Sam Davis (producer)
Sam Davis (born 1964 in New York City, New York) is a German-American film producer. He is the founder of Germany-based production company Rowboat Film- und Fernsehproduktion, and lives and works in Cologne.

Life
Davis is a graduate of the University of Southern California and studied German at UCLA. After working at 20th Century Fox, he founded his own company Insight Out Films. In 1992, Davis moved to Frankfurt (Germany), where he wrote and directed the documentary ”Warum wir hier sind“ (“Why we´re here”) for the BBC and WDR. From 1993 until 1998, he was head of the TV Movie Department at RTL Television in Cologne. During this time, he was responsible for the development and production of approximately 100 TV movies and miniseries. He introduced Germany to the made-for-TV movie.[1]
In 1998, Davis became a partner and Co-CEO of Cologne-based production company Zeitsprung.[2] He produced event productions, TV movies and series.
From 2004 until 2009, Davis took charge of the German Fiction department of Endemol Germany where he was responsible for TV movie and series productions "Liebe ohne Rückfahrschein", "Mr. Nanny - Ein Mann für Mama" and the two-part "London, Liebe, Taubenschlag".
In January 2010, Davis co-founded and became CEO of Rowboat Film- und Fernsehproduktion.[3][4] Rowboat's first TV movie A Day for a Miracle premiered at the Hamburg Film Festival in 2011. In 2012 Davis won the ROMY prize in Austria for Best Producer for A Day for a Miracle. At the International Emmy Award 2013 A Day for a Miracle won in the category TV Movie/Mini-Series.[5][6] Since then Davis has produced Murder by the Lake and Professor T and Faster Than Fear.[7][8]
Davis is married and has four children.
Awards and nominations
- 2012: ROMY, Best TV Producer for A Day for a Miracle[9] At the International Emmy Award 2013 A Day for a Miracle won in the category TV Movie/Mini-Series.[10]
- 2013: International Emmy Award, Best TV Movie/Miniseries for A Day for a Miracle[11]
- 2014: Hamburg Producers Award, Nominated for Best German Television Film for The cold Truth[12]
- 2015: Hamburg Producers Award, Nominated for Best German Television Film for Trust me[13]
- 2019: Hamburg Producers Award, Nominated for Best German Television Film for Skin and Bones[14]
- 2021: Hamburg Producers Award, Nominated for Best German Television Film for Take me Home[15]
- 2021: Hamburg Producers Award, Nominated for Best German Television Series for Faster Than Fear[16]
- 2022: German Television Award, Nomintaed for Best Miniseries for Faster than Fear[17]
- 2022: Seoul International Drama Awards, Best TV Movie for Take me Home[18]
Filmography
- 1993: Tödliche Lüge
- 1993: Das Schicksal der Lilian H.
- 1994: Eine Mutter kämpft um ihren Sohn
- 1994: Weihnachten mit Willy Wuff
- 1994: Judgment Day
- 1994: Mein Kind soll leben
- 1994: Das ist dein Ende
- 1994: Blut an der Wiege
- 1995: Tödliches Leben
- 1995: Der Räuber mit der sanften Hand
- 1995: Mörderische Zwillinge
- 1995: Mit verbundenen Augen
- 1995: Anwalt Martin Berg – Im Auftrag der Gerechtigkeit: Mord im Klinikum
- 1995: Alle lieben Willy Wuff
- 1996: Die Flughafenklinik
- 1996: Zwei Leben hat die Liebe
- 1996: The Venus Killer
- 1996: Die Stimme des Mörders
- 1996: Ein sauberer Mord: Tod in der Reinigungsfirma
- 1996: Der Parkhausmörder
- 1996: Child Murder
- 1996: You Are Not Alone: The Roy Black Story
- 1996: Adrenalin
- 1996: 5 Stunden Angst – Geiselnahme im Kindergarten
- 1997: Frucht der Gewalt
- 1997: Sexy Lissy
- 1997: Das verflixte Babyjahr – Nie wieder Sex?
