BEARD & BOWLER

WE ARE
MASTER STORYTELLERS

WHO WE ARE

THE FOUNDERS

JASON ELLINGER

CO-FOUNDER & PARTNER

MATT CARPENTER

CO-FOUNDER & PARTNER

our Rocking Team

Kwami Ngaojia 

From Newark, New Jersey, Kwami graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Video Production & a minor in Psychology. Kwami was always interested in helping those in need & would always seek out ways to do so. Before he found Beard & Bowler, he worked as a case manager for high risk & at risk families in central Jersey. He would then go on to join the Army National Guard & to this day, is serving as a logistics officer. Kwami is a jack of all trades over at B&B headquarters.

He can direct, edit, shoot, produce, coordinate, delegate, & whatever else is needed of him. He came across B&B while searching for a job on Linkedin & was drawn to it, due in part to seeing that it’s run by a black man. Being black himself, it was inspiring for him to see someone of color in a position of leadership in the film/video industry. Kwami manages a lot over at B&B, including an overseas team of editors, always helping out any way he can if someone has too much on their plate.

Despite all of this though, Kwami isn’t all work. In his offtime, he enjoys all sorts of leisurely activities, including playing video games, watching anime, working out, listening to all sorts of genres of music from rap to rock to lofi to classical, & traveling.

Jenna Ventrice 


Ever since age 11, Jenna Ventrice has been editing videos all on her own, even teaching herself how to use Final Cut. That’s not to say she’s a one-trick pony though. Jenna has had a ton of experience on the sets of various short films and live TV, making her capable of taking on a variety of different roles. Jenna attended Emerson College where she eventually learned After Effects & Premiere Pro among other editing software.

For one of her classes, she was tasked with directing a silent short film. Unfortunately, it was during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to a plethora of restrictions. Her solution? Make the film a love story about two people who were forced to be six-feet apart from each other. Jenna also worked for a live sports talk show held at Emerson called Box Score, where she worked as camera operator. At one point, she had an internship in Los Angeles where she helped clients with website design. There, she also did a lot of shadowing, learning some pro tools in fixing audio and color in TV.

Naturally, Jenna primarily edits various YouTube videos and shorts for B&B and occasionally records some behind-the-scenes footage during shoots. Something that Jenna takes a huge interest in is fashion. She has bonded with many people over it and has even worked three retail jobs in women’s clothing prior to B&B. She also obviously has a huge passion for film, trying to go to the movies at least once a week. In particular, she enjoys horror movies, with one of her favorites being Possession directed by Andrzej Zulawski.

Sean Adomili

Ever since his days with the Boy Scouts, Sean Adomilli has always been driven to volunteer and serve. For his Eagle Scouts project, Sean made a memorial for Matthew La Porte, a victim of the Virginia Tech Shooting back in 2007. For almost two years, Sean teamed up with the chief of police and various businesses around the town of Dumont and built a paper patio, a garden area, and storyboards talking about the event and La Porte’s heroic actions in trying to stop the shooter. Sean is an open thinker, always open to new ideas and learning new things. If you throw a task at him, he will go into it with an open mind and try his best to figure it out. Whether it be a new program or idea he wants to bring to B&B, Sean is not one to back down so easily. He’s always one to push forward and try, try again no matter how hard of a time something gives him. 

Prior to B&B, Sean worked as inventory specialist at CVS for three and a half years. Sean had no intentions of pursuing a career in pharmaceuticals. It was just a job for him, one that didn’t exactly relate to his current job at B&B aside from maybe the organizational aspect. Back in college, one of Sean’s professors, who had connections with Jason, got Sean in contact with him. The film aspect of B&B is initially what drew Sean to the company as film is what he was studying in college at the time. Sean wanted a job that would not only fulfill his desire to work in the film industry, but also feel like what he’s doing is important and is giving back, so to him, a video production company that specializes in nonprofits is the best of both worlds. 

Sean primarily edits videos for B&B, though on occasion, he will be tasked with project management and talking with clients. On set during shoots, he’s either a PA or an assistant director, recording B-roll footage. He also works on thumbnails for their social media videos. During his freetime, Sean enjoys hiking and all things outdoors, as well as going to the movies, whether they be blockbuster action movies, or small, artful indie films.

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 u0026amp; 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 u0026amp; support of his wife, Ashley, Jason was able to invest in himself u0026amp; 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 u0026amp; 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 u0026amp; 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 u0026amp; 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 u0026amp; 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 u0026amp; some branding on the “company wagon”.
Mid 2009
Jason stand above the crowd with his cameraman u0026amp; a camera crane covering performance by Bryan McKnight u0026amp; 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 u0026amp; 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 u0026amp; 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 u0026amp; 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 u0026amp; story strategist, Matt Carpenter helped him organize his thoughts u0026amp; set a plan in motion to get back to what he loved but niche’d down u0026amp; 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 u0026amp; 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 u0026amp; Bowler Productions.