Sidewalk Film Festival - Breakfast in Bed (webseries)
An optimistic romantic and a pessimistic wrestling fan navigate being best friends and single in New York City.
Interview with: Director/Writer/Actor Kate Chamuris & Writer/Actor/Producer LeMar McLean
Watch Breakfast in Bed (webseries) on YouTube
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Kate: Thanks! This was a long time in the making. We met doing comedy improv back in 2005 and we always talked about writing a piece to film.
I am a hopeless romantic who truly believes I live in a Rom-Com, and LeMar has always been unwaveringly pessimistic when it comes to relationships. We thought it would be fun to explore those contrasting views on love and relationships through heightened fictionalized versions of ourselves.
LeMar: Kate comes from an acting background, so she wanted to explore her impulse to direct. I wanted to challenge myself with a scripted acting role since writing and improv are my comfort zones.
Kate: Each episode is structured slightly differently so I could play with different ways to technically tell the story. We didn’t want to be beholden to a formulaic way of showcasing these characters.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Kate: To laugh and hopefully root for these two as they find/fail to find their soul mates…if you believe in that sort of thing.
LeMar: Or if you really like WWE there’s plenty of pro wrestling goodies in there, too.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Kate: The themes of love and infatuation are at the root of it all. Romantic infatuation, friendly love, and the lines those two emotions walk. Brooke is in love with the idea of love and will do anything to grasp at those relationships. Marvin is fiercely loyal to his friends and doesn’t see the need for a mate; his friendships are fulfilling enough.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
LeMar: We outlined the beats of each episode and the arc of the season. Then, we took turns passing the script back and forth slowly chipping away at the narrative. While writing, we would improvise some of the scenes if we got stuck. Oddly, as improvisers, we stayed pretty true to the script while shooting. We were open to the supporting actors to do what they do best and improvise around our script.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
LeMar: The comment we get the most is how heartfelt and honest our comedy is. People dig our chemistry on screen. Guys have been pleasantly surprised that a rom-com would include pro wrestling, especially as more than a cheap punchline.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Kate: The feedback has been surprisingly motivational. We made this series to get something out there that showcased what we do, put it on the shelf and move on. But having the opportunity to screen at Sidewalk Film Festival and get the feedback that audiences want to see more of these characters has ignited us to think about expanding the piece to a longer format.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Kate: We welcome a larger audience to see the series and let us know what works and/or not works. Breakfast in Bed is the seed of an idea that we’re just starting to see grow and mature.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Kate: We would love to put these two characters into a feature-length story. Programming from festival directors would allow us to get more feedback on what is working. Attaching a kick ass producer to help us find investors wouldn’t hurt, either.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
LeMar: Breakfast in Bed has the potential to reshape the genre as unconventional characters provide new perspectives of navigating conventional relationship situations. We wanted this project to demonstrate that sincerity should remain at the core of comedy, which I fear is becoming a lost concept as we become more ironically detached.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Kate: How have you found success dating? Are you like Type-A/relationship-by-numbers Brooke? Or do you run as far away from love as possible, secretly hoping it catches you, like Marvin?
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Kate: I’m in pre-production to direct a short film written by and starring Sunita Deshpande called A Sari for Pallavi, as well as in development on the feature film adaptation of Danielle Sepulveres’s comedic memoir, Losing It: The Semi-scandalous story of an ex-virgin. (katechamuris.com)
LeMar: I produce a few podcasts, including the feminist show Lady Bits with co-host Jacqui Moore and Brothers From Another Planet on race and pop culture. My BFAP co-hosts, Tarik Davis and Don P. Hooper, and I are also developing our first video sketch album as we continue to perform in our improv/standup show CPT: Comedy People’s Time. (marzdailymedia.com)
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We are moving stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Breakfast in Bed
An optimistic romantic and a pessimistic wrestling fan navigate being best friends and single in New York City.
Length: 6 episodes, full run-time 23 min.
Director: Kate Chamuris
Producers: C. LeMar McLean and Kate Chamuris
Writers: Kate Chamuris and C. LeMar McLean
About the writer, director and producer:
Kate Chamuris (director, writer, actor, producer) is a director and actor working in indie films, TV and theater. Her production company, Those Silly Humans, produces sketches and shorts that explore realistic moments with a comedic twist.
C. LeMar McLean (writer, actor, producer) is a live comedy producer, podcaster, and performer based in Brooklyn, New York. He is committed to using entertainment to improve society by raising the voices of provocative yet underrepresented voices.
Key cast:
Kate Chamuris, C. LeMar McLean, Billy Bob Thompson, Lane Kwederis
Looking for: producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists
Made by Marz Media & Those Silly Humans
Release date: January 2016
Where can I watch it in the next month?