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Welcome to our Exclusive Production Blog. You're in!

Welcome to the private access production blog for Save the Grind. Check in frequently for the news, contests, giveaways, and more!

Mackenzie goes Wig Shopping

Our lead actress Mackenzie Stith plays Ally Spell. Today she auditioned a selection of wigs. In the movie Ally plans to infiltrate the competing coffee shop, Empire Java, but to do that she has to create a disguise. We had a lot of fun working with Mackenzie and playing with character looks.

Empire Java Tee-Shirts! Take one home FREE, we need Extras!

Empire Java Tee-Shirt

$25.00 $19.99
Buy Now

​You can be in the movie!
  • When: October 10th or 11th or both. 
  • Coloso Coffee. 1715 Webster St. Oakland, CA 94612
  • It will be 12 hours total for each day. If you can do a partial day we can use you, just let us know.
  • You'll be standing in the background of a coffees shop and chatting with friends or working on a laptop.
What you get:
  • Credit in the movie
  • FREE digital download of the movie when it's complete
  • FREE Limited Edition Empire Java Tee Shirt, Only for the cast and crew. (a $25 Value)
  • FREE Food for the day.
  • FREE photos with the director and lead actors.
  • FREE Behind the scenes photos of your work on set.

How: Email extras@oaklandillest.com your availability.

Director's Book

Matt is hard at work building a cinematic blueprint for the film. This process is where the director works through the screenplay creating a shot list, blocking diagrams, lighting ideas, and actor notes. On set the director will use this book to guide the production. Every director has a different process to prepare for a production. Matt created this process based on his training in Los Angeles and combined that with some specific needs on his set. 10/4/15

Location Scout

Location scouting in Oakland and Walnut Creek, California. Director, Matt Moglia & Art Director, Christiana Bartolomey.  9/30/15

Coloso Coffee Location Locked

Coloso Coffee in Oakland, CA is secured for production. Jose Posada, the owner of Coloso Coffee was excited to work with us and his space is perfect for the Empire Java location. In the movie Empire Java is an ultra modern coffee shop chain that threatens all the older shops around it. As Ally's dad says in the script: "you might as well work with the pour-over artisan coffee snobs across the street. They think because they’re all ultra-modern, with their “fresh imported coffee” and “amazingly attractive staff” they can just come into town and be King of the Block? Well, screw that!" Thank you Coloso Coffee for seeing our vision! 9/10/15

Christiana Bartolomey Signed on as Art Director

We're excited to announce that Christiana Bartolomey has signed on as head of the art department. Her incredible work creates immersive stories and we're thrilled to have her on our team. Please check out her work at Obsessive Design. 8/5/15