David Seth Cohen has spent six years trying to have a drink with Adam Sandler.
That may seem like a long time to wait to have a beer, even with a world famous comedian.
But Cohen, a filmmaker and Great Neck Plaza resident, is not just in it for fun – the quest is the core of “Finding Sandler,” Cohen’s ongoing documentary project that has racked up more than $36,000 from the crowd-sourced fundraising site Kickstarter.
“The main thing that I’ve always strived for – [Sandler] works with all his friends. He hires all the same people and he’s very loyal,” Cohen said. “I respect him in that way.”
Finding Sandler’s story began when Cohen, shortly after graduating from Towson College with a degree concentrating in filmmaking and television, was trying – at first unsuccessfully – to break into the film industry.
“I couldn’t find anything in the industry,” Cohen said.
But after working for a wedding photographer, Cohen got a break. He was hired as a production assistant for Sandler’s hit comedy “Big Daddy,” putting him on set with one of comedic idols.
“I was like, no way, he’s one of my heroes,” Cohen said.
After working with Sandler and the film crew for months, Cohen had a chance to hang out with the star – but turned it down.
Cohen was tasked with delivering clothing to Sandler’s apartment ahead of Big Daddy’s New York premiere.
“From behind the door he starts messing with me – he’s like ‘Who is it? What do you want?’” Cohen said. “He opens the door, he’s got this huge smile on his face. He’s like ‘hey man, want to come in for a drink?’”
But Cohen had a fellow production assistant waiting in his car, and stuck as he was in the pre-cell phone era, felt he had to drive her home rather than take Sandler up on his offer.
“I never had an opportunity to hang with Adam again,” Cohen said.
Cohen moved on, but the incident stayed with him.
And in 2006, while living with his girlfriend and two dogs in his grandmother’s basement, Cohen decided to do something about it.
“I was a Jewish guy working at a Catholic TV station as a producer,” Cohen said. “I just wasn’t where I hoped I’d be in my life at the age of 30.”
Cohen, who grew up in Plainview and moved to Great Neck in 2008, called up his partner at his production company and pitched his idea – a documentary about trying to have that drink he turned down years earlier.
He spent his own money, raised funds from family members and solicited support from strangers on Kickstarter, and was soon crossing the country with a film crew.
“The biggest thing is when I decided I wanted to do this, if we were going to get Adam to do this it had to me more than just a drink – it had to be the coolest drink he’d ever have,” Cohen said.
And to do that, Cohen spoke with other celebrities. Sandler has not yet agreed to meet up – Cohen said the star’s management hadn’t cleared the project – but if he does, Cohen hopes to have Emeril Lagasse cater, Billy Joel play piano and professional wrestler Mick Foley perform a ceremonial body slam.
Cohen said his love of movies started when he was a kid.
“My cousin Jonathan was really creative and when we would get together he would write these scripts and come up with these concepts to make these little movies,” Cohen said. “We would entertain our families at first. That’s how this whole thing started.”
Film continued to attract him throughout his childhood – sometimes at the expense of his school performance. Cohen said on occasion he would fake being sick to stay home and watch television screenings of the Superman and Star Wars films.
“I would literally lay on the couch watching them consecutively while everyone was in school, because I loved movies,” he said.
Cohen initially studied prelaw at Towson, but was inspired to become a filmmaker when he took an introductory film elective.
“I always thought filmmaking was fun. I didn’t realize it was a profession – I always thought it was something you do to have a good time,” Cohen said.
“My parents weren’t really happy,” he added.
