- Born
- Birth nameAllen Troy Thomas
- Height5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
- A. Troy Thomas graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1986 with a BS in Mass Communications/Advertising. Troy later was a founding member of the Richmond-based production company Delmar Communications, working there from 1988-92, rising to the position of Production Supervisor.
In 1992 Troy accepted a position in Cincinnati as Director of Production for VideoWorks, a full-service production facility. In March 1993 Troy Thomas founded Inertia Films on a dining room table in his Cincinnati, Ohio apartment. Work in the early years was provided by many corporate clients like Procter & Gamble, and daily news magazine programs including "Inside Edition", "American Journal", "Entertainment Tonight", "Oprah" and "Extra".
Inertia Films grew in visibility after landing a two and a half year project shooting the reality-based program "Real Stories of the Highway Patrol." It was during this time from 1994-96 that Troy honed his skills shooting for a nationally distributed television show. Inertia Films other credits now include "American Idol", "Auction Kings", "NFL Thursday Night Football", "Hard Knocks", "Meet The Press" and "Talking Dead."
September 1996 saw him move the Inertia Films' headquarters to Atlanta, Georgia to leverage the post-Olympic boom that the city was experiencing. Since the move to Atlanta, Troy has added several high profile television series to his camera resume including: "Biography", "History's Mysteries", "Gangland", "Investigative Reports", Discovery's "National Body Challenge", "PGA Tour Sunday", "Storm Stories", "NFL Total Access" etc.
In June 2003, he realized a life-long dream by finally moving Inertia Films into their new production facility near downtown Atlanta.
In 2003 Troy earned a Southeast Emmy Award for his camera work on the Inertia Films original program "Forgiven for Life" chronicling the life of David Berkowitz, formerly known as the "Son of Sam." His co-producing efforts with David Druckenmiller on the same project earned both of them a Southeast Emmy Award nomination for Best Documentary.
In 2009 Troy won another Southeast Emmy Award for his cinematography work on the PBS documentary '"Papa said, 'We Should Never Forget.'"
In 2018 Troy won a Capital Emmy Awards for his PBS documentary "Liberty & Slavery: The Paradox of America's Founding Fathers."
In 2023 Troy added another Capital Emmy, as producer, for his work on "James Bell Kitchen Table: The Embassy of Norway."
In addition to the (4) Emmy Awards, Troy has won 195+ awards in various film festivals/video competitions including (30) Tellys, two CINDYs and (5) Worldfest Houston Awards. His location credits now include 38 US states and 12 countries on four continents.
He is the founder and president of Storyteller Ministries, an Atlanta-based organization.- IMDb Mini Biography By: A. Troy Thomas
- As a child Troy was often called "Donahue" by a lifelong friend of his Dad's. The nickname was a nod to actor Troy Donahue from "A Summer Place" movie fame.
- Troy was born on his Mom's exact pregnancy due date, weighing eight pounds and eight ounces.
- The first video & film industry award that Troy won was a Crystal Communicator Award in 1995 for "City Gospel Mission", a series of commercials for a Cincinnati based homeless shelter.
- Troy is the owner and founder of Inertia Films, a production company based in Atlanta, GA.
- Troy worked as a cameraman on one of the first reality television shows "Real Stories of the Highway Patrol" from 1994-96. During this time he shot 212 days of ride-alongs (and an additional four days of re-enactments) with the Highway Patrol/State Police in Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Louisiana and Georgia. Work from this show largely helped Troy purchase his first camera package.
- I've often said that a lot of mistakes can be covered by a lot of hard work.
- When I started in the video and film business I wasn't making a lot of money. But I always felt that if you're passionate about something, then you'll become good at that something, and eventually you'll make a good living at that something.
- I hope that our documentary "Liberty & Slavery" will cause whites to think more deeply about the unspeakable tragedy that was American slavery; and African Americans will better understand the obstacles which the Founding Fathers faced in abolishing slavery in their lifetimes.
- I think the most important element for success in one's career, regardless of what that career might be, is being passionate about what you're doing. If you love your work, others will eventually notice, but ultimately satisfying your soul is what's most important.
- Video production is undoubtedly my vocational passion. It's safe to say that I thoroughly enjoy what I do for a living. But there is a deeper, more profound passion that fuels my life. That passion is a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Since Inertia Films founding in 1993, I have taken my company's reputation and professionalism very seriously. I'm blessed that during these last 30 years we have won numerous awards and received many accolades. But these man-given awards, although greatly appreciated, do not offer me lasting, internal satisfaction. Whereas my life was once full of unrest and chaos, it is now characterized by an internal peace that floods my soul. This peaceful security is because of the Savior of mankind, Jesus Christ.
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