About Us
Green Frog Cafe
Green Frog Cafe is a short film about family and what happens when you realize you are about to lose someone special.
THE STORY
Ever since he was a young boy, Steven had Jack as his mentor to teach him how to whittle, how to spit and how to sit up straight.
Jack helped Steven buy his first guitar and took him along to the Green Frog Cafe where he and the other old timers told tall tales.
Now Jack is ill and near the end of his life. Steven is afraid to lose his old friend but is eventually persuaded to make a final trip home to say his goodbyes and help ease Jack’s final days.
Jack represents the grandfather, favorite aunt or friend and confidant that many of us knew we could always turn to growing up.
PROJECT UPDATE
Principal photography was completed in May 2023, and we're in the post-production and final fundraising stages.
Scroll down to see more information about the film and how you can contribute.
Our Key Players
Brent Jaimes
Writer, Co-Producer
Green Frog Cafe was written by Brent Jaimes, who also serves as the film’s co-producer. Brent wrote the short film Kick, which screened at the Lake Arrowhead Film Festival and the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, and Wedding Laine, which screened at the Shedance Film Festival and the St. Louis International Film Festival. He has more than 20 years of experience in film, having worked on several feature films, music videos and commercials in the art department and as an Assistant Director.
Dave Rutherford
Cinematographer
Dave Rutherford is our director of photography and camera operator. He has over 30 years experience in the camera department working on feature films, network television and on national commercials.
Tim Kidwell
"Jack"
Tim Kidwell (Jack) has appeared on the television shows Chicago P.D., Sirens and Crisis. He has also been in the short films Killer Set and Breath as well as appearing on stage with the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival and the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago.
Cory Brandon Clay
Director, Co-Producer
Cory Brandon Clay is the film's director. He has worked as a cinematographer and a director on films, commercials and music videos in Nashville, Los Angeles and the Midwest. Most recently, he was a VFX camera operator on Avengers: Endgame and lead creative market director on the Amazon series Citadel.
Jessica Ambuehl
Casting Director, Co-Producer
and the character "Dar"
Jessica Ambuehl (Dar), also our
Casting Director and Co-producer,
has appeared in several feature films, television shows, short films and
many national commercials.
Scott Michael Dunn
"Young Jack"
Scott Michael Dunn (Young Jack) is an actor and producer, known for Supermen: World War (2019), The Meet (2018) and Dangerous Isolation (2020).
Kathy Corley
Editor, Co-Producer
Kathy Corley is the film's co-producer and editor. A professor emeritus in Media Arts at Webster University, she has been teaching film and television production for over 35 years. She produced and edited both narrative and documentary films, including her most recent release One Toke Over the Line…And Still Smokin', a documentary about the folk duo Brewer and Shipley.
Joe Anselm
"Steven"
Joe Anselm (Steven) attended the American Academy of Dramatic arts in Hollywood. Always a musician, Joe began playing in bands in Los Angeles, Nashville and in his hometown of St. Louis as well as appearing in several commercials.
Graylan Alan
"Young Steven"
Graylan Alan (Young Steven) has a
busy career as a model, stage
performer and film actor.
On the Set
In May of this year, our terrific cast and crew shot this story over the course of five long days. Our locations included Pop's Blue Moon bar and A.C. Pawnshop in St. Louis, a gorgeous farm house in Greenville, Illinois, and Stovall's Grove, a country music dance hall that first opened in 1935 in Wildwood, Missouri.
The film features original music created by Cory B. Clay, the film’s director, and Joe Anselm, who plays Steven. Both Joe and Jessica Ambuehl, who plays Dar, provide the vocals on these songs.
Post-Production
We've made great progress towards completing our film, but the post-production process is still ahead. In the months to come, we'll be sorting through all of the footage, editing, creating graphics, color grading, post-production sound,
recording and remixing music tracks .
Only then can we begin to really tell the story of our characters. We will also need to create a press kit for film reps and distributors as well as pay entry fees to submit the film to various film festivals.
The final push to fundraise with
From the Heart Productions
We are pleased to partner with our fiscal sponsor, From the Heart Productions, to raise the final funds tocomplete and release our film.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in California, From the Heart Productions helps independent filmmakers raise funds to make feature films, narrative shorts and documentaries.
You can help us travel down the long and winding road to completion by donating through our fiscal sponsor, From the Heart Productions.
How to donate
There are two ways to make your tax-deductible donation:
DONATE VIA PAYPAL OR CREDIT CARD
DONATE BY CHECK
To make a donation, make checks payable to:
From the Heart Productions, Inc.
Note “Green Frog Cafe” on the check memo line.
Mail the check to:
From the Heart Productions
1013 Harbor Ave. #53
Oxnard, CA 93035
About From the Heart Productions
http://fromtheheartproductions.com/
From the Heart Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit, offering donors tax deductible donations.
They also provide hands-on mentoring and guidance to filmmakers and artists partnering with them.
For your reference, From the Heart Productions' IRS number is
95 444 5418
Happy trails, and we'll see you at the movies!
