Acclaimed director, producer, acting coach and artist educator Noëlle Gentile recently served as the Acting Coach on the new Netflix film Hustle, which stars Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah, Ben Foster and Robert Duvall. Gentile worked closely with Director Jeremiah Zagar on the film, which will be streamed on Netflix beginning June 8, 2022
For Hustle, Gentile served as the Acting Coach for professional basketball players Juancho Hernangomez (a Spanish player for the Utah Jazz,) Boban Marjonovic (a Serbian player for the Dallas Mavericks,) Dell Demps (an assistant coach for the Utah Jazz,) Julius Erving (aka “Dr. J,” regarded as one of the most influential basketball players of all time, who played for the ABA's Virginia Squires and the New York Nets, and the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers,) Kenny Smith (nicknamed "the Jet" and a former member of the Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets; Smith is also a well-known sports commentator on Inside the NBA) and Anthony Edwards (an NBA player with the Minnesota Timberwolves.) Gentile also worked with Argentine/Spanish actress Maria Botto, and ten year old Spanish actress Aihnoa Pillet.
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Regarding her experience on the new film, Gentile said, “Hustle has so much heart! It is my second film working alongside director Jeremiah Zagar; our initial collaboration together was on his film, We The Animals. On both productions, I worked primarily with first time actors. Central to my work as an acting coach is creating trusting relationships and safe spaces on set so that actors can enter the vulnerable work of being fully present in the story when the camera is rolling. My approach is individually tailored to meet the needs and style of each performer. We explore the script and develop characters through improvisation, storytelling, and guided meditation as primary techniques and entry points into authentic performances. This work took place throughout the casting process, pre-production and while on set. Our work together is evident in the actors’ brilliant performances and I could not be more proud.”
“Being on the set of Hustle and working with so many incredible basketball players was also exhilarating. It was a gift to learn so much about their experiences in the NBA and beyond. Their kindness, vulnerability and openness to the work made everyday on set a beautiful experience for me, and we ultimately developed friendships beyond the film experience. It was also an incredible honor for me to witness and learn from the work of iconic artists Adam Sandler and Queen Latifah,” Gentile adds.
About HUSTLE
After teaming up with Adam Sandler on his massively successful two movies Uncut Gems and Hubie Halloween, Netflix teamed again with Sandler in a dramatic role in Hustle. In the film, Sandler plays a sports agent who discovers a basketball diamond in the rough on the streets of Madrid.
Netflix’s Hustle was directed by Jeremiah Zagar, who received several awards and nominations for his 2018 film We The Animals. The script for Hustle was written by Taylor Materne (NBA 2K20, Dominoes) and Oscar-nominee Will Fetters (A Star is Born, The Best of Me.)
Hustle was produced by Sandler’s Happy Madison production company, along with LeBron James and his SpringHill Entertainment company, as well as Roth/Kirschenbaum Films. Netflix’s Hustle entered production in October 2020 in Philadelphia, U.S., and wrapped in November 2021.
The plot of Hustle follows Adam Sandler’s character Stanley Beren, a down-on-his-luck basketball scout who, while abroad, discovers a generational talent with a rocky past. Without his team’s approval, he decides to bring the remarkable player back with him, giving them both one last shot to prove they are NBA-worthy. As a fired pro basketball scout, Beren is excited for the first time in a very long while when he serendipitously discovers Spanish amateur baller, Bo Cruz (Juancho Hernangomez – in his first acting role,) playing in a park outside Madrid. Fueled with new-found purpose, Beren makes it his mission to groom Bo for the NBA.
Co-starring with Adam Sandler in Hustle are: Oscar nominee Queen Latifah (The Equalizer, Taxi, Chicago,) Oscar winner Robert Duvall (Tender Mercies, Apocalypse Now, The Judge,) Ben Foster (Hell or High Water, Warcraft,) Jordan Hull (The L-Word: Generation Q,) Maria Botto (Risen, Mad Dogs,) and Ainhoa Pillet.
