Almost every day, you can find this 2008 Los Alamitos High School graduate, now an actor, serving pizza at Pietrini Pizza Napoletana in Los Alamitos.
Although Raji Ahsan has appeared on popular shows like The Consultant (Amazon Studios), Mini (HBO Max), New Amsterdam (NBC), and Promised Land (CBS), he’s still working a day job, so to speak, and trying to write his way to a series.
In fact, hundreds of his Los Al friends, including one very famous one, helped him launch his next project when the Bay Theatre opened its doors in January 2025.
Back in January, more than 300 people purchased tickets to contribute a portion of the funds needed to make his short film, “Dr. Sam,” sometimes described as “tart with heart.”
In addition to himself as “Dr. Sam,” the film stars Lucie Arnaz and Alec Baldwin, both of whom are friends of his who have played key roles in his career.
The film is oddly autobiographical in that it replicates the struggle of many aspiring performers to pay rent. In fact, Ahsan tapped another friend, Danielle Beckmann, to direct the film, having exchanged $20 Venmo’s with her as they occasionally helped each other out with coffee money when they were in New York.
“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,” said Ahsan.
“Working with comedy legends at the level of Alec Baldwin and Lucie Arnaz has been a creative delight. The chemistry on set with them and Raji was especially fun to direct. We are thrilled to share that our film, “Dr. Sam,” is in session. As we gear up for our festival run, I hope to bring audiences laughter, healing and maybe even a bit of a breakthrough,” said Beckmann.
Ahsan said he and Baldwin 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 graduated NYU Film School in 2013). Ahsan said he never forgot one line from Baldwin’s class: “I think the idea of a lonely, even fake therapist, is funny. Possibly very funny.”
“I took the prompt and ran with it. I wrote a short, fun thing for my friends to do,” said Ahsan. “Alec has taught me some of the simplest, yet most powerful lessons that have led to many successes,” he added.
Ahsan says Dr. Sam is about an unemployed millennial musician who masquerades as a therapist to pay his rent, which leads to his own unexpected personal breakthrough.
True to form, this many years later, Baldwin said, ‘yes’ when Ahsan asked him to play a role. Baldwin plays Dr. Melvin Sampson, the best therapist that bad insurance can afford.
“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,” said Baldwin at the film’s recent premiere at the Roundabout Theatre in Los Angeles.
As chronicled by ENE earlier this year, Arnaz, who plays Ahsan’s mother in the film, lent much of her star power to Ahsan in fundraising and in making the film.
Arnaz, and her husband Larry Luckinbill, both Broadway legends, appeared at the Bay Theatre in January of 2025 to screen the Emmy Award-winning documentary “Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie,” (directed by Arnaz) about her famous parents, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
Then again, this past summer, Arnaz screened her film again for another fundraiser, this time at the Paramount Pictures lot, very near to the soundstage where Lucy and Desi made television history.
“I am always excited to screen my documentary for people and discuss their thoughts afterwards,” said Arnaz, “and to do that while helping my good friend Raji get this film made is a win-win for all,” she said.
Additionally, Arnaz agreed to play Sam’s adoptive mother Joyce, and Dana Powell (Modern Family, Bridesmaids) plays the cheerful therapy office receptionist Amber.
While the creation of this film is a story in itself, Ahsan’s story is powerful as well.
Ahsan’s mother Manal fled Egypt pregnant with Raji with little money and nowhere to go. Manal was taken in by New Life Beginnings Shelter in Long Beach and eventually, they were taken in by a woman named Joyce in Cypress, where Raji grew up and where he fell in love with the “I Love Lucy” show, watching reruns with Joyce.
Ahsan never forgot her generosity, nor the shelter, so a portion of all the funds raised was donated to the New Life Beginnings Shelter in Long Beach, and there was a character named “Joyce” in the film.
“This has been a very fulfilling process,” said Ahsan this week. He said the film is for anyone with a dream.
“Dr. Sam is for the people who are unsure about continuing to persevere in the pursuit of their dreams. This film exists to say, ‘Hold on and keep going. You’re worth what you want.’”
Ahsan says the film will now hit the film festival circuit, hoping it will be picked up as a series, made-for-television movie, or perhaps even for the big screen. “I never expected Dr. Sam to turn into this incredible venture,” said Ahsan this week.
“All I wanted to do was make something with my friends. While I am hopeful and excited about the future of this piece, I am learning that we’ve already won. We made it. We got up to bat, and we took huge swings. With the deck stacked against all artists, completing anything—of any size—is a miracle. I am so grateful to my community in our beloved town for all of their support,” he said.
