| The Samuel Project | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Marc Fusco |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Stephen Sheridan |
| Edited by | Marc Fusco |
| Music by | Joey Newman |
| Distributed by | in8 Releasing |
Release date |
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Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Samuel Project is a 2018 family comedy drama film directed by Marc Fusco and written by Fusco, Chris Neighbors and Steve Weinberger. The film stars Hal Linden, Ryan Ochoa and was shot in San Diego, California.
A high school teen reconnects with his Jewish grandfather and creates art based on his experience in The Holocaust. [2]
In an interview with AARP , Linden talks about distancing the film from Schindler's List . He states “so the movie became less of a Holocaust picture and more about a boy pursuing his dream of being an artist. [...] The Samuel Project is about three generations that don’t communicate much — it isn’t until art tells the story that you get communication.” [3]
Fusco cast Linden, Lapira and Bowgen during the time they were performing in Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile at San Diego's Old Globe Theater. [3] [4]
Principal photography took place in March and April 2017 in San Diego. [5] [6] "Action traveled to the streets of Hillcrest, a pawn shop on University Avenue, the Chuck Jones Gallery in the Gaslamp, Balboa Park, a La Jolla estate masquerading as a Newport Beach mansion, a farm in Ramona, Shelter Island Cleaners, and more." [7]
Dave McNary of Variety said "Through art, the film explores how Jewish immigrants struggled to find new homes in the U.S. following World War II and explores themes of the universal struggle for acceptance and opportunity with direct relevance to today’s headlines." [8]
The Samuel Project had a limited release on September 28, 2018, and expanded to nationwide on October 5, 2018. [6] The film opened to 25 markets [8] and was distributed by in8 Releasing and selected by AMC Independent. Fusco said "Audiences are hungry for independent, character-driven films like ours which are a refreshing alternative to the big blockbuster franchises." [9]
Kimber Myers of the Los Angeles Times said "Despite its flaws, The Samuel Project is likely to make an impact on open-hearted audiences, with extra credit due Linden for an authentic performance in line with the actor's body of work." [10] Tim Appelo of AARP scored it 3 out of 5 and said "It could use more of grandpa's drama and less teen dramedy, but it's heartwarming." [11] John Delia of Aced Magazine called it "a very good inspirational film" scoring it 4 out of 5 stars. [12]
The family-friendly film won three San Diego Film Awards, Best Narrative Feature, Best Actor for Hal Linden and Best Director for Marc Fusco. Ryan Ochoa was also nominated for Best Actor. [13]
Jason Kent Bateman is an American actor and director. He is known for his starring roles in numerous comedy films and for portraying Michael Bluth in the Fox / Netflix sitcom Arrested Development (2003-2019) and Marty Byrde in the Netflix crime drama series Ozark (2017–2022). He has received several awards including a Golden Globe Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2017, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Liza Lapira is an American actress. She played Kianna in the 2008 film 21, Special Agent Michelle Lee in the CBS police procedural series NCIS, and Ivy, Topher Brink's assistant, in Dollhouse. Lapira has also co-starred in the short-lived sitcoms Traffic Light, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, Super Fun Night, and 9JKL. As of 2021, she currently stars in CBS's The Equalizer. She also voiced Disgust in the Pixar animated film Inside Out 2.
Raymond Ochoa is an American actor.
Ryan Ochoa is an American actor. He is known for playing the role of Lanny on the Disney XD series Pair of Kings, and for his recurring role of Chuck Chambers on the Nickelodeon series iCarly.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Black Manta in the superhero films Aquaman (2018) and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023), Bobby Seale in the Netflix historical legal drama The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), and Morpheus / Agent Smith in The Matrix Resurrections (2021). For his portrayal of Cal Abar / Doctor Manhattan in the HBO limited series Watchmen (2019), he won a Primetime Emmy Award. He also starred in episodes of The Handmaid's Tale (2018) and Black Mirror (2019).
Higher Ground Productions, also known simply as Higher Ground, is an American production company which was founded in 2018 by former United States President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Marc Fusco is an American film director, screenwriter and film editor known for Stealing Time, My Uncle Rafael, and The Samuel Project.
The AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Movie for Grownups is one of the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards presented annually by the AARP since the awards' inception in 2002. The award honors the best film in a given year made by or about people who are fifty years old or older. The Best Movie for Grownups Award is one of the seven original trophies issued by AARP the Magazine, along with awards for Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Foreign Film, Best Documentary, and Best Movie for Grownups Who Refuse to Grow Up.
The AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Director is one of the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards presented annually by the AARP since the awards' inception in 2002. The award honors the best director over the age of fifty. The Best Director Award is one of the seven original trophies issued by AARP the Magazine, along with awards for Best Movie for Grownups, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Foreign Film, Best Documentary, and Best Movie for Grownups Who Refuse to Grow Up.
The AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actress is one of the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards presented annually by the AARP since the awards' inception in 2002. The award honors the best actress over the age of fifty. The Best Actress Award is one of the seven original trophies issued by AARP the Magazine, along with awards for Best Movie for Grownups, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Foreign Film, Best Documentary, and Best Movie for Grownups Who Refuse to Grow Up.
The AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Supporting Actor is one of the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards presented annually by the AARP. The award honors an actor over the age of 50 who has given an outstanding performance in a film in a given year. The awards for Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress were first given at the 7th AARP Movies for Grownups Awards in 2008. Prior to that, the only individual acting awards were for Best Actor and Best Actress.
The AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Supporting Actress is one of the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards presented annually by the AARP. The award honors an actress over the age of 50 who has given an outstanding supporting performance in a film in a given year. The awards for Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor were first given at the 7th AARP Movies for Grownups Awards in 2008. Prior to that, the only individual acting awards were for Best Actor and Best Actress.
The AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Grownup Love Story is one of the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards presented annually by AARP the Magazine. The award honors the film with the best romance focused on adult characters, usually focusing on characters or performers over the age of 50. The award for Best Grownup Love Story was first given in 2003, when the awards expanded beyond their initial four categories of Best Movie for Grownups, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress.
The AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Intergenerational Film is one of the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards presented annually by AARP the Magazine. The award honors the film with the best portrayal of relationships between people of different ages. The award for Best Intergenerational Film was first given in 2003, when the awards expanded beyond their initial four categories of Best Movie for Grownups, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress.
The AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Time Capsule is one of the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards presented annually by the AARP. The award honors the film that best encapsulates a specific period in history, usually from the twentieth century.
The AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actress (TV/Streaming) is one of the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards presented annually by the AARP. The award honors the best performance in a television or streaming series by an actress over the age of 50.