“When you have a project that turns out this way, you just know you’ve hit the pinnacle,” expressed Samuel D. Hunter, the creative mind behind The Whale.
Transitioning from the theater to cinema, Hunter took his first shot at screenwriting with director Darren Aronofsky’s latest offering. The film, starring Brendan Fraser, portrays a morbidly obese literature teacher’s quest to reconnect with his alienated daughter, Ellie, played by Sadie Sink.
A decade ago, Aronofsky chanced upon Hunter’s theatrical presentation, which served as the foundation for this movie. A decade later, The Whale has emerged as one of the year’s standout films, with Brendan Fraser on the radar for a potential Oscar win for best actor.
Speaking to MovieMaker, Hunter expressed, “Adapting my own play for the big screen was unique. What’s even more special is how authentic Darren kept it – barely altering the script. To top it all, A24 allowed us a solid three-week rehearsal span before we started filming.”
Hunter candidly shared his affection for Fraser’s role in the movie, reminiscing, “I remember him from those ’90s films. I even worked at a cinema during my school days and had the amusing misfortune of ruining The Mummy reel once!”
Further, he opened up about the inspirations from his own life that molded The Whale:
MovieMaker (MM): Your childhood in Idaho plays a backdrop to the film. How has that shaped your writing?
Hunter (SH): “The Whale was my endeavor into deep personal realms. I faced challenges growing up as a gay kid – from bullying in elementary school to navigating through an unfamiliar brand of Christianity in a local Evangelical school. This led to a quest for acceptance, battling with my sexuality, and eventually coming out, which was traumatic at the time. My years in college saw me grappling with depression, resorting to comfort eating as a coping mechanism. But finding love and support, particularly from my spouse, provided solace. When conceptualizing the play, I pondered on the path not taken – what if I had never left my hometown, or never found the support I did? This introspection, combined with my experiences teaching college freshmen, brought The Whale to life.”
MM: While penning down the story, were you conscious about embedding parts of your journey into various characters?
SH: “Absolutely. Elements of my own life found their way into different characters in the play. Even though I’ve never written an entirely autobiographical piece, my works often feel like I’m recounting personal tales, hoping to resonate with others who might have treaded similar paths.”
MM: Does the Idaho town in the film mirror your birthplace?
SH: “Certainly. While it remains unnamed in the movie, it’s inspired by Moscow, my hometown. There are subtle nods to my roots, like a local bookstore’s tote bag or the mention of Gritman Medical Center. I still visit Moscow, reconnecting with my family, and was there recently before heading to the Venice Film Festival.”