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. 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.
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
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
Man of the People with Pat Tomasulo - WGN 9 Chicago
Watertown Cable 13
Cold Case Files - A&E
Work- Feature-length Films (Trailers)
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- Web/Commercial
Producer, D.P., Editor
Editor - (Re-edited/updated from previously completed sizzle from another editor)
Editor, Co-Producer and Co-D.P.
D.P. and Editor
Editor
Work- Post Audio/Podcasts/Audiobooks
Producer & Editor (9+ hours of recorded audio)
Dialogue Editor (Work in Progress, 2023)
Technical deliverables coordination to CNBC for podcast repackaging