Sam Longoria
Encyclopedia
Sam Longoria is an American
independent filmmaker and former Hollywood visual effects
engineer.
Longoria began making movies in 1970 at the age of 14. He made a feature-length 35 mm film
in Enumclaw, Washington
, moved to Hollywood in 1978, with occasional film and theatre work in Portland, Oregon, New York, and Chicago.
Longoria's Hollywood work, (frequently uncredited) begins in the 1980s, as a member of the technical crew on films such as Ghost Busters, 2010, Return to Oz
, and Captain EO
.
In 1985, he photographed President Ronald Reagan
in the White House for a large-format film documentary.
In 1992, he created 35 mm projected backgrounds from small-format film and video elements, for Peter Sellars
's production of Paul Hindemith
's Opera Mathis der Maler, at London's Royal Opera House
, Covent Garden
.
More recently, Longoria built camera electronics for 1994 film
Terminal Velocity
, optically enlarged Charlie Sheen
and Martin Sheen
's Super 8 mm home movies for 1999 film
Five Aces, and performed hydraulic special effects on 1997 film
Dante's Peak
, which had the
largest water dump (650,000 gallons, weighing 5.4 million pounds) in cinema history.
Longoria is a member of the Visual Effects Society
in Hollywood, and focuses now on making his own films.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
independent filmmaker and former Hollywood visual effects
Visual effects
Visual effects are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shoot. Visual effects involve the integration of live-action footage and generated imagery to create environments which look realistic, but would be dangerous, costly, or...
engineer.
Longoria began making movies in 1970 at the age of 14. He made a feature-length 35 mm film
35 mm film
35 mm film is the film gauge most commonly used for chemical still photography and motion pictures. The name of the gauge refers to the width of the photographic film, which consists of strips 35 millimeters in width...
in Enumclaw, Washington
Enumclaw, Washington
Enumclaw is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,669 at the 2010 census.The Enumclaw Plateau, on which the city resides, was formed by a volcanic mudflow from Mount Rainier approximately 5,700 years ago....
, moved to Hollywood in 1978, with occasional film and theatre work in Portland, Oregon, New York, and Chicago.
Longoria's Hollywood work, (frequently uncredited) begins in the 1980s, as a member of the technical crew on films such as Ghost Busters, 2010, Return to Oz
Return to Oz
Return to Oz is a 1985 film which is an unofficial sequel to Victor Fleming's The Wizard of Oz. The film is based on the second and third Oz books, The Marvelous Land of Oz and Ozma of Oz...
, and Captain EO
Captain EO
Captain EO is a 3-D science fiction film starring Michael Jackson and directed by Francis Ford Coppola that was shown at Disney theme parks from 1986 through the 1990s...
.
In 1985, he photographed President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
in the White House for a large-format film documentary.
In 1992, he created 35 mm projected backgrounds from small-format film and video elements, for Peter Sellars
Peter Sellars
Peter Sellars is an American theatre director, noted for his unique contemporary stagings of classical and contemporary operas and plays...
's production of Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...
's Opera Mathis der Maler, at London's Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
.
More recently, Longoria built camera electronics for 1994 film
1994 in film
1994 was a significant year in film.The top grosser worldwide was The Lion King, which to date stands as the highest-grossing traditionally-animated film of all time...
Terminal Velocity
Terminal Velocity (film)
Terminal Velocity is a 1994 action movie starring Charlie Sheen as a daredevil skydiver who becomes mixed up with Russian spies. It was written by David Twohy and directed by Deran Sarafian. Originally, Sheen's role was written for Tom Cruise, although William Baldwin was also considered. The...
, optically enlarged Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen
Carlos Irwin Estevez , better known by his stage name Charlie Sheen, is an American film and television actor. He is the youngest son of actor Martin Sheen....
and Martin Sheen
Martin Sheen
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez , better known by his stage name Martin Sheen, is an American film actor best known for his performances in the films Badlands and Apocalypse Now , and in the television series The West Wing from 1999 to 2006.He is considered one of the best actors never to be...
's Super 8 mm home movies for 1999 film
1999 in film
The year 1999 in film involved several noteworthy events and has been called "The Year That Changed Movies". Several significant feature films, including Stanley Kubrick's final film Eyes Wide Shut, Pedro Almodóvar's first Oscar-winning film All About My Mother, science fiction The Matrix, Deep...
Five Aces, and performed hydraulic special effects on 1997 film
1997 in film
-Events:* The original Star Wars trilogy's Special Editions are released.* Production begins on Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.* Titanic becomes the first film to gross US$1,000,000,000 at the box office making it the highest grossing film in history until Avatar broke the record in 2010.*...
Dante's Peak
Dante's Peak
Dante's Peak is a 1997 disaster film directed by Roger Donaldson, written by Leslie Bohem, and starring Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton and Charles Hallahan. The film portrays the effect of a volcano erupting near a small town in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The film is loosely...
, which had the
largest water dump (650,000 gallons, weighing 5.4 million pounds) in cinema history.
Longoria is a member of the Visual Effects Society
Visual Effects Society
The Visual Effects Society is the entertainment industry's only organization representing the full breadth of visual effects practitioners including artists, animators, technologists, model makers, educators, studio leaders, supervisors, PR/marketing specialists and producers in all areas of...
in Hollywood, and focuses now on making his own films.