This rousing Cinderella story for the digital age
demonstrates the true potential of YouTube
when two musicians halfway across the world
form a transformative alliance online. Samantha
Montgomery (aka Princess Shaw) is a 39-yearold
woman who works in a New Orleans retirement
home. She’s had her share of ups, and
more than her share of downs. In her free time,
the would-be chanteuse belts out heartrending,
confessional songs into her webcam, uploading
them on YouTube. In Israel, Ophir Kutiel creates
video mashups using songs by other artists.
When he comes across Shaw’s channel, he
adds instrumentation to one of her songs—and
the result goes viral. Shaw was clearly born to
be a star, but it took Kutiel’s producing magic to
bring her to a global audience. Bring Kleenex—
when the musicians finally come together in
front of an adoring crowd, there won’t be a dry
eye in the house.
In Person: Subject Samantha
Montgomery; Producer Steve Apkon.