We recently connected with Sam Felman and have shared our conversation below.

Sam, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?

The kindest thing anyone has ever done for me was give me a chance before I had any credibility.

Breaking into the film industry is a catch-22: you can’t get a job until you’ve had a job. Well, my first paid job was filming my middle school classmate’s bat mitzvah. Her parents took a chance on me because they saw how passionate and hungry I was to become a professional filmmaker. I earned $300 for one day of filming, but what I really gained was the start of my career.

Sam, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Sam Felman, a filmmaker based in Los Angeles with over 15 years of experience in the industry. My journey began with acting classes to better understand performance, which eventually led to a Bachelor of Arts in screenwriting and a certificate in marketing. Over the years, I’ve worked on everything from international ad campaigns to award-winning short films, music videos, and corporate projects. My work has been featured in publications like Billboard, PopCrush, and SPIN magazine.

What sets me apart is my deep understanding of entrepreneurship and customer service. I love connecting with business owners and creative professionals on a human level, which helps me better understand their needs and enhance their connection with their customers. I leverage my expertise in filmmaking and video marketing to build my clients’ vision around them, not a social trend.

Sustainability is also important to me—many of the props and costumes I use are recycled from other sets or well-known TV shows and commercials. This adds both authenticity and a sustainable approach to the work.

My mission is to empower everyone with content that is not only relevant but exceeds expectations with a lasting impact and strong ROI. Whether it’s a short film, commercial, or corporate video, I’m not happy unless the work resonates deeply with both the client and their audience.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2023, the film industry was going through some changes and my role as an in-house filmmaker for a major franchise corporation shifted to a contract position. I decided to enroll in online marketing classes, with the full intention of switching careers and doing film work on the side. Thankfully, it didn’t end up that way.

While I took marketing classes, I continued doing some film work and slowly began applying my marketing lessons to my freelance filmmaking business. Soon, I couldn’t keep up with the work I was getting. Now, I’m a full-time freelance filmmaker who communicates better with clients and has more services to provide, including writing, directing, production design, editing, and video marketing– and my goal is to help others do the same.

This experience taught me that working hard and embracing new skills, even when they don’t initially align with your passion, can pave the way to exactly where you want to be.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn the idea that success follows a traditional path—which is clearly not true. Success can take any route and is entirely subjective. My growth as an artist and individual proves the value of exploring unconventional paths. At one time I believed that adhering to strict, established industry norms was crucial for growth, but only journeying outside the box could bring me there.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.samfelman.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/samfelman
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/samfelman
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/samfelman
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3762653/

Image Credits

My wonderful, beautiful wife Arielle Jennifer Tinero-Felman. ❤️

(Thank you for taking pictures on set, I love you)