Jason Ellinger

Beard & Bowler Productions

Beard & Bowler Productions is a Commercial Filmmaking creative company that obsesses over fundraising & NonProfit storytelling through the power of video.  Stories make people feel something & when they feel something, they want to do something; like donate, follow, invest.  Whether it’s building anticipation by teasing your event, the glamor of a same-day video edit to hush the crowd live at your gala, the “impact” video that tells the perfect story at the perfect fundraising moment for your event, or the follow-up video that captures a second gift… this is what B&B does.  

With ONE video, we’ve helped our philanthropic partners hit their fundraising goal within 3 minutes of the video’s end, increase their giving 61% YOY & even quadruple annual campaign results.  Great video is NOT an art, it is a studied science.  We know what works, when it works & why. Yes, we also do corporate video work but only for purpose-driven brands that we LOVE.

Curious about what we can do for your non profit?  Of course you are… Just give us a call & let’s figure it out.

Co-Founder

A.J. Video Productions

Director, Camera Operator, Jib Owner/Operator, Editor, Colorist, Motion Graphic Artist

• Managing/Directing (Video crews of 6 or more; Talent, extras, set design and hair/makeup artists; Funds for Advertising/Marketing costs, equipment purchases and office supplies)

• One-On-One Dealing With Clients (Planning; Vision Casting; Budgeting; Resource Optimization)

• Shooting, Producing and Editing Training Videos, Campaign Videos, Promotional Videos, Webmercials, Tutorial/Promotional Videos And TV Commercials

• Video Compressing and Encoding (Facebook HD; YouTube; Private Client Link Previews; DVD delivery)

• Clientele: L'Oréal, Academy Bus, PNC Bank; The Jacob K. Javits Center, The Mayor of Carlstadt, NJD36 State Senate; Vibe Magazine; COVERGIRL; Def Jam; TRESemmé; Condé Nast; DIESEL BLACK GOLD; Sotheby’s International Realty (My Video was Highlighted in their Blog and Magazine)

Founder

RNN-TV, Fios1 News is now hiring

•	Interviewing Man On Street, High Profile CEOs, Politicians and Fire/Police Officials
•	Shooting and Editing 2 – 4 VOSOTs Per Shift as well as Engineering and Executing Live Shots
•	Executed Hourly Live Shots during Hurricane Sandy from Key Locations on the NJ Coastline 
•	Increased their Social Media Presence by Creating the #FiOS1News Hashtag on Instagram
•	Promoted to Full Time in little over a Year

Photo-Journalist, Editor

Hey I'm Jason 👋🏾 Co-founder of Beard & Bowler Productions

We are commercial filmmakers whose mission is to share impactful stories that will inspire others to action.  These stories are usually contained within the walls of non-profits & purposeful brands & it also helps them increase revenue & awareness.   

We do this through the power of storytelling & video.

👉🏾 One organization experienced a 61% increase in revenue YOY with 1 video
👉🏾 An event client hit their revenue goal 3 minutes after their video screened
👉🏾 Quadrupled a client’s annual campaign results YOY with a 45 second clip

Want to see if we can get results like that for your organization?  If you've got a compelling story to tell, I bet we can.

Our website: https://beardandbowler.com/

Or, shoot me a DM 📥

3 weeks ago, my life changed forever.

But what I wasn’t expecting was it to bring us our biggest month ever. 

10 months ago, I found out my wife was pregnant with our 2nd child.

I was ecstatic. 
↳ But quickly realized I’d need to prep the business. 

So I spent the next month,

→ Working on sales.
→ Putting systems in place.
→ And leaving no stone unturned.

The results?

The month before my 2nd child was born we had our best month yet.

And truthfully, I owe it all to little EJ 😂

Because without the pressure of having a 2nd kid…
↳ I probably wouldn’t be posting about having our best month yet. 

So if you're building a business, don’t shy away from pressure.

It sounds cliche but pressure really does make diamonds.

