Private Project

Tea

While rehearsing asking out the girl of his dreams, a lonely and highly allergic Circuit-Shack employee gets stung in the throat by a hornet.

  • Blake Rice
    Director
    Sawdust, Steps
  • Blake Rice
    Writer
    Sawdust, Steps
  • Gabriella Piazza
    Producer
    Many Saints of Newark, Blue Bloods, New Amsterdam
  • Michael Gandolfini
    Key Cast
    "Nicholas Steep"
    The Many Saints of Newark, Beau is Afraid, BOB MARLEY: One Love, Daredevil: Born Again
  • Olivia NIkkanen
    Key Cast
    "Tierney Bayer"
    Boardwalk Empire, The Society, Supergirl, The Americans
  • Patty Jenkins
    Executive Producer
    Monster, Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman 1984
  • Andrew Carlberg
    Executive Producer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Romance, Drama, Comedy
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 15, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Cannes Film Festival
    Cannes
    France
    May 20, 2024
    World Premiere
    Shorts Competition
  • Palm Springs ShortFest
    Palm Springs
    United States
    June 18, 2024
    US Premiere
    Short Film in Competition
  • Hollyshorts Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    August 8, 2024
    LA Premiere
    WINNER; Best Producer (Gabriella Piazza) | Short Film in Competiton
  • Nashville Film Festival
    Nashville
    United States
    September 22, 2024
    Tennessee Premiere
    Short Film in Competition
  • Tirana International Film Festival
    Tirana
    Albania
    September 25, 2024
    Albania Premiere
    Short Film in Competition
  • Woodstock Film Festival
    Woodstock
    United States
    October 17, 2024
    New York Premiere
    Short Film in Competition
  • Sante Fe International Film Festival
    Sante Fe
    United States
    October 19, 2024
    New Mexico Premiere
    Short Film in Competition
  • Tehran International Film Festival
    Tehran
    Iran, Islamic Republic of
    Iran Premiere
    Short Film in Competition
  • Izmir Kisa International Film Festival
    Izmir
    Turkey
    Turkey Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Leuven International Short Film Festival
    Leuven
    Belgium
    Belgium Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Florida Film Festival
    Winter Park
    United States
    Flordia Premiere
    Short Film in Competition
  • Newport Beach Film Festival
    Newport Beach
    United States
    October 18, 2024
    Short Film in Competition
  • SCAD (Savannah) Film Festival
    Savannah
    United States
    November 1, 2024
    Georgia Premiere
    Short Film in Competition
  • Denver Film Festival
    Denver
    United States
    November 2, 2024
    Colorado Premiere
    Short Film in Competition
Distribution Information
  • Ouat Media
    Sales Agent
    Country: Canada
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Blake Rice

Blake Winston Rice is an award-winning film director and screenwriter. A New Jersey native and a graduate of Rowan University, Blake began his career in front of the camera as an actor and comedian before transitioning into narrative directing in 2018.

Blake's career flourished with the critically acclaimed drama Steps, an Official Selection at the Sidewalk Film Festival and winner of the Special Grand Jury Award at the DeadCenter Film Festival in 2022. He also completed the single-shot dramatic thriller Sawdust in 2023, now available on Omeleto.

In 2024, Blake premiered his breakout film, the 1990s dramedy Tea (starring Michael Gandolfini), in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Tea has been selected into 13 Oscar-Qualifying film festivals, winning awards at Charlotte, Hollyshorts, Yellowstone International, Bushwick, and Micheaux Film Festivals. The film also has Patty Jenkins serving as an Executive Producer.

Now represented by Kaplan Perrone Management, Blake is currently in post-production on his upcoming film DISC, starring Jim Cummings and Victoria Ratermanis. His debut feature film, The Empty Lot, is currently in development.

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Director Statement

In an homage to everything 1990's, TEA asks the audience to take a step back to simpler times; where the summer days were long, the cool kids were terrifying, and saying "Hi" to the girl of your dreams was beyond insurmountable.

Through the eyes of Nicholaus Steep (played by Michael Gandolfini), we watch the tenderness and bravery of a young man who is doing all he can just to connect with someone. When bad luck turns worse, will the girl of his dreams be able to save his life?

The goal of Tea is simple; two lost souls desperate for connection.

With awkward laughs mashed into danger, and of course - buzz worthy tenderness - I hope you enjoy the film as much as we loved making It.

-Blake Winston Rice