Director's Statement
Escaping a dinner party...
...can feel like a matter of life and death. The search for the nearest exit can begin with an innocent offense — maybe a remark on your diet, or perhaps secondhand embarrassment from watching someone try a little too hard to make a good impression. Beyond all the small talk, this inner turmoil is what connects dinner guests together. Dinner, a short film inspired by my own experiences searching for the nearest exit, explores the horrific yet hilarious consequences that can occur when we recklessly pursue our own ambitions while neglecting our personal relationships.
Beatrice, a freshly hired intern, has dragged her boyfriend, Max, to a dinner with her new boss, Emilia, and her husband, James. As the dinner progresses, Emilia and James delight in exposing the vulnerabilities in their guests’ relationships, until finally, the night becomes too chaotic to control.
Central to the story is an inescapable feeling of despair as each character battles their own internalized social anxieties. This will be visually captured through a single continuous take. The unending shot will amplify the tension and concentrate the escalating chaos by never cutting away. Though challenging, through careful planning and collaboration between the cast and crew, every laugh and scream will be carefully arranged into the perfect cinematic dish.
Dinner is an invitation to delve into the complexities of human relationships, the struggles of navigating societal expectations, and the consequences of our choices. It is a film that reflects the choking realities of our society while offering a hilariously chilling experience. I’m excited to be collaborating with our talented cast and crew to bring Dinner to life.
David Charry
Writer & Director
