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. 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.

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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.

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I also have a full production audio kit and do freelance location sound.

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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.

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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.