Sam Ruesink

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. Last year I just finished my first independent feature documentary with my friend Grant Osum, Minnesota Tiger Man.  It just recently started streaming in the spring of 2023 after getting picked up by Questar Entertainment.

​

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.