Meet the Cast!

thenotesfilm
Feb 21, 2020
5 min read

SAMANTHA WILLIAMS

When I wrote the role of Samantha I couldn't imagine the actress who would play her. I was so far away from casting at that point that I pushed the feeling aside. The first task, after completing the pre-production process, was to pitch the film to the panel of producers who had my fate in their hands. Part of the pitch was a 60 second video "proof of concept". Kind of like a trailer. If you've been following along this entire time, then you've probably seen it. I asked my niece to stand in for Samantha in the proof of concept. While on set filming, my niece(who also happens to be named Samantha), had a real dramatic reaction to some of the script and a note I had written that the character receives in the film. I was really impressed with how seriously she took the task. Especially for a fifteen year old. We spent two weekends filming and put together a pretty decent piece. What I didn't expect was the reaction I would get with Samantha's performance. So many people asked me who she was and said she was perfect for the role and had really nailed the part. I hadn't considered her for the role. I decided to ask Sam if she was interested in the part. She was agreeable to this offer! It has been really amazing working with Sam over the last several months molding this character and finding Sam's version of Samantha and explaining how this teen felt at the time and what it was like for gay teens growing up in the 90s and 2000s. I get so caught up in the logistics of making this film and I have to keep reminding myself that the reason I want to do this is to put stories out about gay women and to educate young people, really all people, about how far we've come and how important equality is in the world and how we treat other people makes such an impact on people's lives. I am so proud to offer this role of Samantha to my niece because I know she will make young me and Samantha proud.

"Sam Williams (Samantha) is a fifteen year old high school student and a lifelong resident of Maine. She is very big into the arts and has been involved in many performing arts school activities over the years. In 6th and 7th grade she participated in Drama, From 5th grade until present she has been in choir, and from 6th grade until present she has been in band. Sam enjoys participating in her school’s Marching Band, Pep Band, Jazz Band and Concert Band. Sam also enjoys photography and takes pictures anywhere and everywhere she can, and hopes to continue her photography journey long into the future as it is one of the only things that does not make her want to cry. This is the first movie Sam has ever performed in. She is very excited to have the opportunity to play the role of Samantha in The Notes and hopes that you will have as much fun watching it as Sam has had being a part of it."

ALEXIS JELLISON

Jessica is a character who I had a clear vision of from the start. When I first found Alexis, she wasn't at all as I had imagined Jessica, but then I met her! Alexis is one of the bubbliest, friendliest, kind and intelligent teenagers I've met in a long time. Her attention to the subject matter and understanding of Jessica's role blew my mind during the first read through. The chemistry between Sam and Alexis is so similar to that of Samantha and Jessica. Not unlike my niece, I found that Alexis' interpretation of Jessica is a little different than I had envisioned her and I am excited to see what she brings to the film for Jessica.

AMANDA PAINTER

Amanda Painter is a Portland-based actor who's enjoyed performing on stage since her teens, at least. (Though childhood photos offer evidence of getting bitten by the bug much earlier, namely an instance of dancing around the living room in her underwear and grandmother's blond wig at the age of four, a look of pure bliss upon her face.)

She's occasionally seen in local commercials (CU Promise Home Loans being the most recent) and local films (The Mushroom Huntress, shot this fall; Bonfire Film's 2012 entry for the 48-Hour Film Festival, Code Name Danger). But you're more likely to catch her on local stages.

Some of Amanda's favorite roles include: Hermia in Dead Man's Cell Phone at the Saco River Theater; Dionyza in Pericles with Acorn's Naked Shakespeare ensemble; Olivia in Good Theater's production of Sex with Strangers; Janine in Scorched at The Theater Project in Brunswick; numerous appearances in the Maine Playwrights Festival (most recently Marty in Sleeping at Campobello), and the Wife in Blood Wedding with Lorem Ipsum.

She collaborated with playwright and partner Hal Cohen on creating the original play Leonora Rabinowitz, I Love You -- and originating the role of “Valerie” in its initial PortFringe 2015 hit production, and in the 2016 full-length version at The Footlights Theater -- a particularly exciting and multi-layered creative challenge. (Leonora is being re-mounted this March at Footlights Theater, with half the original cast but not Amanda.)

For the last ten years, Amanda's "day job" has been working as a writer and editor for the astrology website PlanetWaves.net, where she's also been able to feature her photography. Dancing, swimming, hiking, cross-country skiing, live music, and almost any reason to get outdoors feed her spirit, as does travel.

She holds a BA in Theater and English Literature from Clark University, and an MA in Literature from Boston University, and twice in the last two years has had the incredible fortune to study breath and voice directly with Kristin Linklater in Orkney, Scotland. Amanda would like to thank Jennifer for this opportunity to be on camera for film, and her partner Hal for his unwavering support -- and she is very curious what future adventures are about to unfold in her life.

DAVID J. SHAFFER

I began acting later in life at the age of 38. My local theater, in Bedford, Pa, was holding auditions and I was immediately adopted into the group and had a lot of "on the job training" for 2 seasons of live performances. Being here in Maine I became involved in student films for some of the colleges, most notably SMCC's yearly Maine Mayhem Festival. These films led to a variety of independent film roles. As a songwriter, many of my original tunes have ended up in films. Also I wrote and performed a jingle for a local water-park which was heard on radio all over New England for a few years. In the "real world" this ham of a performer can be found surrounded by plants while working at a large local garden-shop! I'm also a father of 4 kids and a cat!

We were also lucky enough to have some great actors and friends in smaller roles in the film that helped make this film possible:

Azura Meadows

Paul Simisky

Delanna Swett

Samantha Quirion