Meet Sam Sorenson

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sam Sorenson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sam, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

The idea of having a Purpose has been within me for as long as I can remember. For me, peering behind the curtain of what we see on the surface into what’s behind it, which inevitably leads to pulling back more and more curtains, is a never-ending and fascinating pursuit. I feel best when I’m looking for that deeper meaning, even if it seems the answer may be impenetrable. So that idea of “What is MY purpose” very quickly transitions into “What is OUR purpose?” What’s the reason? What’s the big idea? Pursuing that purpose is the purpose for me. And that pursuit in my life has been about exploring the meaning of things through writing, through filmmaking, and through relationships, which are all so very interconnected and interwoven they create and solid tapestry for me.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’ve been making short films for several years, and have toured the film festival circuit a few times with my short films. During that time of course I’ve met many people and built relationships with great collaborators, and we’ve decided it is time to take the next step and venture into the world of feature filmmaking. When it comes to the land of features, it’s a very noisy place and a lot of people are scrambling for a very few resources. For us, we keep it focused on telling a good story. For me, as a director and writer, the story has to really mean something to me and it must have a way of communicating to an audience. We start there, and as long as that is our true north, everything else will fall into place.

So much of it — like everything else in the world — comes down to relationships and community and a spirit of cooperation that undergirds the more obvious components of competition in the industry. I’m in a good place because my wife and I own a production company. Much of the gear and the built-in relationships stem from our work at Studio 88. We’ve been creating videos for clients from local non-profits to international brands for 15 years, and that has a whole range of benefits. It’s how we pay the bills, it’s a way to build networks, and a way to keep the creative ax ever-sharpened.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The three key qualities that have been most important for me are work ethic, curiosity, and perspective. Work ethic is the most obvious, but it’s more than just the willingness to work hard and work long hours. It’s about doing the work joyfully — how lucky am I to being doing this creative work and being paid for it? I have no patience for people who are hard workers but bad co-workers. No! Be cool, be a good human and a good worker. There are 8 billion people on the planet — that’s a huge talent pool. Nobody should be putting up with a bad attitude in a work environment. I promise you there’s always someone just as talented and hard working who is also a good co-worker and appreciates the bigger picture of cooperation. Work ethic is also about taking real pride in doing the work well, even if it’s a project that doesn’t hold a lot of immediate interest for you, which leads me to curiosity. Find the part the interests you. Pull back that curtain and there will be even more to find. There is always a bigger picture and more to uncover. Curiosity also extends to your relationships with colleagues. They all have curtains they hold out, and finding out who they are and why they are who they are is not only purely interesting, but can build the trust, the spirit of cooperation, and all the things that a vibrant film community need. Lastly, for me it’s always all about perspective. Always keep one part of your consciousness at the 50-thousand foot level — an eye on the big picture. This helps you immediately re-calibrate any immediate problems on set or on the crew or in the creative process. Be cool, take a step back. If someone cuts me off in traffic, I never get angry, because I have somewhere to go, and that moment doesn’t matter. Keep your perspective and you won’t take stupid detours.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

In the filmmaking world, you’re always looking for team members who can vibe with your project, and bring their own energy and ideas that will be another oar in the water and not detract from the other rowers. For me, that means finding producers who have the right balance of enthusiasm for the project and ability to handle the logistics. I’m a director who wants to have my hands on everything in the production. But as I’ve grown, I’ve learned to cede responsibilities to trusted individuals who have stronger skill sets in their particular areas. I’m always looking to collaborate with people who want to be a part of the excitement of making a film and have a good work ethic.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.studio88create.com