Samantha Lavin - Writer/Director
There’s a strong need for female directors with a unique vision, great storytelling ability, who know how to collaborate with actors and crew as well as get the work done in the time allotted.
My background as a DGA Assistant Director, experience directing successful short & long form projects along with a rich history of family insanity have built those qualities in me.
I bring a vision lending to dark humor, and particularly to stories of family struggle, mental illness and wading through the perils of addiction and alcoholism.
I love the underdog and can crawl into the minds of these characters because I’ve been them.
Bio
Samantha Lavin is an award winning DGA director, assistant director and writer who has
worked on film and television projects including
“Dear White People”, “Roar” and “Lucifer”.
Sam wrote and directed the short film, "In Memory of Me" which screened at over 40 festivals worldwide
including Dances with Films and Frameline; winning multiple directing awards. Her latest short film “Val-e-ree”
is beginning its festival run after a premiere at LA Live in Los Angeles.
Her latest pilot script “Queens Village” was a 2023 finalist at the Screencraft Pilot competition, Almanac Writers Fellowship
and is in the top %1 of TV Drama Pilots on Coverfly’s Red List.
Samantha optioned a hybrid scripted/reality show to NBC Universal called “Out of the Frying Pan” about a queer female former addict who tries to open a restaurant under the shadow of her wealthy conservative restaurateur father. She was hired her to direct the presentation pilot.
She also adapted and directed the British play “Key Change” in its West Coast premiere, receiving an LA Times 99 Seat Beat Critic’s Pick for
“…innovation and raw staging of a story highlighting women in prison.”
Sam has several other scripts including "7 on 10", about a WNBA basketball player incarcerated for killing a woman
in an alcoholic blackout. It was accepted to Outfest's Screenwriting Lab and placed in several screenwriting competitions.
Samantha has served on the Lesbian and Gay Advisory board of West Hollywood as well as
Women for Sobriety Center; an organization serving formerly incarcerated women.