Who We Are

Principals

Manic Media is a production agency that crafts branded video for maximum distribution. And we have the hard numbers to prove it.

We’ve been honored multiple times by the Webby Awards for our work that’s rooted in smart, dynamic storytelling + stunning cinematography. And we’ve built trusted partnerships with some of the world's most recognized brands.

Mark Jolly is a filmmaker, journalist and content director with 20 years of top-level experience in commercial and documentary storytelling.

Mark is the co-founder of TRUE FOOD TV, YouTube’s most watched channel dedicated to knowing where our food comes from (13M viewers). He directs and DPs all episodes of the channel’s hit series “How Does it Grow?”, which won YouTube’s “NextUp” award.

His production company Manic Media produces commercial projects for some of the world’s largest brands, and has been honored multiple times by the Webby Awards for creating the web’s first cross-brand video platform for the hotel industry (partnering with Mandarin Oriental, St. Regis and Fairmont Hotels). Mark also negotiated dozens of distribution and content partnerships for Manic with top-flight media brands, including the TODAY Show, PBS, TED, Food & Wine, and Travel + Leisure. 

Recognized as an authority in travel and food journalism, Mark’s insights are often called upon by the media and hospitality industries. A longtime contributing editor at Condé Nast Traveler, Mark wrote multiple cover stories for the magazine. His extensive newspaper & magazine work has also been published by the Times of London, The New York Times, The Guardian and New York magazine. 

Mark has reported from over 60 countries and has lived in seven. He holds BA and MA honors degrees in English from Oxford University, and an MA in Journalism from New York University.

Nicole Cotroneo Jolly is an award-winning video producer, journalist and digital media creator. She has trained premium lifestyle brands in digital media management, and as an on-camera expert has appeared on The Food Network and The Travel Channel. 

A founding partner at Manic Media, Nicole has produced video stories for many of the world’s top lifestyle brands, and is the co-founder of TRUE FOOD TV, YouTube’s most watched channel dedicated to knowing where our food comes from (18M views). She serves as the channel’s head writer and editor, as well as on-camera host.

As a journalist, Nicole has written over 100 articles for The New York Times. From triple homicides to E. coli outbreaks — you name it, she’s probably written about it. On the lighter side, her work on food, travel and agriculture has been published by dozens of major outlets including The Washington Post, National Geographic Traveler, Delta Sky magazine and Modern Farmer.

She holds a BA in English from Boston College, from which she graduated summa cum laude.