Video Magic Maker 🎥 We help non profits & purposeful brands generate more revenue & awareness through power of story - “Jason, we just hit our revenue goal within 3 mins of showing your video!!"

How can pressure lead to success in business?

What are some tips for preparing a business for a new child?

What are some effective sales strategies for businesses?

Having a new kid has made it feel like I’m living a whole new life. 

My goals for March 2024:

- Reach 50,000 people through LinkedIn.
- Hit record revenue month for the biz.
- Help onboard Jenna full-time.
- Provide awesome client work.
- Onboard our new sales hire. 
- Optimize our sales process.

My goals for April 2024:

- Get over 4+ hours of sleep.
- Manage to take a shower daily. 
- Have min. 1 date night with my wife.
- Find the coffee pot without assistance.
- Remember to eat at least 2 meals a day.
- Successfully change a diaper with one hand.

Yep, life has changed a lot lately. 

But even amidst the chaos, I’m still doing my best to set goals.

Albeit small ones 🤷🏾

P.S. Yes, a shower does count as a win right now.

March has been Beard & Bowler's biggest month ever. 

Which is pretty ironic to say I’ve done the least work ever. 

2 weeks ago, my second son Ezra was born. 

Since then, my life has been pretty chaotic:

- 4+ hours of sleep/night.
- Double dad duties. 
- A messy schedule.

Arguably the worst case scenario for a business owner.

And for months I’ve been dreading it coming.

But that also meant I spent months:

- Delegating key tasks.
- Building out new processes. 
- Setting up systems for the team.

Which actually led to our biggest month ever… in the month the baby was born. 

Pretty crazy! 

But it just goes to show - you can run a business & have kids.

Or maybe it shows that sometimes we need the pressure of a new kid to get systems in order 🤣

P.S. Entrepreneur dads how do you balance work & parenting?

Right hand: Pan full of scrambled eggs.
Left hand: Zoom call with team on set.
In front: On phone with our copywriter.

That was a real moment for me last Thursday afternoon.

And it really sums up the last few weeks of my life.

Controlled chaos. But mainly chaos.

But sometimes that’s just what paternity “leave” looks like for some business owners.

Right now I have:

- A newborn.
- Clients to service.
- A recovering wife. 
- A team to manage.
- Another young son.
- Partners to keep happy.

+ a to-do list that goes on forever. 

And at times “balance” seems like an impossible task. 

But I’ve quickly realized that it’s not about balance; it’s about harmony.

It’s not missing meals.
↳ It’s scrambling eggs while on the phone.

It’s not missing being on set.
↳ It’s listening in on Zoom while I finish tasks.

It’s not panic stations.
↳ It’s finding joy in the madness.

As a founder, life can be pretty chaotic at times. 

But the key isn’t to operate perfectly.

It’s to do what you can do, when you can do it!

P.S. Founder dads, ever had an egg scrambling story like this?

What are some strategies for achieving harmony between work and family responsibilities?

How can finding joy in chaos help manage work and family responsibilities?

How can business owners manage work and family responsibilities during paternity leave?

Juggling a company & 2 young kids sounded impossible. 

For months, I was panicking.

The thought that “I can’t do this” was eating away at me on a daily basis.

There was TOO much going on.
There were TOO many clients to handle.
There were TOO many important tasks to complete.

But somehow, some way, we’ve managed to make it happen.

It’s like when you first move out…

It seems crazy to pay rent every month.
↳ But you just make it happen.

It seems crazy to raise a child.
↳ But you just make it happen.

It seems crazy to start a business.
↳ But you just make it happen.

And just like that, I’ve managed to make a newborn, a young kid, & a business happen (so far).

As a business owner (& Dad) it’s easy to get stressed over what could happen…

My best advice: Just do what you can, today.

You’ll be surprised how often you can make stuff happen!

Reminder: Your LinkedIn feed is a highlight reel, NOT the honest truth.

“We’ve generated 7 figures over the last year” 
↳ But only made 5 figures profit. 😅

“This year we hired 10+ new people”
 ↳ But their margins are shot. 😅

“Our business won an award” 
↳ But they paid for it. 😅

Don’t get me wrong… I love hearing that people are winning.

