Samantha is a multi-media artist and art educator in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood. She's worked in youth media orgs around the city for over 20 years. She founded the digital media lab at Sullivan High School and the media collective whatever spectrum media. She wrote + directed the short films Rabbits + The Show! as part of the collective. She also makes baskets using pine needles that has amassed a weirdly large tiktok following. Her work on the web series You're So Talented was honored at Tribeca Film Festival and nominated for a Gotham Award. She has received grants through DCASE’s Individual Artist Program and the Propellor Fund. She is also a board member for the First Nations Film and Video Festival. She aims to make her life and our collective worlds more livable and to disrupt the horrors of capitalism through community and joy. She is most proud of her work as a mom and stepmom.

From the Filmmaker

whatever spectrum media is an experiment in what it means to work, care, + make collectively. We believe in building long-term relationships that benefit us both artistically and as humans. We know that all people in a collective have the power to teach and to learn. Our films tell the stories of young people - with young people in front of and behind the camera - in authentic, funny, and joyful ways. We seek to disrupt the hierarchy so often seen in the filmmaking industry. The Show! is the 2nd in a series of films we've developed. Collective members are currently running a paid film camp for teens in Rogers Park, and our 3rd film is set to shoot in August 2025.

The Show! was created in collaboration with youth in Chicago’s Rogers Park Neighborhood. It was a collaboration between teens, educators, and professional filmmakers. Teens worked on all aspects of production and in front of the camera. The collective continues to operate in Rogers Park with teens that were in the film now taking on leadership roles in our collective, whatever spectrum media.