ABOUT

ABOUT

Hi I'm Sam, and I’m a portrait photographer and filmmaker based in Hawaii seeking to bring people’s creative vision to life! I grew up on the island of Oahu and enjoy getting my hands on any creative projects related to film or photogaphy.

Background Experience:

I will be graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Cinematic Arts Digital Cinema and a minor in Japanese at the University of Hawaii at Manoa this Fall. There I practiced my skills with peers and classmates, as well as any time I had the chance. I have been editing videos since the age of 12 and have experience in Premiere Pro, Adobe Lightroom, and Davinci Resolve. I also previously worked as a Live- Action director under the student media board at UH Productions, where I helped film and edit news-style content for social media.

Equipment:

I currently shoot with a PANASONIC LUMIX S5II camera and edit with Adobe Lightroom, Davinci Resolve, and Premiere Pro

Achievements

  • 2025 – RIDE PENDING (Writer & Director)

    • Earned Best Live Action Film, Best Editing, and the Audience Award at the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Showcase

    • This film was a passion project through UH Manoa that allowed me to create a film that I myself have been waiting to see that lived up to my imagination.

    • (In film festival submissions, not publicly viewable yet)

    • Trailer available here

  • 2021 – REASON (Writer & Director)

    • Won First Place in the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) Reflections State Competition

    • Received the Award of Excellence at the National Level

    • This film inspired me to begin my journey, translating ideas from my mind into viewable form for others.

    • Available here