PARIS, FRANCE

DECEMBER 28, 1895

A crowd of 40 people gathers in the Salon Indien du Grand Café. They are here for the first commercial screen of moving pictures. The Lumière brothers – Auguste and Louis – created the world’s first motion picture camera. The audience was about to see 10 short films, each lasting about 50 seconds. 

Every film shown that night was a documentary.

More than a century later, we carry on that same tradition to push the boundaries of what is possible in nonfiction filmmaking. Hence our moniker, 1895 Films.

We are a full-service, award-winning content production company with long-standing client relationships in media & entertainment. We are known for our curated team approach along with our collaborative spirit. Immersive storytellers at the core, we bring quality production value to every project from documentaries and series to specials, branded content, and podcasts. We love working with clients to bring their brand to life in a meaningful way to the audiences they serve. 

We are fortunate to be recognized for our work. We are recipients of the Peabody Award, the highest honor in television.

OUR CO-FOUNDERS

  • Tom Jennings has earned the reputation as one of the most compelling storytellers of our time. An award-winning content creator, he blends creativity and mastery of the filmmaking craft with curiosity to find story angles in places not previously considered. Throughout his career, he has delivered hundreds of hours of premium content and truly unforgettable moments for audiences across platforms. His work has received numerous honors, including an Emmy Award and several nominations, a Peabody Award, a Producers Guild of America Award for Outstanding Producer of Televised or Streamed Motion Pictures, and Television Business International’s “Excellence in TV” Award.

    “…fresh and innovative approach…uses [his] signature style to give viewers unparalleled access…making the familiar moments feel new…lens of integrity and consideration…genuinely the hardest working kind of guy you could possibly ask to work with.” These words illustrate Tom’s differentiating point of view—one that he began forming as a student at Kent State University. With the help of mentors and influences who stepped in to change the course of Tom’s life, he found a home at the Daily Kent Stater where he was named the editor and the university’s first winner in the national Hearst Journalism Awards program. This set the stage for what would become a lifetime of award-winning storytelling.

    In 2004, Tom founded Tom Jennings Productions, building from a decade-long, Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalism career and several years as an Emmy Award-winning director, producer, and writer. Bringing together the best talent he could find, he built a content development and production company that delivered documentary features and series projects for Discovery, History Channel, and National Geographic. While filming in the Washington, D.C. area, Tom found himself in a last-minute pursuit of an on-camera equestrian. Enter Ellen Farmer, an accomplished rider who courageously took part in the film…and in a meet-cute that rivals those of Hollywood legend. Married in 2009, Tom and Ellen launched the production company as 1895 Films.

    Tom defines the creative vision for each project. A natural problem solver who is fascinated with ingenuity, Tom combines inventive storylines and formats with curated teams of experts to give clients a one-of-a-kind production. Inspired by the generosity of those who encouraged his talents and advanced his career, Tom created a media and journalism internship in partnership with Kent State University. This collaboration gives college students critical on-the-job experience while building 1895 Films’ pipeline of highly skilled talent.

    Tom holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Kent State University where he was named Journalism Alumnus of the Year (William D. Taylor Award) in 2019. Following graduation, Tom moved from coast to coast as a journalist, building a portfolio of bylines for The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News, Associated Press, The Washington Post, Santa Monica Evening Outlook, and other publishers across Ohio and Maryland.

    When he is not immersed in 1895 Films’ upcoming projects, Tom enjoys time on the beaches of California or in the forests of North Carolina with Ellen and their children.

  • A Cynopsis Media Top Women in Media Award recipient, Ellen Farmer is the unstoppable force behind the day-to-day business operations of 1895 Films. Not your typical production company executive, she combines her world-class management consulting, risk management, and governance beginnings with her Emmy Award-winning production and research experience to simplify the complex. Her smart, well-timed orchestration of the 1895 world allows the creative teams to focus on what they do best…telling stories in a way that honors each brand and achieves the objectives of each client.

