We believe people and organizations working at the grassroots level can make a big impact in their communities.
global local
Small Forces amplifies their voices with custom video storytelling tools and supports their growth with PR resources, vision strategy planning, and community building.
The cinematic storytelling and strategic guidance provided by Small Forces help our partners reach larger audiences, secure key partnerships, raise significant incremental funds, and inspire action.
Our Team
Jamie Fleischel
Senior Executive Producer
Jamie Fleischel is the Co-Founder and Senior Executive Producer of Small Forces, where he is the lead documentarian and team producer of stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Jamie has more than 15 years experience in filmmaking and producing award-winning docu-series for television, digital platforms, and content partners. A founding partner of Picture Show, a Chicago-based production company, Jamie produces and directs content pieces for a variety of clients including Basil Hayden’s Bourbon, Wahl, The Onion A.V. Club, and The Museum of Science and Industry. He began his career as a filmmaker and story teller the moment he hit the road with a band—following them throughout Europe—and documenting much of the experience with photography and video. And the moment he returned from touring, he set about learning how to edit.
Katie Prentiss Onsager
Executive Producer
Katie Prentiss Onsager is the Executive Producer of Small Forces where she oversees story development and production.
Katie also knows how to cook a whole octopus and make it delicious. While her culinary skills with cephalopods may appear to be a talent unrelated to her professional capacity as Executive Producer, it is a good encapsulation of how she approaches her work: a constant curiosity, a willingness to take on challenges, and a sense of what is going to make a great story.
A graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, her documentaries seek the truth through a journalistic lens. She seeks to tell stories that amplify the work of individuals strengthening their communities. She is the President of the Danny Did Young Professionals Board and is a Team Captain for the Chicago MS Walk. She is based in Chicago.