VIII

“VIII”

LOGLINE
When a young boy is diagnosed with a rare bleeding disorder, he defies all odds, falling in love and capturing the world through his Kodak despite his doctor’s predicted fate.

We are honored to be collaborating with Company 3, whose work on Saltburn and Dune Part Three continues to set the benchmark for cinematic storytelling. Their involvement reflects the level of care and authorship we are bringing to every stage of this project. Panavision supported the production through a deep equipment discount, allowing us to capture the film with a premium, celluloid forward approach.

CAST ATTACHMENTS
Sami Rappoport (Pen15, Hacks, Trigger Happy) as Olivia
Gabriel Bateman (The Fabelmans, Lights Out, Child’s Play) as Antonio
Patrick Luwis (Cobra Kai, Rebel Moon) as Dean
Aleksa Palladino (Boardwalk Empire, The Irishman) as Aurelia
Linda Gray (Dallas) as Antonio’s Grandmother
Dan Shaked (The German) as Hugo
Kameron Brunner (Michael, S.W.A.T., Lessons in Chemistry) as Young Antonio

We wrapped filming April 11th! Yay!!

SEE PITCH VIDEO BELOW:

https://youtu.be/h_mSw3ed9y0?si=wrGS_HjrcJ-KoQ_D


This film honors not just his legacy, but the resilience of so many in the bleeding disorders community—past and present. I’m the granddaughter of a hemophiliac, the daughter of a carrier, and now, I’m being tested to see whether I, too am a carrier. This story is in my blood—literally and spiritually.

THE TEAM:

Producer & Writer: Sami Rappoport – Solidifying herself as a young star on the rise, Sami is best known for her series regular role on the 4x Emmy-nominated Hulu series Pen15, with additional credits including Hacks, Trigger Happy, and Something New. She is a fierce advocate for bleeding disorders and female-driven storytelling and has multiple projects in development including her first feature.

Producer: AJ Rinella – is a seasoned producer known for shepherding commercially viable, talent-driven projects across film and television. His producing credits include Bandit starring Josh Duhamel and Mel Gibson; Wake (sold to Amazon); Brooklyn Minnesota (Woodstock & Newport Beach Film Festival accolades); Body Language; Rescuing Christmas; and Merry Kiss Cam. He brings strong packaging instincts and production expertise to character-driven independent projects.

Producer: Michelle Steinhardt – began her career working as a production assistant and in production accounting right out of college. She worked on large-scale films including Volcano, U.S. Marshals, Double Jeopardy, Men in Black, and more while serving as a personal assistant to an A-list actor. She later worked in talent management. As a writer and producer, she is now developing projects alongside her daughter, including this deeply personal passion project. The daughter of Antonio Steinhardt and a carrier for Hemophilia A, Michelle is also a dedicated advocate for the bleeding disorders community.

Director: Michael Greenberg – Minneapolis-based filmmaker with over 20 directed commercials and multiple festival-screened shorts. His debut feature Come Down is slated to shoot Fall ’26. He is known for his elevated, celluloid-forward independent filmmaking.

Director of Photography: Dillon Schneider - LA-based cinematographer. Educated at Columbia College, his life journey has taken him from the mountains of Colorado to the city of Chicago and everywhere in between. His versatile style can be seen on projects like G Eazy’s “Beautiful and Damned” film to Tim McGraw’s “Neon Church.” Adaptable and collaborative, Dillon prides himself in his ability to bring the director’s vision to life in a fun and creative atmosphere.

Costume Designer: Dorothy Amos- is an accomplished costume designer with an extensive career across film and television. She is best known for her work on the television series Ghost Whisperer and The Client List, where her character driven designs helped shape the visual storytelling of each production. Her feature credits include Brampton's Own, Rockbottom, The Red Tide Massacre, and Soul on Fire. With decades of experience and a strong eye for texture, color, and authenticity, Dorothy brings seasoned expertise and creative depth to the VIII team.

Makeup Dept Head: Mandy Mossman- has built an impressive portfolio across film and commercial projects. Her Makeup Department Head credits include Violent Ends , Trigger Happy and The Send Off with additional makeup artists credits for Wolf Man, Insidious: The Red Door, and M3GAN. She has collaborated with notable talents such as Patrick Wilson, Alexandra Shipp, and Leigh Whannell.

Fiscal Sponsor: Entertainment 2 Affect Change (E2AC) – 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting impact-driven storytelling.

With Support From: BelieveLimited


We are currently seeking donors and philanthropic partners who share our vision: to elevate rare disease voices through powerful storytelling. This funding would directlyt support it's completion through post-production (editing, score, color) and expand the film’s festival and impact reach.

Thank you for your time and for your commitment to change. My socials are @Samirappoport!

Here is some actual footage of Antonio and his love!

https://youtube.com/shorts/hoigEc9tJ9s?feature=share

Here is a recent podcast collab with Bloodstream media for their podcast!
For more info about "VIII" and it's backstory.

https://youtu.be/yFnoblW1qPo

Orange Coast Magazine did a piece on it as well

https://orangecoast.com/people-places/junior-high-dreams-sami-rappoport-on-pen15-and-growing-up-in-newport-beach/

Together, we amplify empathy and perseverance for a brighter, more inclusive future. One that carries his legacy on for generations to come