    In a moment of kismet complete with a horse and manhunt, Ellen met her husband—filmmaker Tom Jennings—and was initiated into the world of entertainment production. In full disclosure, she jumped in to bring her equestrian talents to life for a History Channel documentary. Little did she know that this one adventure would become symbolic of her success in finding solutions for creative teams.

    A stabilizing leader, Ellen is the architect of a business infrastructure that combines the best of what the 1895 teams have to offer into an award-winning creative engine. She built this foundation by gaining valuable insights as she raised her hand to fill critical gaps. There isn’t a job she hasn’t done or isn’t willing to do—including navigating the challenges of doing research in Cuba to secure never-before-used footage. As she advanced from a Line Producer to Associate Producer, Producer, and ultimately Executive in Charge of Production, she discovered her passion for creating and sustaining a family-like culture where uniquely talented and diverse voices converge.

    Ellen holds a master’s degree in environmental policy from King’s College in London and a bachelor’s degree in sociology and government from Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Early in her career, she joined Booz Allen Hamilton, serving as an environmental consultant in Washington, D.C. She then joined the Telecommunications Industry Association as an Environmental Program Manager.

    When she is not wrangling the 1895 production teams and filling critical gaps, Ellen can be found at the stables with her favorite horse or traveling with Tom and their children to pay homage to her family’s heritage in North Carolina’s Biltmore Forest.

THE TEAM

  • Rob Kirk is known as much for his ability to create family-like work cultures as he is for his Emmy Award-winning filmmaking career. A positive influence and mentor woven through the careers of several 1895 Films team members, he builds collaborations of top talent and advocates for the success of each team.

    Since joining 1895 Films in 2017 as supervising producer, Rob has overseen all feature documentary, episodic, and branded content projects. He is the winner of a Producers Guild of America Award and a New York Festival Grand Award for Apollo: Missions to the Moon (National Geographic). His additional New York Festival wins include The Real Right Stuff (Disney+), The Lost Tapes (Smithsonian Channel), and Diana: In Her Own Words (National Geographic / Netflix).

    In what he fondly describes as a decades-long business trip to Los Angeles, Rob left the ski slopes of Colorado, eager to put his filmmaking studies to work. While gaining early experience as a writer, director, and producer for several production companies, Rob was nominated for an Emmy for his three-hour special, The Last Days of World War II, and received a Daytime Emmy for his special, Remembering World War II: Pearl Harbor. He also produced and directed the epic two-hour History Channel special, The Ottoman Empire. His feature documentary, Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness, won Best Documentary at the Hollywood Film Festival and was featured at the United Nations.

    In 1994, Rob co-founded Digital Ranch Productions—a production company that blended creative storytelling with technology innovation. For more than two decades, he worked closely with his Digital Ranch teams to build a sought-out content hub for cable and broadcast networks. As an executive producer, producer, and co-creator, he delivered more than 30 nonfiction series, 20 documentary movies, and numerous limited series and specials. He also produced more than 30 national TV commercials and 70 webisodes for the U.S. Army's most successful ad campaign to date, “An Army of One” / “GoArmy.com.”

    Rob’s talents also extend to the digital world where he has produced interactive projects, including the San Diego Zoo’s iPad app for children, Baby Panda's New Home, and the educational video game, Nine Worlds with Patrick Stewart.

    Rob holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia. He also completed filmmaking studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. When he is not keeping the 1895 Films production world moving forward, Rob is most likely enjoying life with his family or taking in a Clippers game.

