Alec Baldwin headlines short film ‘Dr. Sam’ from Indie Filmmakers Raji Ahsan & Danielle Beckmann
August 5th, 2025
Raji Ahsan, Alec Baldwin, Danielle Beckmann Leah Huebner/Marco Vacchi/Leah Huebner
Dr. Sam is a new independent comedic short film from actor and writer Raji Ahsan (Interior Chinatown), who penned the script and stars as titular Sam.
Tribeca alum Danielle Beckmann makes her directorial debut.
Alec Baldwin plays Dr. Melvin Sampson, the best therapist that bad insurance can afford.
Baldwin says, “Working with young filmmakers is always an opportunity. You may be working with the next Spielberg, Scorsese or Bigelow. I have an abundance of faith in Danielle and Raji and look forward to seeing the film.”
Described as “tart with heart," Dr. Sam is about an unemployed millennial musician who masquerades as a therapist to pay his rent.
The script was inspired by one line from Baldwin to Ahsan, his former student: “I think the idea of a lonely, even fake therapist, is funny. Possibly very funny."
Baldwin and Ahsan met in 2013 when Baldwin chose him to be one of sixteen students in a scene study course at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Ahsan says, “Alec has taught me some of the most simple, yet powerful lessons that have led to many successes."
Raji Ahsan and Alec Baldwin / Roundabout Theatre
Ahsan says, “I took the prompt and ran with it. I wrote a short, a fun thing for my friends to do. When the script began to take shape, I knew Danielle was the perfect person to direct. Having led many of her own projects to Oscar-qualifying festivals as a producer, I knew she had the brain to lead, yet also the heart for the tone and the eyes for the image.”
Additionally, industry vet Lucie Arnaz returns to the screen as Sam’s adoptive mother Joyce, and Dana Powell (Modern Family, Bridesmaids) plays the cheerful therapy office receptionist Amber.
Beckmann says, “Working with comedy legends at the level of Alec and Lucie has been a creative delight. The chemistry on set with them, Raji and Dana was especially fun to direct.”
Dana Powell, Danielle Beckmann, Raji Ahsan, Chloe Smolkin, and Alec Baldwin on the set of ‘Dr. Sam’ / Faith Brennan
The film just completed post-production and aims to be on the film festival circuit in 2026.
Ahsan is producing via his company Aremay Productions.
Beckmann and producing partner Timothy Reese are producing via their company Brooklyn Quarter.
Lisa Donmall-Reeve (Uprooted, HBO Max) is producing via her company LDR Creative.
Dana De Celis is a co-producer.
The cast also features Lida Darmian, James Rana, Amanda Bruton, Adrián Burke, Maggie Hood, and Skyler Gallun.
Raji Ahsan is repped by Smith & Hervey/Grimes and Hudson Artists Agency. Danielle Beckmann is repped by Amatruda Benson & Associates and Bankston Talent. Alec Baldwin is repped by UTA and Matt DelPiano.
