Jessica Simpson
 Production Information
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Jessica Simpson
Production Information
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 Chapter 5: A Microcosm of Society, and Obsessions with Competition |
 Finding himself surrounded with comedians who were also friends, Coolidge encouraged improvisation on set, something that was wholeheartedly welcomed by the cast. “Every one of these guys can just roll,” asserts Coolidge. “And frankly, it helped a lot because it makes me look like a better writer.”Cook recalls takes on set where tears were coming out of his eyes, while Harland Williams refers to the inspired joking as “organized chaos.” He explains, “If you're on the beach and a baby's covered with tanning lotion and you roll it around in the sand and it starts to look like a cornmeal muffin. And then you kick it in the water and the sharks just have a frenzy. Well, that's what it was like on set - just one frenzied line after another, joke after joke.”
“Normally when you have a lot of comedians on set you're worried about the competition and if it's going to be too much,” says producer Simpson. “But all of these guys really respected each other and helped each other. It allowed everybody to practice their craft and be the best they could be.”
Despite the freewheeling atmosphere on set, Coolidge still maintained a firm grip on his vision for "Employee of the Month". “Improv is only great when you know the structure is great,” says Cook. “Greg allowed us to have a playground, but he also knew where every nook and cranny of a scene was.”
Says Andrew Panay, “Greg is incredibly talented. His whole goal is to make sure he gets very grounded performances, and he does that by making the actors comfortable and encouraging them to play. He really creates a positive energy on set.”
Aside from a few locations outside of SuperClub, production took place entirely in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in an actual warehouse store. The authentic location provided a perfectly designed and decorated interior; yet the bonus of filming in a fully-operational store presented one difficulty: the crew was only allowed to work when the store was closed to the public. “We were so lucky to have a great set,” says Coolidge. “But the not-so-fun part was having to be there from 9 PM to 9 AM for four weeks straight. We not only had to fight the sleep, but work around the beeping and whistles of the forklifts the staff uses while restocking the store all night long.”
Despite the less-than-ideal shooting circumstances, Coolidge, his cast and his crew succeeded in capturing a world that American audiences will undoubtedly recognize and relate to. For Coolidge, the SuperClub in "Employee of the Month" is “a microcosm of society,” and provides a golden opportunity to poke fun at bogus corporate politics, work-place romance and the human obsession with competition.
Says producer Joe Simpson, “This is a movie that shows a life that Americans really do live. Audiences will have an opportunity to laugh at themselves and say, `Look. Hollywood knows we exist.'”
With its mix of broad comedy, romance and sly satire, "Employee of the Month" stands to offer something for everyone. “There's a sweetness to the film,” says Panay. “There's also a bit of romance. And if you want to just see some crazy fun, we've got that too.”
“This is going to be in your face comedy,” assures Cook. “But you're also going to get a movie with heart. People are definitely going to be rooting for these characters. And they're going to have a great time doing it.”
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Destination Caribbean 