Can you tell us what the film is about? Two women, a chef and her newly-hired assistant, are working to create culinary magic for their restaurant’s divine clientele, while coming to terms with their complex senses of self. The story of Champagne explores the experiences of a woman striving to succeed in her career, stuck somewhere between finding her own way, dealing with self-doubt, and learning how and when to ask for the help she needs. 

Why ask PolkaPants to be involved? We asked Polka to be involved because it takes a village to tell a story, so we wanted to ask people who were actively working in the communities we are telling stories about. Even though our film is ‘fictional’, it was important to us to ground the world, and the production, in true stories of women in food. Polka Pants is making the food world more accessible, inviting, and creative for women. It was a perfect fit. As were the pants for our two lead actors, who promptly took their pants home to become apart of their daily wardrobe.

What styles did you pick for the cast? Classic Houndstooth and Black on Black. 

Did you work with any Chefs in particular during the creating of the film? We were thrilled to partner with Chef Rachel Yang (James Beard Winner) and her restaurant Joule for our location. This is another example of how we are centering true stories of women in food, with our own slightly more magical version. 

How can the public support Champagne? We are currently seeking financial support: We are entirely community-funded. While we completed filming this June, we are in need of help with our post-production costs (~$5,000). You can buy a super cute enamel pin to support the campaign on our website, or donate at a larger level to make this story come to life!

When will we be able to see the film? Pending completing raising our $5,000 remaining funds, we are set to start submitting to film festivals this fall, with festival screenings coming this spring!

View the Champagne Kickstarter Video