Coffee’s For Closers is a dramedy written, produced and directed by short listed film maker Stephen Russell.
Meant to be an introspective look at the dichotomy of a relationship between two people; Jeff Parker (Steve Russell) and Dahlia Thorne (Hannah Pond), Coffee’s For Closers became a dissection on young love, lust, and the fall out of what can happen over that seemingly innocent cup of coffee.

I originally wrote the script as a comedy, and it wasn’t until I shot it and got into the editing room that I realised that the tone of the short was a lot more serious than I had originally thought, or intended.
I didn’t have a straight up comedy on my hands, I had a dramedy.
That caused me to be hesitant over the entire project, knowing that what I wanted to do was more straight up comedy. It took me a long time to deal with what I had actually created, and accept it for what is was - a bitter sweet, dramedy about the nature and fragility of relationships. Who knew I could get so deep?
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| Jeff Parker, waiting for his density. |
Coffee’s For Closers was filmed in the summer of 2009 with the help of a number of close friends, including Matthew Snyman (director of the web series that I’m in, The Dead Must Die).
It was unfortunately side lined as life happened to get in the way, in the way only life can. I did not have the luxury of being able to commit myself full time as this budding film maker needed to make a buck, and so I got caught up in the repetitiveness of retail, having to edit on sporadic days and times in order to finish the project.
The passion to finish the project however was always there. This fire burns, always. It wasn't until I met Jamie Alexander while working together that I found himself with an editing partner who would help me finally complete the movie in early 2011.
I hope that if you see Coffee's For Closers that you enjoy it, despite it's realistic ending. I hope that it resonates with you in some way, the way that it did with me while I was writing it, shooting it, editing it and finally getting it out there.
I honestly feel that it has got a valid message under it's somewhat potty mouthed, referential exterior and that it is an apt comment on what some 'relationships', and more importantly, on what some people, can be like.
Thanks!
I hope that if you see Coffee's For Closers that you enjoy it, despite it's realistic ending. I hope that it resonates with you in some way, the way that it did with me while I was writing it, shooting it, editing it and finally getting it out there.
I honestly feel that it has got a valid message under it's somewhat potty mouthed, referential exterior and that it is an apt comment on what some 'relationships', and more importantly, on what some people, can be like.
Thanks!
//Stephen Russell
Since Coffee’s For Closers, Stephen Russell has gone on to write and direct short listed work in Mr. Awesome, form half of Short Round Productions, written and recorded an anticipated EP with his band, Adventure Starts Tomorrow! and is gearing up for his next short movie, First Date, which is going to start shooting Summer 2011.
Coffee’s For Closers is currently being submitted to numerous film festivals and screenings.
