Meet Zenon Samuels | Director, Writer, Producer, Videographer, Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zenon Samuels and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zenon, why did you pursue a creative career?
I think everyone has a bit of creativity in them…it just takes a little chutzpah to do something with it!

For me, I like to make films and tell stories for people who may not always have a voice, to entertain people and to challenge current ideas in society. It’s even more exciting when I get the chance to collaborate with others who may offer some new knowledge or ideology that I can learn from! Creativity and artistry is the best way we can learn to love and understand each other, to search for meaning within our own hearts and souls, and to entertain people. It doesn’t matter the budget of the project, or how famous or popular it might be…if you can reach even just one person to make them think, give them a new idea, or just brighten their day…than you’ve done your job as an artist! That is the heart of being creative, and if we can encourage others to use their own creativity for a good cause to benefit our world then we know that their creativity is going in the right place!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a film director and writer who enjoys in-depth character studies. I always like outside of the box ideas, and trying to experiment with the way things are done. A few years ago, I made an entirely improvised feature film called Thrasher as a challenge to allow a complete openness to artistic collaboration with cast and crew, it is one of my proudest and most rewarding projects thus far!

Of course there have been many challenges along the way, it’s not an easy industry to break into, but I think these challenges help with personal character growth and give you the knowledge to overcome the same trials the next time and next time after that! The biggest lesson I have personally learnt, and honestly am still learning, is to trust my instincts and get out of my own way.

I love to give people something to think about and discuss, and I am definitely excited to share new stories that we don’t always get to see. New voices from different cultures, backgrounds, and identities deserve to be heard and we need to support artists in bringing it to the forefront of entertainment.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There’s something about the Sunset Strip that I adore! Currently, I have the honor, and the thrill, (and the slowly emptying bank account), to live right off it! There’s something so magical and triumphant about seeing the billboards that stretch across the entirety of Sunset…to have the chance to dream about your own film, your own record, or your own name in lights is such an exciting prospect, even if it’s mixed with a little bit of capitalistic irony!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First off, I’d like to thank my parents for always supporting me however crazy my dreams and ideas are, I’m lucky that they always have my back and encourage me to keep going! Secondly, I’d like to thank my close friends and my old film buddies from school. I wouldn’t be anywhere without their support, from back in the day when we ran around town filming projects on weekends throughout high school, to now where they, to this day, still help me hone my craft.

Website: https://www.zencoproductions.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zenonsamuels/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zenonsamuels/

Other: https://vimeo.com/zenonsamuels

Image Credits
David Cox, ZenCo. Productions