  • Laura Verklan is an Emmy-nominated producer, award-winning writer, and director whose portfolio of work spans genres, formats, audiences, and time zones. She is always in pursuit of new perspectives that differentiate each production. Since joining 1895 Films in 2019, Laura has collected several writer and producer credits, including Loch Ness Monster: New Evidence, Shock Docs (Travel Channel), and Being the Queen (Disney+). In 2019, she earned a Daytime Emmy nomination as a producer for Oxygen’s Mysteries & Scandals. Earlier in her career, Laura wrote and directed more than 100 documentary and nonfiction programs. Highlights include The Universe (History Channel, H2); Siberian Apocalypse (History Channel); Tora, Tora, Tora: The Real Story of Pearl Harbor (History Channel); Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman (Emmy nomination, Science Channel); Wild West Tech (Western Writers of America’s Best Western Documentary Script, History Channel); and Biography (A&E). Laura holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan and is a member of the Directors Guild of America.

  • Mary Benjamin is an Academy Award-nominated, Emmy Award-winning producer and director who joined 1895 Films in 2021 as the lead producer for the PBS series, Outspoken, and additional projects. Mary’s career began at the storied WGBH-TV PBS station in Boston. After winning a National Emmy Award for her contributions to Zoom, she wrote, directed, and produced Eight Minutes to Midnight: A Portrait of Dr. Helen Caldicott for which she earned Official Selection honors at festivals worldwide and an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature. Inspired by the opportunities to make connections with people worldwide, Mary began a trajectory as a producer and co-producer for a number of production companies. Her project highlights include Great Escapes of World War II and The Sinking of the Bismarck as well as The Story of God with Morgan Freeman, The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman, and Through the Wormhole. Mary holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan and is a graduate of the American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop for Women.

  • Abe Scheuermann is an award-winning producer. Since 2017, Abe has produced segments and stories for 1895 Films’ productions including Lost Tapes (Smithsonian Channel), In Their Own Words (National Geographic), Shock Docs (Travel Channel), Alien Abduction: Betty and Barney Hill (Discovery+), and The Real Right Stuff (Disney+). In 2019, he earned a Producers Guild of America Award and New York Festival Grand Award honors for Apollo: Missions to the Moon (National Geographic). Abe is also known for his ability to embrace technology as a creative and problem-solving tool in production. As the founder of the game design and development studio 800 North, LLC, he drove the vision for the company’s best-known Dino D-Day and Grappledrome multiplayer games. A film and video graduate from Columbia College Chicago, Abe joined Digital Ranch in 2002, advancing from production associate to post-production supervisor, camera operator, and series producer. Fellow 1895 Films’ team members know Abe as a loyal Clippers fan and board game whiz.

  • Tobiah Black is a writer and producer. He is also a co-creator and host of the 1895 Films podcast, Artifactual. He joined 1895 Films in 2015, where he earned an Emmy Award for Challenger Disaster: Lost Tapes (National Geographic) and New York Festivals Awards for Diana: In Her Own Words (National Geographic / Netflix) and The Lost Tapes (Smithsonian Channel). His producer credits include Being the Queen (National Geographic), Bernie Madoff: In His Own Words (National Geographic), and Apollo: Missions to the Moon (National Geographic / Disney+). Tobiah holds a B.A. from New York University.

  • After leaving the financial services industry many moons ago, Brian has been producing documentary films for the past 30 years. Since joining 1895 Films, Brian has written and produced a variety of projects including those on white-collar crime (In Their Own Words: Bernie Madoff), paranormal investigations (Devil’s Road: The True Story of Ed and Lorraine Warren) and industrial disasters (In Their Own Words: Deepwater Horizon) . The best part of his job is traveling to far-off places, working with great people, and meeting interesting subjects. Brian holds a B.A. from UC Berkeley and is the proud husband and father to three more ‘Golden Bears’. In his free time, Brian loves to travel, hike, ski and spend time with his wife in the garden.

