Background
I’m John Hanninen, the independent founder behind Cinevaris, based in Alabama. My connection to filmmaking began in high school, when I made short films in my multimedia class and fell in love with the art form.
I graduated from The University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in communications, majoring in Creative Media and minoring in Creative Writing. I’m especially interested in writing, directing, and editing!
Why I built Cinevaris
After graduating, I spent several years exploring what kind of creative work I wanted to pursue. Along the way, I became frustrated with the pre-production tools available to independent filmmakers. Instead of accepting that friction, I decided to build the tool I wanted to use.
Moving from a screenplay to a production plan often means spreading the same project across disconnected writing tools, spreadsheets, notes, and documents. I built Cinevaris to bring that work together and make the path from draft to production clearer and more manageable.
Who I built it for
Cinevaris is designed for solo and independent filmmakers, particularly those working with small teams and limited budgets. My goal is to make the practical side of pre-production more manageable while helping filmmakers preserve the creative intent that made a project worth pursuing.
Direct communication and community
Cinevaris is an independently owned software business operated by me in Alabama. When you contact support or share feedback, you’re speaking directly with the person responsible for building and operating the product.
I want that direct connection to be part of how Cinevaris grows. I’ll communicate openly about what I’m working on, listen closely to what helps and what gets in the way, and keep filmmakers informed as the product develops.
Over time, I hope to build a community around Cinevaris, connected by a shared interest in filmmaking. I want it to be a place where filmmakers can exchange practical insight, encourage one another, and help shape a tool made for bringing stories to the screen.