What Noëlle's Colleagues Say
“Meeting Noëlle was one of my life's luckiest encounters. Without her, I would never have been able to achieve what we did in We The Animals or Hustle. She is a whisperer, a teacher and confidant who makes everyone around her better.” — Jeremiah Zagar, Director of Netflix film Hustle and the award-winning film We The Animals
“Noëlle has been my daily inspiration to be better: a better actor, and more importantly, a better person. She’s the light that illuminates our path forward. She's one of the best people I've ever known. An unwavering fighter who is always ready to help. She's always there for what you need – anytime, anywhere – and there are few people like that in the world. And I have the good fortune to have met and worked with her.” — Juancho Hernangomez, co-star on Netflix film Hustle, NBA player for the Utah Jazz
“Noëlle’s work with the actors was invaluable for this movie. The film is better for it.”
— Barry Bernardi, Executive Producer of Netflix’s Hustle
“Thanks to sessions with Noëlle, the cast came to work better prepared for each shoot day. Not only did that make for finer scenes, but the movie saved precious time. Noëlle was always there for the cast on set, listening to and watching their performances, stepping in quickly and judiciously when needed. I appreciated her calm, unpretentious, positive style. She communicated extremely well not only with the actors but with me and my A.D. staff. I have worked with many acting coaches over the years and I can say that Noëlle would certainly be my first recommendation.” — Mike Topoozian, First A.D. for Hustle
“Working with Noëlle gave me a vulnerability into the world of acting I didn’t know existed.” — Kenny Smith, Co-star on Netflix film Hustle, Host of Inside the NBA
“Noëlle is the best.” — Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timeberwolves NBA Player, Actor in Netflix film Hustle
“It was really a pleasure working with Noëlle. She coached me on the set of Hustle. I couldn’t have done it without her assist.” — Julius “Dr. J” Erving, NBA Hall of Famer, Actor in Netflix film Hustle
“Meeting Noëlle and getting the opportunity to work with her has been unbelievable. She is a kind, sweet, and great person. Her ability to help me channel my inner self and get into character is incredible. She made me realize my potential. Because of her, acting is something I would love to continue to pursue.” — Elvin Rodriguez, Actor in Hustle
“Noëlle possesses this incredible energy that positively impacts everyone. She has a magnificent teaching style that prepares you, while providing the techniques and confidence to bring out your best performance. She is awesome!!!” — Dell Demps, Utah Jazz Assistant Coach, Actor in Netflix Film Hustle
About Noëlle Gentile
Over the last twenty years, Noëlle Gentile has been honored to contribute to radical storytelling through multimedia theatre pieces and film projects, working in tandem with many gifted artists both in front of – and behind – the camera. Regarding the approach to her work, she says, “I seek to create spaces for people to share and explore stories as a vehicle for transformation and connection. Together with my clients, I love co-creating affirming and vibrant communities. Whether on a film set, or in an educational, artistic, or business setting, the meaningful impact of being able to enter into creative work with vulnerability, connection, and play shifts every aspect of the collective experience.”
Gentile, a noted director, producer, acting coach, and artist educator, has been an artist-educator and facilitator with Youth FX; the Workforce Development Institute; Albany High School Theatre Ensemble; NYC Department of Education’s Theatre Program; City College of New York; Brooklyn College Film School; and Arts, Letters & Numbers. At Arts, Letters & Numbers, for members of UNICEF's Office of Innovation, Gentile co-facilitated a workshop on the transformative power of storytelling.
In the area of film, Gentile worked as an acting coach to the three lead actors on We The Animals, an Official Sundance Selection and the winner of Sundance's NEXT Innovator Award. That film, directed by Jeremiah Zagar, was based on the novel by Justin Torres. She was also the acting coach, alongside director Jeremiah Zagar, on the Netflix film Hustle, starring Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah and Robert Duvall. For Hustle, she served as the acting coach to professional basketball players Juancho Hernangomez, Kenny Smith, Boban Marjonovic, Dell Demps, Julius Irving and Anthony Edwards, along with actresses Maria Botto and Aihnoa Pillet.
Gentile’s next movie will again feature her work as an Acting Coach – alongside director Jingyi Shao – on the upcoming Disney and Hillman Grad Production, Chang Can Dunk. For that project, Gentile worked with actors Bloom Li, Zoë Renee, Mardy Ma, Dexter Darden and Chase Liefeld.
Noelle recently wrote a short film (based on her family’s personal experience), which she plans to direct this winter. The film explores parents navigating grief around a medical diagnosis for their child, and how the family exists in the space between life and death.
Noëlle Gentile’s work continues to unfold in ways that both surprise and inspire her to expand her horizons. She lives with her husband and two daughters in upstate New York.
