Open Tables Clip: Intertwining Stories of True Love Over Many Dinners

Sometimes a good meal is the perfect setting for love stories. Shot on location in some of the top restaurants in Chicago (Longman & Eagle and Publican) and Paris (Bistrot Paul Bert and Au Bon Accueil), the new film “Open Tables” explores true love over the course of delicious main courses.

The film follows couple Sam and Kate (Keith Kupferer and Kate Duffy), who host a group of friends for dinner in the hopes that sparks will fly between Kate’s younger sister Cassie (Caroline Neff) and their friend Ryan (writer/director Jack C. Newell). They’re joined by seemingly perfect couple Jon (Desmin Borges) and Dana (Colleen Doyle) and soon the conversation opens up about love, loss and regret. The film also co-stars David Pasquesi (“Veep”) and Joel Murray (“Mad Men”). Watch an exclusive clip from the film below.

Newell recently explained to IndieWire how improvisation and scripting scenes melded together to create his unique feature.

“The film is a smorgasbord of different approaches. There are sections that are 100% scripted and sections that are 100% improvised and everywhere in between,” he said. “We used the script to get everyone on the same page, and then empowered them to do what they wanted with their characters and lines. It works because they know where we’re going and can work within the parameters of the film. Sometimes in improvised films, not everyone knows where you are going.”

And the food? Pretty great.

“We had a pretty laidback schedule and it’s a low budget thing, so no one was working for very much or any money,” Newell added. “How we compensated was easy days and amazing food. Also, the point of the film is that the people you eat with is what makes a meal special — not the meal itself. So, I think we ate very well and we all bonded over the 9 months.”

“Open Tables” first premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival last year. It subsequently screened at the L.A. Comedy Festival, where it won Best Feature Ensemble; the Blue Whisky Independent Film Festival, where it won Best of Fest, Best Narrative Feature and Best Screenplay; and most recently the Chicago Comedy Film Festival. It will be available on VOD and on iTunes on Friday, December 2.

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