Leave 'Em Laughing (2020 film)

Leave 'Em Laughing
Poster
Directed byChris Cashman
Written by
  • Chris Cashman
  • Carlo Coppo
  • Christopher Lusti
Produced by
  • Mark Atkinson
  • Dave Branfman
  • Chris Cashman
  • Carlo Coppo
  • Christopher Lusti
  • Annie Willett
Starring
CinematographyStefan Mentil
Edited byRiley Wood
Music byDavid Schwartz
Production
company
NorthSide Pictures
Release date
  • July 25, 2020 (2020-07-25)
Running time
15 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Leave 'Em Laughing is a 2020 drama short film directed by Chris Cashman and written by Cashman, Carlo Coppo and Christopher Lusti. The film stars Matthew Glave, Pete Gardner and Barrie Chase. It screened at San Diego International Film Festival, The Valley Film Festival, Woods Hole Film Festival and won Best Art Design at Oceanside International Film Festival. The story is set around Dick Shawn's final act at University of California, San Diego.

Plot

When Dick Shawn's stand up routine takes a not so funny turn, the audience is left to wonder what they just witnessed.

Cast

Production

The film is based on a Los Angeles Times article written by Carlo Coppo.[2] It circles around Coppo's experience of Dick Shawn's final performance[3] at University of California, San Diego.[4] The film was submitted to Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival.[5]

Matthew Glave was cast as Dick Shawn and Pete Gardner portrayed Carlo Coppo.[4]

Release

The film screened at San Diego International Film Festival,[6] Oceanside International Film Festival,[1] The Valley Film Festival,[7] Coronado Island Film Festival,[8] Woods Hole Film Festival,[9] SENE Film, Music & Arts Festival[10][3] and Austin Indie Fest.[11]

Reception

Critical response

Alan Ng of Film Threat scored the film 7.5 out of 10 claiming the "final act is why you want to see" the film.[4]

Accolades

List of awards and nominations
Festival Year Award Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema 2021 Grand Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast Short Film Various Nominated
Juan Ruiz Anchia Award for Best Cinematography Stefan Mentil Nominated
Roger Taylor Award for Best Original Score - Short David Schwartz Nominated
Oceanside International Film Festival 2020 Best Art Design (Short or Feature) Elsa Mickelsen Won [12]
Best Screenplay (Short or Feature) Chris Cashman, Christopher Lusti Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Matthew Glave Nominated
Best Direction in a Short Chris Cashman Nominated
Austin Indie Fest 2020 Best Screenplay Chris Cashman, Christopher Lusti Won [13]
Five Continents International Film Festival 2020 (March) Audience Award 1st Place Chris Cashman Won [14]
Best Drama Short Film Chris Cashman Won
Best Supporting Actor Short Film Matthew Glave Won
Best Director Short Film Chris Cashman Won
Best Production Short Film Chris Cashman, Annie Willett Won
Festigious Los Angeles 2020 (February) Best Drama Chris Cashman Won [15]

References

  1. ^ a b "Leave 'em Laughing | SHORTS PROGRAM: DARK | Oceanside International Film Festival 2020". Eventive. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  2. ^ "Carlo Coppo, LLB '63, Dies at 82". Stanford Law School. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  3. ^ a b Lewis, Allie (2021-01-18). "South Kingstown native appears in hit Netflix series". Narragansett Times. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  4. ^ a b c Ng, Alan (2020-10-16). "Leave 'em Laughing | Film Threat". Film Threat. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  5. ^ Grove, Lauren (2020-03-04). "At 83 years old, my grandpa made his first movie". The Stanford Daily. 257 (22): 5 – via Issuu.
  6. ^ "Locals Theater". San Diego International Film Festival. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  7. ^ "VFF: Film Profile: LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING". The Valley Film Festival. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  8. ^ "MEET OUR FILMMAKERS | Coronado Island Film Festival". Coronado Island Film Festival. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  9. ^ "2020 Dramatic Shorts : FESTIVAL 2022: JULY 30 - AUGUST 6". Woods Hole Film Festival. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  10. ^ "Sat June 19 Evening". SENE Film, Music & Arts Festival. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  11. ^ "Multi-Screening: SALTING THE FLY (SHORT), LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING (SHORT), FINDING MARK WHILE ALSO HAVING TIRED HANDS (SHORT), BROKERZ (WEBISODE), LIZARD BRAIN (SHORT)". BingeWave. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  12. ^ "2020 Highlights". Oceanside International Film Festival. 2020-08-18. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  13. ^ "AWARDS - 2020". Austin Indie Fest. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  14. ^ "FICOCC #37 - Short Film Awards". Five Continents International Film Festival. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  15. ^ "Winners - February 2020". Festigious. Retrieved 2022-07-11.