BEARD & BOWLER
WE ARE
MASTER STORYTELLERS
WHO WE ARE
THE FOUNDERS
JASON ELLINGER
CO-FOUNDER & PARTNER
MATT CARPENTER
CO-FOUNDER & PARTNER
commercial filmmakers…
CONCEPT THROUGH
POST-PRODUCTION
LAST THING YOU NEED TO KNOW, WE ARE MASTER STORYTELLERS.
We love our work & we take pride in the organizations & the people we represent.
We started this company to make positive “ding” in the universe & our society’s culture.
If you aren’t moved by what you are watching, then we have failed.
Thank you to everyone that’s supported us on our journey thus far.
WHO WE ARE
THE FOUNDERS
Early 2006
Jason Ellinger has had an interest in filmmaking since the days of junior-high since he was asked to videotape the varsity basketball games. He got yelled at for zooming in on the action a bit too much… It was just for the coach to playback & study. In early 2006, he picked up a camera of his own for his first production… his cousin’s wedding. At the next family gathering, he beamed with pride as he brought everyone into the living room to show them the final results. That pride in his work carries through to today where he prefers in-person screenings.
Early 2007
With the constant love & support of his wife, Ashley, Jason was able to invest in himself & bought his first professional HDV video camera.
Mid 2007
Better cameras need better editing equipment… A.J. Video Productions is born.
Late 2007
Jason’s first paid. His wife Ashley’s friend from college had a wedding & needed some help. He got $260 rolled up in a church bulletin… time for more gear!
Early 2008
Covering an event with some upgraded gear & a fancy new shirt.
Early 2008
The next big purchase was a 12 foot camera crane. This added a new dynamic of movement to the shots & increased production value tremendously.
Mid 2008
Jason sets up a “black limbo” studio in the garage for product training videos.
Late 2008
Jason grows the team, hiring interns & training freelance help where needed for events.
Late 2008
Jason does his first documentary. The Andiamo Motorcycle run whose proceeds go to charity. Yes that’s the camera crane in the back of a Tundra with two folding chairs strapped to the bed… Don’t try this at home.
Early 2009
Jason on set with an expanded crew recording a training video for his first major corporate client, the Jacob Javits Center in NYC.
2009
brings a new logo & some branding on the “company wagon”.
Mid 2009
Jason stand above the crowd with his cameraman & a camera crane covering performance by Bryan McKnight & Fabolous for Harlem week.
2010
Jason on set reviewing footage for another one of A.J. Video’s first major corporate clients, Motions (a division of Tresemme) via Vibe Magazine.
Early 2011
The Mayor attends the grand opening of A.J. Video Production’s new studio in Carlstadt, New Jersey.
2011
Jason directing a COVERGIRL beauty tutorial with the A.J. Video crew.
2011
A.J. Video Productions crew expands & adds DSLR technology to the mix… at it’s infancy.
Early 2012
After getting married, Jason needed a bit more of a steady income to support a new family. He joined Fios1News as a part-time employee & his skill lead him to full time quickly. The beard started to grow…
2013
The Beard became fully realized about the same time Jason realized how much the 4am shift in the dead of winter took it’s toll on him. Sometimes, when you take on a day job, you can get sucked in, it becomes routine. You wake up 5 years later, not realizing how much time has passed with you not working daily on your dream.
2014
Tired, frustrated & fed up with the type of daily events he had to cover, questioning if what he was doing was adding value to the world, Jason started meeting with his “guru” at coffee shops after his 4am shift. Long-time friend, philosopher & story strategist, Matt Carpenter helped him organize his thoughts & set a plan in motion to get back to what he loved but niche’d down & intentional.
2015
Jason invites Matt on a few shoots to do a test ride together. In some he was “talent” or on-camera, then he quickly became the brains behind the meat of the shoot, the concept, the flow, the story.
Christmas
Jason’s wife, Ashley gets him a Bowler Hat for Christmas. He has no idea what he’s going to do with it…
Mid 2016
After much plotting & planning on what exactly making a difference through storytelling really looked like, Jason got a call out of the blue from an old high school friend who was connected to something special. Realizing that this could be the perfect storm of the story that they were seeking to tell, something that has great potential to inspire the viewer to be better version of themself, Jason presented it to Matt. Hope + Future was the first “Hero story” that they produced together.
Late 2016
Jason had always had an eye for telling a story visually but struggled with putting the words in the right order at the right time. After about 6 months of working on projects together, Jason realized the value that Matt brought to not only every production but the company, as a whole. He asked him to be a partner in his new, rebranded company, Beard & Bowler Productions.