San Antonio Native Teaching the Next Generation of Filmmakers

Samuel Ali founded Texas Made Films in December of 2017 by connecting with his alma mater, Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio, Texas. After 10 years of pursuing his passion, Samuel Ali wanted to help his community in San Antonio grow and return to a major film destination like it was in the 1950s by giving hands-on training on set to anyone of any age willing and able to learn.

Texas Made Films will create their third short film for festival for the Austin 48 hour Sci-Fi Film Project November 2-4 2018. Teams randomly draw a sci-based genre out of a hat and are assigned three requirements: a prop, a line of dialogue, and a character with a specific profession. The teams are given 48 hours to write, shoot, edit and turn in a 4-7 min short film that will screen at a theater and be eligible for awards.

In August 2018, Texas Made Films competed in the San Antonio 48 hour film project. They attempted the most ambitious film possible, a musical western with dancing horses and children. The film started Larissa Dali and Jason Campbell. The Texas icon Wally Welsh, from Loansome Dove and Yellowstone, was attached and played the narrator. The film will screen in San Antonio at the Park North Alamo Draft House in San Antonio, Sunday September 16 at 6:15 and 8:30 PM in Group A.

In June 2018, Texas Made Films competed in the Austin 48 hour film project. Their first film, The Quick and the Undead, was nominated for 7 awards, including cinematography, and won 2 awards, best costumes and best titling.

Samuel Ali’s bio:

“Samuel Ali was born in San Antonio, TX. His first legitimate job was working at Hollywood Video when he was 16 years old. While in high school he created two comedic music video renditions of popular songs and his first documentary.

While attending Loyola Marymount University for his bachelors in Finance and interning in the office for Capitol Films and Unity Film Productions in Los Angeles, CA, Samuel got the bug. After leaving school he moved to Honolulu, Hawaii to work in event production and pursue his dream of producing his own films. That is where he discovered the underground short film contest Showdown in Chinatown and the 48 hour film project, where he began producing his own shorts, that ultimately led to his first deals in commercials, and music videos.

Since his return to Texas in 2015 he has continued to expand and grow his productions as well as helping his community grow. Samuel Ali currently works for Janet Urban’s online mentorship program Friends in Film as a Mentor, he produced and directed his debut Feature film Spring Breakdown in 2018, and currently has 15 film awards."

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