Sam Friedlander

Route 66 Films
Director, Producer and Screenwriter

Los Angeles, California

Member Since:
August 2016

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> 2 weeks ago

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About Sam

A New York native, Sam graduated from Vanderbilt University with a BA in Communications, and then attended USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he studied writing and directing. While at USC, Sam created several award winning short films before receiving his MFA in 2006. His thesis film “Lucid” has screened at over 25 film festivals worldwide, winning awards for Best Short Film and Best Screenplay.
Sam was one of 50 directors selected out of over 12,000 for the Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett competition “On the Lot”, which aired on FOX primetime. Sam made it from those fifty selected to place 4th on the show, where he was given a first look development deal with Dreamworks. Following the show, Sam co-wrote, directed, and produced 11 episodes of “The Hustler”, a series for Sony Television’s Crackle network, as well as a pilot for Endemol USA.
From 2009-2012, Sam worked on the hit USA show “Royal Pains”, serving as an Associate Producer as well as 2nd unit directing during the fourth season of the show. During hiatus from the show, Sam produced the independent feature film “Thanks” in 2011, starring Paul Dooley and Rita Rudner, which aired on Showtime. Since then, Sam has also worked on the the NBC TV series “Allegiance”, “State of Affairs”, and “Shades of Blue”, and just completed the “Transylvania” pilot for CW Network as an Associate Producer.
In 2015, Sam directed and produced the independent comedy feature “Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant” which starred Mark Feuerstein, Danny Pudi, Jayma Mays, Stanley Tucci, Marcia Gay Harden, Taye Diggs, Patrick Warburton, Henry Winkler, and Jason Alexander. The film was acquired by MGM/Orion and given a limited theatrical and day-and-date release.
Sam recently completed writing the feature screenplay “hAPPy”, which won Best Screenplay at the Nashville Film Festival and was placed in the top 10% of the Academy Nicholl Fellowship. He is currently in the process of financing and casting. He is a member of the DGA and lives in Marina del Rey, CA.

