We were lucky to catch up with Chris Kleinmann recently and have shared our conversation below.

Chris, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I was young when I realized I wanted to be a filmmaker. I grew up in Ft. Myers, Florida, where being an artist wasn’t a common path. My family didn’t really understand or support my career choice—not out of a lack of love, but because it was completely outside their world. I knew this was what I was meant to do after landing a lead role in my high school play. Up until then, I had been focused on soccer and football, but in the spring of my sophomore year, I gave acting a shot. That experience led me to take a media production class, where my teacher recognized my passion and encouraged me to pursue it further.

I bought my first camera, a Canon 70D, and started shooting everything I could—music videos, commercials, social media ads. That work eventually led to a job as a photojournalist, where I spent two years covering local news, capturing video, and editing news segments. It was great experience, but I realized it wasn’t filmmaking. I wasn’t happy.

My grandfather, who was a huge influence in my life and a career military man, pulled me aside during Thanksgiving 2016 and told me that if I wanted to pursue film, I should go to school for it. At the time, I couldn’t afford it, so he gave me a long talk about joining the military for four years and using the GI Bill. A month later, I enlisted in the United States Air Force.

During my service, I met lifelong friends, traveled the world, and studied film in preparation for life after my contract ended. I was stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California, and whenever I had leave, I’d head to LA to help out on film sets. Then, in 2020, COVID hit. Productions shut down, my military job became more demanding, and for a while, it felt like the world had come to a standstill. With a lot of downtime, my supervisor encouraged me to start finishing my bachelor’s degree while I was still enlisted. I enrolled in the University of Florida’s online business administration program to keep my mind engaged. It was a solid education, but it wasn’t my passion. I missed being creative.

By 2022, I was officially out of the military and had a big decision to make—stay in California to pursue film or return to the East Coast and carve out a path in “the Hollywood of the South.” Family has always been important to me, and after touring SCAD, I was blown away by the resources they had built for their film students. That August, I started my film degree at SCAD while finishing my business degree from UF online.

It was the best decision I’ve ever made. Since then, I’ve worked on multiple feature films, produced over 10 quality short films, and this year, I started production on my first feature as a lead producer. Along the way, I helped build Kronos Media Productions alongside Erich Perez, and together, we secured funding for our first feature film—one that I’m proud to be leading.

Filmmaking is something I’ve always dreamed of, and the journey to get here has been long and challenging. But I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything. I’m just getting started, and I’m excited to see where this path takes me next.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For those who may not have heard about me before, I’m Chris Kleinmann—a filmmaker, producer, and entrepreneur who has built my career through relentless drive, creative passion, and strategic leadership. I grew up in Ft. Myers, Florida, a place where pursuing a career in the arts wasn’t a common path. Despite that, I found my love for storytelling early on. My journey started with acting in high school, but I quickly realized that my true passion was behind the camera—creating, producing, and bringing stories to life.

I took every opportunity to learn and grow, shooting music videos, commercials, and social media ads with my first camera, a Canon 70D. That hands-on experience eventually led to a job as a photojournalist, where I spent two years covering local news. While it was valuable work, I knew it wasn’t filmmaking, and I needed to find a way to make my true passion a reality.

That’s when I made a major decision—I enlisted in the United States Air Force. My grandfather, a career military man, encouraged me to serve as a way to gain discipline, life experience, and the GI Bill to eventually fund my education in film. During my service, I traveled the world, met lifelong friends, and studied filmmaking every chance I got. While stationed in California, I would take leave to work on sets in Los Angeles, absorbing everything I could about the industry.

When COVID hit in 2020, film production came to a halt, and I found myself at a crossroads. I used that time to start my education at the University of Florida, earning my degree in Business Administration. But I knew that business alone wasn’t my calling—I needed to be creating. In 2022, after completing my military service, I made another pivotal choice: I enrolled at SCAD to study Film and Television while finishing my business degree online. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Since then, I have worked on multiple feature films, produced over a dozen high-quality short films, and established myself as a producer who understands both the creative and logistical sides of filmmaking. In addition to my film work, I co-founded Kronos Media Productions alongside Erich Perez, building it into a full-fledged production company. We successfully secured funding for our first feature film, which I am proud to be leading as the producer.

