Open For Breakfast

In this short film, Lorraine, a new waitress, forms a heartfelt connection with Edith, a regular customer at the diner. As Lorraine navigates her first day on the job, she discovers that Edith has been coming to the diner for over a decade and has a fondness for tea instead of coffee. They engage in friendly conversation, with Edith sharing her love for trying different teas and always ordering the special: pancakes and eggs for $3. Lorraine finds comfort in Edith's presence as a familiar face in a new town and begins to appreciate tea as well.

However, Lorraine's tranquility is disrupted when her past comes knocking in the form of Chuck, a man she appears to fear. Chuck apologizes for his past behavior, professes his love for Lorraine, and invites her to visit him at a nearby hotel. Despite her apprehension, Lorraine reluctantly agrees. The film portrays the evolving relationship between Lorraine and Edith, emphasizing the warmth and understanding that Edith provides during a challenging time.

  • Tran Hoang Calvin
    Director
    A Clean Slate, Arbitrary Lines: The Free Spirit of Caroline, Bizone, Refuge: The Story of Viet Tran
  • Tran Hoang Calvin
    Writer
    Bizone
  • Phillip Mrzyglocki
    Writer
  • Will Docsa
    Producer
    A Clean Slate, An American Portrait
  • Jasmine Piper
    Key Cast
    "Lorraine"
    Leaving Michiana, Protect and Serve, Picnic & Pals, 3 Piece Kiss
  • Arlene Arnone Bibbs
    Key Cast
    "Edith"
    Candy Town Follies of 2022, Bertie the Brilliant, Dinner at the Anderson's, Jay Davis Presents: Creative Hustle, Mister Sister
  • Kevin McCasland
    Key Cast
    "Chuck"
    Birthday Party Crashers
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Tran Hoang Calvin

Tran Hoang Calvin is an independent director and producer from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in film and television production and has over a decade of experience in the film industry with credits from ABC News, VICE Media, DECON-Mass-Appeal, the Moving Picture Institute and Anonymous Content. Since graduating, his focus has been in the developing field of new media including social media strategy, memetics, and virtual reality which led him to founding NODEHAUS Media, an animation studio and production company driven by Gen-Z artists and entrepreneurs.

Tran's cinematic vision is characterized by a controlled, yet raw and realistic storytelling. For his latest short film, "Open For Breakfast," he draws on the sense of loneliness and detachment he shares with many others across Gen Z during the COVID pandemic. Shot in the fall of 2021 in his hometown, this film captures the spirit of independent filmmaking in the face of the post-pandemic rebuild of the local industry.

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Director Statement

Making 'Open For Breakfast' has been a deeply personal journey, and it is my sincere hope that the intimacy and sincerity I have strived to convey will resonate with audiences.

This film is an exploration of human connection and resilience amidst solitude, a theme that felt particularly urgent and universal in the wake of the COVID pandemic. As I navigated my own sense of isolation and detachment, I found inspiration in the simple interactions we often take for granted in daily life - a waitress serving a regular at a diner, a friendly conversation over a cup of tea. In Lorraine and Edith, I saw an opportunity to explore these moments of genuine connection in a world that often feels disconnected.

I chose to shoot the film in my hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, to draw on the familiar, the community, and the sense of 'home.' This backdrop became an essential character in the film, its sense of resilience mirroring the characters' journey.

The film also delves into the complexities of past relationships and the courage it takes to move forward, embodied in Lorraine's interactions with Chuck. Through Lorraine's experiences, the film poses essential questions about forgiveness, fear, and the strength to pursue a better future.

Through 'Open For Breakfast,' my goal was not just to tell a compelling story, but to create a cinematic experience that evokes empathy and sparks conversation about our shared human experience. As a filmmaker, my vision is to use cinema as a bridge, connecting people through stories that are both personal and universal. I believe this film embodies that vision, and I am thrilled to share it with audiences at the festival.