Sam the Shmam - ProfilesArchive

About Me

I'm a busy guy. I'm currently pursuing a Batchelor's of Science in Nursing (I'm going to be an R.N.) at Weber State University, with plans for a Master's in Anesthesiology a few years later. But on to the fun stuff...

MUSIC
I am a guitarist, composer and vocalist. Click "play" below to check out cuts I wrote for my latest short film, "A Moment of Clarity", and from my band Monsoon Season's debut album, "The Last Commute".

I front a jazz-rock band called Monsoon Season . We've just released our debut album, "The Last Commute".
This is a recent "mini-documentary showcasing the progress of our new album, to be released early 2008.

In Session with Monsoon Season: Episode 1

Monsoon Season on My Space

Monsoon Season on Pure Volume

Monsoon Season on MP3.com

I also am working on a rootsy acoustic album with Wood Carver ...

...and am a frequent sideman for The Gorgeous Hussies .

WRITING and SCREENWRITING
I love contemporary American literature, my favorite authors being John Steinbeck and Annie Proulx. I'm really taken to their stories of salt-of-the-earth people, as it reveals a lot about the human psyche and how truly unpredictable life can be.

I also write screenplays. One I've written, "Big Sky, Montana", won the Top 10 and Hall of Fame Awards on Triggerstreet.com , the website of Kevin Spacey's production company.

Click Here to READ "BIG SKY MONTANA" in PDF Form

I have written 4-5 feature-length screenplays as well as a number of short stories. Like any would-be writer, I've had a couple of novels in the works. I'll keep you posted if I ever get close to finishing, haha.

Basically, anything creative really gets me going. I also love foreign cultures and travelling. I have a passion for the Italian culture, having served my mission in Padova, Italy (up near Venice). So if you want to learn how to piss someone off in true Tuscan charm, I'm your man.

FILMMAKING

I am finishing my degree in Film Studies at the University of Utah. I have made a total of 5 short films. My most recent is WHERE THERE'S WILL, THERE'S AN APE, which is being released December 2007.
Where There's Will, There's An Ape (trailer) | .

A Moment of Clarity

A young boy running away encounters an old family friend in a rough part of town who makes him reconsider his decision.

Dan Weldon: Living the Blues Dream

After 40 plus years, Dan Weldon quits his day job and finds success pursuing a musical dream as a blues / folk troubador.

My Interests

I'd like to meet:

Anyone who isn't some sort of sexual deviant.

My Blog

Gallup Poll says Obama gaining popularity with the formally uneducated!

I was perusing gallup.com (yeah, I know, it's geeky, but I get obsessed in political years, just for the sake of competition), and found this entertaining and, from what I gather, unintentionally hila...
Posted by on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:53:00 GMT

Another reason why white men are the scum of the earth...

I tend to not get too political in my blogging or my online persona. I like to keep my political views to myself. But some things really get me riled up, especially when movie, music and T.V. person...
Posted by on Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:08:00 GMT

Not Selling Ourselves Short

Not Selling Ourselves ShortThe other day a great new friend of mine made an observation about me that has stuck in my mind the past few days. After seeing the riotously funny new comedy from Irish pl...
Posted by on Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:07:00 GMT

Where Theres Will, Theres An Ape: Official Trailer Now Online

Hello everyone, Here is the official trailer to my latest short film, "Where There's Will There's An Ape".Where There's Will There's An Ape (Official Trailer) Add to My Profile | More Vide...
Posted by on Sun, 18 Nov 2007 23:07:00 GMT

Movie Review: Michael Clayton (****)

I recently got a small job as a movie reviewer for the University of Utah Chronicle. Woo hoo! As many of you know, I'm a huge cinephile (that means a fan of movies in case you didn't know), so the i...
Posted by on Tue, 09 Oct 2007 01:32:00 GMT

The Musical Soapbox (by request)

Ryan Uhrey requested that I post a blog on the modern music scenario, so let's get the ball rolling. THE 2000'SThe 2000's is an interesting decade in terms of music, in that it seems to be by and lar...
Posted by on Mon, 17 Sep 2007 01:50:00 GMT

I Guess I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times

(Warning: Just for the record, I'm talking about something I'm really passionate about, cinema. I'm going to speak candidly, and have very strong opinions about it. There will likely be something in...
Posted by on Sat, 25 Aug 2007 09:31:00 GMT

Some Serious Songwriting

So the last few weeks have been a little rough going financially. It's not that I haven't been working, it's just the age old dilemma of being self-employed. It's often easy to find work. It's gett...
Posted by on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:11:00 GMT

"Where There's Will, There's An Ape" Is A Go!

At long last, after over a year and a half in the making, we will finally commence shooting principle photography of "the ape movie" on Friday, July 13th. Yeah, yeah, I know, but we're not super...
Posted by on Sun, 08 Jul 2007 10:04:00 GMT

Songs That Break Your Heart

So, as you all may know, I'm a songwriter. I love music. I love expressing myself through it, it's so unbelievably cathartic that sometimes it's the only thing that keeps me going. J...
Posted by on Tue, 03 Jul 2007 11:55:00 GMT