Renaissance Hotels and Marriott’s Content Studio have partnered with Substance Over Hype to produce a new comedy short film, “Business Unusual”. This is the second film partnership between Marriott’s Content Studio and Substance Over Hype, who debuted Two Bellmen in March 2015. “Business Unusual” will have a global multiplatform release on Q1, 2016 including a limited theatrical release, YouTube, and additional digital platforms.
The 12-minute film, shot throughout Chicago and on location at the newly transformed Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, was written and directed by Daniel Malakai Cabrera & Caine Sinclair. The film’s executive producers are David Beebe, Dan Vinh, Daniel Cabrera, Scott Ehrlich, William Spencer, and Caine Sinclair. On the heels of “French Kiss” and “Two Bellmen,” “Business Unusual” is the third original short film produced by Marriott’s Content Studio. The studio has also produced two YouTube Series, “Hot Shoppe” and “Do Not Disturb”.
“Business Unusual” centers around two business travelers who have just arrived in Chicago to each present a sales pitch. The more pompous of the two characters, Chip, delivers his pitch first, and receives extremely positive feedback from the executives in the room. Following Chip’s performance, David nervously begins to present his pitch, when he is suddenly interrupted by one of the executive’s ringing cell phones and then asked if he can finish his pitch tomorrow. David agrees and returns to his hotel room at the Renaissance Chicago. As he is anxiously preparing to complete his pitch the next day, he is persuaded by the Navigator downstairs to join other travelers for an enriching experience through food & beverage, music, and service. Here he has a chance platonic encounter with a kind, wise, and successful woman named Ella. David finds his groove and creates an extremely fun and clever campaign, focused on the use of a Rube Goldberg machine that ultimately lands him the account. The Rube Goldberg machine in the film was designed by America’s Got Talent quarter-finalist, Steve Price.
The impressive cast of "Business Unusual” includes Yoshua Sudarso (Power Rangers), Jason Gerhardt (“General Hospital”, ABC's “Mistresses”), Grant Bowler (“Defiance”, “True Blood”, and “Ugly Betty”), Tia Carrere (“Wayne’s World”), and Brian Poli-Dixon (Artist, Actor, and former NFL Receiver). Featured cameos from Chicago natives include Ozzie Guillen (former White Sox player), The O My's (Chicago-based band), and the world's best dancers and parkour athletes from Substance Over Hype.