- 1997: Der Todesbus
- 1997: Tod eines Lehrers – Eine Schule unter Verdacht
- 1997: Thalia – Königin der Liebe
- 1997: Sünde einer Nacht
- 1997: Nina – vom Kinderzimmer in Bordell
- 1997: Mörderischer wohnen – Der Tod des letzten Mieters
- 1997: Die Lüge in deinen Augen
- 1997: Kalte Küsse
- 1997: Geisterstunde – Fahrstuhl ins Jenseits
- 1997: Die Friseuse und der Millionär
- 1997: Ferkel Fritz
- 1997: Blutige Scheidung
- 1997: Der stille Herr Genardy
- 1997: Die Mädchenfalle – Der Tod kommt online
- 1997: Sieben Feuer des Todes – Code Red
- 1998: Vickys Albtraum
- 1998: Silvias Bauch – Zwei Männer und (k)ein Baby
- 1998: Sieben Tage bis zum Glück
- 1998: Meine Frau liebt zwei
- 1998: Florian – Liebe aus ganzem Herzen
- 1998: Liebe mich bis in den Tod
- 1998: Höllische Nachbarn
- 1998: Herzbeben – Die Nacht, die alles änderte
- 1998: Die heilige Hure
- 1998: Gigolo – Bei Anruf Liebe
- 1998: Du hast mir meine Familie geraubt
- 1998: Das Callgirl
- 1998: The Beast in the Lake
- 1998: Zerschmetterte Träume – Eine Liebe in Fesseln
- 1998: Das Miststück
- 1998: Florian – Liebe aus ganzem Herzen
- 1999: Die Singlefalle – Liebesspiele bis in den Tod
- 1999: Paul und Clara – Liebe vergeht nie
- 2000: Liebe pur
- 2000: Anna H. – Geliebte, Ehefrau und Hure
- 2000: Laila – Unsterblich verliebt
- 2001: Mircomania
- 2001: Todeslust
- 2001: Die Frau, die Freundin und der Vergewaltiger
- 2001: Victor – Der Schutzengel
- 2001: Pest – Die Rückkehr
- 2001: Die heimlichen Blicke des Mörders
- 2001: Kleiner Mann sucht großes Herz
- 2002: Zwei Affären und eine Hochzeit
- 2002: Flitterwochen im Treppenhaus
- 2002: Traumprinz in Farbe
- 2003: A Light in Dark Places
- 2003: Krista
- 2004: Liebe ohne Rückfahrschein
- 2005: Brautpaar auf Probe
- 2005: Ein Hund, zwei Koffer und die ganz große Liebe
- 2005: Eine Prinzessin zum Verlieben
- 2006: Maja Paradies
- 2006: Meine bezaubernde Feindin
- 2006: Mr. Nanny – ein Mann für Mama
- 2006: Zwei Bräute und eine Affäre
- 2007: Der geheimnisvolle Schwiegersohn
- 2008: Kleine Lüge für die Liebe
- 2008: Vier Tage Toskana
- 2008: Zoogeflüster – Komm mir nicht ins Gehege!
- 2009: 40+ sucht neue Liebe
- 2009: London, Liebe, Taubenschlag
- 2009: London, Liebe, Taubenschlag: Klapprad oder Klapperstorch
- 2011: A Day for a Miracle (Director: Andreas Prochaska)[19]
- 2011: Summer in Alsace (Director: Michael Keusch)[20]
- 2012: The End of Lies (Director: Marcus O.Rosenmüller)[21]
- 2014: On the Road with Elsa (Director: Bettine Woernle)[22]
- 2013: Summer in Portugal (Director: Michael Keusch)[23]
- 2013: The Homecoming (Director: Olaf Kreinsen)[24]
- 2013: Murder by the Lake - The Celtic Mystery (Director: Andreas Linke)[25]
- 2014: The Cold Truth (Director: Franziska Meletzky)[26]
- 2014: Murder by the Lake 2 - Family Issues (Director: Andreas Linke)[27]
- 2015: Trust me (Director: Franziska Meletzky)[28]
- 2015: Because I Love You ... (Director: Christina Schiewe)[29]
- 2015: Murder by the Lake 3 - The Sleepwalker (Director: Andreas Linke)[30]
- 2016: Murder by the Lake 4 - Till Death do them part (Director: Hannu Salonen)[31]
- 2016: Murder by the Lake 5 - The Girl who loved to laugh (Director: Hannu Salonen)[32]
- 2016: Professor T (series) Season 1 (Director: Thomas Jahn)[33]
- 2016: Wedding in Rome (Director: Olaf Kreinsen)[34]
- 2017: Murder by the Lake 6 - The Return (Director: Hannu Salonen)[35]
- 2017: Murder by the Lake 7 - The fourth Woman (Director: Hannu Salonen)[36]
- 2017: Professor T (series) Season 2 (Director: Thomas Jahn)[37]
- 2018: Murder by the Lake 8 - Death in the Forest (Director: Michael Schneider)[38]
- 2018: Murder by the Lake 9 - Mermaid (Director: Michael Schneider)[39]
- 2018: Professor T (series) Season 3 (Director: Thomas Jahn)[40]
- 2019: Skin and Bones (Director: Christina Schiewe)[41]
- 2019: Murder by the Lake 10 - Curse from the depths (Director: Michael Schneider)[42]
- 2019: Murder by the Lake 11 - Blood Procession (Director: Michael Schneider)[43]
- 2019: Professor T (series) Season 4 (Director: Thomas Jahn)[44]
- 2020: Take me Home (Director: Christiane Balthasar)[45]
- 2021: Murder by the Lake 12 - Haunted (Director: Michael Schneider)[46]
- 2021: Murder by the Lake 13 - Soul Circle (Director: Michael Schneider)[47]
- 2021: Murder Squared (Director: Michael Schneider)[48]
- 2021: Faster than Fear (Director: Florian Baxmeyer)[49]
- 2022: Jeanny - the fifth Girl (Director: Andreas Kopriva)[50]
Publications
In 2000, Davis book' Quotenfieber - Das Geheimnis erfolgreicher TV-Movies was published.[51] In this book, he writes about the German television broadcasting business, how fictional TV-movies are made, what functions they have and the importance of ratings.
