2002 Great Lakes Independent Film Festival

The Surprise Party

World Premiere
Category: Narrative Feature 1hr 22min
Director: Garrett Rice

Before dawn, from out of the rain, a haggard Ozzie staggers into Ed's Diner. As he waits for his breakfast, the waitress asks about a ring box he has placed on the counter. What unfolds is the story of Ozzie and Penny. They met at a coffee shop, where Penny talks Ozzie into dumping his two-timing girlfriend Julie. After a touching courtship, including some conflicts about Ozzie's philandering father and overprotective mother. Ozzie and Penny fall in love. But it is now Ozzie's 30th birthday, and this is not just another birthday. Ozzie plans an elaborate romantic dinner so he can propose. After his roommates accidentally burn the first dinner, and the persistent Julie spills the second Dinner, the final dinner is ruined by a horrible string of revelations by Penny. Before Ozzie can come to terms with what he's heard, fifty of his closest friends bust in screaming, "happy birthday". The surprise party has begun! In front of a raucous crowd of partygoers, Ozzie must reconcile his relationship with Penny, with his friends, with his family, and with himself. The party has just begun. Ozzie's story is a poignant romantic drama about trust and forgiveness. A 30th birthday can be full of surprises.

Principal Cast:
Colin Ferguson  (The Opposite of Sex, More Tales From The City, Rowing Through, Then Came You (TV Series))
Amber O'Shea  (The Favorite, Marguerite's Solution)
Dianne Luby  (The Harvesters, How It's Done)
Joe Mazza  (Playing Mona Lisa, EdTV)
Tyler Janisch  
Janice Fuller  (Poisoned By Love, Necessity)