Emmanuel “Manny” Francisco leads engineering at Amazon Studios’ Stage 15, where he serves as chief engineer and architect of an SMPTE ST 2110 workflow that powers large-scale, low-latency virtual production volume.
Previously, he established DreamWorks’ Advanced Creative Technology group, where he developed next-generation performance-animation systems that enabled live CG character experiences for Universal Studios attractions, including the PoLive interactive show. He also co-founded and served as CTO of the Realtime Conference and conducted research in next-generation education technology at UCLA Film & TV.

Manny holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering, is a licensed Professional Engineer, and holds multiple U.S. patents. His work has earned an Emmy Award, the Infinity Festival Monolith Award, and film credits including Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and How to Train Your Dragon.