Against the Grain

Samantha wrote and directed an intimate film of actor's journey that also resonates with artists and those in general that wish to pursue unconventional careers. Samantha does not approach this subject in a trite fashion of an actor that fails repeatedly then gets the role at the end in what could have been a pleasant "follow your dreams" PSA. She delivers vignettes of conversations that begin the fresh-faced optimism of people excited for you then delves into the sharp pangs of people that do not understand the lead's journey. This is brilliantly intercut in a scene with the lead blowing out birthday candles in a montage in solitude as the years ago without external signs of achievement.

In under six minutes, Samantha immerses you into the lead's world with her pains, her difficulty to express to others how she feels, her desires and triumph of internal strength within solitude. Samantha is definitely a filmmaker watch out for in the near future.