Kyle Ricchetti and Zachary Roozen have recently seen their short film Happy Endings Funeral Parlor (which they co-wrote with Anthony Theodorakos) open in Los Angeles and New York City, a film that they also produce and star in. In Happy Endings Funeral Parlor, Kyle plays Marcell Remo and Zachary plays Johnny Remo, with the rest of the cast including Trevor Larcom as Leonard Benson, Spencer Breslin as Father Daniel and Corbin Bernson as Uncle Nicky, and Kyle and Zachary are starting to work on the full-length feature film of the production. Kyle and Anthony Theodorakos have worked together on numerous films through their company TeamWriteWay, and further acting roles for Zachary include the recent horror film Ladybug as Sawyer, which had their premiere at the Odeon in London’s West End, and he has a couple of feature films in the works as well as a TV show releasing in 2025. We caught up with Kyle and Zachary about their new short film Happy Endings Funeral Parlor, writing, producing and starring in the project and their upcoming plans.
Can you tell us about your new short film Happy Endings Funeral Parlor, which you both co-wrote alongside Anthony Theodorakos?
Kyle Ricchetti – It’s the story of two brothers who work for their Uncle Nicky at his failing funeral parlour. They are late delivering an infamous mobster, Frankie “Bananas” Banna, to his funeral service and everything goes wrong along the way!
Zachary Roozen – The film follows two brothers managing a failing funeral parlour for their eccentric uncle in rural Iowa. Late to delivering an infamous mobster to his own funeral service, everything goes wrong along the way. If you like grounded, satirical humour… our movie was made for you!
How did the idea come about for Happy Endings Funeral Parlor and how long have you been working on it?
Kyle – When I was younger, I lost a close childhood friend in my neighbourhood. It was a tragedy that no one seemed to be able to cope with fully. We all desperately needed relief and a laugh after the funeral service, which I was a pallbearer for. The idea sprang out of that search for closure. The script sat on the shelf until a screenwriting class in college when I dusted it off and revisited it. For the short film, we expanded the opening scene from the feature version, showing more of the chaos along the way to Frankie Bananas’ funeral service.
Zachary – Kyle and I worked together years ago at the famous hotel Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard. We spent long nights chatting in the driveway about movies we loved and hated, while simultaneously dealing with the shenanigans and happenings of the hotel. Fast forward to COVID, we were all unable to work and the industry was in a complete shutdown. It was during this time that Kyle and I sat down to work on a short based on the feature. That first iteration was the seed of the movie you now can see on screen.
What has the screenplay been like to write and how much did it change over time?
Kyle – Revising the script over the years has been a great experience. Good writing is rewriting. The story keeps getting better and better until it’s finally time to let it out into the world. The father-and-son bond between Uncle Nicky and the brothers is so much stronger now. I think the family banding together will really resonate with audiences, and the hijinks will give them plenty of laughs.
Zachary – Movies are an amoeba, constantly changing and always in flux. We worked hard to continue to keep the dialogue alive and to work around the elements and people we had available. Kyle and I joke that some of the scenes in the film are literal outtake improvs as we ran on fumes with three hours of sleep. Movies, am I right?
How has it been seeing the film come together and how does it feel now it’s complete?
Kyle & Zachary – It’s still pretty surreal seeing it go from page to screen after years of crafting it and finding a way to get it made. I’m very proud of what we have accomplished with limited resources. We had a wonderful cast, crew, and post-production team. We would be lying though if we didn’t mention every screening feels like being strapped into a rocket and praying to God the audience loves it. We have been very pleased with the reception and all of the amazing feedback we have been receiving. There is a lot of satisfaction and relief knowing that we delivered a product and one we are pretty proud of!
You both also star in the film, how would you describe your characters Marcell Remo (Kyle) and Johnny Remo (Zachary) and what were they like to play?
Kyle – Marcell is the lovable slacker, who drives his younger brother Johnny crazy. It was a great experience playing Marcell and getting to let loose with the improv. I’m more responsible in real life, so it was a lot of fun getting to play a more carefree, laid-back character.
Zachary – Kyle and I both generally fall into the Johnny camp naturally. That is to say we are a bit of control freaks. Ha! Both brothers find a way to screw up most situations and I think there are elements of both brothers that I see in myself. In a way, they both create a great equalisation of madness. Two lovable misfits who want to do the best for themselves but get lost in the endless situational irony of life.
What was it like working with the rest of the cast, which includes Trevor Larcom as Leonard Benson, Spencer Breslin as Father Daniel and Corbin Bernsen as Uncle Nicky?
Kyle – They were all so awesome and supportive of our tight budget. I think they all had a great time and enjoyed doing some improv as well. They loved the script and were enthusiastic from the start.
