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SAM

During summer of 1994, Sam, a free spirited 10-year-old girl, tags along with her older brother and his friends where she enjoys playing as one of the boys until she experiences the societal limitations reserved for adolescent girls and the fleeting innocence of childhood.

  • Jen Stafford
    Director
  • Ryan Thielen
    Director
  • Jen Stafford
    Writer
  • Paul Winkels
    Producer
  • Kyle Moe
    Cinemetographer
  • Carsten Johnson
    AC
  • Micah Schweitzer
    Production Designer
  • Nicolas De Miranda
    Gaffer
  • Kailey Schmitt
    Wardrobe
  • Soleia Clark
    Key Cast
    "Sam"
  • Harrison Michael
    Key Cast
    "Tommy"
  • Elizabeth Clark
    Cast
  • Trenten Clark
    Cast
  • Kelly Gawronski
    Cast
  • Emperor Kaioyus
    Cast
  • Miss Jay
    Cast
  • Dylan
    Cast
  • Cora
    Cast
  • Tara Wright
    Cast
  • Arin Wright
    Cast
  • Matt Fezz
    Colorist
  • Doug May
    Sound Engineers
  • Brenden Bytheway
    Sound Engineers
  • Ben Pimlott
    VFX
  • Cody Rowan
    VFX
  • Kaleb Lechowski
    VFX
  • Ryan Thielen
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 15, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16x9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Jen Stafford, Ryan Thielen

Jen Stafford is female director and screenwriter, known for crafting stories that ignite the human spirit. Her award-winning work, including a National Sports Emmy, reflects her passion for visceral narratives that highlight unique characters, places and cultures.

Ryan Thielen is a Minneapolis-based director known for his ability to capture honest and visually powerful stories. His award-winning work includes documentaries, short films, and national commercials.

In their first joint directing work, SAM, Jen and Ryan worked together to uncover the emotional journey that comes with the end of childhood and the fleeting freedoms of adolescence.

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Director Statement

When creating SAM, our objective was telling a story simultaneously simple and complex about the waning freedoms of childhood and its innocence. As our protagonist's worldview widens, she is confronted with how narrow societal norms become for young women. We wanted to revisit the untainted spirit of adolescence with raw honesty and emotional intelligence, distilled through a child's perspective in order to reflect the viewer's own experience back to themselves.