MANEESH VERMA
Creative Producer
20+ years of extensive experience leading performing arts and media projects. A National School of Drama graduate with strong entrepreneurial & creative acumen. Major interest and strength lie in developing new concepts. Proven expertise in scripting, storytelling, direction, video production, project management, & budgeting.
0.1 Experience
- Ekalavya TalksCreative ProducerOct 2022 – PresentA YouTube channel and podcast about artists’ creative and professional journeys to inspire the next generation.
- Strategised the podcast format, structure, & content.
- Produced 1st series of 9 high-quality podcast episodes.
- Produced 60+ short-form content.
- Strategised & developed YouTube channel branding.
- Planned & executed end-to-end pre- & post-production processes.
Channel:https://youtube.com/@BeEkalavya
- Ekalavya ArtCreative ProducerJuly 2020 – Aug 2023India’s best & one of its kind not-for-profit acting & theatre e-learning platform.
- Produced 8 high-quality courses, 24+ hours of engaging content.
- Produced over 800 minutes of organic media content.
- Established an in-house shooting setup & led a team of 20+.
- Optimised production processes & budgets to reduce content creation time by 25% & cutting costs by 50%
- Collaborated with facilitators & content writers for an active learning experience.
Website:https://ekalavya.art
- Collective Madness StudiosCreative Producer2014 – PresentA multi-potentialite studio exploring stories & collaborations across Theatre, Design & Media.
- Producing a 15 mins short film, “Smell of Rain,” in pre-production.
- Produced a short film, “1924: The Kakori Project.”
- Produced a thriller, “Shireen Shah,” streaming on Zee5.
- Produced a site-specific performance, “JUMP,” commissioned by Serendipity Arts Festival, Goa.
- Conceptualised, developed, and produced 15+ theatre projects in multiple genres like drama, musical, thriller, comedy, etc.
- Planned & executed over 250+ performances across India, participating in India’s major theatre festivals like META, Bharangam, Prithvi, Rangashankara, etc.
- Executed India’s first successful art-based crowd-funding campaign for the musical “A Kind of True Story.”
Website:https://collectivemadness.in
- Collective Madness StudiosScript Writing & Direction2014 Onwards
- Wrote & directed the two-actor black comedy “Jump.”
- Script & direction for Hindi short film “Bahist,” in pre-production
- Wrote & co-directed the thriller “Shireen Shah,” streaming on Zee5
- Led a writer’s team for an Hindi musical, “A Kind of True Story.”
- Co-written & co-directed a Hindi musical for kids, “Dhara Ki Kahani.”
- Hindi adaptation of Ayn Rand’s “Night of January 16th.”
25+ Years of
Film & Theatre Acting
15+ Years of
Directing & Theatre Making
10+ Years of
Executive & Creative Producing
12+ Years of
Web Design & Development
0.2 Work Profile
2017
—
Now
COLLECTIVE MADNESS STUDIOS
Co-Founder, Creative Director & Producer
A Mumbai-based studio exploring stories and collaborations across Theatre, Design & Media.
– Responsible for business strategy and growth.
– Developing and producing performing arts and media projects.
– Leading collaborations with other organisations and individual artists.
– Designing and developing web projects.
2017
—
Now
ART VILLAGE
Community Member & Curator
A creative space where naturalists, artists, practitioners, performers, and educators come together to learn, create, and share their philosophies and methods of practice.
– Curating and delivering theatre-based activities, workshops, and corporate training.
2015
—
2020
DRAMA SCHOOL MUMBAI
Creative Director
A drama school forging a new generation of theatre-makers; actor-creator-entrepreneurs who are professionally trained to perform and create work to a higher global standard of storytelling.
– Creatively producing and running the annual student productions.
– Setting up the production process from rehearsals to opening shows.
– Planning and execution of performances within Mumbai and other cities.
– Financial planning, budgeting, contract executions, and vendor management.
– Publicity strategy, design, and execution.
2007
—
2018
CSW ASSOCIATES INC.
Performance Consultant
An American-based training and consulting firm addressing diversity, workplace harassment, sexual orientation, and cross-cultural awareness.
Delivered more than 100 programmes for the biggest multinational companies like Goldman Sachs, Deutsch Bank, Merrill Lynch, UBS, Microsoft, and Barclays at national and international locations like Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune, Dubai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and America.
2011
—
2017
THE INKLINE
Partner, Designer & New Business Head
A design partnership firm merged into Collective Madness Studios in 2017.
Designed and developed multiple websites.
Sustained the firm for six years through getting constant new business.
2004
—
2017
ACTORS’ CULT
Artistic Director & Producer
A theatre group that has been merged into Collective Madness Studios in 2017.
Established the group as one of Mumbai’s notable upcoming theatre entities. Produced and executed 8 theatre productions with performances at multiple reputed venues and festivals like TATA Theatre Mumbai, NCPA Mumbai, Prithvi Theatre Mumbai, Ranga Shankara Bangalore, IHC Delhi, Bharat Bhawan Bhopal, National Theatre Festival, etc. Conceived and executed multiple corporate training sessions and programmes.
0.3 Education
1999 – 2002
Post Graduation in Acting & Theatre Making
National School of Drama, New Delhi, India
1993-1996
Bachelor in Science
Hansraj College, Delhi University, India
2019 & 2022
Basic & Advance Mountaineering Course
Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India
2008 Onwards
Web Designing & Frontend Development
Self-taught though multiple online courses & books
0.4 Skill Sets
Entrepreneurial
Leadership
Growth Mindset
Critical Thinking
Business Strategy
Problem-Solving
Financial Modelling
Networking
Communication
Creative
Graphic/Web Design
Video Production
Video Editing
Identity & Branding
Writing
Translation & Adaptation
Photography
Technical
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Final Cut Pro X
Adobe Premier Pro
HTML5 & CSS3
WordPress CMS
Responsive Web Design
Soft
Time management
Adaptability
Teamwork
Curiosity
Interpersonal skills
Public Speaking
Work ethic
Attention to detail