Michael Samstag Email & Phone Number

Knoxville, Tennessee

Rescue Doc Films is a 501c3 not-for-profit media production agency. Our mission is to educate, entertain, and inspire change.

Knoxville, Tennessee Area

Documentary films. Special Features. Broadcast television. Video for the web. Best known for his work directing and producing special features for the first three Harry Potter DVDs and the Van Helsing DVD, Samstags' work on Van Helsing was featured in an article by American Cinematographer Magazine and the making of WAR & TRUTH was recently featured in the Metro Pulse.His documentary feature film, WAR & TRUTH, won Best Documentary at the Annapolis Film Festival in November 2005 and the Director's Choice Award at the Secret City Film Festival in 2007. In 2005, he directed 30 shows for the Telly Award winning Backyard Habitat series for Discovery Network ‘s Animal Planet Channel. Samstags' second documentary, We Have Not Forgotten is seeking distribution.A 1989 graduate of Hampshire College, Samstag has worked with blockbuster budgets but also prides himself with making the most of smaller budgets for non-profit organizations.

Knoxville, Tennessee Area

As Co-Founder and Executive Director of Knoxville's premiere film festival, the festival has grown from a beloved local event to a Regional Festival with International aspirations.

Responsible for producing and directing all iPIX Movies, utilizing both 180 and 360 capture systems. Production experience shooting on 35mm film using the AATON 35 III, High Definition video using the SONY HDW-F900, and various DV cameras. Post-production experience includes extensive After Effects, iPIX proprietary software and Non-Linear High Def editing and streaming video for the Internet. Additional responsibilities include producing demo projects from script to post-production as well as managing all aspects of the iPIX Movies process.

Creator of RTI-TV, an in-house digital video production department specializing in training and marketing videos. Production responsibilities include creating scripts, casting, directing, and editing videos for over 450 restaurants. Additional duties included writing and creating the management training program for three restaurant concepts.