But as a founder, it’s so important not to compare yourself.

❌ Not everyone is winning.
❌ Not everyone is scaling rapidly.
❌ Not everyone is making gazillions. 

(Even if it looks like they are online.)

This week, I’ve been scrambling between team calls & changing diapers. 
↳ It’s has NOT been pretty 😅

So as much as it’s great to see people winning, I keep reminding myself that the wins I see on here are highlights. 

And it’s so important as a founder to remember that. 

Yes, it’s important to celebrate other people’s wins. 

But don’t forget that the world of LinkedIn can be a very demoralizing place if you start to compare yourself to others.

Most non-profits fumble millions of dollars by using the wrong 5 words.

They say: “Please donate to our non-profit” 🤦🏻‍♂️

When what they need to say is: “This non-profit saved my life”.

The difference?

The first line begs for money, the second shows the impact of your money. 

And it’s a mistake I see too many non-profits make.

They make their gala videos all about them:

- This is what we do
- This is why we’re great
- Please give us your money

When what they need to do is make it about those they serve:

- Here is who we help
- Here is how we helped them
- Here is what they have to say

People don’t donate because of your org.

They donate because of the people your org helps.

What are some effective ways for non-profits to connect with donors?

Full-Frame Cinema cameras. Fancy mics. Extravagant lighting.

We have it all & yet still it isn’t what creates the magic. 

That happens in the editing suite. 

It’s when editing that we:

Craft the powerful story. 
↳ To keep the audience engaged. 

Build the tension. 
↳ To keep people hooked.

Remove the excess.
↳ To make every second count.

Adjust the pacing.
↳ To take you on an emotional rollercoaster.

Enhance the visuals.
↳ To make every scene breathtaking.

Tweak the soundtrack.
↳ To amplify every heartbeat.

All these elements combined,
↳ To transform raw footage into cinematic gold.

It’s all well & good having the best equipment. 
But it’s what you do with it that matters.

And if you truly want to tell impactful stories. 

That magic happens in the editing room!

The clock was just past 4 am when I handed my wife my phone.

”Could you triple-check this newsletter?”

In her left hand: Our newborn son.
In her right hand: My cellphone.
On her face: A steady glare. 

It definitely wasn’t what she wanted to do at 4 am on a Tuesday, but I needed a hand. 

And that’s the reality of being an entrepreneur at times.

(Especially with young kids)

- It isn’t pretty. 
- It isn’t glamorous.
- It isn’t like the movies.

It’s being up at 4am while your wife feeds your son and you get through your work to-do list. 

But there’s a bigger lesson in this story…

And that’s to pick a partner who supports you no matter what.

Yes, I may get a valid scowl at 4 am.
Or if I’m spending too long on the laptop.

But it’s situations like this that I could not get through without my amazing wife.

As the saying goes, behind every great man is a great woman.

Which is definitely true for most entrepreneurs. 

P.S. If you want to check out the infamous 4 am newsletter, sign up here: https://lnkd.in/daDyjxeR

How important is having a supportive partner for entrepreneurs?

What are some challenges of being an entrepreneur?

What is the infamous 4 am newsletter mentioned in the post?

I started my first videography business in 2007.

And truthfully, I wish it had failed.

Because back then 1 thing scared me more than anything else…

→ Failing.

And I genuinely think it held me & my business back.

Because the No.1 tool when it comes to growing your business is failure.

It’s when you fail that you:

→ Fix your weak spots.
→ Improve your offering.
→ Optimize & systematize. 

If I’d known that when I first started my business… who knows how much time I would’ve saved 🤦🏻‍♂️

So if you're just starting something new, don’t be afraid of failing because that’s where real growth happens.

Failure will only benefit you in the long run.

What are some benefits of failure in business?

How can fear of failure hold back a business?

Nike. Apple. Google.

None of these brands will ever sell you their product.

But they all do something that’s 10x more effective than selling a product.

