News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Emily and Nathan Woodworth (with Fu Manchu mustache) have filmed the second installment in their comedy sketch project The Barista Times. photo provided
Anybody who has worked as a barista has seen things they know would make for great satire. Emily and Nathan Woodworth have the background - and the acting and writing chops - to mine that rich comedic vein.
The brother-sister team filmed the second installment in their series of comedy vignettes, The Barista Times, last week at Palate a Coffee Bar in Bend.
Everybody who has stood in line at a coffee bar has got stuck behind "that person" - the one who takes forever to order then can't find her money in her purse. The Woodworths tapped Samantha Albert for the role. Albert, who has performed on the Second City Main Stage in Chicago with Keegan Michael-Key and appeared in feature films such as "The Informant" starring Matt Damon, and TV shows "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation," made the most of the scenario.
The Woodworths gave her a purse in which to dig for her coffee money - and let her roll.
"We just let her improvise, and everything she pulled out was comedy gold," Nathan said. "She's a world-class improviser and we're so honored that she agreed to come on board."
They were also most appreciative of Palate a Coffee Bar owners Jodi Groteboer and Jason Rhodes. Not everyone would be receptive to letting a crew of comics take over their establishment and satirize the business in which they make their living.
"They were just so wonderful to work with," Emily said.
Unlike the first iteration of The Barista Times - which can be viewed on Youtube - the Woodworths used their own equipment and handled the filming themselves, as well as acting in the vignettes.
"We wanted to be more independent and self-produce," Emily explained.
In addition to Albert, the cast included Derek Sitter; Wayne Newcome; Gavin W. Douglas; Chris Sulak; and Mariah Bisenius. The production took three long nights at Palate a Coffee Bar, which is located on Colorado Avenue in Bend.
The Woodworths plan to enter The Barista Times vignettes in comedy film festivals in the short films category.
"The hope is that we would get into some festivals and get some exposure that way," Emily said.
The brother and sister are also writing a feature film, which Nathan describes as "a surrealist comedy."
The Woodworths filmed their first series of The Barista Times at Sisters Coffee House two years ago. Those short films are available on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/user/BaristaTimes. They are on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thebaristatimes.
The second series is expected to premier in early 2018.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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