Sam Ruesink
About Me.
I'm a Columbia College Chicago Film School alum who emphasized in producing and production management. 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.
I am a very experienced editor and am also well-versed in creating motion graphics and VFX.
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 working part-time there while freelancing on a variety of projects.
I also have a full production audio kit and do freelance location sound. I've done production sound and/or boom opped for a variety of short and feature films, corporate and commercial projects, and I've also worked as an in-studio recording engineer for television voiceover, podcasts, and audiobooks.
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 2022 I finished my first independent feature documentary with my friend Grant Osum, titled 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. The film played at 15 festivals and won multiple awards.
Since 2021, I've been working on another independent feature documentary with my friend director/DOP Connor Nelson about wildfires. The project, titled Crossing the Divide (previous working title Troublesome) documents destructive fire tragedies, as well as various approaches to combating the issue from scientists and experts. As of 2025, the project has over 18 Terrabytes of footage, 30+ interviews, and exclusive footage from over four different wildfires. A proof-of-concept short film version we put together can be viewed here, graciously narrated by legendary anchorman and voiceover artist Bill Kurtis.
In short, when it comes to TV and Film, I've done a little bit of everything. Whether that makes me a Rennaisance Man or just indecisive... the jury is still out.
Either way, I am always looking for new projects to work on and new people to collaborate and create art with.
Let me be your Film and TV Production Swiss Army Knife.
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
Specialties
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 lead capacities although I'm only selecting a few of my favorites here I had a leading role on in some way. Most as a Producer, Editor, or both.
For a more exhaustive list/CV, visit my StaffMeUp page.
Work- Post Audio/Podcasts/Audiobooks
(Work-in-Progress New Podcast, to be released.) Recording Engineer & Editor
Producer & Editor (9+ hours of recorded audio)
Dialogue Editor/Cleanup
Technical deliverables coordination to CNBC for podcast repackaging