→ They sell you a story.

Nike doesn’t sell you running shoes 👟
↳ They sell you a story of someone who achieved their dreams wearing Nike shoes.

Apple doesn’t sell you headphones 🎧
↳ They sell you a story of a producer who started making music with their headphones & became a household name.

Google doesn’t sell you a Google Assistant 🔍
↳ They sell the story of a disabled person who can now turn the lights on with just their voice instead of struggling to reach the light switch.

And this is exactly why they all have such successful ad campaigns.

Because they sell a story & an outcome… NOT the product.

This is why we do precisely the same with our videos at B&B.

When it comes to making a great video, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

If you follow the best methods, you will get the best results.

What are some best practices for creating effective ad campaigns?

What are some best practices for creating effective videos?

730 days. 673 videos. 1 viral video.

That’s what it often takes to find success, yet LinkedIn loves to pretend like everyone goes viral overnight.

Last night, I saw a TikTok about a guy trying to go viral on YouTube.

Video 1: 0 views
Video 2: 6 views
Video 10: 12 views

Video 100: Still nothing
Video 200: Still nothing
Video 300: Still nothing

For 2 years, he kept putting out videos.
↳ And the videos kept flopping.

Then he hit publish on video no.673.

The result? It went viral.

- He got millions of views.
- Gained thousands of followers.
- And now has a successful YouTube.

People love to pretend like it only takes a few months to be successful.

In reality, it takes years. 

It’s great to celebrate wins…
↳ But don’t fall into the trap of thinking success happens overnight.

Because for 99.9% of people, it doesn’t.

But if you stick at it for long enough and you put the work in, you will find success.

How important is persistence in finding success?

I try not to lie but on this occasion… I had to.

It was about 6 months ago & I was on a shoot with a big client of ours. 

- We’d set up our gear
- Prepped the talent. 
- Were ready to go.

Then the camera started rolling & well…
The talent started to freeze up.

I could see the stress & nerves on their face.

So I did what I had to do.
→ I lied.

”Hold on a second, sorry, one second, it seems like we have an audio issue.”.

Truthfully, nothing was wrong with the audio BUT this break in filming gave them a chance to:

→ Calm down.
→ Take a deep breath.
→ And regather their thoughts.

The results?

The rest of the video went great and went on to be part of an awesome campaign.

Sometimes in business, you have to be prepared for any scenario.

So no matter what comes your way… you will deliver the best results.

P.S. That doesn’t mean always lie 🤣 only if you need someone to calm down on set!

Non-profits always ask me: “Why don’t we try to hit more than 1 target audience?”

Because more eyes = More donations right? 

Well… that’s not actually the case.

Trying to hit multiple target audiences makes your video more generic.

More generic videos don’t:

→ Resonate with viewers.
→ They struggle to relate to the viewers.
→ And your message loses its power & impact.

Whereas, if you focus on one target audience… you are 10x more likely to resonate with the viewer.

Because you aren’t trying to relate to a wide variety of people.

So if you want to craft effective videos…

Pick 1 target audience
Tailor your video to that audience
So they leave feeling like they’ve been impacted.

Because in videography, if you shoot for many targets… you’ll miss them all 🎯

How can tailoring videos to a specific audience increase their impact?

What are some tips for identifying a target audience for videos?

Why is it important for videos to resonate with viewers?

Brand new kid. Growing business. Recovering wife. 

It’s safe to say my life is a balancing act right now 🤷🏾

But there is one thing I refuse to do…

→ Give up time alone with my wife. 

As life gets chaotic it’s so easy to forget about your relationship.

- You put the kids first.
- You put friends first. 
- You put work first. 

And the next minute your relationship is in tatters.

Then your friendships start to crumble.
Then your business starts to struggle. 
Then your kids get less attention. 

So while it’s tough to make time for date nights. 

It’s one of my main focuses right now.

Because when you get family right.

Everything else falls into place.

I got peed on 4 times last week. 

That pretty much sums up dad life right now for me.

It’s crazy.
It’s chaotic.
It’s challenging.

