Samantha "Sammy" Shelton is 20 years old with over 6 years of broadcast, editing, directing, and film experience. Proficient with Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects. She has a B.F.A. in Broadcast Journalism and Documentary from Chapman University Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Telling stories is what she does best, and why she chooses to pursue documentary filmmaking.
She is passionate about mental health advocacy, which is what her undergraduate thesis film, I Can't Die, Not Yet, centers around. This short documentary shows Sammy speak up about her personal struggle with depression and the determination she found to keep living. It is a film about healing, honesty, and ending stigma surrounding mental illnesses.
Samantha is also a co-director, cinematographer, and sound operator for Sex Sells, a short documentary examining the debate over the legislation and nature of the commercial sex trade in United States. Through the real experiences of sex workers and human trafficking survivors, the film offers multiple viewpoints on a personal and factual level about the complex matter of sex work in America.
Outside of documentary filmmaking, Samantha enjoys wildlife photography and graphic design.
