?

Ron Watermon

You can find us at getstorysmart.com. You'll see. We are very transparent with our pricing and our process. We are committed to making storytelling accessible to all

Chelsea Haynes

Awesome. Well, that information is right there on your screen STORYSMART. You can find them on Facebook. You can find them on Instagram. So go ahead, give them a follow, show them some love and spread the word. Storytelling is powerful. And we wanna tell your story in a smart way. We'll make sure you have access to Ron's website, as well as how you can work with his amazing team of freelance filmmakers and multimedia journalists. Just allowing these professionals to have your vision come to life. We'll post all of this information on our website@studiosd.tv. So go anywhere St. Louis will be right back in just couple minutes.

About STORYSMART

You have a story to tell, but don't have the time or resources to do it yourself. Not only is it hard to find someone who can help you tell your story, but it's also expensive. And once you find them, you're not even sure if they'll be able to stay true to your brand and values.

STORYSMART is different.

STORYSMART is a nationwide premium video and motion picture storytelling service that empowers individuals, families, celebrities, small businesses and other organizations to have their stories told professionally while still retaining their intellectual property rights.

STORYSMART provides experienced video storytellers who follow our proprietary high-integrity brand journalism method. Our transparently priced premium service guarantees that you get an authentic, high-quality story you own the intellectual property rights on forever.

You deserve to have your story told in an amazing way that you own. Learn more about STORYSMART at getstorysmart.com.

Springsteen's New Film is a Boss Lesson in Storytelling

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. 

Friday Night Lights

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.

Media Lens: NCAA NIL Guidance & Storytelling

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.

What is The STORYSMART® Way?

By Ron Watermon • October 1, 2025
At it's heart, STORYSMART® is about democratizing access to elite-level professional storytelling. Storytelling has been controlled by gatekeepers for far too long.

What "The Studio" Gets Right (and Wrong) About Storytelling

By Ron Watermon • September 24, 2025
The Studio offers a behind-the-scenes look at the chaos of Hollywood, but there are lessons about what the industry gets right & wrong about storytelling.

Goodnight, John-Boy: Lessons in Family Storytelling from The Waltons

By Ron Watermon • September 14, 2025
Storytelling for ALL™ LinkedIn Newsletter Vol. 3

Be Like Mike: Own Your Story Like a Champion

By Ron Watermon • September 14, 2025
Storytelling for ALL™ LinkedIn Newsletter Vol. 2

Forget AI - the Two Letters That Matter Most to Your Story Are IP!

By Ron Watermon • September 14, 2025
Storytelling for ALL ™ LinkedIn Newsletter Vol. 1

Why I Wrote STORYSMART® Storytelling for ALL

By Ron Watermon • July 21, 2025
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

STORYSMART® Film Receives Major Grant Support from St. Louis Film Project

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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