Sam Ruesink
About Me.
I'm a Columbia College Chicago Film School alum who emphasized in creative producing. I have a mixed background in production and post in a wide variety of roles. I’ve worked professionally as an editor, in feature film development and packaging, post-production management, production assistance, live event videography/broadcast camera operation, IT, and graphic/web design; on a variety of formats ranging from documentary to narrative fiction, commercial, etc.
After getting started by making rudimentary animations in PowerPoint in elementary school, by age 9 I was running around with a camcorder making short films. By 11, I was working at a local community access channel filming and editing events, operating broadcast cameras and switchers. At age 16, I began working at a Skydiving dropzone, where I've gone on to edit over 3,000 customer video/stills packages. Since then, I studied at Columbia Chicago, lived and worked in both LA and Chicago, and worked with some really cool, interesting people. Along the way, I've gotten to work on a multitude of cool projects spanning short and feature films, television, live events, and many other formats in many different roles and capacities. In 2022 I finished my first independent feature documentary with my friend Grant Osum, Minnesota Tiger Man. It started streaming on a variety of platforms in the spring of 2023 after getting picked up by Questar Entertainment for distribution.
From 2020-2023, I managed post-production and oversaw organization and maintenance of all media and gear for 36 episodes of CNBC's long-running docuseries American Greed at Kurtis Productions. I am currently still part-time there while freelancing on a variety of projects. I'm always looking for more things to work on.
I also have a full production audio kit and do freelance location sound.
Additionally, I'm experienced working in a live broadcast setting, having covered a multitude of concerts, live streams, sporting events, and other events as a camera operator, live switcher, graphics switcher/playback, instant replay operator, PTZ Camera controller, and Stage Hand.
In my free time outside of my storytelling pursuits, I really enjoy studying Jazz/Blues Guitar, playing tennis, trying to lift up and set down heavy stuff, and watching the Milwaukee Bucks.
Education
2017-2020
B.A. Cinema Arts & Sciences
Columbia College Chicago
Producing Emphasis,
3.92 GPA w/ Honors
Work- Television & Live Broadcast
American Greed- Season 14 & 15 - 36 Episodes
American Greed: Biggest Cons - 2 Episodes
American Greed: James McGill- Better Call Saul Promo
American Greed: Bonus Edition Season 1 & 2 - 18 Episodes
Man of the People with Pat Tomasulo - WGN 9 Chicago
Watertown Cable 13
Cold Case Files - A&E
Camera Operator, Live Switcher & Playback (2021-2024)
Work- Feature-length Films, Documentary
(Proof-of-Concept Short Film Version )
Crossing The Divide
Work-in-Progress Feature Doc
(Previous Working Title: Troublesome)
Work- Web/Commercial
Producer, D.P., Editor
Editor, VFX, & Location Sound (Not yet released)
Editor - (Re-edited/updated from previously completed sizzle from another editor)
Editor, Co-Producer and Co-D.P.
D.P. and Editor
Work- (Select) Short Films
*Note that this is not all-encompassing of every short I've worked on. There are many others that I have worked on in various capacities, although I'm only selecting a few of my favorites here I had a leading role on in some way.
For a more exhaustive list/CV, visit my StaffMeUp page.
Work- Post Audio/Podcasts/Audiobooks
Producer & Editor (9+ hours of recorded audio)
Dialogue Editor/Cleanup
Technical deliverables coordination to CNBC for podcast repackaging