  • Chris Morcom is an award-winning producer who finds inspiration in the people behind each story. From real-life characters to his fellow filmmakers, he has built relationships that have left an indelible mark on his craft. Since joining 1895 Films in 2016, Chris has earned a Producer’s Guild of America Award and New York Festival Grand Award for Apollo: Missions to the Moon (National Geographic) as well as an additional New York Festival Grand Award for Diana: In Her Own Words (Nat Geo). His producer and associate producer credits also include The Real Right Stuff (Disney+), The Lost Tapes (Smithsonian Channel), and projects for a number of other content brands, including History Channel, Reelz, American Heroes Channel, H2, and Crackle. Chris holds a B.A. in screenwriting with a minor in art history from Ithaca College, in Ithaca, New York. He enjoys scuba diving, LAFC games, and time at home with his wife and their feline, Felix.

  • Dana is the heartbeat of partnerships that give corporate and nonprofit clients access to our 1895 Films’ creative teams for the development and production of a wide range of short- and long-form content. A natural relationship builder with an expansive understanding of marketing and media across platforms, she works closely with our clients to transform their creative challenges into fresh, high-quality productions resulting in long-lasting brand collateral. Formerly as the Vice President of Marketing & Network Partnerships for Smithsonian Channel, Dana worked with the 1895 Films’ team on the promotion of docuseries projects such as The Lost Tapes. Her experience also includes partner marketing for Showtime Networks as well as consumer and distributor marketing for NBC Sports Group, Fox Entertainment Group, MTV Networks, and ESPN. In Dana’s spare time, you will find her exploring her next domestic or international destination and spending time with family and friends.

  • Lara Shaghoian is a documentary film producer who has been captivated by news since her youth. Thirsty to explore the truth, she has worked in print and broadcast media and fell into the world of production, producing her first documentary at ABC News Productions in New York. Straddling documentary and reality programming, Lara has delivered programs for various networks like National Geographic, History, Discovery, MSNBC, Travel Channel, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC and more. Lara finds the best part of her job to be meeting people from all walks of life and presenting their personal stories. Lara holds a B.A. from California State University Fullerton. When she finds a break from her twins, she enjoys listening to podcasts and audio books.

  • James is a writer-producer whose credits include America's Hidden Stories (Smithsonian), The Universe (History/H2), and Comic Book Super-Heroes Unmasked (History). Early non-fiction media inspirations include The Ascent of Man, F For Fake, and the introductory chapters of David L. Wolper's The Making of Roots. James is a fan of the five-act structure and the music of Edgard Varese. He is currently writing and producing episodes of 1895 Films’ forthcoming educational documentary series.

  • Robin came to film by accident. She is a former firefighter and paramedic who holds a Master of Science and a license to practice medicine as a Physician Assistant. After 21 years in medicine and public service, she laid down her stethoscope and moved to a new path that engages her left- and right-brain equally. Robin has an insatiable wanderlust and has traveled to all 50 states, every province in Canada, and three dozen other countries. It was in Greenland, while acting as the set medic for a crew of 40 living on an uninhabited island near the Greenlandic ice sheet, that Robin got her first taste of film production (talk about trial by ice). She has previously worked on documentary television for the Smithsonian Channel and ABC as an associate producer, as well as in a variety of commercials as everything from a prop assistant, wardrobe assistant, or cast wrangler, to a health and safety director. Robin joins 1895 Films as a Producer who loves the writing and the logistics of production equally. She lives in New Hampshire with her fiancé, their 14-year-old blind dog, and a cat with whom she has reached detente.

  • Alexis is a Researcher at 1895 Films. Before graduating from the University of San Francisco in 2020, he would spend his summer and winter breaks working as an intern for 1895 Films. He developed a love for non-fiction films after attending his school’s Human Rights Film Festival. In his free time, Alexis enjoys going to concerts and movies.

