Blender
BLENDER is a comedy horror short film set in 1991. It centers around housewives Jess and Meg as they gossip over smoothies about their perceived wrongs at the hands of PTA president Steve Meade. Turns out, Steve Meade is dead. They’ve been blending him up the whole time.
Revenge is indeed sweet.
Revenge is a drink best served blended.
Blender the Podcast
A not-true-true-crime 5 episode comedy podcast inspired by the characters and world of the short film, join Jess and Meg as they attempt to prove their innocence
Meet The Characters
-
Meg
Meg is queen of half-baked ideas, projects left partially undone, and candy wrappers covering the floor of her Ford Taurus. She has bought into more than one MLM in an effort to become a working woman, financially contributing to the household while also wrangling children. Most recently, she’s bought into the Nutrixium Health System, determined to get her own health on track, and sell the mix of blenders and motivational VHS tapes to her “network.” Her soft spoken data analysis husband, Gary, is always supportive of her chasing her dreams - however flighty they might be. Together, they have three children: Joey, Frances, and Rex.
Meg feels like a square peg in a round hole most of the time. She often feels overlooked and underappreciated by everyone, and, in rare moments of solitude, feels crippled with self-doubt. But she shakes it off! Puts on a smile! Grabs a Good Housekeeping, determined to make a healthy meal in the microwave! Her mood, energy, and confidence swing from highs to lows quicker than you can say “oh shit, I forgot to turn off the curling iron!” Meg never remembers to turn off the curling iron.
Meg is a member of the PTA where she met Jess and PTA President Steve. She came with lots of ideas about building a theater program and painting a mural, which were promptly dismissed.
-
Jess
Jess looks like she has everything together, until you open her closets and see how much she has been metaphorically stuffing deep down since the third grade, and literally stowing away from the Michael’s spring craft sale. Jess is recently divorced from high power attorney Jim McAbee, although their separation realistically started shortly after their vows. They share a daughter, Mackenzie (Mac), who is the love of Jess’s life.
In the divorce, Jim was ruthless, which left Jess highly skeptical of the law and jaded about men in power. She went from a dream house, country club, picture perfect family of three to living in a one bedroom apartment and working double shifts on her weekends without Mac just to make rent.
At night, after pouring herself a nice glass of wine, Jess likes to take a nice deep breath, grab her perfectly puffed decorative pillow, and scream into it at the top of her lungs.
Jess joined the PTA when her daughter came home from school bullied by some classmates. Her push for anti-bullying education and a tougher stance from administration was pushed aside when discussions about a possible butterfly sanctuary began.
-
Steve
Steve is a real life Prince Charming. Perfectly coiffed hair. A set of pearly white teeth that reflect sunlight so brightly, you need to wear sunglasses. A laugh that brings you in and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy and loved.
He’s so perfect that only a monster - or moms with growing amounts of insecurity and self-loathing - could hate him.
Steve started Sparkle Dentistry fresh out of dental school and quickly grew the practice to fifteen offices. Billboards throughout town advertise sparkling white teeth on gorgeous models wearing skimpy outfits. Anyone who is anyone gets their teeth cleaned and veneers polished at Sparkle Dentistry. How did the practice grow so quickly? Was it possibly a front for some not so savory activities? No one questions it. I mean, just look at Steve’s teeth! He clearly knows what he’s doing, right?
Earlier this year, Steve sold Sparkle Dentistry for an undisclosed amount of money so he could spend more time with his gorgeous wife and perfect son in their absolutely stunning home (which was featured in Architectural Digest). Set-up financially for life, Steve decided to run for PTA president. Of course all the teachers and moms ooh-ed and ahh-ed at the idea of a father being present and involved. What a great dad.
Steve takes the role very seriously and has big plans for the PTA and school, including fundraising for an organic community learning garden and butterfly sanctuary.
Cast & Crew
A very special "thanks" to those who lent their talents to make BLENDER a possibility:
Cast: Sarah Adams, Maggie Rieth Austin, & MJ Austin
Music: Colten Winburn
Vocals: Jency Allison Weeks
Editor: Alyssa Udovitsch
Production Designer: Katrina Doe Parker
Director of Photography: Jake Wilganowski
Executive Producer: Brett Cassel
Producers: Sarah Adams & Maggie Rieth Austin
Writers: Sarah Adams & Maggie Rieth Austin
Director: Sarah Adams
Audio: Sydnee Faith Johnson
Assistant Camera: Michael Forti
Gaffer: Christian Baker
Coloring: Ben Brooks
Audio Post Production: Eric Jenkins
Special Thanks to MPS