Welcome Back

 They're coming back! The restaurants. The people. The fun...

 

Most of us have missed going out to eat with our families and friends. But slowly and surely, we're starting to resume this wonderful event of socializing. There are still many restaurants that are doing take out only, but eventually, hopefully they too will be able to get back to life as we knew it in the past.

It's been tough for most restaurant people and many of these people won't be going back to work in their restaurants... permanently closed. So sad that there wasn't enough help.

I'm visiting Summit County Colorado where I lived for many years and shot a restaurant movie here in 2005. "Did I Say Thousand Island?" was premiered in Breckenridge, Co. in 2007 and continues to be watched on the internet... all these years later. I'm on a mission to get it remade and use it to help restaurant people in the event of another devastating blow from somewhere.

I recently learned about Summit Musicians Relief Fund (SMRF). It started out as a fund to help 2 local musicians who were fighting leukemia. Leon Joseph Littlebird is one of them and he happens to have donated music for the movie back in 2005. This non-profit was subsequently able to help Summit Co. musicians who were put out of work from the Covid-19. Wouldn't it be great if there had been more help available to those in the restaurant world? Use a restaurant movie to help their own.

Or maybe... just get the movie remade for sake of the movie itself. There's a reason why it's been seen all over the world. Maybe because it's a movie that has helped people get an honest idea of what restaurant people are really like: hard working, intelligent, fun and entertaining. Maybe it's about more than the restaurant industry. Or maybe you've missed your pals at your local watering hole or cafe, or wherever you went to unwind and get out of the house, and have more respect for this industry that is usually stereotyped in a very negative way. 

Did I Say Thousand Island? represents the truth about an industry that resonates with all people and has a universal connection. It's personal for many people, genuine and just plain fun. It's a real movie that could be used to help people here in the real world. Let's Do It!

Hometown Cafe

 (Originally on Remake For Restaurants blog posted in May of 2020)

The bus showed up. We weren't ready. In the weeds. Big time.

Maybe we had some warning signs: HIV... H1N1... Ebola...

Now, our favorite hometown cafes, cozy pubs, breakfast nooks, posh places and night clubs are closed and might never open again.

Rodeo cowboys and cowgirls have them. Police and firemen and women do too. Union workers...

They have organizations with funds to draw on in case of injury. Yes, there are some out there locally for restaurant workers, but what about the restaurants?

The restaurant industry is unique on many levels and creates unique situations when it suffers. Right now it's suffering. But I don't need to tell you that.

It's the neighbourhood places you love that won't make it. The big chains probably will. And they're the ones getting the money. Excuse me?

What if there was a fund that could help the little guy? Built locally to help locally. Just to keep them alive.  Not WHEN disaster hits. BEFORE it hits. Yes, people are banning together now, BUT...

I'm a truck driver. Driving my 18 wheels all around North America delivering food. But before, I was a waitress. For over 30 years. Loved it. Which is why I made a movie. Didn't want to. Wanted to drive a big rig.

When I talked to my friend Bobby who is struggling to keep his 31 year old restaurant afloat, I was very sad. I was one of the original crew back in 1988. Stayed for almost 15 years and we recently had a fabulous 30 year reunion. Relationships. What it's about.

The movie "Did I Say Thousand Island?" has been seen all over the world. It's old. Premiered in 2007. Still being watched. Why? People like it and they relate to its people and their stories.

What if it was remade and used to create funds to have for when the next virus hits. And it will. Not being doom and gloomly, just trying to problem solve. I'm a waitress.  Can't help it.

Cut enough lemons. Bake enough pies. Be prepared.

It doesn't have to be complicated. Just takes the right person to get it. 

padivita@gmail.com