“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.

For this, and not the external mannerism and detail, is their reality,” Aristotle.

 

Sam has many years of experience working and volunteering in radio, TV, film, theatre, and stand-up comedy. He has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney where he majored in Philosophy and Film, and is an Associate Member of the Theatre Network NSW, a Film Pioneer of the Australian Film Institute (now called AACTA), and a member of the Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance (MEAA).

 

Sam began acting and writing in primary school, winning a prize for playwriting when he was 11 years old. In high school, he became part of the Student Theatre Exchange, a first of its kind touring company created by Helen Zigmond and Guy Sherborne. After finishing Year 12, he appeared in “Cry in the Street”, a German expressionist play, produced by The Performance Centre and staged at the Seymour Centre.

 

He continued to study acting at the Actors Studio (Sydney), ran improvisation classes at the Co.As.It Bilingual School (Leichhardt) with actor Steve Bastoni and writer/producer Andrea Dal Bosco, and ran classes at the Cell Block Theatre (Darlinghurst).

 

Sam featured in the original Italian episode of the SBS TV program “Food Safari” (Season 1, Episode 8), hosted by Maeve O’Mara, and is the longest serving guide for her Gourmet Food Safari tours. He was a co-presenter on the Lifestyle Channel’s “Lifestyle Café” on Fox TV and worked on a pilot lifestyle program for TV Channel 74. He has also contributed to ABC radio programs hosted by Richard Glover and Simon Marnie.

 

Sam has worked as a voiceover artist in film, written and performed his own stand up comedy show, and written and directed two short films. He was also the basis for a character in the children’s book “The Redback Leftovers” by Debra Oswald.

 

Sam is very proud of his association with the Leichhardt Saints Football Club where his decades of volunteering was recognised as a Club Life Member in 2009. In 2019, Sam was awarded the prestigious Cec Barlow Award by the Canterbury District Football Association in recognition of his “outstanding service to the promotion and development of football”. Sam has, for nearly 30 years, been sponsoring the Department of Respiratory Medicine at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead NSW. For the past few years, Sam has also been supporting the Sydney Community Food Pantry, which provides free groceries to those in genuine need, and Wat Buddharangsee, the Buddhist Thai Temple in Annandale.

 

Sam is a proud member of PEN International – Sydney, believing writers are in a privileged position because they have the freedom to express their ideas, ideals and stories. Writers should never take this for granted, for there are too many people in the world without a voice, without the freedom of expression, who are in vulnerable and precarious situations, living on the fringes of society.

 

Sam continues to volunteer his time, as he has done for many years, helping international students with medical, financial, legal and housing issues, in collaboration with professional friends and colleagues. He also supports them to improve their English grammar and communication skills. These things were particularly important during COVID when a lot of inequities became prevalent, but all of these issues continue to plague vulnerable students, so the need to help and support continues.

 

“Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness”, Anne Frank.

 

Theatre • Current: Artistic Director and Producer, Walk Now Productions • 2023: 'The Final Moment', Director, theatre production by Crossover Stories, Bankstown Arts Centre • 2020: 'Shades of Light', Director, Writer & Producer, theatre production by Walk Now Productions, Hellenic Art Theatre, Marrickville • 2019: 'The Little Emigrant', Consultant & Advisor, theatre production by Sydney House of Dramatic Arts (SHODA) • 2018: 'Io, Mammeta e Tu', Consultant & Advisor, theatre production by Teatro A Te • 2017-18: ‘My Carer’ (two seasons), Director, Writer & Producer, theatre production by Walk Now Productions, Hellenic Art Theatre, Marrickville • 2017: Founded Walk Now Productions • 2015: Participant, Introduction to script writing for theatre and film, Tutor Caleb Lewis, NSW Writer’s Centre • 2005: Sydney Cracker Comedy Festival, Writer & Performer, Enmore Theatre • 2005: ‘The Way We Were’, Writer, Producer & Performer, stand-up comedy show, Century Venues, Marrickville • 1996-97: Tutor, Improvisation acting workshop, Co.As.It Italian Bilingual School • 1995: Participant, Introduction to Acting Skills, The Actors Studio, Darlinghurst • 1983-84: Participant, Drama Improvisations Classes, Cell Block Theatre, Sydney University • 1983-84: ‘A Cry in The Street’, Actor, German expressionist production, The Seymour Centre • 1982-83: Participant, Drama Studies, The Performance Centre, Sydney’s Teachers’ College Advisor • 2022-Present: Cultural Advisor, Harbourside Legal and Brett Slater Solicitors • 2023-Present: Workshop Advisor, Dr Diana Jefferies, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University Publications • 1998-2000: 'Nathan and the Ice Rockets' & 'Frank and the Emergency Joke' by Debra Oswald (Puffin Publications). Books with characters based on Sam and his antics. • 2000: ‘The Redback Leftovers’ by Debra Oswald (Penguin Publications). A book based on Sam’s real-life soccer coaching experiences. • 2000: "Field of Dreams", a story featured in 'In Bed with Jocasta' by Richard Glover (HarperCollins Publications). The amalgamation of two Sydney Morning Herald columns written about Sam's real-life soccer coaching and his inspiring team speeches. • 2016: ‘Breathe Easy & Eat Well’ by The Van Asperen Family. A book created to raise money for several charities in memory of Prof. Peter van Asperen. Sam organised many of the contributors to donate recipes.

Film • 2021: 'Capt.S & Nightcat', Director, Co-Writer & Co-Producer, short film by Walk Now Productions • 2008: ‘Turn Around and Look!’, Director, Writer & Producer, short film by Walk Now Productions • Bachelor of Arts, Film and Philosophy Major, The University of Sydney • Australian Film Institute and AACTA member, with Film Pioneer status Media • ABC Radio 702 (Sydney), Richard Glover’s Drive Program, Guest appearances for many years. • ABC Radio 702 (Sydney), Weekends with Simon Marnie, Guest appearances for many years. • SBS Media NSW, Consultant • 2017: 'The Celluloid Domain’, Consultant & interviewee, a documentary on Robert Herbert, the film curator at the Art Gallery of NSW for 18 years • 2014: Pilot lifestyle program, Presenter, Channel 7’s digital channel 74 • 2009: Food Safari with Maeve O’Meara, Featured Presenter of the original Italian episode (Season 1, Episode 8), SBS TV • 2005: Lifestyle Café, Presenter, Lifestyle Channel Fox TV Memberships • MEAA Equity, Member • Theatre Network NSW, Associate Member • Mental Health Carers NSW, Member • The Arts Wellbeing Collective, Member • PEN International - Sydney, Member • Australasian Association of Philosophy, Member • Blue Knot Foundation, Member • Japan Foundation, Member Other • Working with Children’s Check, Office of the Children’s Guardian • Dual citizenship, European Community (Italy) and Australian