Meet Samina Martens | Film & TV Executive

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

Hi Samina, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I think my main inspirations are the stories I love, whether that be novels, films, TV shows, or anything else. I grew up with a love of books, which transitioned into an obsession with movies when I was a bit older. I’m always surprised about the impact of a good story – how it has the power to spark emotion, affect change, or inspire connection. It felt like a natural progression for me to go from consuming stories to helping tell them. Plus, filmmaking is such a collaborative art form. It involves so many different people, each with their own specific skillset and role, coming together to create a piece of art that is larger than the sum of its parts. I’ve always loved the idea of being a small part of that collective creative process.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I work in Film and TV development, helping to source, develop, package, and produce projects for an independent production company. Basically, I read a LOT of material, and then take the best of that material and help see it through all the various stages of development and production until it finally reaches the screen. So much goes into this process: attaching talent, organizing distribution, constructing a budget, hiring crew (and so much more!), but at the start of everything is a good story and a strong creative vision. So much of my job is helping develop that story, build that vision, and then championing it all through the production process.

Working in Film and TV is rarely an easy career. My own path took lots of twists and turns. Over the years, I’ve spent time working in casting, then in Business Affairs, and then on sets in various cities, before finally jumping into creative producing in LA. There were so many times during that process where I thought I knew what my future would look like. I was so sure I had everything planned out, only to have to pivot last minute due to an unexpected obstacle or a new opportunity. Careers in film can be turbulent to say the least! It takes tenacity, determination, flexibility, passion, and a good dose of luck. But I feel very grateful to be here, doing this job, each and every day.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
LA is a difficult city to show off to guests! Everything is so far apart, and the usual touristy activities can be exhausting. I’ve made the mistake before of fighting through awful cross-town traffic, determined to show visitors both Malibu and the Griffith Observatory in one afternoon.

I think the best bet with guests is just to show them a fun, realistic week in my life here. Eat good food, maybe a hike or two, hopefully finding time to jump in the ocean, grab a drink somewhere fun, catch a movie at the New Beverly, or one of the other indie theaters in town. To truly wow visitors, though, my preference is to take them out of town for a weekend. There are so many fantastic getaways around here, including Big Bear, Mammoth, Lake Arrowhead, Ojai, and – my ultimate favorite – Joshua Tree and the Mojave Desert.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Honestly, there’s been so many different people along the way! Definitely my family, coworkers, bosses, and friends. But I’ll call out specifically the entertainment industry community in LA. One of the things I love about working in Hollywood is the strong sense of community it fosters. There are so many ways to connect with the people living and working here – lunches, coffees, drinks, but also events, screenings, mixers, associations. We’re all here, in this city, devoting a large potion of our lives to this career that we love. It creates a shared understanding that makes for a great basis of connection and support, which is vital as we all try to navigate this wacky place!