Who We Are

Every project is led personally by Founder, Samantha Fogel, alongside a senior team
of award-winning filmmakers, editors, and producers, and supported by a trusted network of
collaborators who bring decades of experience to each family's story.

Samantha Fogel
Founder/Executive Producer

Samantha Fogel has spent more than 25 years as a storyteller, producer, and director — crafting documentary, television, and digital media for major networks, global brands, and non-profit organizations including NBC, PBS, Warner Brothers Discovery, Sony Music, Hearst Media, MTV Networks and Fast Company. Along the way she developed a visual and curatorial sensibility that now defines every archive she creates.

Throughout her career Samantha has conducted hundreds of interviews, with artists, entrepreneurs, educators, public figures, and individuals sharing deeply personal life experiences. Her work is grounded in discernment and sensitivity, and a deep respect for the trust inherent in telling other people's stories.

She founded Family Legacy Archives to bring this same level of care, craft, and professionalism to families who want to preserve what matters most. As Founder and Executive Producer, Samantha is directly involved in every project, guiding both the creative vision and the personal experience for each family she serves.

“As an adult, I now understand why my grandparents told me their stories again and again — stories of surviving the Depression, changing identities for the 1939 World’s Fair, escaping pogroms in Lithuania, and the moment my grandparents fell in love. These stories are my roots. They shaped who I am and where I came from. Preserving my own family's legacy in a digital archive was one of the most meaningful things I have ever done, and it inspired me to help other families do the same.”

  • Michael Pearlman

    DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

    Michael Pearlman is an award-winning Director of Photography and multicamera director with decades of experience across documentary, television, and feature production. His credits include the long-running series Chopped and Project Runway, alongside hundreds of hours of broadcast programming for NBC, CBS, ABC, Bravo, Food Network, and Discovery. Michael has been a trusted creative partner of Family Legacy Archives since its founding, bringing technical excellence and a deep visual sensitivity to every project.

  • Scott Silva

    EDITOR

    Scott Silva is an award-winning editor, colorist, producer, and director with more than two decades of experience across documentary, television, and digital media. His work spans an exceptional range of formats and networks including HBO, ABC, NBC, Discovery, MTV, and Sony Music, and is defined by clarity, pacing, and an ability to shape complex material into emotionally resonant narratives. For Family Legacy Archives, Scott brings an exceptional level of technical mastery and editorial precision to every archive we create.

  • Debra Koffler

    PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

    Debra Koffler is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, archivist, and educator whose work uncovers the hidden stories behind music, people, and places. She produced the critically acclaimed Beats, Rhymes, and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, which received multiple festival awards, the 2012 Producers Guild Award, and a Grammy nomination. Debra brings to Family Legacy Archives an exceptional combination of documentary storytelling craft and deep archival expertise — and a lifelong dedication to preserving stories that might otherwise be lost.

  • Jonathan Nastasi

    DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

    Jonathan Nastasi is a Director of Photography with more than two decades of experience across documentary, narrative film, television, and branded content. His work balances visual craftsmanship with a deep sensitivity to story. His credits include UFO: Investigating the Unknown (National Geographic), Surviving Death (Netflix), and other acclaimed series for HBO, Discovery, AMC, and SundanceTV. His feature film, Barracuda premiered at SXSW and was acquired by Orion Pictures and Amazon and his commercial work includes collaborations with global brands such as Nike, MasterCard, Microsoft, Meta and Ebay.