Meet Corey Sams

Today we’d like to introduce you to Corey Sams.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Corey. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The.CoreySams Productions is a media entertainment company born from my passion to create and tell stories. After graduation from Georgia State University with my bachelor’s degree in film, I struggled to get my foot in the door with the growing industry in Atlanta. After meeting a few producers and directors on tv and movie sets, I asked them the same question: how did they get where they were? They told me if I really wanted to be a producer/director I would have to start finding and my making my own projects, otherwise, I’d forever be a PA (production assistant). In recent years, I’ve worked to build a team of people I can trust and will soon have projects coming out across the internet. I’ll be making my debut as a director and producer with my newfound partner in crime, Jamear Jackson, and her web series “Just Jamear”. It’s the first of many to come.

The Mental Health Summit is a passion project close to my heart. I got started with this journey after graduating from undergrad as well. I slipped into post-graduate depression and started hating myself. I wasn’t where I thought I should be. I began thinking I wasn’t a man because I couldn’t get a handle on my situation. After seeking out therapy I began to reshape my view on things and am still getting better. Wanting others to know the resources available to them, I sought out to put on an event that created normalcy and awareness about mental health in communities of color. Back in August of this year, with the help of an amazing team of individuals and sponsorships, the inaugural event for The Mental Health Summit was able to raise funds to send one person to therapy for free. This has sparked my interest in turning this into an official non-profit. It has taken on a life of its own. Be on the lookout for future events to come.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Has it been a smooth road? Abso-f@!*&ing-lutely not! As I mentioned earlier, I went through a stint of depression. Getting past some of those thoughts and negativities wasn’t the easiest. It’s not so simple as saying “I’m not happy, I wanna be happy”. I hated myself. I didn’t think I was supposed to be alive anymore. There were days I didn’t get out of bed, didn’t brush my teeth, or wash my body. Sometimes I wouldn’t eat. I didn’t see anything wrong with that because of where my mindset was.

It wasn’t until my brother and mom basically said “this isn’t like you. This isn’t the Corey I know.” That I saw what they saw. I saw that something wasn’t right. My eyes were opened to the reality that not wanting to do something as simple as perform basic hygiene activities wasn’t normal. Just because you get up some days and act like a fully functional person, doesn’t mean that you are. I had to wake up. Everything since then hasn’t been the easiest, but looking back on that part of my life often puts things in perspective when the going gets tough.

Please tell us about The.CoreySams Productions & The Mental Health Summit – what should we know?
The.CoreySams Productions is still growing. It’s transforming from a personal brand to a professional one. Hence the name, a nod to my Instagram handle. I’m loving the direction it’s going though. I’ve prayed so hard to God to guide me and bring me to the projects that will not only propel me and my brand forward, but most importantly, allow his message to shine through as well. I believe the next few stories that will be told in the coming months will be ones that people will really identify and want to interact with.

I’m working on a mini-series that I’ve created called “TBA”. And no, it’s not “to be announced” as in I don’t have a name for it. It’s TBA because that’s the theme of the series. Each volume (or season) will be based around the characters’ lives being changed in some way and basically being “left on read”. They don’t get the resolve they think they’re supposed to get because it’s TBA (in every sense of the acronym). I encourage everyone to follow the web series page @tbatheseries on IG. We begin casting soon.

The main thing I want The.CoreySams Productions to be known for is being true to the purpose. That will always and forever be “telling fun, insightful, thought-provoking, and sometimes provocative stories.” I can’t walk down the street without a new story or idea popping into my head. They’re inspired from real-life events. I know if I’m thinking about them someone else is as well. It’s my duty to tell them.

As for The Mental Health Summit, be sure to give it a follow on IG @thementalhealthsummit as well. I’m looking to grow the team and need more people for marketing/branding, etcetera. It’s sort of a one man show right now and that gets to be a lot.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
There are so many people to thank. I want to say it’s countless because it almost is, but I’ll do my best and do it in Whitney Houston fashion. You know the video of her from the BET awards naming the people she wanted to thank and was singing/listing them off… imagine, I’m doing the same thing (‘cause I know you’re reading).

GOD
Dr. Darryl Holloman
RGOA
Candace
Ericka
Teara

The Dream Team

12 Mercenaries of a Powerful Revolution and our intake team

My neos and the Pi Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Ms. Amanda
Bianca
Chante
Rod
Lea
Ashley
Janae
Maddie
The Chanel team
TMHS planning team
Church family
The Haters and doubters
My therapist
And last but certainly never least, all of my family.

There might be a few (hopefully not a lot) people missing, so please don’t hate me. As we say in the church: “charge it to my head, not my heart”. Every group and person named has played such an important role in shaping me into the spot where I am today. From simply believing in me and telling me to funding/financing the dream and everything in between. THANK YOU.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 6789719357
• Email: coreytsams@gmail.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/the.coreysams

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