Behind the Zoo
Meet the team.
Samuel Ashurov
Co-Founder
Samuel Ashurov is a New Jersey-based producer, screenwriter, and director whose work blends sharp humor with emotional depth. As the child of Jewish immigrants, he draws from his cultural roots to craft bold, character-driven stories.
Samuel is also co-owner of Popcorn Zoo, an independent film and television production company, and is affiliated with 13 Khutz, a filmmaker-first production company dedicated to independent horror and genre films made for under $5 million.
Daniel Brennan
Co-Founder
Bio coming soon.
Ruchit Negotia
Creative Producer
Ruchit Negotia is a NY/NJ-based filmmaker, video editor, and visual artist whose work is driven by a belief in the power of storytelling to create real change. Born in India and raised in New Jersey, he grew up absorbing the textures, voices, and contradictions of one of the most diverse corners of America, a kaleidoscope of influences that became the palette driving his creativity. His most recent short film, Margaret and Molly, a comedy about two sisters that he wrote, directed, and produced, reflects his desire to champion genres that are too rarely taken seriously. With a background spanning writing, directing, producing, and editing, he brings a ground-up command of the craft to every project, carrying the same instinct for image and feeling from the canvas into his filmmaking, guided by the conviction that bold, unconventional stories told honestly are the ones that move people, and that moving people is how things change.
Daniele Sestito
Creative Producer
Daniele Sestito is a director, screenwriter, and creative producer based in the NYC-NJ area, where he was raised. He is a dedicated spiritual seeker, and being a second-generation Italian immigrant, he is bicultural and bilingual.
As a BFA graduate of Emerson College, he's spent over a decade honing his craft as a filmmaker. His work has screened at SeriesFest, Dances With Films, the National Film Festival for Talented Youth, and Catalyst Story Institute, among others. He's currently developing several projects following the success of his independent short-series, Off The Menu.
In 2025-26, he directed docu-style productions for the Isha Yoga Center in Southern India. There, he completed the rigorous Sadhanapada program, sharpening his approach to life and storytelling alike. In 2023, he was a fellow of the AICP's Mentoring Program.
Purpose, discovery, and rhythm are at the heart of his creative process. His life's work is to tell cinematic stories of all forms, which deeply resonate as much as they immerse.