''The Samuel Project'' is a 2018

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

comedy drama film Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau In linguistics, a blend—also known as a blend word, lexical blend, or portmanteau—is a word formed by combining the meanings, and parts of the sounds, of two or more words together.

directed by Marc Fusco and written by Fusco, Chris Neighbors and Steven Mark. The film stars

Hal Linden Hal Linden (born Harold Lipshitz, March 20, 1931) is an American stage and screen actor, television director and musician. Linden began his career as a big band musician and singer in the 1950s. After a stint in the United States Army, he began ...

Ryan Ochoa Ryan Ochoa (born May 17, 1996) is an American actor. He is known for playing the role of Lanny on the Disney XD (United States), Disney XD series ''Pair of Kings'', and for his recurring role of Chuck Chambers on the Nickelodeon (TV channel), Ni ...

and was shot in

San Diego, California San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

Plot

A high school teen reconnects with his

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

grandfather and creates art based on his experience in

The Holocaust The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...

Cast

as Eli Bergman *

Mateo Arias Mateo Arias, also known as Téo (stylized as ¿Téo?), is an American rapper and actor based in Los Angeles, California. He starred in the American Disney XD series ''Kickin' It'' as Jerry Martinez and the 2020 American coming-of-age story '' ...

* Michael B. Silver * Ken Davitian *

Liza Lapira Liza Lapira (born December 3, 1981) 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 ...

* Catherine Siggins

Production

Development

In an interview with ''

AARP AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is an interest group in the United States focusing on issues affecting those 50 and older. The organization, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., said it had more than 38 ...

'', Linden talks about distancing the film from ''

Schindler's List ''Schindler's List'' is a 1993 American epic historical drama film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Steven Zaillian. It is based on the historical novel '' Schindler's Ark'' (1982) by Thomas Keneally. The film follows ...

''. He states “so the movie became less of a

Holocaust The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...

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.”

Casting

Fusco cast Linden, Lapira and Bowgen during the time they were performing in

Steve Martin Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician. Known for Steve Martin filmography, his work in comedy films, television, and #Discography, recording, he has received List of awards a ...

's '' Picasso at the Lapin Agile'' at

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

's Old Globe Theater.

Filming

Principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as the ...

took place in March and April 2017 in

. "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 La Jolla ( , ) is a hilly, seaside neighborhood in San Diego, California, occupying of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean. The population reported in the 2010 census was 46,781. The climate is mild, with an average daily temperature o ...

estate masquerading as a

Newport Beach Newport Beach is a coastal city of about 85,000 in southern Orange County, California, United States. Located about southeast of downtown Los Angeles, Newport Beach is known for its sandy beaches. The city's harbor once supported maritime indu ...

mansion, a farm in

Ramona ''Ramona'' is an 1884 American novel written by Helen Hunt Jackson. Set in Southern California after the Mexican–American War and annexation of the territory by the United States, ''Ramona'' explores the life of a mixed-race Scottish– Native ...

, '' Shelter Island Cleaners'', and more."

Themes

Dave McNary of ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' said "Through art, the film explores how Jewish immigrants struggled to find new homes in the U.S. following

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and explores themes of the universal struggle for acceptance and opportunity with direct relevance to today’s headlines."

Release

''The Samuel Project'' had a limited release on September 28, 2018, and expanded to nationwide on October 5, 2018. The film opened to 25 markets 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."

Reception

Critical response

Kimber Myers of the ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

'' 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." Tim Appelo of ''

'' scored it 3 out of 5 and said "It could use more of grandpa's drama and less teen dramedy, but it's heartwarming." John Delia of ''Aced Magazine'' called it "a very good inspirational film" scoring it 4 out of 5 stars.

Accolades

The family-friendly film won three San Diego Film Awards, Best Narrative Feature, Best Actor for

and Best Director for Marc Fusco.

was also nominated for Best Actor.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Samuel Project, The 2010s coming-of-age comedy-drama films 2010s educational films 2010s high school films 2010s teen comedy-drama films 2018 comedy-drama films 2018 films 2018 independent films American coming-of-age comedy-drama films American films with live action and animation American films based on actual events American high school films American independent films American teen comedy-drama films Films about Jews and Judaism Films about students Films about the aftermath of the Holocaust Films about the visual arts Films set in San Diego Films shot in San Diego Films about father–son relationships Social guidance films 2010s English-language films 2010s American films American educational films Films directed by Marc Fusco Films produced by Jeff Deverett Films produced by Rebecca Reyes English-language comedy-drama films English-language independent films