What Are You Having? (2003)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Benjamin Meyer

Writer:

Benjamin Meyer (writer)

Genre:

Short

Plot:

Insecure single guy sees an attractive young woman eating lunch alone. Can he muster the courage to try introducing himself?

Plot Keywords:

Single Guy | Pickup Line | Fantasy Sequence | Waitress

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Jason Denuszek	...	Sam
Kenny McKee	...	Son
Justin Ochonicki	...	Waiter
Carmella Riley	...	Restaurant Patron
Christian Stolte	...	Father
Lisa Velten

Directed by
Benjamin Meyer

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Benjamin Meyer		writer

Produced by
David Carlson	....	producer
Benjamin Meyer	....	producer
Jonna Walsh	....	producer

Original Music by
Alicia Rose

Cinematography by
Warren Hansen

Film Editing by
Katherine Pryor
Kathryn Pryor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Benjamin T. Brammeier	....	first assistant director
Marty Shea	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Lia Roldan	....	on-set dresser

Camera and Electrical Department
Jerry Foreman	....	grip
Bill Frye	....	gaffer
Matt Johnson	....	grip
Keith Pokorski	....	assistant camera

Transportation Department
Jerry Foreman	....	driver: grip truck

Other crew
Ericka Frederick	....	advisor: IFP
Christina Varotsis	....	advisor: IFP

Production Companies

• Bucktown Pictures

Runtime:

France:11 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Company:

Bucktown Pictures

Trivia:

A gnome is briefly visible as the woman enters the diner.

Excellent Short on Human Behavior

I had the opportunity to read Mr. Meyer's screenplay before he filmed the short. It was good on paper and he's done an excellent job in capturing on film human emotion, frailty, quirks, choices that many of us can relate to almost painfully, and with rueful humor throughout. The venue had the sound set a tad too loud, but my companions and I were quite impressed with What Are You Having? in a multitude of facets: plot, asides, acting, direction and editing. As unfortunate as the situation is that is depicted in the film, what the viewer comes away with is a sense of renewed interest in chance meetings, of hope in communicating with strangers. The moral is that life is too short not to take chances on finding happiness. Is a possible rejection painful enough to risk not trying? The protagonists are youthful in the film, so the scenario really rings true. As we grow older, we naturally take more chances, before life slips by.