Samuel Joseph Qualiana (born April 10, 1986)[1] is an American filmmaker and actor who has been involved in many low-budget horror film productions, most notably the 2012 film Snow Shark.
Sam Qualiana | |
|---|---|
| Born | Samuel Joseph Qualiana April 10, 1986 Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Filmmaker, actor |
| Years active | 1998–present |
Life and career
editQualiana was born in Worcester, Massachusetts as the son of C. J. Qualiana, and has become known for directing, producing, and acting in various low budget horror films since 1998.[2] His first appearance in a major film was an uncredited role in the 2006 Troma film Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead. In 2010 and 2011, he directed and starred in several short films, including Swamp Squad of the Dead and No Road Out. At the Buffalo Screams Horror Film Festival in 2010, Qualiana won the Filmmaker to Watch Award, and the following year, won the festival's Best Western New York Horror Short award for his film Something After Midnight.[2]
He became more well-known during the production of his debut feature film, Snow Shark, which was filmed in 2011 and released in 2012.[3] He served as the film's director, as well as one of its main actors and editors. The film was shot in Buffalo, New York and in Lockport, and was partially funded by an Indiegogo campaign launched by Qualiana with a fundraising goal of $3,000.[4] The film premiered at Dipson's Amherst Theater in Buffalo on April 10, 2012.[5] On May 12, the film made its film festival premiere when it was screened at the South Bronx Film Festival.[6]
The second feature film directed by Qualiana was The Legend of Six Fingers, which was released in 2014. His third feature, Lake Effect, which began filming in Royalton, New York in early 2015, is currently in post-production.[7][8] The film's title is a reference to the weather phenomenon known as lake-effect snow.[9] The film was partially funded by an Indiegogo campaign with a flexible goal of $2,000.[9] Production was challenged by temperamental weather conditions.[9][10] One of the film's producers, Greg Lamberson, stated that the feature "will definitely be [Qualiana's] best film. It’s a scary story, and he’s really evolved as a director and a cinematographer."[11] The film left the production stage in early 2016, and post-production visual effects has begun.[12] As of February 2020, there have been no new updates on the film.
Selected filmography
editAs director
edit- Swamp Squad of the Dead (2010 short)
- No Road Out (2010 short)
- Something After Midnight (2011 short)
- Norm/yle (2012 short)
- Snow Shark (2012)
- The Legend of Six Fingers (2014)
- Lake Effect (2016)
- Post Apocalyptic Commando Shark (2018)
As actor
edit- Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2006)
- Swamp Squad of the Dead (2010 short)
- No Road Out (2010 short)
- Zombie Babies (2011)
- Something After Midnight (2011 short)
- Porkchop II: Rise of the Rind (2011)
- Crimson: The Motion Picture (2011)
- Black Guy on a Rampage 3: Angel of Death (2011 short)
- Norm/yle (2012 short)
- Snow Shark (2012)
- Porkchop 3D (2012)
- Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1 (2013)
- The Legend of Six Fingers (2014)
- Within (2014)
- Killer Rack (2015)
- Lake Effect (2016)
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Buffalo Screams Horror Film Festival | Filmmaker to Watch Award | No Road Out | Won | [2] |
| 2011 | Best Western New York Horror Short | Something After Midnight | Won | [2] |
References
edit- ^ "Sam Qualiana - Director - Actor - Screenwriter - Cinematographer". Moviefone. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
- ^ a b c d Wells, Mitchell (10 May 2012). "Casting: Sam Qualiana". Horror Society. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
- ^ Moore, Debi (12 June 2011). "Snow Shark: Ancient Snow Beast Wraps Production; More Behind-the-Scenes Stills". Dread Central.
- ^ Moore, Debi (5 February 2011). "Production Under Way on Indie Feature Snow Shark: Ancient Snow Beast". Dread Central. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ "New Trailer, Stills, & Release Date for Snow Shark: Ancient Snow Beast". AnythingHorror. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ "'Snow Shark' Heads Right for Your Living Room". HorrorNews.Net. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ Moore, Debi (16 February 2016). "It's a Wrap for Lake Effect – New Stills!". Dread Central. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
- ^ "Lake Effect – A Winter Creature Feature". Buffalo Rising. 14 February 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ a b c Moore, Debi (10 March 2015). "First Details and Images from Sam Qualiana's Lake Effect". Dread Central. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ Wells, Mitchell (25 February 2016). "Sam Qualana's LAKE EFFECT Wraps Production". Horror Society. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ Wells, Mitchell (25 February 2016). "Sam Qualana's LAKE EFFECT Wraps Production". Horror Society. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ Moore, Debi (16 February 2016). "It's a Wrap for Lake Effect – New Stills!". Dread Central. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
External links
edit- Sam Qualiana at IMDb