  • Alfred Hitchcock changed everything for Will D’Epagnier. There, on the edge of his seat with every twist and turn, he began developing his storytelling creativity. While completing a degree in media arts production at Emerson College, Will worked as a script reader for Echo Lake Entertainment and a researcher for The Film Posse. He was also a researcher for the Honeywater Films team that delivered Nothing Fancy: Diana Kennedy, a feature documentary that won the SXSW Special Jury Recognition for Excellence in Storytelling and was an Official Selection at more than 40 film festivals internationally. From 2019 to 2021, Will was involved in the development process as a story consultant for Universal Pictures. Since joining 1895 Films, he has worked on several nonfiction projects, including Being the Queen (National Geographic/Disney+), Alien Abduction: Betty and Barney Hill (Discovery+), Artifactual (1895 Films’ podcast), and branded content projects. In his spare time, Will enjoys going to the beach with his dog Joan, listening to records, and traveling to new places near and far.

  • Johnny Stark is an Award-Winning Writer, Producer and Coordinator with a specialization in Documentary and Archival Media. He has worked in every phase of Production from Development to Field to Post. Johnny has produced and coordinated programs for ESPN, History Channel, Discovery+, AHC, NatGeo and Red Bull TV, as well as numerous commercial and corporate projects. Johnny produced Ed Gein: The Real Psycho which debuted Number One Worldwide on the Discovery+ streaming platform. He once produced a two-hour Nowruz special completely in Farsi – even though he does not speak Farsi. In 2022, Johnny joined 1895 Films to help bolster the Archival Department. Johnny graduated with Honors from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was an intern at the Pacific Film Archive and curated the Student Film Festival, Fleshed Out. When he is not making documentaries, Johnny runs a hot sauce business with his wife, Allison, and their French Bulldog, Mister Muggins. In his free time, he enjoys reading, going to concerts, learning new languages, and playing golf.

  • Working a VHS player was the first fine motor skill Jennifer developed, so it was no surprise to anyone when she majored in cinematography later in life. When she moved to Los Angeles, she worked her way up from production assistant to producer, and got a cat. As a lover of history, journalism, and nonfiction storytelling, Jennifer is a Researcher for 1895 Films, and is proud to be doing exactly what she loves: finding and bringing unbelievable real-life characters and stories to screen. When she’s not in front of her computer, she’s shooting 35mm film, boxing, baking, reading, and generally refusing to grow up.

  • A seasoned and creative show builder and finishing editor, Mike Andrews excels in dealing with multiple rounds of notes in the editing process. A Los Angeles native, Mike got his start on a soundstage in 1980. He eventually tried on different hats of filmmaking–from camera work and lighting design to technical directing and production management. Since 1986, Mike has focused on being an editor. From early historical documentaries to reality and crime shows, Mike’s work has appeared on NBC, ABC, Fox, the History Channel, Discovery Channel, Investigation Discovery, A&E, TLC, Court TV, and Reelz.

  • Mayah is an Assistant Editor who got her start working at film and television trailer houses where the bustling work environments challenged her to think more critically. Since then, she has built her skills to become a faster, efficient and organized assistant editor. She worked on FX up-next spots for Ad Astra and Alien and promos for Peacock’s Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip. What interests her the most about the industry are the people behind the scenes who make it all happen. Having worked in post for the past four years for studios such as Warner Brothers, Lionsgate, and Netflix, Mayah has seen how much work is put in behind the scenes to release a film, show or promo out into the world. Besides digging her head into codecs, studio delivery aspects, and other technical tasks, Mayah enjoys going to live musical events and roller skating outdoors.

  • Throughout his career, Bob McCormick has helped shepherd hundreds of hours of nonfiction programming to broadcast. As a post-producer and post-production supervisor, he enjoys the challenge of carving raw material into great shows. In 2021, Bob joined 1895 Films to help with several projects, including the Alien Abduction specials. He’s excited to work with the exceptional 1895 team and has a particular interest in historical and educational content. A Virginia native, Bob completed a B.A. in history and a minor in foreign affairs at the University of Virginia. He started his TV career as a production assistant at the Discovery headquarters before going on to freelance as a field and story producer, then specializing in post. He has delivered programs to dozens of networks, including Discovery, A&E, TLC, National Geographic, truTV, VH1, Esquire, VICELAND, and Investigation Discovery, as well as promos and branded content for Netflix and Vice.