Gender:
Male

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Transylvania (2016)
TV Movie (Sci-Fi) Producer In 1880, A young woman in search of her missing father travels to Transylvania where she teams up with a wrongfully disgraced Scotland Yard Detective and together they witness the births of the most famous monsters and villains in history.
Shades of Blue (2016)
Television (Crime and Drama) Second Unit Director or Assistant Director Detective Harlee Santos (Jennifer Lopez) is a single mother from New York City, New York. She joins the FBI's anti-corruption task force, whilst dealing with her own financial problems by bribing officers in order to afford for her daughter.
Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant (2015)
Film (Comedy) Producer A self-anointed 'renegade' male flight attendant must save the day when the airline he works for tries to eliminate flight attendants as a cost-cutting measure.
Allegiance (2015)
Television (Drama and Thriller) Producer A rookie CIA analyst doesn't know that members of his family are part of a Russian sleeper cell.
State of Affairs (2014)
Television (Drama and Thriller) Production manager A CIA officer plucked from the field to become the president's daily briefer, assuming responsibility for targeting America's most critical threats while navigating the unique lifestyle that comes with such a high-powered job.
Royal Pains (2009 - 2012)
Television (Comedy and Drama) Production manager ROYAL PAINS centers on a young E.R. doctor who, after being wrongly blamed for a patient's death, moves to the Hamptons and becomes the reluctant "doctor for hire" to the rich and famous. When the attractive administrator of the local hospital asks him to treat the town's less fortunate, he finds himself walking the line between doing well for himself and doing good for others. Written by Lynn Weiss
Thanks (2011)
Film (Comedy) Producer A Thanksgiving comedy that proves blood is thicker than gravy as a family deals with change over three Thanksgivings spent at the California beach. Three adult children respond to their father re-marrying a much younger woman as America and the world respond to the tumultuous2008 economic upheaval. Written by Anonymous
Swing (2009)
Film (Short, Drama and Romance) Producer Three Los Angeles-based couples discuss the idea of swinging.
The Hustler (2009)
Television (Comedy) Producer Add a Plot »
Broken Pipe Dreams (2007)
TV Movie (Comedy) Director Add a Plot »
Replication Theory (2007)
TV Movie (Comedy) Director Add a Plot »
Flakes (2007)
Film (Comedy) Editorial department Aspiring rock musician Neal Downs manages a cereal bar. Stylish Miss Pussy Katz is the creator of radically-themed art clothing. When the cereal bar, brings in an offbeat crew of locals, who debate the arcana of cereal history and ideal milk/flake ratios, an aspiring capitalist rips off their concept. Written by Marisa_Gabriella
Blue State (2007)
Film (Comedy, Drama and Romance) Music department On the eve of John Kerry's 2004 defeat, campaign volunteer John Logue, canvasing in Ohio, says he'll move to Canada if Bush wins. His pledge gets televised, so when John returns to San Francisco - where his old job and girl-friend evaporate - his friends expect him to deliver on the promise. He gets a call from marryacanadian.ca, accepts their invitation to come to Winnipeg, interviews traveling companions, picks Chloe (she with a nose ring), and sets out. Both John and Chloe have secrets, revealed one at a time, and Winnipeg in 2004, with men and women willing to help US ex-pats gain citizenship, may not be what either needs. Echoes of the Vietnam war help them decide. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
Lucid (2006)
Film (Short and Drama) Producer Lucid is the story of two men, Case and Drake, who share one consciousness, connected by their dreams. When Case dreams, he dreams he is Drake, and vice-versa. When Case starts to experiment in his dreams, he soon realizes the consequences may be real. Soon, the two meet, and they must reckon with their unique situation. Written by Anonymous
A Night Out (2005)
Film (Short and Comedy) Producer Add a Plot »
Seven Swans (2005)
Film (Short and Fantasy) Camera and Electrical Department A 30-minute, all greenscreen, all motion collage, dark fairy tale like nothing you've seen before. Elise is on a routine deer hunt in the forest with her father and six brothers when she is confronted by a beautiful lady in white, the Swan Witch. Thus begins the undoing of all Elise has known. Her father is tragically killed trying to protect his family from this mysterious woman, who later returns, transforms her brothers into swans and steals them away. She leaves Elise with the knowledge, however, that she is the boys' mother. Utterly alone, Elise decides to take action, buries her father, and sets out on the road. She encounters her friend Sebastian and his father Marion who take her to a medicine woman named Baba. Here Elise learns what she must do to rescue her brothers - either kill the Swan Witch to break the spell or eat from a poisonous apple, which will grant her any wish. Marion agrees to take her to the witch, only to leave Sebastian and Elise on the road soon after, ... Written by dennitzio
Shallow Ground (2004)
Film (Horror and Thriller) Camera and Electrical Department A naked teenage boy covered in blood appears at a remote sheriff's station one year after the brutal unsolved murder of a local girl. Now Sheriff Jack Shepherd, guilt ridden over the girl's murder, must confront his own demons as he desperately searches for the boy's true identity and possible victims. Little does Jack realize that he has started down a path that will bring him face to face with an unthinkable horror. Before sunrise the living will pay for the pain the dead have suffered. Written by Deco Filmworks
Slow Potion (2003)
Film (Short and Action) Producer Add a Plot »
Fear Factor (2002)
Television (Game-Show, Reality-TV and Thriller) Miscellaneous Crew In each pulse-racing "Fear Factor" episode, contestants (sometimes solo, often paired with spouses, siblings or best friends) recruited from across the nation must decide if they have the guts and determination to face their most primal fears. Under the supervision of professional Hollywood stunt coordinators, contestants are confronted with a series of challenging stunts. If they complete their task they advance; if fear stops them from completing a stunt or they fail the mission, they are immediately eliminated. The contestant who wins the final challenge takes home the prize. Written by Matt Kunitz
Lost (2001)
Television (Game-Show and Reality-TV) Miscellaneous Crew Add a Plot »