What I Do & What Sets Me Apart
As a producer, I oversee projects from development through exhibition, ensuring every aspect of production runs smoothly. My work spans across feature films, short films, branded content, and commercial work. What sets me apart is my ability to merge creativity with strong leadership and business strategy—a skill set honed through my military service, business education, and hands-on experience in the film industry.

I specialize in:

Film & TV Production – Bringing projects to life by managing teams, schedules, and budgets while maintaining the creative vision.
Development & Financing – Finding strategic ways to fund and package films for success in the market.
Creative Problem-Solving – Whether it’s working with tight budgets, complex logistics, or high-pressure situations, I thrive on finding innovative solutions.
Story-Driven Marketing & Content Creation – Crafting compelling narratives that connect with audiences, whether in film, commercials, or branded media.
I bring a leadership-first mentality to filmmaking. Having led teams in the military, I understand the importance of discipline, teamwork, and adaptability. I apply that same structured approach to production—ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and with a level of excellence that audiences and investors expect.

What I’m Most Proud Of
One of my biggest achievements has been helping build Kronos Media Productions into a fully operational production company. Securing funding for our first feature film is a milestone that proves the value of strategic planning and hard work. I’m incredibly proud of the films I’ve produced so far, and I’m even more excited for what’s ahead.

Beyond that, I take pride in my ability to bring people together. I believe filmmaking is a collaborative art, and the best films come from teams that share a unified vision. My background in leadership—both from my military experience and my work as a producer—has given me the skills to manage and inspire creative teams, ensuring that every project reaches its full potential.

The Future of My Career & Kronos Media Productions
I recently completed both my Film & Television degree at SCAD and my Business Administration degree from UF, and I’m now pursuing a Master’s in Business Operations to further refine my expertise in managing large-scale productions and building sustainable creative businesses. As I continue growing my film career, I’m focused on expanding Kronos Media Productions, pushing boundaries in storytelling, and creating films that leave an impact.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about me, it’s that I am dedicated to this craft. Filmmaking isn’t just a job for me—it’s something I have fought for, sacrificed for, and worked tirelessly to master. My journey has been anything but conventional, but that’s what makes my perspective unique. Whether it’s producing compelling films, finding innovative ways to fund projects, or building a team that thrives under pressure, I’m here to make great stories happen.

I’m just getting started, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the ability to bring ideas to life and create something that resonates with people. There’s nothing quite like seeing a project evolve from a concept into a fully realized film, whether it’s a feature, a short, or even a commercial. The moment when an audience connects with the story—whether they laugh, cry, or sit on the edge of their seat—that’s when I know the work was worth it.

Beyond the storytelling, I also find deep satisfaction in building and leading creative teams. Filmmaking is one of the most collaborative art forms, and I love bringing together talented individuals, creating an environment where they can do their best work, and watching them elevate a project beyond what I originally envisioned. My background in leadership, from the military to producing, has shown me that great films are made by great teams, and I take pride in assembling and guiding those teams to success.

On a personal level, what makes it all rewarding is looking back at the journey. I didn’t have a traditional path into film—my route took me through the Air Force, business school, and a lot of hands-on learning before I got to where I am today. Knowing that I carved my own way into this industry and that my work is now reaching people is incredibly fulfilling.

At the end of the day, the reward is in the impact. Whether it’s entertaining an audience, making them think, or helping another filmmaker bring their vision to life, that’s what keeps me going.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I want Kronos Media Productions to be a haven for filmmakers, a place where creatives can bring their ideas to life without compromise. The dream is that this company champions independent filmmaking, providing the resources, structure, and support needed to turn ambitious projects into reality.

Beyond just producing films, my goal is to build a sustainable ecosystem for independent creators—one that prioritizes artistic integrity while also ensuring that films are financially viable and reach the right audiences. I want Kronos to be known for taking risks on fresh voices, fostering innovative storytelling, and proving that independent films can compete with major studios when given the right backing.

Ultimately, my mission is to tell compelling stories, build an industry presence that supports bold filmmaking, and create opportunities for passionate storytellers to thrive. Whether it’s through funding, mentorship, or hands-on production, I want Kronos (and my career) to help be a launchpad for filmmakers who are ready to make an impact.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kronosmediaproductions.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kronosmediaproductions?igsh=MTNvODY3enEwYTd2YQ==
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/KronosMediaProductions/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KronosMediaProductions