Keith Samples

Commanding more than 25 years of experience in sales, management, and original production in the entertainment industry, Keith Samples operates as a consultant, writer, director, and producer for a multitude of projects in the United States and Canada. Keith Samples’ most recent enterprises include directing episodes of the Republic of Doyle television series in Canada. He also recently served as a consulting producer for an episode of another Canadian television show, Being Human. Prior to branching off as an independent consultant, Keith Samples presided as President of MRC Television, a division of Media Rights Capital. During his tenure in this position, he developed and sold as many as 12 network projects, 9 of which continued on into the series production phase. These series were produced for networks such as ABC TV, Lifetime Networks, and Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO). Keith Samples joined MRC Television after working with VKS Entertainment, Inc., where he acted as President. Spearheading company operations for nearly a decade, he leveraged his expertise in the entertainment business to consult on projects totaling in excess of $2 billion in sales worldwide. He also directed over 40 network television episodes and a pair of feature-length films. Preceding his role at VKS, Keith Samples functioned as CEO of Rysher Entertainment, a company he founded. Over the course of six years with the company, he hired and managed a staff of more than 150 professionals and produced and distributed over 500 hours of original scripted content across the globe. In addition to overseeing international distribution, he supervised domestic distribution and national barter sales. Keith Samples’ early career includes positions as Executive Vice President of Domestic Distribution for Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.’s television division and Senior Vice President of Lorimar-Telepictures, which eventually merged with Warner Bros. He launched his career in entertainment as Executive Vice President for Sports Productions, Inc. An alumnus of Texas Tech University, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and initially entered the workforce as Sports Information Director and then Assistant Athletic Director for the institution. Keith Samples belongs to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Directors Guild of America (DGA), and the Writers Guild of America, West.