From Writer/Director Nicholas Brooks: "SAM" - West Coast Premiere at AFI Festival November 9th

October, 2015 (Hollywood, CA) -- When a quintessential New York City alpha male is suddenly transformed into a beautiful girl, what will be the ultimate outcome? Will he learn from past mistakes and realize what it truly means to be a woman? These are the questions answered in the new film SAM, story and directed by Nicholas Brooks, screenplay by Nicholas Brooks & John A. Gallagher, Lead Produced bySibyl Santiago and Executive Produced by none other than Mel Brooks! Selected this year at the Nashville Film Festival and the SOHO International Film Festival in New York City, the Romantic Comedy starring Natalie Knepp (“Orange is the New Black”) , Sean Kleier (“Odd Mom Out”), Morgan Fairchild (“Chuck”), Bryan Batt (“Mad Men”), James McCaffrey (“Rescue Me”), Sarah Scott (“Soaked in Bleach”), Brock Harris (“Major Crimes”) and Stacy Keach (“American History X”), SAM will have its West Coast Premiere as part of AFI Fest on Monday, November 9th, 4:15PM screening at TCL Chinese Theatre 3, 6925 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90029!

SAM is a love story that is more than a love story. It is about love and friendship – and what happens when the two collide in the weirdest possible way. It follows the journey of Sam Wellman (Brock Harris), a man’s man and professional woman hater and his relationship with Doc (Sean Kleier), his best (and only!) friend. The morning after one very strange night, Sam awakens to find himself transformed into a woman. The wheel of Karma turns, and Sam -- now Samantha (Natalie Knepp) -- finds herself the object of her lascivious boss’s unwanted affections, all the while deepening her friendship with Doc to the point where sparks come dangerously close to flying. Can Samantha and Doc remain friends? Or will the growing chemistry between them end up destroying one of the great ‘bromances’ of all time?

Nicholas Brooks worked for twenty five years as a story editor for his father’s production company, Brooksfilms, under the tutelage of one of America’s best filmmakers. There he learned to love the art, craft and business of making movies.

Armed with that love, Nick then co-wrote Sam with John A. Gallagher, (SAM being Nick’s sixth screenplay up to that time). After a twisting, turning roller coaster of a development journey, Nick then married forty‐two Sam crew members and a roughly equal number of cast members. Their collective love, joy, craftsmanship, dedication, and sense of fun birthed a sweet little picture named Sam.

Sibyl Santiago has been involved in film, television and stage production both in the US and Asia for over 30 years. As president of Sitting Cat Productions, Sibyl has several films slated to release in 2015/2016 including the highly anticipated feature “The Prenup” from Regal Entertainment Group, Inc. (Philippines), “Enchantments” (US), “Sam” (US), pilot for “High School Noir” (US), and short film “Alibi”. Having successfully tackled roles ranging from talent management to producing and directing, Sibyl knows firsthand what it takes to bring a story from script to screen. A recent recipient of The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York, Arts & Culture Award at Carnegie Hall, Sibyl remains an active member of both SAG‐AFTRA and Actor’s Equity, and has appeared in several film, television, and Off‐Broadway productions in NYC. She trained with the Philippine Educational Theater Association, and has performed in several high profile companies including La Mama, May‐I Theater and INTAR’s “Night Over Taos”, directed by Academy award‐winning actress Estelle Parsons. Sibyl currently serves as Executive Director and Head of Programming for the SOHO International Film Festival.

Martin Koch is a British music supervisor, orchestrator, conductor, and composer who won the 2009 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations and was a co-winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Orchestrations for Billy Elliot the Musical, sharing the honor with Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt of Next to Normal. He studied at the Royal College of Music. He has served as the musical supervisor for numerous productions, including Cats, Moby Dick, Chicago, Blondel, Follies, and Into the Woods in the West End; several international tours of Les Misérables; and the United Kingdom tour of Martin Guerre. Martin made his Broadway debut as the musical director for Shirley Bassey in 1986. He orchestrated and arranged the music for Mamma Mia!, which garnered him his first Tony nomination, prior to Billy Elliot. He has recorded numerous albums, including Les Misérables: The Complete Symphonic Recording and original cast recordings of Hey, Mr. Producer!, Oliver!, and Miss Saigon. Martin orchestrated five operas by Richard Thomas, a project commissioned by the BBC. He and collaborator Nick Gilpin own and operate a music production company that has been responsible for numerous television programs and several recordings, including Jerry Springer: The Opera. Martin is currently working on a film Consider Yourself for Mob Films and PTL a musical with Sir Elton John.

Mel Brooks- director, producer, writer and actor, is in an elite group as one of the few entertainers to earn all four major entertainment prizes – the Tony, the Emmy, Grammy, and Oscar. His career began in television writing for Your Show of Shows and together with Buck Henry creating the long running TV series Get Smart. He then teamed up with Carl Reiner to write and perform the Grammy‐winning 2000 Year Old Man comedy albums & books. Brooks won his first Oscar in 1964 for writing and narrating the animated short The Critic and his second for the screenplay of his first feature film, The Producers in 1968. Many hit comedy films followed including The Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, History of the World Part I, To Be or Not to Be, Spaceballs, Life Stinks, Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Dracula: Dead and Loving It. His film company, Brooksfilms Limited also produced critically acclaimed films such as The Elephant Man, The Fly, Frances, My Favorite Year and 84 Charring Cross Road. For three successive seasons, 1997‐1999 Mel Brooks won Emmy Awards for his role as “Uncle Phil” on the hit sitcom Mad About You. Brooks received three 2001 Tony Awards and two Grammy Awards for The Producers: the New Mel Brooks Musical, which ran on Broadway from 2001 to 2006. The Producers still holds the record for the most Tony awards ever won by a Broadway musical. He followed that success with The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, which ran on Broadway from 2007 to 2009 and both musicals continue to be performed and enjoyed by audiences all over the world. In 2009 Mel Brooks received The Kennedy Center Honors, recognizing a lifetime of extraordinary contributions to American culture. In 2013 he was the subject of an Emmy winning American Masters documentary on PBS called “Mel Brooks: Make A Noise” and was the 41st recipient of the AFI’s Life Achievement Award. His recent projects include the Emmy nominated HBO comedy specials Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again, Mel Brooks Strikes Back!, and Mel Brooks Live at The Geffen.

With such an extraordinarily written, directed, and produced feature film along with a noted ensemble of fiercely talented actors and actresses, SAM is surely one of the best Romantic Comedies of the year! You won’t want to miss your chance to see for yourself when it heads to the American Film Institute’s AFI FestMonday, November 9th, 4:15PM at TCL Chinese Theatre 3, 6925 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90029!

For Tickets, Visit: http://afifest.afi.com/2015/sections/T3798

For More About SAM, Go To: www.SamTheMovie.com

Facebook: www.FaceBook.com/FeatureFilmSAM

For Press Inquiries, Contact: Rick [AT] RickEberle.com