CUPS (2024)

"This short film was created as part of my Digital Cinema class at Indiana University Indianapolis. The assignment challenged me to take the skills that I've learned so far in my entire filmmaking education and career.  

The idea for this film stemmed from my love of coming-of-age teen comedies from the early 2000s to the present. Movies like Superbad, Booksmart, and Bottoms were heavily inspirational in the concept of this film. I wanted to explore what would happen if you took a two-hour road-trip comedy movie and reduced it to just a few key elements.

From pre-production to post-production, this project was a hands-on learning experience. I was responsible for all aspects of this film, from writing to directing and even casting and editing. Working with classmates like Hang Doan, Canaan Sellers, and many others taught me the importance of having great collaborators to help you along the way.  

The CUPS cast is headlined by Bailey Kinsella (as Valerie) and Sydni Stuart (as Julia). Bailey and Sydni, play best friends who work together at a movie theater when they aren't in school. When Valerie overhears about a college party nearby she drags Julia along with her to help sneak in and hopefully help their social status. 

Working with all the cast and crew was a privilege and something I'll cherish forever. This project was a major milestone in my filmmaking journey, helping me grow as a writer, director, and filmmaker. This project helped me develop skills in working with professional actors, securing locations, and how to properly take an idea from a script to a screen. Moving forward, I hope to apply these lessons to future projects and continue developing my style."

-Grant Rueff