Today's Special (2009)

Director:

David Kaplan

Writers (WGA):

Aasif Mandvi (screenplay) &
Jonathan Bines (screenplay) ...
(more)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Life Has No Recipe

Plot:

In this super-feel-good foodie comedy, young Manhattan chef Samir rediscovers his heritage and his passion for life through the enchanting art of cooking Indian food.

Plot Keywords:

Chef | Cook | Restaurant | Cooking | Indian Food

Cast

Aarti Mann	...	Henna (as Aarti Majmudar)
Kevin Corrigan	...	Stanton
Dean Winters	...	Steve
Aasif Mandvi	...	Samir
Jess Weixler	...	Carrie
Naseeruddin Shah	...	Akbar
Ajay Naidu	...	Munnamia
Amir Arison	...	Dr. Semaan
Kumar Pallana	...	Regular #2
Kevin Breznahan	...	Freddie
Harish Patel	...	Hakim
Madhur Jaffrey	...	Farrida
Chloe Cmarada	...	Woman #2
Ranjit Chowdhry	...	Regular #1
Sylvia Kauders	...	Restaurant Patron
Sean T. Krishnan	...	Rasool
Ed Jewett	...	Spazz
Debargo Sanyal	...	Pierre
Angela Lewis	...	Woman Looking at Menu
Stewart Steinberg	...	Restaurant Patron
Sai Rao	...	Alpana (as Saila Rao)
Lee Wong	...	Pacific East Cook
Merissa Morin	...	Samir's Assistant
Jim Wisniewski	...	Crying Guy
Lisa Stansbury	...	Restaurant Patron
Buzz Bovshow	...	Satisfied Customer
Gregory Korostishevsky	...	Andrei
Karl Frankenfield	...	Restaurant Patron
Emily Wilk	...	Woman #1
Janis Grossman	...	Restaurant Patron
Erica Peeples	...	Waitress
Corrine Hong Wu	...	Pacific East Patron
Ostaro	...	Regular #3
Carlos Ibarra	...	Busboy
Lucy Radack	...	Abigail
Edward M. Kelahan	...	Wealthy Wall Street Guest (uncredited)

Directed by
David Kaplan

Writing credits (WGA)
Aasif Mandvi		(screenplay) &
Jonathan Bines		(screenplay)
Aasif Mandvi		(play "Sakina's Restaurant")

Produced by
Declan Baldwin	....	co-producer
Shuvro Nil Chowdhury	....	co-executive producer
Beth Dembitzer	....	executive producer
Lillian LaSalle	....	producer
Nimitt Mankad	....	producer
Rengan Rajaratnam	....	executive producer
Kimberly M. Wetherell	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Stephane Wrembel

Cinematography by
David Tumblety

Film Editing by
Rich Fox
Chris Houghton

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Paul Schnee

Production Design by
Darcy C. Scanlin

Art Direction by
David Offner

Set Decoration by
David Glazebrook

Costume Design by
Theresa Squire

Makeup Department
Nicole Khitrik	....	makeup artist: post production
Celia Vicente Pearce	....	key makeup artist
Krystle Poulin	....	makeup artist
Andrea Savisky	....	key hair stylist
Nicole Wodowski	....	makeup artist (additional photography)

Production Management
Craig Shilowich	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kevin Pazmino	....	second second assistant director
Dan Taggatz	....	second assistant director
Atilla Salih Yücer	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jay Abbondanza	....	property intern
Liam Baldwin	....	art department intern
Susan Barras	....	property master
Dave Brubaur	....	art department graphics
Alia Chaudry	....	property master assistant
Thomas East	....	technical director
Samuel Froeschle	....	assistant art director
Raina Hirschhorn	....	property intern
Liz Hunt	....	art department intern
Caitlin Lainoff	....	charge scenic artist
Alisha Landers	....	art department intern
Emily Nietzel	....	art department intern
Clinton Orman	....	art department intern
Janni Scanlin	....	painter
Fernando Valdes	....	art department coordinator
Fernando Valdes	....	on-set dresser

