Samantha came into the TV and film industry after having a spent time living and travelling abroad in Israel, Cyprus, Australasia and South East Asia. She initially studied hair dressing, make-up and wig making with hopes of working in special effects make-up and puppetry. At the time, the industry was a closed shop, so she went off travelling and studied science and technology and computer science with the Open University.

Finally, her calling was back to the world of TV and film where she began running in post production, then art directing on short and low budget films. From there, her passion brought her to the visual arts. Samantha has now worked in the camera department for 18 years on high-end TV drama, (House of the Dragon S1, The Great S3) and occasionally films and commercials. She has been a 1st AC/focus puller since 2015 and is progressing to the next grade of camera operator.

Samantha continually keeps up to date with the technology and equipment needed by an operator, practicing her skills and training with the ACO (Association of Camera Operators) and The GBCT (Guild of British Camera Technicians).

The courses and workshops in which Samantha has participated are: The GBCT steadicam course with Pete Robertson BSC (Atonement, The Little Mermaid); focus pulling workshop with Dean Thompson GBCT (Belfast, No Time To Die); lens workshop with Richard Bradbury GBCT (The Diplomat, Killing Eve).

The ACO’s camera operator masterclass workshop with Danny Bishop (All quiet on the western front) and Pete Robertson BSC; steadicam workshop with Richard Willard (Manhunt, Wonder Woman 1984); geared head workshops and geared head on crane training with Sean Savage (Game of Thrones, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom).

She reinforces her training with regular hands-on practice on the latest equipment available at rental houses such as Panavision, Procam and Take 2. Samantha is a proud member of the Women Behind Camera group aimed at supporting women in the technical side of the industry and she has helped mentor women coming into TV and Film.

Samantha is currently a HETV Leader of Tomorrow. Participants in the three-year inclusion programme for mid-level professionals are nominated by senior colleagues in high-end TV. Her nominator Catherine Derry said: “Samantha has been working her way up for the camera department for many years and has expressed an interest in camera operating for some time now. She is extremely competent and a good collaborator. Samantha is more than capable of stepping up and excelling in her career.”

And by Neville Kidd DOP

“Samantha was chosen as she had such a complete understanding of the industry, her experience and knowledge showed us she was ready to step up. I felt she would benefit enormously from the programmes support and training, to have more responsibility and as a result the industry would benefit from her skillset, enthusiasm and leadership. A win win!”

1. The Greatest show that never was

   Netflix · Dec 2022 - Dec 2023

   B camera daily

2. The Great S3

   Yekaterina UK · Jun 2022 - Oct 2022

   Focus puller for C camera and dailies For A and B Camera.

3. Dr Jekyll

   BGood Pictures · Jan 2021 - Mar 2022

   A camera Focus Puller, Movi and Ronin tech

4. The House of the Dragon S1

   HBO · Jul 2021 - Nov 2021

   C & B camera dailies Focus Puller

5. The Power

   Sister Pictures · Aug 2021 - Aug 2021

   C camera Focus Puller and A camera dailes

6. Holby City

   BBC Sytudios · Jul 2019 - Mar 2020

   A camera focus puller

7. The Dutchess S1

   Huron Productions · Jun 2019 - Oct 2019

   B camera focus puller

1. Mentoring for mentees

   ScreenSkills Learning · Feb 2024

   ScreenSkills Funded

2. High-end TV encouraging good working: in practice

   Addie Orfila and Alison Surtees · Mar 2024

   ScreenSkills Funded

3. Group coaching for Leaders of Tomorrow cohort 3

   ScreenSkills · Apr 2024

   ScreenSkills Funded

4. Understanding Access Needs on Set for Productions - Leaders of Tomorrow

   ScreenSkills · May 2024

   ScreenSkills Funded

5. Developing the art of successful negotiation for Leaders of Tomorrow

   ScreenSkills · Mar 2024

   ScreenSkills Funded

6. Virtual Production Webinar series 2024 - 2025: Looking at Virtual Production Roles

   ScreenSkills · Oct 2024

   ScreenSkills Funded

7. Discussing virtual production techniques used on House of the Dragon seasons 1 & 2

   ScreenSkills · Nov 2024

   ScreenSkills Funded

8. Leaders of Tomorrow Induction session

   ScreenSkills · Mar 2024

   ScreenSkills Funded

9. Mental health awareness workshop for Leaders of Tomorrow

   ScreenSkills · Feb 2024

   ScreenSkills Funded

10. Building your Professional Portfolio for Leaders of Tomorrow

    ScreenSkills · Oct 2024

    ScreenSkills Funded

11. Resilience workshops for Leaders of Tomorrow

    ScreenSkills · Jul 2024

    ScreenSkills Funded

12. Path to success: Self-promotion and CV advice for mid-level crew in HETV

    Mission Accomplished · Feb 2024

    ScreenSkills Funded

13. HETV Make a Move 2022/23

    ScreenSkills · Mar 2024

    ScreenSkills Funded

14. Work well series

    ScreenSkills Learning Series · Aug 2023 - Jun 2024

    ScreenSkills Funded

15. Mentoring for mentees

    ScreenSkills Learning · Nov 2023

    ScreenSkills Funded

16. Tackling harassment and bullying at work

    ScreenSkills Learning · Aug 2023

    ScreenSkills Funded

17. Introduction to mental health awareness at work

    ScreenSkills Learning · Jul 2023

    ScreenSkills Funded

18. Leaders of Tomorrow Induction session

    ScreenSkills · Nov 2023

    ScreenSkills Funded

19. Addressing unconscious bias: basic awareness in the workplace

    ScreenSkills Test · Jun 2022

    ScreenSkills Funded

20. Coronavirus basic awareness on production training

    ScreenSkills Test · Dec 2021

    ScreenSkills Funded

21. Coronavirus basic awareness on production training

    ScreenSkills Test · Jan 2021

    ScreenSkills Funded

22. Coronavirus basic awareness on production training

    ScreenSkills Test · Jul 2020

    ScreenSkills Funded

23. Mentoring for mentees

    ScreenSkills Learning · Aug 2020

    ScreenSkills Funded

• High-end TV encouraging good working: in practice

  Screenskills Training Course · Addie Orfila and Alison Surtees
  Issued 4 Mar 2024

• Mentoring for mentees

  Screenskills Learning
  Issued 22 Feb 2024

• Mentoring for mentees

  Screenskills Learning
  Issued 8 Nov 2023

• Tackling harassment and bullying at work

  Screenskills Learning
  Issued 17 Aug 2023

• Introduction to mental health awareness at work

  Screenskills Learning
  Issued 26 Jul 2023

• Mentoring for mentees

  Screenskills Learning
  Issued 3 Aug 2020