From Hollywood to Tigertown: Meet world cinema’s newest lecturer and Emmy-nominated producer
Sam Sokolow is on a mission to teach Clemson University students how to make films. But limiting the matter to that shortens the effort. With Sokolow’s guidance, more Clemson students will know what it takes to make commercials, documentaries and television shows.
The two-time Emmy-nominated Hollywood film and television producer completed his first semester at Clemson teaching filmmaking to world cinema students during the fall. Sokoloff has found a permanent home upstate after moving this summer from Los Angeles with his wife and actress Julia Fowler.
The growing World Cinema program has long offered respected courses in film theory and literature. Sokoloff says he was drawn to Clemson because of program director John Smith’s desire for students to learn how to produce products from the ground up. Smith hired the man to do this.
“I have several great course ideas that I want to create,” Sokoloff said. “They want to grow, so let’s see if we can grow this thing.”
Sokolow is a New York native and Boston University graduate. The film industry has been an integral part of his family since his birth, with both parents being producers in New York during the 1970s. His older brother, Alec, is an Oscar-nominated screenwriter for his work on “Toy Story.”
After graduating with a degree in communications in 1991, Sokoloff worked as a crime reporter at the New York Daily News. He learned about the human condition by covering tragedy on the job. But Sokolov wanted to break into the film industry.
So he made it happen. Sokoloff admitted it took showmanship, but producing enough commercials and freelance jobs led him to write, produce and direct an independent film with a friend in 1997. The duo sold it online through Amazon, a distribution method that was unheard of in 1999. .
“I no longer need Hollywood for 35 million people to catch a glimpse of it,” Sokolow told the New York Times in 2000.
Throughout the 2000s, Sokoloff produced shows for CMT, MTV, and Oxygen. He found mainstream success as an executive producer in 2017 during the release of “Genius,” a biographical anthology drama series on National Graphic. It also happened to be the network’s first scripted series. The pilot season depicts the life of Albert Einstein, based on the 2007 book “Einstein: His Life and the Universe” by Walter Isaacson.
More seasons were ordered after the Emmy nominations began. Season 2 focused on Pablo Picasso, Season 3 on Aretha Franklin, and Season 4 premieres February 1, 2024 on National Geographic. The next day, the episodes will be released on Disney+ and Hulu. The new eight-episode season focuses on Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X during Black History Month.
Sokolow’s interview with Clemson News has been edited for length and clarity.
Clemson News: Please share how your journey from Los Angeles led you to Clemson.
Sam Sokolow: “About a year ago, my wife and I decided we wanted to move to South Carolina to be closer to family. My in-laws live in Gaffney. I love teaching. I had an idea to help build a film school, but I wasn’t sure what was going on here.”
“There were opportunities in Myrtle Beach, Columbia and Charleston with film programs. I emailed everyone saying I was a two-time Emmy nominee and moved to South Carolina and taught for 10 years at Boston University in Los Angeles. I gigged a little bit there and got emails From everyone.
“John Smith was the most aggressive and he immediately attacked me. The program was moving under Interdisciplinary Studies, and I could get in on the ground floor. Clemson had film theory and history, which are all important courses, but we needed production,” he said. “We agreed in mid-July.” /July, and here I was a month later. Right now, I’m teaching filmmaking for mobile media, which is basically an introduction to production, to about 20 students and supervising hands-on training.
CN: What was your role in bringing “Genius” to life?
SS: “Once we had the script we believed in, we pitched it to Ron Howard, the dream director for the subject. Convincing Ron to come in and do live TV was a big deal. Walter Isaacson’s book was our primary source, and Noah Pink wrote a great script. Nat Geo purchased By Fox and they had a big war chest. I suggested we take it to Nat Geo, almost like Netflix needed “House of Cards” as their first big show. They needed an anchor.
“Ron’s producing partner had a meeting very quickly and had everyone saying ‘yes’ to Einstein and the entire series. The season was a huge success and was watched by 50 million people around the world. It was my first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Limited Series and an amazing experience.”
CN: What motivates you?
SS: “I have a very active approach to life where you try to get what you want. I never believed I was the type of person that someone could point to in the lineup and say, ‘Hey, you’re special.’ That came through doing some acting.” “Early on in my career and realizing that while I thought I was worth something, I wasn’t involved in anything. So you have to go make things happen. I became a very active participant in my life experience. I have to go for what I want.”
“You have to be able to take ‘no’ for an answer, and you only get there by asking. Yes comes. I’ve never been shy about asking anything. The worst thing you can hear is ‘no’, and then you can check it off your list.” And stop thinking about it. Part of me is amazed because I just finished my first semester at Clemson. The feedback is great. The dean wants to grow, and it works because I picked up the phone. Clemson was always the place I wanted to be more than ever.
CN: What was your time like with the Clemson Undergrads?
SS: “It’s been inspiring, exciting and fulfilling. I didn’t know what to expect when I took the job and came here. I’ve been pleasantly surprised and, in some cases, blown away by the level of talent and energy that the students here have. They have a desire to make good films, and I think they’ve learned a lot Our first semester together. I try to teach them the process so they know how to create what they want.
“The people are wonderful, and Dr. Smith is so wonderful and supportive. He shares my ambition to build this film school. It’s all about the students and I’m proud of them.”
Contact us and we will connect you with the author or another expert.
Or email us at news@clemson.edu
