Episode 38 - Samantha Housman - Indie Film Producer of 6 BALLOONS
"I really get off on people telling me that something can't be done. Like, I really love it. I love being told you’ll never be able to do it like that. And then proving them wrong. ”
- Sam Housman
Samantha Housman dreamed of making John Hughes type of films for her generation.
That wish took her on a journey west to Los Angeles when she was 16 years old. She came solo and without knowing a single soul in the business. The City of Angels quickly became her playground and it was by juggling a job a record store and playing the drums that she found her in to the business.
When a golden opportunity to be a drummer in commercials came knocking, she answered. The set experience exposed her to producers. A spark went off and she knew she had found her path.
Sam’s film education came on the job as an Independent Producer, Post Supervisor, Assistant Director and UPM. She has a detailed understanding of filmmaking at its most molecular level.
Over a decade later, she is now a producer at 51 Entertainment, a platform agnostic filmmaker-driven production company, founded by Lynette Howell Taylor. When she saw the kind of producer Lynette was, she knew she’d to anything to work with her. It’s impressive that Sam did and now works with her everyday.
Most recently, she produced the film WANDER DARKLY, written and directed by Tara Miele and starring Sienna Miller and Diego Luna, which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival in U.S. Dramatic Competition.
Under the 51 Entertainment banner, Sam is Executive Producing Apple’s straight-to-series female-focused CIA drama based on Amaryllis Fox’s memoir, starring and additionally executive produced by Academy Award winner Brie Larson. Sam will also produce LADY BUSINESS, alongside Brie, who is also set to star, for Netflix after optioning the original article with Endeavor Content.
In 2018, Sam produced 6 BALLOONS, a Netflix original feature, written and directed by longtime collaborator Marja-Lewis Ryan. Penned by her friend, the film tells the story a woman driving across LA with her heroin addict brother in search of a detox center, with his two year old daughter in tow. Ryan based the film on Sam and her sibling. It had its world premiere at SXSW that year.
Before that, Sam co-founded ONEZERO Films where she Co-Produced CAPTAIN FANTASTIC, written and directed by Matt Ross, starring Viggo Mortensen. The film won the Best Director prize in CANNES UN CERTAIN REGARD. She also produced Matt Ross' 28 HOTEL ROOMS, which premiered at Sundance in 2012. Sam’s other producing credits while at ONEZERO include Noah Buschel’s SPARROW’S DANCE which Indiewire named one of the best films of the year in 2012, GLASS CHIN staring Corey Stoll and Billy Crudup, RIDE written and directed by Helen Hunt, and Chris Messina’s ALEX OF VENICE.
Sam served as Vice President at Campfire, a film and television production company with a multi picture deal at Netflix. It’s the same company I had the pleasure of working with last year in producing HYSTERICAL for FX.
There she Executive Produced 1922, based on a Stephen King novella, SILICON COWBOYS, which made its premiere at SXSW; and oversaw production of several other titles.
While she’s been at it for many years, in many ways she’s still just getting started. I think John Hughes would be proud of the work she’s creating. And I’m not just saying that because she complimented my Marianne bangs lewk inspired by Hulu's NORMAL PEOPLE.
Tune in as we discuss my bangs, courage, vanity credits, and breakdown the post coordinator role.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of this week’s episode!