Juan Mancilla

Current Role: Founder & Creative Director, Project No. 57

Juan Mancilla is a Rowland High alum and the founder of Project No. 57 — a creative brand built around visual storytelling, legacy, and culture. His journey with the camera started in middle school, filming skate videos with friends using a point-and-shoot he won in a contest. But it was during high school where things really took off — mentored by longtime Rowland supporter and photographer Mr. Seid, Juan began capturing sports, school events, and anything that looked like it had a story behind it.

Over the last decade, Juan has built a video agency focused on helping businesses grow with intentional content while continuing to support local schools and events with cinematic photo and video work. He’s produced portraits, interviews, brand campaigns, community recaps, and graduation ceremonies — always approaching each project with the same goal: to create something people can feel.

“It’s not just about content. It’s about creating something people are proud to look back on — something that feels like it meant something at the time, and still does later.”

Whether filming students, directing community reels, or helping elevate the visual presence of a team or small business, Juan brings story-first strategy and a grounded, cinematic style to everything he creates. He’s most at home with a camera in hand, his wife and two boys nearby, building something that feels bigger than just media.