Meet Sami Stumman | Actor, Writer

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

Hi Sami, how does your business help the community?
I want to use my art, ultimately, to help people, to help create and be a part of spaces where others feel they can safely express themselves and come together to make meaningful things. Expression through the arts has always been a huge outlet for me. As a kid you feel a lot of big emotions you don’t know how to name, and theater really gives you a place to channel that and be yourself.

I’m a big advocate for mental health, and I think the arts can do so much for it because it helps you express yourself. I know how much it’s meant when a story or character has helped me feel seen or less alone, and I want to give even a fraction of that back through the stories I help create and characters I play.

As a storyteller, other themes besides mental health that especially interest me are reclaiming identity. People (and society) can put their own narratives onto you, and it can take a lot to dig through everything other people have put on you for years to find who you truly are. Art and storytelling have the power to challenge the status quo, freeing the audience to experience other possibilities they might not have previously considered.

My goal as an actor and writer (besides the wild amount of fun it can be) is to create stories and characters that hopefully help others feel seen, heard, less alone, and hold space for expressing their individual voices while expanding ideas about people and the world around us.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I grew up in San Diego doing theater and musical theater. I knew decently early that I loved acting and figured it would be a part of my life in some way, but I wasn’t quite sure how. Then I saw Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings. I joke that I don’t really remember life before watching those movies (I’m also a huge nerd), but it’s kind of true. Seeing such an extraordinary world brought to life and watching characters (and amazing actors) deal with very human and dramatic themes was extremely moving and life changing for me. Those movies really inspired me to focus on film and television because it was the first time I saw how truly immersive film could be and how much that ability to immerse an audience in a world or story could be effective and create real change. Plus, filming in the snow capped mountains and lush adventure scenery of New Zealand? Sign me up.

My love for film really pushed me while going to drama school, when I would drive up from San Diego to do extra work starting out, just to get any taste of what sets big and small were like. I haven’t looked back since. As many creatives know, the collaboration on set can just be pure magic, and I’ve been fortunate so far to work with some pretty stellar people.

One challenge that I think can be important for artists to learn how to work through, is the notion of uncoupling artistry from productivity to not burnout, which can be tricky when as an actor you’re technically the commodity and need to produce to also survive, especially in a society that constantly tells us we’re only worth what we produce. It’s important to rewrite those narratives and reclaim who you are. I’ve come to realize the more I am specific and confident in my own voice, it can allow room for the same in others. I’m a huge proponent of “we all rise together” and am so excited to continue growing good community.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
OK, first things first: COFFEE. I am a huge coffee fan, so obviously we’re starting the day with some good old fashioned caffeine. I live in the Valley, and while it can get ungodly hot up here, don’t believe the hate! There are so many gems, and I personally enjoy how it’s close to industry and studios but feels removed from the intensity of the city proper.
Starting the day at Black Elephant Coffee or Moby’s Coffee and Tea in Burbank are favorites of mine – chill vibe and really good espresso. Or if you happen to be over by Pasadena, Ideology Coffee is a great recently discovered option.
Then we would hop down the street to Tansy and get plants, and perhaps another coffee at the adorable coffee trailer outside – Cafecita (woman owned). If you are NOT an avid hiker like me, Wildwood Canyon Park is small and quiet and feels a bit off the beaten path – a nice respite from the bustle of the city to relax or journal, or if you do like hiking they have trails further off too. If it’s not too hot, Huntington Gardens is also a nice getaway: the Greek and Japanese Gardens are among my favorite gardens. Then we could have dinner and cocktails at a variety of local Valley spots or order in!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I feel really fortunate to have some great people in my life. Revisiting my theater roots of late has really helped me grow artistically and personally. Up here in LA I want to thank the amazing people at Open Door Shakespeare, and the founder/my friend/roomie Alice Dranger who has seen the best and worst of me. I want to shout out to Tara, who was there when it all began. Mo at Coaching House LA, whom I trust implicitly and value immensely as a longtime friend. I want to most definitely thank my family, my parents and sister Katie, for always being there, as well as the friends who’ve stuck with me back in San Diego.

Website: https://samanthastumman.com

Instagram: @trusamiam

Image Credits
Cathryn Farnsworth
Eric Keitel
Craig Polding