By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

EAST PROVIDENCE — Like a lighthouse beacon on a stormy night, a diner can be a place of comfort and solace. However, even the best of food and warmth can only go so far to ease a truly troubled mind.

Broadly speaking, this scenario played out recently in the now-vacant, but soon-to-open Star Diner at 140 Newport Ave. in Rumford. The occasion was the shooting of a short film called “Manifest Breakfast” that is being jointly produced by two local film companies, Optic Sugar Films of Providence and Jawdoc Productions of Cranston.
Any passers-by to the Star Diner last Wednesday or Thursday night could have witnessed such bizarre sights as dishes being smashed, coffee cups mysteriously overflowing, a “customer” staring at a static-filled TV screen and some “cops” who are walking a decidedly different kind of beat. The scenes were all part of a new experimental visual effects film that the producers are hoping to bring to a national audience.
“Manifest Breakfast” stars Marc Vos, Sarah Lewis, Courtney Jones and Big Jon Pierce. The film is written and directed by Nick Beaubien, produced by Anthony Ambrosino, Nicholas Delmenico, and Charles Kane, with cinematography by Stu Chudy and Christopher Garrison.
Anthony Ambrosino of Jawdoc Productions said that had met Nick Beaubien during a previous film project. He said that when he read Beaubien’s screenplay, he thought it would provide a good basis for a film that, besides telling a story, showcases the dazzling visual effects that can be generated with state-of-the-art computer editing equipment.
Ambrosino said the plot line is loosely based on a young couple, a sort of modern-day “Bonnie and Clyde,” who have robbed a bank, parted ways, and then agreed to meet at a certain time at the diner. The man shows up at the diner as planned, but then starts to experience some pretty strange occurrences that make him question his sanity.
“It’s kind of like, ‘What does a person see the moment he goes insane?’” Ambrosino said, in describing the fantastical scenes. Without giving away the plot, the man has experienced a traumatic event and, without even realizing it, has gone to the diner to seek peace and protection.
Ambrosino, who runs the Pawtucket Film Festival, said that both his production company and Charles Kane’s Optic Sugar, do filmmaking. He said that Optic Sugar specializes in the post-production work such as editing and special effects, while his Jawdoc Productions is more involved in the business and production end of the film process. This is the first time the two have collaborated on a film project.
Both producers are hoping to “wow” audiences with visual effects and animation that enhance the live action scenes shot on location. The continued advancements in digital technology are giving celluloid “a run for its money,” according to Ambrosino. “The pairing of digital video cameras with the latest non-linear editing systems is continuing to give filmmakers Hollywood films on a small town budget,” he said.
Ambrosino credited Beth Smith, the owner of the Star Diner, for being supportive and welcoming to the film crews. He said he had been scouting out different locations for a diner, and the first one he found was in deplorable condition, and the owner wanted to charge a hefty rental fee. “He wanted us to clean it up, and still pay the full fee,” Ambrosino said. The Star Diner, which has been recently renovated in preparation for its grand opening next week, proved to be a much more suitable choice.
Ambrosino said the producers plan on showing “Manifest Breakfast” at the upcoming Pawtucket Film Festival, now in its 10th year. After that, they will enter it into local film festivals, and then shop it around to the larger, nationally known ones such as Sundance and others that cater to films with special effects.