Making a living in the service industry is hard work – even more so when the long hours are rewarded with meager tips.
The comedic short “Tips” centers on that premise as two female co-workers on break after slinging coffee discuss their situation.
This is the latest film project for Hoboken director Damian Voerg, director of photography Frank Keilly, and producer Ron Keilly, who plan to shoot the short locally in early February.
Gathering talent
The script is a departure for the team, who in previous projects has worked only on original material that they authored.
It differs too in genre. Their 2006 short “Blink” was a suspense thriller that the crew entered into several well-known festivals.
Voerg says that while normally as a team they work with their own material, Tom Cudworth’s latest comedic short “Tips” was too good to pass up.
Noteworthy screenwriter Cudworth also co-wrote the screenplay “Ten Benny” that was an official selection at Sundance and the acclaimed screenplay “The Restaurant” that was released nationwide and starred Adrien Brody. His extensive resume includes over a dozen screenplays, some of which have been optioned, and also several plays.
“I’d have to say that it was the writing itself that got my interest,” said Voerg about “Tips.” “Tom Cudworth is an established writer and his screenplays are really intriguing.”
Building relationships
The short centers on two characters who have differing opinions on what constitutes a good pool of tips.
Voerg said that since the thrust of the action centers on the two females, it is crucial to establish the relationship quickly.
Having a good rapport was an important factor when they were casting.
“We had already cast the lead,” said Voerg, “so I wrote a similar script that ran for the same time for the audition.”
The lead role was cast with local actress Hank Morris, whose recent film credits include “Apartment 309” and “Shakespeare 36.” Morris plays the character called “Starbucks Girl.”
“It’s funny,” said Morris about the script. “I love that the character holds prostitution in such high regard. It’s ironic.”
Voerg says that because Morris was familiar with the material already, he didn’t want the material to get stale during the audition process.
“It involved a lot of back and forth interaction,” he said, adding that it could get old very quickly if they were too familiar with their lines.
After watching many young women audition with Morris, they finally discovered a magic relationship with actress Ilona Farkas, who was cast as the coworker.
“The way [Farkas] read with [Morris] she clearly just nailed it,” said Voerg.
Creating a world
Since “Tips” is a short – possibly only a running time of seven or eight minutes, Voerg says that he will have to take a different approach to directing. He said that he absolutely doesn’t want to over-rehearse the material or they will run the risk of having a very flat finished project. Instead he plans to have the actresses do improv work and discuss it.
“There is definitely something that triggers the lead character off,” said Voerg. “There is this worker who has no interest in the customers – she basically is only interested in being on break.”
While there is only a short period of time to establish the relationship between the two co-workers, he also has to stay true to the writing, which has short, quick, repartee-paced, dialogue.
“The camera shots are going to reflect that, it’s going to be very fast-paced,” he said.
Because of the length of the short, Voerg said that filming will only take one day to shoot.
The short “Tips” is only one project the team has planned for this year. In addition, Voerg also plans to shoot a three-person comedic short that he wrote. The team is hosting a “meet and greet” at the Shannon. (See box for more information.)
As with any project, Voerg hopes that the film will engage the viewers.
“We always want to entertain,” he said. “We want the audience to wonder what we will do next.”
MEET AND GREET
The cast and crew are hosting a party in the backroom of the Shannon, 106 First St. in Hoboken on Thursday, Jan. 15 from 7 to 10 p.m. for the comedic short “Tips.”
The $20 admission at the door includes: $3 domestic drafts and bottles, 2-for-1 mixed drinks, a DJ, and more.
For more information, visit: copethemovie.com.