The Samuel Project is a powerful story about one teen’s discovery of the heroism within his own family history when he chooses his grandfather as the subject of his senior art project. Particularly relevant today, the film explores the use of art to tell a story of generations coming together and preserve the history of an individual who kept his painful story secret, even from those he loved.

Great Day TV’s Patty Spitler chats with stars Hal Linden and Ryan Ochoa ahead of the film’s premiere at the Heartland Film Festival. Eli (Ryan Ochoa) is a teen who dreams of being an artist, and his grandfather, Samuel (Emmy® and Tony award® winner Hal Linden) calls his grandson’s artwork “doodling.” As they work together on Eli’s art project, they get to know each other for the first time, and eventually Eli learns how his grandfather was saved as a boy in Nazi Germany. The result is a story Samuel hasn’t told in 75 years, and one that allows three generations of Eli’s family to finally connect with one another. 
       
Hal Linden is a Tony Award®-winning actor, singer and musician known for stage projects like The Rothschilds and The Gathering, as well as the long-running detective sitcom Barney Miller. Linden received seven consecutive lead actor Emmy® nominations for the show. Linden would go on to win several Daytime Emmys®. Over the decades, he has continued to forge a rich career as both a screen actor and live performer in a range of projects. In 2011, Linden released his debut album, a collection of standards, dubbed It’s Never Too Late. You have three opportunities to see The Samuel Project at the Heartland Film Festival: 

Sunday, October 14 at 5:15 p.m. at AMC Castleton Square, Theater 11

Thursday, October 18 at 8:15 p.m. at AMC Traders Point, Theater 11

Saturday, October 20 at 3:00 p.m. at AMC Traders Point, Theater 7

Get tickets here, and go to www.thesamuelprojectmovie.com for more information.