The Multi-Hyphyenate

Hollywood Center Serves as the Backdrop for Comedy Short Starring Anna Faris

How is the current economic downturn affecting Hollywood? If a new short comedy starring Anna Faris is to be believed, movie sets today are offering fewer perks and demanding a bit more work out of their stars.

 The Multi-Hyphenate is written and directed by Kirsten "Kiwi" Smith and produced by Los Angeles Production company Freestyle for Glamour Magazine. Shot entirely on the lot at Hollywood Center Studios, the film casts Faris as the star of a romantic comedy whose budget is being progressively pared back. Faris is forced to make wardrobe changes out of the trunk of a Toyota, grab a bite to eat from the crew's pot luck and perform set duty as gaffer, janitor and Best Boy. She also plays her own co-star.

Shooting ranged all over the lot at Hollywood Center Studios, including the front gate, the lighting shop and the Babalu Café. "It was a homecoming for me," said Freestyle producer Kevin Chinoy, who seven years ago produced the Fox television series Greg the Bunny on the lot. "Our line producer had also done a lot of work at Hollywood Center. We loved it because the logistics were so easy. It's a great place to work." Chinoy produced The Multi-Hyphenate with Francesca Silvestri.

Freestyle has a long history with Glamour Magazine. For the past five years, it has produced the magazine's popular Reel Moments web film series, which has provided first-time opportunities to direct to a number of well-known women in Hollywood. Smith, best known as the screenwriter of The House Bunny and Legally Blonde, directed her first film through the Reel Moments series, a screwball comedy titled The Spleenectomy (in which Faris also tackles multiple roles.) In addition to Smith, Reel Moments has given directorial debuts to Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Courteney Cox, Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kirsten Dunst, Rita Wilson, Trudie Styler, Jenny Bicks (executive producer Sex and the City and Men in Trees), and Carol Leifer (writer on Seinfield).

Freestyle, which has also produced branded content for Revlon and Tommy Hilfiger, and has several television and film projects in development, plans to submit The Multi-Hyphenate to film festivals.