References
- "Time Magazine: Foreign Chick Flicks", accessed November 16, 2017
- "Horizont: RTL-TV Movie-Chef Sam Davis wechselt zu Kölner Produktionsgesellschaft Zeitsprung", accessed on October 24, 2017
- "Sam Davis und Beta Film gründen Produktionsfirma", accessed on October 24, 2017
- "Unitel: Beta Film and Sam Davis in one boat", accessed November 16, 2017
- "Winner International Emmy Award 2013", accessed on October 24, 2017
- "DWDL: Das größte Risiko ist, kein Risiko einzugehen", accessed on November 16, 2017
- "DWDL: Matthias Matschke ist 'Professor T': Wie tickt der denn?", accessed on October 24, 2017
- "Blickpunkt Film: Sam Davis produziert neue ZDF-Krimiserie", accessed on November 16, 2017
- "Romyverleihung 2012", accessed on October 24, 2017
- "Winner International Emmy Award 2013", accessed on October 24, 2017
- "Winner International Emmy Award 2013", accessed on October 24, 2017
- "Presseportal: Das ZDF mit 13 Produktionen auf dem Filmfest Hamburg", accessed on November 16, 2017
- "ZDF Presseportal: Das ZDF auf dem Filmfest Hamburg", accessed on November 16, 2017
- "Aus Haut und Knochen • FILMFEST HAMBURG". FILMFEST HAMBURG (in German). Retrieved 2022-05-02.
- "Bring mich nach Hause • FILMFEST HAMBURG". FILMFEST HAMBURG (in German). Retrieved 2022-05-02.
- "Schneller als die Angst • FILMFEST HAMBURG". FILMFEST HAMBURG (in German). Retrieved 2022-05-02.
- Fernsehpreis, Der Deutsche. "Preisträger:innen 2022". Deutscher Fernsehpreis 2022 (in German). Retrieved 2022-10-12.
- "[SDA 2022 Web Mag #7] Winners & Awards ceremony Schedule > Web Magazine | Seoul Drama Awards". www.seouldrama.org. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
- "A Day for a Miracle" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on November 4, 2013
- "Summer in Alsace" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on November 4, 2013
- "The End of Lies" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on November 4, 2013
- "On the Road with Elsa" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on November 4, 2013
- "Summer in Portugal" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on November 4, 2013
- "The Homecoming" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on November 4, 2013
- "Murder by the Lake - The Celtic Mystery" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on November 4, 2013
- "The cold Truth" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on October 6, 2017
- "Murder by the Lake 2 - Family Issues" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on October 6, 2017
- "Trust me" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on October 6, 2017
- "Because I love you ..." on Rowboat's Website, accessed on October 6, 2017
- "Murder by the Lake 3 - The Sleepwalker" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on October 6, 2017
- "Murder by the Lake 4 - Till Death do them part" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on October 6, 2017
- "Murder by the Lake 5 - The Girl who loved to laugh" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on October 6, 2017
- "Professor T - Season 1" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on October 6, 2017
- "Wedding in Rome" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on October 6, 2017
- "Murder by the Lake 6 - The Return" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on October 6, 2017
- "Murder by the Lake - The fourth Woman" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on October 6, 2017
- "Professor T - Season 2" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on May 29, 2018
- "Murder by the Lake 8 - Death in the Forest" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on May 29, 2018
- "Murder by the Lake 9 - Mermaid" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on May 29, 2018
- "Professor T - Season 3" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on November 12, 2018
- "Productions | Skin And Bones | ROWBOAT Film- und Fernsehproduktion". rowboat.tv. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- "Murder by the Lake 10 - Curse from the depths" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on April 27, 2020
- "Murder by the Lake 11 - Blood Procession" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on April 27, 2020
- "Professor T - Season 4" on Rowboat's Website, accessed on April 27, 2020
- "Productions | TAKE ME HOME (WT) | ROWBOAT Film- und Fernsehproduktion". rowboat.tv. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- "Productions | Murder by the Lake 12 | ROWBOAT Film- und Fernsehproduktion". rowboat.tv. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- "Productions | Murder by the Lake 13 | ROWBOAT Film- und Fernsehproduktion". rowboat.tv. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- Murder Squared (TV Mini Series 2021– ) - IMDb, retrieved 2022-05-02
- "Productions | FASTER THAN FEAR (WT) | ROWBOAT Film- und Fernsehproduktion". rowboat.tv. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- "Productions | JEANNY – THE FIFTH GIRL (WT) | ROWBOAT Film- und Fernsehproduktion". rowboat.tv. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- Davis, Sam (2000-08-29). Quotenfieber - Das Geheimnis erfolgreicher TV-Movies (in German) (1., Aufl. ed.). Bergisch Gladbach: Lübbe GmbH & Co. KG, Verlagsgruppe. ISBN 9783404940073.
External links
- Sam Davis on IMDb
- Sam Davis on Crew United