|
|
|
|
|
|
Biography
|
Since 1980 Sam Firstenberg has been a success in the independent filmmaking field, as a director of feature films. Sam has directed 22 theatrical feature films since completing his graduate studies in film at Loyola Marymount University. Firstenberg's first film, "ONE MORE CHANCE," starring Kirsty Alley, won prizes in major film festivals, and sparked the beginning of his career as a director. Subsequent films have become commercial hits and cult classics, especially the "AMERICAN NINJA" series starring Michael Dudikoff and the breakdance phenomenal “ELECTRIC BOOGALOO”.
Beginning his career in 1972, Sam Firstenberg worked his way up the ranks, starting as a stagehand and production ssistant and then as an assistant director. During this time he completed his higher education, earning his B.A. and M.A.in cinema, and at the same time directing numerous shorts which eventually led to his first full feature directorial debut.
Sam Firstenberg has directed films ranging from musical to drama, comedy to action, sci-fi, thrillers and horror. Including special effects, complicated CGI, huge crowd scenes, elaborated chases, sophisticated action sequences, down to delicate dramatic moments. He spent several years as an in house director at Cannon Films, and his films have been distributed by Tristar, MGM, Paramount, and Warner Brothers. Through the years Firstenberg has worked with some of hollywood’s most highly regarded actors; Eric Roberts, Ice-T, Michael Madson, Kirsty Alley, Margaret Avery, Ernie Hudson, Hal Holbrook, Jeff Fahey, Robert Vaughn, Sean Young, Michael Dudikoff, John Rhys-Davies, Marc Dacascos, Grace Jones, Nick Cassevettes, Richard Moll, Dan Heday, Richard Kien and Seymour Cassel.
In his role as a director, Sam Firstenberg assumed the responsibility of developing scripts with writers, casting, preparing schedules with production staff, orchestrating principle photography, and supervising editing and other
postproduction functions, such as scoring music and creating special effects.
Sam Firstenberg is highly regarded as a director who creates marketable movies within target budgets and who understands the business aspect of film making as well as the artistic side.
Born in Poland, Sam Firstenberg grew up in Jerusalem, and obtained his higher education in Los Angeles, California where he now resides with his wife and three daughters.
|
|
|
|
 |
