Good Samaritans

A sitcom with a classic retro flavor, Good Samaritans is about Guy, a self-absorbed event planner, and his polar opposite Carol, the embodiment of Southern hospitality. Guy’s fiery transgender housekeeper, Regina (played by transgender actress Carolina Gutierrez), who prefers a midday martini to a mop, tricks him into visiting St. Bernard’s senior home. Guy spies Carol, working for one of her many celebrity bosses, and discovers a forgotten Hollywood legend (played by Sally Kirkland). Carol uses her southern charm to bewitch the reluctant Guy into being more benevolent. After epic fails in planning disastrous parties, Guy finally learns to care about the residents and gives them an event to remember. (Submission: episodes 202, 204, 206. For festivals requesting one episode, consider 202 which is the first episode on the uploaded video; run time 0:03:56.)

  • Kimberly Jurgen
    Director
  • Kimberly Jurgen
    Writer
  • Kimberly Jurgen
    Producer
  • Michael Cline
    Producer
  • Michael Cline
    Key Cast
    "Guy"
    Dreamgirls, Sex and The City, CSI: Cyber
  • Kimberly Jurgen
    Key Cast
    "Carol"
    The Night Stalker, Scandal, Bones
  • Carolina Gutierrez
    Key Cast
    "Regina"
  • Sally Kirkland
    Key Cast
    "Olivia de Mills"
    Anna (*Oscar nom), JFK, Private Benjamin
  • Project Type:
    Web / New Media
  • Genres:
    Comedy, LGBT, Family
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 26 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 30, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Kimberly Jurgen

Kimberly began directing at Emory University, where she received a bachelor's degree in Theatre Studies/Film. She was the founder and Artistic Director of Atlanta Classical Theatre for 9 years. She has two comedy-adventure features in development as well as a romantic drama. In Good Samaritans, she peppers several tips o’ the hat to her sitcom mentors - James L. Brooks, Carl Reiner and Penny Marshall.

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Director Statement

The idea of Good Samaritans originated in 2014. Volunteering has always been a part of my life – in my childhood community and throughout my adult life. So it made sense that a central character of this story would be dedicated to giving back. And the perfect balance to her eternal optimism was a character who was jaded by his drive for success and no longer saw the needs of those outside his immediate circle.

Since Mike Cline and I had been friends for years, he was the ideal production partner with whom to create this story. We met in the dressing room on a horror film set (he was singing show tunes and I was quoting Shakespeare) and we each were instantly won over by the other’s love of craft. And we shared a desire to challenge ourselves creatively and give a voice to marginalized communities.

Front and center in Good Samaritans is the LGBT+ community, with incredible diversity both in cast, crew and characters. In season two, we also show the vibrant and varied lives of seniors in an assisted living facility. My grandfather lived in such a facility for many years which provided unlimited inspiration. At the show’s heart is Carol who, without fanfare, helps others (whether or not they realize they need it) and treats all with kindness and respect. Those qualities of listening to one another and valuing each other are clearly expressed, as is the penalty when we diminish others.

The desire to make a difference in addition to making people laugh influences all my storytelling. I am drawn to comedy films and sitcoms that I grew up watching. Certainly, the foundation for my brand of funny was set by the films of George Cukor and I owe my director’s eye to the smart, fast-paced sitcoms of Diane English, Carl Reiner and David E. Kelley.

It is my hope that audiences will also embrace this retro comedy style. And I hope that those in diverse communities see positive and true representations of themselves and that all can embrace this reflection of the real world.