Zachary – The cast was amazing, most of whom are our friends. It was a surreal experience getting to bring them to Iowa and direct a cast with so many incredible accolades. It was also very cool to see the smile on Corbin’s face, a true fan of Iowa. He loves Dubuque!
Is there anything you have enjoyed most about working on Happy Endings Funeral Parlor and how has it been producing the film?
Kyle & Zachary – It’s a juggling act for sure. The challenge of wearing triple hats was quite the experience with acting, writing, and producing on the film. You really learn how to problem solve and think on your feet. We had no studio backing, so if the ship steers off course and you hit a storm, be ready to navigate your way out of it.
Who do you think Happy Endings Funeral Parlor will appeal to?
Kyle – I think anyone who enjoys comedies. If we’ve done our jobs right then hopefully it can put smiles on the faces of whoever is watching it.
Zachary – Unapologetically, this film is about giving people a good time. If people leave the theatre with a smile on their faces then we feel we have done our job. We can all use a smile, no?
It was recently shown at the Soho International Film Festival in September, how was this, and how does it feel having your films shown at film festivals?
Kyle – It’s an incredible experience seeing it on the big screen with a packed house. We were fortunate to have opened in LA and NYC. The audience response was really great. Zach and I are usually hiding in the back of the theatre, nervously watching people’s reactions. To see so many people come up after the film and share how much they enjoyed it is always so rewarding.
Kyle, we understand you’ve also been working on a feature film The Hollow Realm (co-written with Anthony Theodorakos), which was in the finals for the Horror 2 Comic Screenplay Festival, can you tell us about this project?
Kyle – We have several screenplays in different genres. The Hollow Realm is a psychological horror/thriller dealing with dream states, and battling nightmares when they get too real. It’s a pretty wild and relatively untapped world for films. It’s also set up to be a horror universe.
Zachary, as an actor, you’ve recently been seen in the horror film Ladybug as Sawyer, what was this like to be part of?
Zachary – I was so thankful to be cast and it was such a joy to make. We shot the film for a month and a half in rural Kentucky, so I got to spend a lot of time off-grid and out of the city. I actually just got back from the premiere, which took place at the Odeon in London’s West End! Such a cool experience.
Can you say about some of the other projects you’ve previously worked on, which have included Priorities, Operation Shakedown and the company TeamWriteWay (Kyle) and Requiem for a Scream, Romeo and Juliet Killers and Bring the Law (Zachary)?
Kyle – I was the ringleader of a comedy sketch group in college called Shakedown Comedy. We produced different sketches and short films. It was a tremendous learning experience with other creatives. Those were great times, especially for honing in on the craft of acting.
Anthony and I formed TeamWriteWay with the goal of delivering great storytelling in all genres to audiences. We take pride in the work that goes into each script and making it the best it can be. Film is a powerful visual medium that people can connect to. We love writing movies as much as we love watching them.
Zachary – Working in film is like working in a travelling circus. You get to work with new people, tell cool stories, and travel the world. Last year I spent about eight months on the road shooting in over six states so I am so thankful that I am able to do what I love and get paid for it. A lot of the projects I shot last year are still waiting to be released, so more to come!
How did you each get into acting and filmmaking and did you always know you wanted a career in both?
Kyle – I started studying acting early in high school theatre and continued my training through college and into the present. There’s always more to learn. I’ve known since I was in first grade that I wanted to work in the movies. My mom can verify that! As a kid watching VHS tapes of Jurassic Park and Back to the Future, I was already hooked. I wanted to be a part of the magic.
Zachary – Secretly, I always knew. I didn’t take my art seriously as a craft until I committed to the BFA program at the University of Southern California where I spent several years honing what it means to make, act, and produce film. It is never easy to survive in this industry, but for those of us who love it the way we do… there is no choice.
What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch?
Kyle – Anything from the creative geniuses David Lynch, William Friedken, and Michael Mann. I’m also a huge fan of films like Jacob’s Ladder, Apocalypse Now, Vanilla Sky, Fight Club, etc.
Zachary – David Fincher, Duplass Brothers, and Sam Shepard, whom I consider a personal hero. Films that deeply inspire me are… Birdman, Worst Person In the World, 1917, Apocalypse Now, Life is Beautiful, and Fargo.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Kyle – I love being active outdoors, skateboarding, hiking, and going to record stores.
Zachary – I am a bit of a nerd. I like to read, write, and run. I have recently gotten into tennis… I am not good… but I swat nonetheless.
Do you have any further projects coming up, and what do you hope 2025 brings for you?
Kyle – We have several projects in the works. I hope 2025 brings us together with more creatives to bring great storytelling to audiences.
Zachary – Yes! There is a lot in the oven. I have a couple of features and a television show that should be released in early 2025, and we are excitedly working in pre-production to bring you the feature film…
HAPPY ENDINGS FUNERAL PARLOR!
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Instagram – Kyle | Zachary | Happy Endings Funeral Parlor