“I’m drawn to stories about people facing overwhelming obstacles who choose to push forward in search of their true identity and purpose—often discovering they are part of something much bigger than themselves. The moments that move me most are those where characters connect beyond words, transcending the time and space they’re in. As a director, I prioritize creating immersive, breathtaking environments that allow actors to fully inhabit their roles. I focus on building trust and confidence on set, so performers feel supported in reaching for something spectacular and deeply honest. I believe cinema is uniquely powerful in its ability to capture both the beauty and tragedy of life—using image, performance, and emotion to inspire, heal, and forge profound human connection with an audience.”
Jacob has worked as a director and/or DP on several independent feature films including: A Southern Haunting (Imani Hakim, Laya Hayes - a Starz Original), A Place for Heroes (Paul Sorvino, Norman Lloyd), One Song (Melissa Gilbert, Barbara Eden) A Timeless Love (Daniel Roebuck, Stephanie Zimbalist ), After Life (Liza Weil, Gary Kroeger ) and more, as well as TV series: A Haunting (1 episode – Discovery Channel), Working for Whiskey, Life Dare and several more.
AWARDS: 19 Regional EMMY® Awards, 9 Gold , 12 Silver & 32 Bronze TELLY Awards, 1 - MARCOM Award : All awards for direction and cinematography in commercials and brand content for both local and national clients.
Jacob leads LUMINARY, a director-led video production company that partners with agencies and brands to produce cinematic commercials and brand films—delivering high-end storytelling with Midwest efficiency. He is also a partner at 1846 Studios, a team of creative thinkers and doers who believe in collaboration and share a deep respect for the art of filmmaking with a range of experience and a visionary mindset, we’re built for creativity and efficiency. 1846 Studios is represented by United Talent Agency (UTA) as sales agents along with film project packaging, finance, and distribution.
