Producer + Cinematographer + Development · Knoxville, TN · Working everywhere
Studio craft. Without the studio.
We're a team of career filmmakers who work like a studio. Producer-director Michael Samstag brings 25+ years making films for Universal, Warner Bros. Discovery and MTV. Cinematographer Dave McCauley brings thousands of hours shooting national broadcast TV, where there is no take two. Network executive Keith Thomas brings 20+ years developing unscripted series, including original programming for Magnolia Network. Together we develop, shoot, edit, color, animate, and build YouTube channels for brands, agencies, networks, and nonprofits.
Credits
Studio credits. Brand clients.
Clients
Services
What we do
One team from the first call sheet to the final export, so nothing gets lost between the shoot and the edit.
Production
Directing, shooting, and crew for commercials, interviews, and branded series, with Canon, Sony, and Blackmagic camera packages.
Post-production
Editing, color, and sound in DaVinci Resolve, plus motion graphics built for YouTube, social, and broadcast.
YouTube channels
Series, Shorts, and packaging for organizations that want an audience of their own. How it works
Faster turnarounds
AI-assisted captions, cutdowns, and versioning, with a producer’s judgment on every frame.
YouTube Channels · For brands, nonprofits, and networks
We build YouTube channels.
A single film gets one premiere. A channel keeps your story in front of people every week, with an audience you own. We plan it, shoot the flagship episode, cut the series and Shorts, and package every upload to be found.
Channel strategy
The format, the host, the release schedule, and the search terms your audience already uses.
The pilot
A flagship episode that introduces the story, sets the look, and anchors the channel.
Episodes and Shorts
Every shoot is planned for long-form episodes, vertical Shorts, and updates from the field.
Built to be found
Titles, thumbnails, descriptions, and chapters for every upload, plus a monthly look at what's working.
Client Words · What clients and collaborators say
Films that move people to give.
The single most powerful fundraising tool used by Hand Up For Women are the videos produced by Rescue Doc Films. For more than 15 years, they have told the stories of transformed lives with grit, true visual impact, compassion, and celebration. We premiere each film at our fundraising gala, and our donors have responded with well over $500,000.00!
“I hired Michael to produce filmed 360 degree tours of the Harry Potter movie sets. The shoots went smoothly, and he always had solutions if there ever were problems. He worked tirelessly around the clock without complaint, and helped to keep the crew upbeat. The final footage in the special features on the DVD looked great, and drew positive attention.”
“Michael is both a very gifted and creative director but also a no-nonsense and always-in-on-budget producer (a rare combination). There were no maps—nor even so much as a muddy road—when Michael began working with the iPIX Movies 360x360 technology but that didn’t stop him from achieving both innovative aesthetic and production solutions. In short: I’ve been in the trenches many times with Michael and he always—always—comes through when it counts. And he will for you, too.”
More recommendations on LinkedIn.
New · Ep 16 · I Filmed Hogwarts in 360° Before VR Existed
The Show · New episodes on YouTube
Call Sheet Confidential
Call Sheet Confidential is the no-nonsense masterclass for career filmmakers, DPs, and editors who have moved past the unboxing phase. We are here to talk about the real, unvarnished set talk—the shared experiences of production life that every pro knows but rarely discusses on camera. From the camaraderie of long-haul set days to the unspoken language of a veteran crew, we dive into the stories that define our craft.
Partner With Us
Put your brand inside the craft.
Call Sheet Confidential is made for filmmakers, editors, and creators. Partners get content built by a studio-level team, not just a mention. We work with camera, lighting, audio, and software brands, creator tools, film schools, and festivals.
Co-branded episode
A full episode built around your product in real use, with your name on the title card and in the description.
Best for launchesSegment sponsor
A 30–60 second integrated segment, an on-screen credit, and your link in the description and pinned comment.
Best for awarenessProduction package
We shoot and edit your own demos, tutorials, and case studies in the show's style.
Best for brand assetsSeries partner
Presenting credit across a season, plus Shorts cutdowns and social posts.
Best for long-term fit
The Team · Producer & Director
Michael Samstag, producer and director
For 25+ years Michael has produced for studios, networks, and brands, from the Harry Potter DVD special features to award-winning wildlife documentaries. He is also the co-founder of Rescue Doc Films, which makes documentaries on wildlife, animal welfare, and veterans.
Today he pairs that craft with the newest tools in post, so clients get studio-level work on a realistic schedule. He's based in Knoxville, Tennessee, and works wherever the story is.
Director of Photography
David McCauley, cinematographer
Dave is a career owner-operator DP with thousands of hours of national broadcast TV behind the camera, where there is no take two. He shoots cinematography, photography, and aerials.
He's happiest on character-driven documentaries, historical content, and true-crime recreations, where every episode plays like a dramatic short film. He co-hosts Call Sheet Confidential.
Network Executive · Host, 3 Things Creators Can Steal
Keith Thomas, network executive
Keith is a network executive with more than 20 years in unscripted television, streaming, and digital. As Director of Content at Warner Bros. Discovery, he led original programming for Magnolia Network, and today he is co-founder of Bright Idea Media Solutions in Atlanta.
On Call Sheet Confidential he hosts 3 Things Creators Can Steal, breaking down what the biggest names in video do and how you can use it on your next project.
Free guide · For the email list
The Archival Workflow.
Our 8-page guide to how we wrap, verify, and catalog every project, so any clip is findable years later without plugging in a single drive. It's the system we run on every job, from the Resolve wrap to Carbon Copy Cloner and NeoFinder.
- The five-phase lifecycle, from active edit to rapid retrieval
- Folder and naming structure that keeps every project searchable
- Checksum-verified archive transfers with Carbon Copy Cloner
- Offline cataloging in NeoFinder, plus a printable wrap-day checklist
Bonus: the call sheet and shot list we use on our own shoots, as fillable PDFs and a Google Sheets version.
You're on the list. Check your inbox to confirm, and grab your downloads here:
Contact
Let's make something people watch.
Tell us about the project and we'll get back to you within two business days.