(Whilst of course, being incredibly rewarding.)

But while I have been scrambling around cleaning pee off me, the B&B team have been absolutely crushing it.

Just last week alone they:

- Flown to Texas for a shoot.
- Ran 3 different pre-interviews.
- Conducted meetings with clients.
- Kwami conducted 30+ sales calls.
- Jenna directed a live auction event.
- Killed screenings for several clients.
- Sid kept up with everyones schedules.
- Devesh kept content going out on socials. 
- Sean edited a new piece on a 1-day deadline.
- Daniel cut a paper edit piece on a 3 day deadline.

+ so much more that I have probably forgotten. 

Truly a proud boss moment!

When I started B&B I dreamed of having a fully operational team of superstars.

It’s safe to say I have that now! 🖤

“The most cooperative”

That’s the award I got in kindergarden.

Not exactly an award to shout about, but it summed up who I was back then.

I was shy.
I was quiet.

And I just went along with things…

Which is crazy to fathom when you look at me today.

- I’m run my own company.
- I am quite lively when on set. 
- I love to share my story & network.

But it was through building Beard & Bowler from the ground up that took me on this personal transformation journey. 

It made me face my fears.
↳ And spend lots of time talking with people!

Embrace failure.
↳ And stop being worried about it. 

Learn to lead. 
↳ And now the team is thriving.

Granted it’s been a 17+ year journey (& one that is still ongoing).

But it’s one that has truly changed my life.

Many people start businesses to make money or to gain status.

Yet people overlook the other benefits that come with it!

He looked back & elbowed me right in the stomach. 

”Ugh,” I grunted.

The wind was knocked out of me & there was nothing I could do.

I just stood there.

Quiet. 
Too shy to complain.
Not big enough to do something.

3 minutes before this elbow landed I was shooting hoops at summer camp supposedly having the “Time of my life”.

But I wasn’t the most confident kid in the world.
↳ In fact, that’s an understatement. 

I was a very shy kid. 

But this moment of getting elbowed resembled my entire childhood. 

- Couldn’t find my voice.
- My words taken from me.
- And too shy to complain. 

And I’d probably be this way today if it wasn’t for finding a love of video.

It was a video that:

🏃🏼 Forced me to get out of my comfort zone.
😁 Forced me to show my face on camera.
🤳🏼 Forced me to express myself more. 

And made me the man I am today. 

Even better, I get to do the thing that changed my life… as my job 📹

You could be the Tom Cruise of cameramen, but we still wouldn’t hire you.

Because to raise millions for non-profits… you need much more than just skill.

You need

→ To fit in with the team.
→ Have good on-set presence.
→ Vibe well with the whole team.

+ so much more. 

With skill, you may be able to shoot some good footage.

But it’s with on-set presence that you:

A) Make talent feel comfortable
B) Able to capture more raw emotion
C) Get the talent to share their true story

Which is why every crew member at B&B has to pass the vibe check!

Because skills are great, but the right “Vibe” is essential.

Why is on-set presence essential for capturing raw emotion?

Oppenheimer. Saving Private Ryan. The Titanic.

Some of the best movies from the last 50 years & they all do 1 thing to perfection…

→ Spark emotion.

And this goes for ALL of the best-performing movies over the years.

Emotion is the fastest way to grab viewers’ attention & keep them hooked till the end.

Because emotion helps…

→ Build a connection with the viewer.
→ The viewer feels like they know the hero of the story.
→ And by the end of the movie they are rooting for the hero.

The result?
↳ People leave 5-star reviews & recommend the movie to others.

We apply this exact emotive storytelling method to the videos we produce at B&B, & it’s the reason we’ve created record-breaking galas time & time again.

Because if we want record-breaking donations… 
↳ There has to be an emotional connection between the hero of the story & the viewer.

Because a movie with no emotion → Get’s 1-star reviews.
And if our videos had no emotion → We wouldn’t be breaking records.

What are some examples of emotive storytelling?

How important is building a connection with the viewer?

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