  • There isn’t a production job that Jay Frosting hasn’t done. By age 12, this self-taught editor was making his own shows. Early in his career, he served as the entire post-production department for podcast and YouTube series creators. A comedic talent, Jay has a reputation for his sense of timing—something he fine-tuned while completing improv courses at the Upright Citizens Brigade and Dallas Comedy House. He carries this intuition and his organizational skills into each project. Since joining the 1895 Films team in 2016, Jay has earned Editor credits for his work on Log Cabin Fever (GAC) and Lock Ness Monster: New Evidence (Travel Channel). His Assistant Editor credits include Shock Docs (Travel Channel), Being the Queen (National Geographic), Apollo: Missions to the Moon (National Geographic), The Lost Tapes (Smithsonian Channel), and Diana: In her Own Words (National Geographic).

  • Every company needs a human Swiss Army knife. At 1895 Films, that multidimensional ingredient in our creative process is Dominick Cangiano. On some days, you can find Dom behind the camera. The truth is—you will rarely see him without a video camera in his hand. On other days, he is optimizing our technology tools and infrastructure. And on other days, he is a key component in our day-to-day operations. While watching classic films with his father and working in a video store as a teenager, Dom was fascinated with the creative process. Earlier in his career, his technology management work with gaming companies like Respawn Entertainment and 505 Games kept him immersed in the production world. His most recent camerawork includes Alien Abduction: Betty and Barney Hill (Discovery+) and Shock Docs (Travel Channel).

  • Richard made the transition to digital marketing after a 30-year career in journalism as a reporter and newspaper editor.

    He discovered a knack for marketing during a six-year stint working in the music industry coordinating media interviews, developing promotional materials, and strategizing social media for recording artists. During this time, he worked with musicians like Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees and Tim “Ripper” Owens of Judas Priest.

    Now, Richard spends his time dealing with all things digital, including search engine optimization, content marketing, and keeping up with those infamous, constantly changing social media algorithms.

    In addition to his three years with 1895 Films, Richard ran social media for other companies in the film industry, including Green Bee Media and Peter Hamilton’s Documentary Business.

  • Alice's passion for film inspired her to move to the United States from Milan, Italy, where she was born and raised. She has experience working in production and post-production, but editing was her first love. She has worked as an editor and assistant editor on several indie projects, including working as an additional editor for the feature film Pretty Problems, winner of the Audience Award at South by Southwest, and editing the six-part miniseries Imposter. As a director, she has collected several awards with her short film The Same Story, including Best Film, Best Drama and Honorable Mention for Best Editing. Alice is also the co-founder of the Fronteiras art collective, and is producing the collective's first feature-length documentary, Os Angelinos. She is excited to join 1895 and work on historical projects that breathe new life into events from our past.

  • Harrison is an Office Production Assistant who has always loved the art of filmmaking. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Asheville, earning a BA in mass communications with a concentration in film. During his studies, he worked on multiple short films gaining experience in pre-production, production, and post production. He has also directed a short film and a short documentary. Harrison interned at a nonprofit organization where he helped them grow their YouTube channel, as well as their podcast. In addition to that, he worked in a mentorship program at a production company where he was able to work on commercial sets. After graduation, Harrison packed his things and moved to Los Angeles, where he was introduced to 1895 Films.

  • Kyle Amann’s analytical mindset and ability to simplify the complex make him the perfect person to manage many of our financial and human resources functions. At the same time, as a creative writer and aficionado of tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, he understands the storytelling journey. Kyle is a graduate of the Great Books Program—including great works of philosophy, literature, and science—at St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland. Earlier in his career, after a role in banking with Citi, he joined H&R Block as a Master Tax Advisor. In 2019, he founded his own tax services business serving entertainment and creative clients. Kyle has a black belt in the Krav Maga martial arts system.