DINNER

The Story

A freshly hired intern does her best to impress her boss at a dinner party fraught with infidelity, murder and veganism.

A young couple with hopeless communication skills, Beatrice and Max, head into a work dinner with absolutely no chance of making it out alive. Beatrice's boss, Emilia, and her husband, James, delight in their guests' misery, and it isn't long before the night is irrevocably ruined.

The guests soon have only one question left in their minds: will anyone survive?

Director's Statement

Dinner is a horror film for the socially anxious, and a tragedy for the over-ambitious. Writing Dinner began as a confrontation of some burn-out I was feeling from the constant hustle of working in the film industry. I wanted to challenge myself with a project outside of my comfort zone while allowing my imagination to run wild exploring the dark side of modern capitalism and our relationship with our careers. At the absolute most toxic, our bosses can seem like monsters, there only to feed upon our skills and passions. Writing and directing Dinner has allowed me to playfully explore some personal frustrations with work culture, and to bring to life the horrors that can grow in the workplace.

Soon after the first draft, Jono Eiland, who we ultimately cast as Sam in Dinner, helped me set up some table reads. These table reads were crucial to the writing process and gave me plenty of energy to propel me through subsequent drafts. It was helpful to hear the dialogue come to life (or not) when read aloud by the actors who agreed to help. Having talented artists give real time feedback on their interpretations and confusions was absolutely invaluable.

In Dinner, I want to convey the inescapable feeling of social anxiety and discomfort that Beatrice and Max are forced to face at the hands of their employers. The story oscillates between objective and subjective moments, much like the experience of going to an awkward social gathering. One moment, you might be a wallflower, content to quietly observe from the fringes of the party. The next moment, you could find yourself suddenly, and perhaps unwillingly, in the center spotlight, with all attention on you. In Dinner, much of the story is told in wide shots, allowing the audience to be wallflowers and experience each moment from a more objective perspective. It isn’t until the moments of highest intensity, when the spotlight shines on the most socially awkward, that the camera moves into the center of the action, isolates characters, and amps up the nervous energy.

Dinner brings to life the horrors we experience in our professional lives. I hope that through this film, audiences will not only see a reflection of their own frustrating experiences but also find some humor and perhaps a bit of catharsis in the chaos. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to invite you to Dinner.

David Charry

Writer & Director

The Cast

Anusha Shankar is an actor based in sunny Los Angeles! She is so excited to be back in LA after a two month run in Charlotte, NC, and cannot wait to dig into the delectable (pun intended) process of working on Dinner with this awesome team. Anusha is a proud alumna of UCLA and is managed by Peter and Louise at Echo Lake Entertainment and is repped commercially by Commercial Talent Agency.

Anusha Shankar

Beatrice

Daniel Kim is an LA-based actor and alumni of UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television. He is beyond honored to be working with David and Casey and the rest of the team on Dinner. Some of his recent credits include the new Bel Air on Peacock, The Brothers Paranormal at East West Players, Fatal Attraction on Paramount+, and 911-Lonestar.

Daniel Kim

Max

Ilana Cohn is an actor, director, and writer currently in development with Mike Schur and Universal (...but the strike!). She created the series Overdue for AwesomenessTV, she won a Webbie Award for the series she created and starred in, Better Your F*cking Self, which turned into the animated series, 4th Period Lunch, which she then developed for TV with Abso Lutely. Ilana has had the good fortune of guesting on classic comedies, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia and South Park.

Ilana Cohn

Emilia

Michael Lanahan is a professional actor living in Redondo Beach with his family. On TV he’s had recurring roles on Barry, Life in Pieces, & Just Roll with It, & appeared on Perry Mason, Better Call Saul, Little Fires Everywhere, Lucifer, The Office, & more. In Theaters he’s recently been seen in Call of the Wild & Best Picture nominee Ford v. Ferrari. An experienced stage actor, Michael’s been seen Off-Broadway, in regional theatres, & the great theatres of LA.

Michael Lanahan

James

Jono is a LA based actor, a founding member of Sojourn Theatre, and a company member with LA classical theater company the Porters of Hellsgate. He is very excited to be part of the entire team bringing Dinner to life. Jono graduated with a BA in Theater Arts from Virginia Tech and is a proud Hokie.

Jono Eiland

Sam

Renée is an LA-based actor with a background in theater. Favorite past roles have been Lady MacBeth in, shockingly, Macbeth, Gaheris in Clarissant, and as co-host of the podcast Your Next Obsession. Renée is a proud UCLA Bruin and she's never met a sandwich she didn't love.

Renée Torchio MacDonald

Rose

The Crew

David Charry, a Colombian-American filmmaker, brings over a decade of cinematography experience to his writing and directorial debut, Dinner. With a passion for storytelling, David has lensed award-winning projects for clients including Amazon, Microsoft, Honda, and Vogue. His diverse portfolio includes numerous narrative films, music videos, and documentaries screened at festivals across the globe. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, David holds a B.A. in Film & Video from Columbia College Chicago and an M.F.A. in Cinematography from the American Film Institute Conservatory.

David Charry

Writer & Director

Casey is a creative producer with a strong production background in every corner of the film industry from narrative to documentary to commercial. No matter the medium, Casey tells stories filled with creativity, authenticity, and outside the box thinking.

Casey J. Vickers

Creative Producer

Joelle Monique is an award-winning pop culture critic, executive producer, and host. Popular works include Fake Doctors Real Friends and co-founding the DE&I programs NextUP for iHeart Media.

Joelle Monique

Executive Producer

Favienne Howsepian is a cinematographer exploring and pursuing the truth and perspective of the human condition. After graduating from the AFI Conservatory, Favienne was awarded the 2017 ASC Student Heritage Award for her work on Snowplow. Her narrative work includes award-winning short films such as Snowplow, Unbound, and feature film I Wrote This For You.

Favienne Howsepian

Cinematographer

After 15 years of experience as a composer, arranger and orchestrator, Bruno discovered that the most efficient and time-tested approach was to think of film music as an integral element of the art of storytelling, a tool that accompanies the creative process to arouse the desired emotions, communicate the psychological state of the characters and hook the audience. Some of the projects in which Bruno participated were awarded best soundtrack in several Film Festivals around the world.

Bruno Valenti

Composer

Ryan Gottshall has worn virtually every hat in the audio post production world. His background includes numerous short and feature length films, as well as extensive experience in theatrical marketing and “making-of” content. From dialogue editing and sound design, to music supervision and re-recording mixing, his passion for storytelling with sound always shines through his work. He is very excited to be a part of the creative team telling the story of Dinner.

Ryan Gottshall

Sound Editor & Re-recording Mixer

Our Mission

At Spanish Moss Productions...

...we prioritize empathy in all aspects of our filmmaking. We foster diversity and representation by promoting work-life balance, cultivating rising talent from underserved communities, and prioritizing staff mental health. By striving for open communication and creating a safe environment on set, both in body and mind we will lead the charge in changing the way we make films.

Our movies help people feel seen, heard, and understood. Through our diverse content, we challenge age-old stereotypes and present authentic characters that resonate with audiences. By offering unique perspectives from disenfranchised communities, we strive to create a more inclusive and compassionate society.

The content we create today shapes the culture we live in tomorrow. With this understanding, we aim to inspire positive change by producing films that embody empathy, foster understanding, and contribute to a kinder world. Spanish Moss Productions is committed to creating impactful and culturally significant films that leave a lasting impression on audiences.

Werner Herzog

The Story

Director's Statement