Writers Wanted: Gratuity — Character-Driven Franchise Short Film Series
“Growing up in Oregon diners, I watched mom-and-pop dreamers take their best ideas and turn them into something that mattered — not just to their families, but to their communities. These were places where the smell of coffee lingered in the air, where biscuits and gravy stuck to your ribs, and where the stories overheard between orders were as rich as the food itself. That spirit of rolling up your sleeves and building something meaningful with both humor and heart is what we're channeling into "Gratuity," our new franchise short film series. We're crafting a writers' room that understands the beauty and struggle of ordinary lives and knows how to find the extraordinary in the everyday.
"Gratuity" centers on a no-frills, relatable twenty-something who's juggling the bittersweet, messy in-between years of early adulthood. Living at home, clocking in at a restaurant, and fumbling his way through family dinners and unfinished dreams, he's stuck in that space between what might be and what is. The restaurant isn’t just a backdrop — it’s the world he lives in. The kitchen is a war zone of hissing grills and sharp retorts, the dining room a stage where every guest and co-worker brings a story and a little chaos. This is about capturing life's small moments with big impact — the kind of raw, comedic realism only service jobs and working-class families can deliver.
We're building this world with sharp, grounded storytellers who know how to draw from the everyday grind — and find the comedy, heart, and depth in the spaces between. We want characters who feel real and layered, and stories where the laughter has bite but the emotion leaves a mark. This isn’t about trying to force a joke; it’s about finding truth and letting the humor and heartbreak naturally follow.
For those of you who are vibing with this concept, we’re not opening submissions just yet. But take this as your invitation to start dreaming with us. Think on what future seasons or spin-offs might explore, on the moments that shape service workers and young adults alike, and on the stories that deserve a place in this restaurant world. "Gratuity" is about the people, the plates, and the pulse of life caught somewhere between where you are and where you want to be. When the time comes, we can't wait to hear your take.”
-Caden