University of Saskatchewan alum now works on major productions while carrying prairie roots forward
When Samantha Letendre first left Saskatchewan to pursue film, she was searching for the right medium to tell stories that had always been part of her.
Today, the Saskatchewan-raised assistant editor is working behind the scenes on major productions in Vancouver, contributing to film and television projects while building a career that has already taken her as far as Hollywood.
“My role in the film industry is right now as an assistant editor, both as a second assistant and a first assistant editor,” Letendre said. “I receive the hard drives and the SD cards from the camera after they’re done shooting, and I transform that into workable data for the editors.”
Letendre began her post-secondary studies at the University of Saskatchewan, where she explored English, psychology, and theatre. She said those early experiences helped shape her understanding of storytelling and audience perspective.
“I’ve always been a storyteller. I’ve always been a writer, and I was just trying to find my medium,” she said.
Her path eventually led her to Vancouver Film School, where she studied film production and began specializing in post-production. That decision marked the beginning of her professional journey in the industry.
Her first major breakthrough came through her work with independent filmmakers, including editing the short film Cafe Racer. The project would become a defining early achievement.
“That was my biggest and first milestone as a filmmaker,” Letendre said. “To get such positive feedback from the world was so validating. Not only do I have stories to tell, but I am telling them correctly.”
Since then, she has worked on multiple productions, including the Canadian television series Sight Unseen, Van Helsing, where she was involved in organizing footage, preparing edits, and contributing to early sound work.
“I’m there from the moment they hit record on the camera to sending the final output to the distributors,” she said.
Letendre’s work has also included feature film productions. She served as second assistant editor on the film Dangerous, which starred Mel Gibson and Scott Eastwood.
“Dangerous was the one I did in Kelowna. I was second assistant editor for that. I think that was my first feature film that I did as a second assistant editor.”
Her work has also taken her south of the border, something that’s been a bit surreal at times.
“The first time I went to Hollywood was to watch my own movie at the Chinese Theater,” Letendre said. “That was so surreal. That was another big moment in my career where I was like, I’m in the right place.”
Letendre said editing plays a critical role in shaping how audiences experience a film.
“You can take a movie, edit it to feel completely different, and there’s a famous example where someone edited The Shining to make it feel like a heartfelt comedy,” she said, “You watch it and you’re just like, how? But it’s the editing, the music, the sound effects, it’s also the coloring. The coloring indicates the tone a lot.”
When discussing films known for precise editing, Letendre quickly identified Baby Driver based only on a brief description of its synchronized action and sound. The film is widely regarded among editors for its precise timing, where cuts, movement, and sound are closely aligned to create rhythm and emotional impact. Her immediate recognition reflected both her familiarity with editing-driven storytelling and her close attention to how technical choices shape the viewer’s experience.
“Oh my gosh. I love Baby Driver. Actually, huge inspiration. I love how all of the music synced with everything,” she said. “When you can tell that all departments have come together for a very specific look and intention, I think that’s the pinnacle of filmmaking.”
Despite building her career in Vancouver, Letendre said her upbringing in Saskatchewan continues to influence her creative perspective.
“Saskatchewan is very calm, very slow, and I think that gave me a lot of time to sit with myself and write and create stories,” she said.
She added that the province’s open landscapes and quiet environment shaped how she visualizes scenes and storytelling.
While Vancouver offers more opportunities due to its established production infrastructure, Letendre believes Saskatchewan has the potential to develop its own film industry.
“Absolutely, it has the potential,” she said. “I know lots of people do theater and short films there. The talent is there.”
Letendre said filmmaking is built on collaboration across many disciplines, including roles people may not immediately associate with film.
“Film has a spot for everybody in the wildest ways,” she said. “If you’re a dog trainer and you want to be involved in the film industry, we have dog handlers, animal handlers. Even teachers can work on set with child actors. Even if you’re not working specifically with the camera or computers, there’s a role for everybody.”
Her journey has not been without challenges. Early in her career, Letendre worked overnight shifts processing footage, often under demanding conditions.
“It was draining,” she said. “There were moments where I felt like I was going to quit, but I’m so happy and grateful that I stayed strong and pushed through those.”
She said those experiences built the resilience needed to continue pursuing her career.
Letendre is currently working on several new projects, including a short film titled Trappist One and the feature film Day Drinker, as she continues to expand her role in the industry.
Looking back, she said filmmaking has become central to her identity.
“It’s been the most important impact of my life,” she said. “I always knew I was a storyteller, I just wasn’t sure which medium to do. This fills every craving that I have ever had.”
Letendre said her persistence was shaped by a clear sense that filmmaking was where she belonged.
“Nothing else felt right,” she said. “There were things that I tried to do that I might have been good at, but it just didn’t feel right.”
She credited her family, especially her mother, with encouraging her to continue pursuing her goals.
“My mom is the biggest helper for this,” she said. “She told me, ‘You either need to do something about it or stop talking about it. Just go for it.'”
For those in Saskatchewan who hope to follow a similar path, Letendre offered simple encouragement.
“If I can do it, you can do it. Anyone can do it.”
arjun.pillai@paherald.sk.ca