Sound Department
Sasha Awn	....	foley artist
James Barth	....	adr recordist
Steve Giammaria	....	dialogue editor
Mike Guarino	....	sound mixer
Sebastian Henshaw	....	foley artist
Sebastian Henshaw	....	foley editor
Sebastian Henshaw	....	sound effects editor
Cory Melious	....	sound re-recording mixer
Cory Melious	....	supervising sound editor
Guillermo Pena-Tapia	....	boom operator
Ryan M. Price	....	foley editor
Jason Trammell	....	foley artist

Visual Effects by
Sheila F. Sullivan	....	digital effects artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Danya Abt	....	key grip: additional photography
Anton Delfino	....	grip
Bill Dixon	....	key grip
Andrew Engert	....	grip
Joshua Flagg	....	second assistant camera
Bart Grieb	....	gaffer
Matthew Jacobs	....	best boy grip
Matthew Jacobs	....	electrician
John Keating	....	first assistant camera
Daniel Luebke	....	best boy electric
Sarah Marikar	....	grip
Daniel Marks	....	camera loader
Ryan Minelli	....	grip
Tom Mone	....	best boy grip (as Harpoon)
Meghan Petersen	....	still photographer
Travis Tips	....	best boy grip
Russ Wade	....	electrician
Lukas Wolf	....	additional assistant camera

Casting Department
Allison Estrin	....	casting associate
Rita Powers	....	extras casting
Sean Powers	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Emily DeAngelis	....	set costumer
Sarita Fellows	....	costume assistant
Margaret Moy	....	wardrobe supervisor
Nicole Wee	....	costume intern

Editorial Department
Michael Caso	....	assistant editor
Amy Dempsey	....	post-production supervisor
Jim Geduldick	....	digital intermediate editor
Darren Goldberg	....	post-production supervisor
Betsy Kagen	....	post-production coordinator
Robbie Renfrow	....	digital intermediate colorist

Other crew
Aleks Arcabascio	....	production assistant
Kacie Barton	....	production assistant
Amanda Baumgart	....	location intern
Matthew Bernabei	....	post production accountant
Bernard F. Bunye	....	assistant: lillian lasalle
Lindsay Carlson	....	assistant: lillian lasalle
Sam Ellison	....	production assistant
Zelmira Gainza	....	location scout
Jonathan Gray	....	production counsel
Kyle Healy	....	assistant production coordinator
Janine Kalesis	....	food stylist
Anne Elora Keller	....	script supervisor
Jesse McLaren	....	production assistant
Karina Mohammed	....	production assistant
Jamie Morris	....	accountant
Isaac C. Nejako	....	technical intern
Caroline Oliveira	....	assistant: director
Summer Shelton	....	production coordinator
Aidan Sleeper	....	location manager
Hilary Stabb	....	assistant: counsel
Michael Stewart	....	key production assistant
Ian M. Stratford	....	production counsel
Lyon Taylor	....	assistant location manager
Jared Uhrich	....	production assistant
Kevin Williams	....	production assistant
Erik Rooney	....	set intern (uncredited)

Thanks
Dominic Powall	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Inimitable Pictures
• Sweet180

Distributors

• Vitagraph-Film

Other Companies

• Act One Script Clearance  script research
• Action Audio Post  post-production sound services
• Gray Krauss Des Rochers  legal services
• Offhollywood Digital  digital intermediate by

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #46505)

Filming Locations:

Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Inimitable Pictures

Trivia:

Madhur Jaffrey, who plays Samir's mother, is a celebrated expert in Indian cuisine, and the author of many cookbooks.

Quotes:

Akbar:Eating with utensils is like making love with an interpreter.

Movie Connections:

References Aasha (1957)

Delightful ethnic comedy!

The excellent comedic talent, Aasif Mandvi, plays a lovable character named Samir in a very funny comedy about Samir's life in New York. He works as a sous chef in a nice restaurant with the hope of becoming a full chef in his boss's newly opening restaurant. When that position fails to materialize for him, Samir quits in a huff and decides to move to Paris for an unpaid position with a famous chef there.

Not too surprisingly, it turns out he needs to stay in New York because of a family crisis (I won't say what) and Samir's help is needed with the family business. A thoroughly delightful story follows that is full of heart and full of humor, for a totally enjoyable experience! Highly recommended!