ABF Season 4 - Meet the Crew: Sam Watson
Our newest addition to the Writers Room for A Bad Feeling Horror Podcast in Season 4 is the super spooky Sam Watson! Tune in this season to catch his story, The House Rules.
Sam Watson
Writer
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Connect with Sam:
IG/X/Bluesky/Threads: @sambwrite
Sam Watson is a Black, biracial, Ukrainian American television writer, who writes about identity and generational trauma. Sam was the 2024 winner of The Oscar Micheaux Prize for his pilot Sofia & Dan vs. and the 2023 winner of the Prime Time TV Pilot Prize (sponsored by Comcast & NBC Universal) and The Oscar Micheaux Prize again in the Greater Philadelphia Film office's Set in Philadelphia Contest for his pilot script Magical Negro. Sam is represented by Logical Talent Management.
Where are you from originally?
Philadelphia, PA
creating outside of LA, what are some of the unique opportunities you've found that make you glad to create from where you are? Have you experienced any challenges creating from where you are?
I feel fortunate that I've been able to get a manager and make connections and friendships with really talented folks that do a range of work within the industry even though I'm not based out of LA. I think that goes to show just how possible it is for people outside of LA to actually get work. It's not to say that there aren't obviously people who make living in LA feasible, but for a lot of people, it's so expensive and you have to weigh living there with possibly going bankrupt. For me and my family, there's no way we could afford it. So it's really, really nice to still feel connected to LA and the industry.
What do you consider to be your major creative influences, across genres?
Most of my influences for sure come from television. Buffy for life! That show meant and still means the world to me. But there also incredible shows like Justified that I return to time and time again especially when I feel stuck on a project and I need to have the fantastic dialogue and use of subtext from that show in my ears.
What's your favorite scary story, across mediums?
This is SO HARD to answer. I want to pick one of the classics. Like Dracula, or the original Night of the Living Dead. There's Shaun of the Dead and its beautiful mixture of horror and comedy. The same with Evil Dead 2. But I'll go with The Haunting of Hill House. The way that series mixes the horror with the exploration of family trauma... it's a beautiful show.
Did you go to school for writing or are you self taught? What do you think are the pros and cons of the path you took?
I didn't go to film school. When I decided to take screenwriting seriously, I researched a ton about proper formatting and read scripts. I also made sure to seek out notes from other writers.
If you could've written any great horror film first, which one do you wish you had done and why?
Sinners! Everything about that film is what my work is interested in. Using horror to explore identity and the trauma inflicted on groups of people from society based on their identities. The music, too! Hell, my supernatural pilot Magical Negro has total Sinners vibes. No vampires, but it takes place in pre-civil war Philadelphia, and is about a rebellious Black man, who is a personified good luck charm, who runs afoul of powerful city officials and must survive the bullet-riddled consequences if his thriving Black community is to persist. I connected with Sinners on every level.
What advice do you have for creatives that are just starting out?
The biggest thing for me was finding a group of people that I trusted to give me honest feedback on my work. It's how you improve. And of course making genuine friendships along the way. Looking at everyone as a purely networking opportunity can be so obvious and off putting.
Listen to His Stories
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Listen to His Stories 〰️
On Halloween night a superstitious teen is stalked by a legendary creature of Mexican folklore. In his attempt to get home safely he discovers that not all monsters are as they seem.