Who We Are
Stephen Ellis
Stephen Ellis is a veteran Canadian media entrepreneur with an extensive career in global content creation and distribution.
He leads the RocketFuel Media team in developing multi-platform projects for both proprietary and client needs
He also founded and continues to serve the digital audiovisual industry in the following capacities:
President, Stellis Media (since 2015)
Worldwide distribution of the Ellis Library of factual entertainment.
Principal, Media CatELLISt Solutions (since 2012)
Consulting services in the field of content strategy, production and distribution
Chair, Canadian Retransmission Collective (since 1989)
Co-founder of this non-profit collecting society for independent producers, with over $200 million distributed to date.
Chair, ISAN Canada (since 2007)
Co-founder of this non-profit that administers the ISO standard for digital fingerprinting of audiovisual works, recognized by the Canada Media Fund and CAVCO.
Stephen is best known for his 25 years as President of Ellis Entertainment Corporation, the indie producer and distributor group. Founded by his TV pioneer father, Ralph C. Ellis, C.M., O.Ont., in 1964, the company was acquired by a public company in 2011.
During his time at the helm of Ellis Entertainment, Stephen produced over 300 award-winning titles in the wildlife, history, science and kids genres, seen in over 100 countries.
Stephen has also been a long time advocate for independent producers, and was millennial chair of the Canadian Media Production Association from 2000 to 2002.
He received the CFTPA-Kodak Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, and the Douglas James Dales Industry Builder Award from PS Production Services in 2010.
Jacob Kessler
Jacob has spent the last fourteen years as an entrepreneur in the entertainment, advertising, and insight industries, building successful enterprises with his father, Syd Kessler.
Jacob has taken on different roles in these organizations, including general manager, business and marketing strategist, creative thinker, and producer.
Jacob has been involved in and led over 500 productions throughout his career across multiple media, including film & TV, radio, stereoscopic 3D, out of home, and online.
Jacob has managed client initiatives, servicing verticals including media and entertainment, education, not-for-profit, pharmaceutical and health care, consumer packaged goods, and travel. Some of the clients he has worked with include Audi, Live Nation, Cold FX, Canadian Olympic Foundation, Spider-Man: The Musical, Canadian Red Cross, Havergal College, and Renova. Jacob was part of the team that launched Plan Canada’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ movement across Canada.