Table of Contents
Three Key Takeaways
- Kombucha blends corporate satire and body horror to explore the anxiety of modern work culture and creative fears.
- Director Jake Myers emphasizes the power of collaboration and detailed communication in independent filmmaking.
- The film pushes genre boundaries by grounding a monstrous concept in relatable workplace dread and dark humor.
Jake Myers, director and co-writer of the genre-bending film Kombucha, brings a fresh voice to FilmQuest’s lineup with his visceral corporate horror-comedy.
Featuring a talented ensemble including Terrence Carey, Claire McFadden, and Paige Bourne, the film’s technical craftsmanship is elevated by cinematographer Matt Brown and editor Liz Kaar.
Myers’ previous works include “The People’s Joker” and “Emojihead,” and his social presence (@johnjacobmyers) showcases his passion for pushing genre boundaries with grounded storytelling.
What drew you to make Kombucha? Why this story, and why now?
We wanted to blend corporate satire and body horror in hopes of capturing that visceral feeling you get when you pursue financial reward over your personal passions.
“Kombucha is about the fear of rejection, failure, and financial ruin that plagues creatives.”
It's about the fear of starting a new job and the anxiety that you might be replaceable. Unfortunately, I feel like this movie is increasingly relatable amidst mass layoffs, artificial intelligence, and corporate takeovers of every aspect of our lives.
What surprised you most about the filmmaking process this time—creatively or logistically? Was there a moment on set or in post that completely changed how you saw the story?
This was my first time working with a decent sized crew as a director and it was an amazing experience to have all of these talented people bring your vision to life.
“We had some problems with fabricating our big bad and every person on set across every department banded together to make sure one hiccup didn't ruin the whole film.”
Is there a moment in the film that feels the most you—something only you could have made?
Elyse researches the evil company on her phone and encounters a thread where a mother publicly exposes how awful they were to her daughter. An employee comments ‘Rest in power Rachel’ in the middle of this heartfelt thread and it seems to get big laughs from audiences. I added this banal but dark joke right before exporting the final film and it best encapsulates my sense of humor.
What was the hardest creative decision you made while making this film?
It's so hard to decide when to stop revising the film in post-production. I had an amazing team of people helping me like Liz Kaar (editor), Third Beacon (vfx), Jeff Altman (color), and Victoria Salazar (sound) and I'm so thankful they continued to help even after I went and did reshoots after our World Premiere. It wasn't until after it screened in Chicago that I felt at peace with calling the film done.
What do you hope audiences take away from your film?
I hope this film is a grotesque reminder that you are more than the value you create for shareholders.
How has this film shaped or shifted the kind of stories you want to tell next?
I feel like having a conceptual hook that most people can relate to is something I'll always do with films moving forward.
“Every time I watch it with an audience, I feel like I'm getting permission to push the squirmy sensations that grotesque visuals evoke.”
Audiences seem to love it so I plan to lean in a little further with my next film.
What’s a tool, technique, or resource that really helped you during production?
My DP, Matt Brown, was an amazing collaborator on the film. He elevated the vision beyond a b-movie and put together the best camera team in Chicago. I also owe a lot of the success of the film to my amazing AD, Luana Borges. We only had 15 days to shoot and the film involved doubles, fight choreography, extras, slime, and SCOBY. I don't think we could have pulled off a script as ambitious as Kombucha’s without the team John Conde and Take Care productions put together.
Independent filmmakers often rewrite the rules out of necessity. What do you think is the greatest strength of independent filmmaking, and how did you lean into that on this project? Is there a lesson or breakthrough you’d share with others navigating this path?
“Filmmaking is problem solving and independent filmmakers don't have a money hose to wash away any of those problems.”
This means you have to try as best you can to solve as many problems as possible before you shoot and communicate your ideas well in advance of the cameras rolling. This might be overkill but I made separate slideshows for Camera, Art Department, Wardrobe, SFX, Sound, and Production. It was a lot of work but I'll continue to do this with every film I make because communicating clear expectations early can help you avoid burning hours and resources on the few days you have for production.
What does it mean to you to have your film selected for FilmQuest, one of the world’s top reviewed genre film festivals?
I'm thrilled to share Kombucha at FilmQuest. Every filmmaker who has seen Kombucha or the short has said ‘oh you have to show this at FilmQuest.’ When Jonathan called to say we got into the festival I let out an inappropriately loud ‘YESSSS!’ In honor of their mascot, I bought a Cthulhu mold and I'm experimenting with growing a SCOBY in it right now. It's gross but hopefully I can bring it to Provo for our premiere.
FilmQuest celebrates the majesty and might of genre filmmaking across fantasy, horror, sci-fi, action, thriller, western, kung-fu, and beyond. How does your film fit within—or push the boundaries of—genre storytelling?
Kombucha is a b-monster movie concept with over-the-top social commentary. I hope it pushes the boundaries of this kind of genre storytelling in the same way Alex Garland pushes the mad-scientist plot in ‘Ex Machina.’
“I wanted everything to still feel grounded, plausible, and no winking at the audience.”
We want to work with some genre conventions but push forward anxiety over any other emotion. Audiences tend to respond to that anxiety with fear, laughter, or both.
Where do you see this film going next?
December 2nd we are releasing Kombucha on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital in North America via our distributor - Jackrabbit Media.
“At the core of all my work is a desire to make the familiar feel strange."
Cast & Crew
- Jake Myers — Director, Co-writer
- John Condne — Producer
- Geoff Bakken — Screenplay
- Matt Brown — Cinematographer
- Liz Kaar — Editor
- Kacy Tatus & Cyle Williamson — Special Effects Makeup
- Third Beacon & Jake Myers — Visual Effects
- Terrence Carey — Lead, “Luke”
- Claire McFadden — Lead, “Kelsey”
- Paige Bourne — Supporting, “Elyse”
- Jesse Kendall — Supporting, “Andy”
- Charín Álvarez — Supporting, “Tammy”
- TJ Jagodowski — Supporting, “Steve”
- Lili Galluzzo — Supporting, “Gabbi”
- Magdalena Conway — Supporting, “Rachel”
