Leave 'Em Laughing (2020 film) explained

Leave 'Em Laughing is a 2020 drama short film directed by Chris Cashman and written by Cashman, Carlo Coppo and Christopher Lusti. The film stars Matthew Glave, Pete Gardner and Barrie Chase. It screened at San Diego International Film Festival, The Valley Film Festival, Woods Hole Film Festival and won Best Art Design at Oceanside International Film Festival. The story is set around Dick Shawn's final act at University of California, San Diego.

Plot

When Dick Shawn's stand up routine takes a not so funny turn, the audience is left to wonder what they just witnessed.

The film is based on a Los Angeles Times article written by Carlo Coppo.^[2] It circles around Coppo's experience of Dick Shawn's final performance^[3] at University of California, San Diego.^[4] The film was submitted to Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival.^[5]

Matthew Glave was cast as Dick Shawn and Pete Gardner portrayed Carlo Coppo.

Alan Ng of Film Threat scored the film 7.5 out of 10 claiming the "final act is why you want to see" the film.

List of awards and nominations					+	Festival	Year	Award	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema	2021	Grand Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast Short Film	Various
		Juan Ruiz Anchia Award for Best Cinematography	Stefan Mentil
		Roger Taylor Award for Best Original Score - Short	David Schwartz
Oceanside International Film Festival	2020	Best Art Design (Short or Feature)	Elsa Mickelsen	^[12]
		Best Screenplay (Short or Feature)	Chris Cashman, Christopher Lusti
		Best Supporting Actor	Matthew Glave
		Best Direction in a Short	Chris Cashman
Austin Indie Fest	2020	Best Screenplay	Chris Cashman, Christopher Lusti	^[13]
Five Continents International Film Festival	2020 (March)	Audience Award 1st Place	Chris Cashman	^[14]
		Best Drama Short Film	Chris Cashman
		Best Supporting Actor Short Film	Matthew Glave
		Best Director Short Film	Chris Cashman
		Best Production Short Film	Chris Cashman, Annie Willett
Festigious Los Angeles	2020 (February)	Best Drama	Chris Cashman	^[15]

Web site: Leave 'em Laughing SHORTS PROGRAM: DARK Oceanside International Film Festival 2020 . 2022-07-11 . Eventive . en.
Web site: Carlo Coppo, LLB '63, Dies at 82 . 2022-07-11 . . 18 September 2021. en.
Web site: Lewis . Allie . 2021-01-18 . South Kingstown native appears in hit Netflix series . 2022-07-11 . . en.
Web site: Ng . Alan . 2020-10-16 . Leave 'em Laughing Film Threat . 2022-07-11 . . en-US.
Grove . Lauren . 2020-03-04 . At 83 years old, my grandpa made his first movie . . 257 . 22 . 5 . Issuu.
Web site: Locals Theater . 2022-07-11 . . en-US.
Web site: VFF: Film Profile: LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING . 2022-07-11 . The Valley Film Festival.
Web site: MEET OUR FILMMAKERS Coronado Island Film Festival . 2022-07-11 . . en-US.
Web site: 2020 Dramatic Shorts : FESTIVAL 2022: JULY 30 - AUGUST 6 . 2022-07-11 . Woods Hole Film Festival.
Web site: Sat June 19 Evening . 2022-07-11 . SENE Film, Music & Arts Festival . en.
Web site: Multi-Screening: SALTING THE FLY (SHORT), LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING (SHORT), FINDING MARK WHILE ALSO HAVING TIRED HANDS (SHORT), BROKERZ (WEBISODE), LIZARD BRAIN (SHORT) . 2022-07-11 . BingeWave . en.
Web site: 2020-08-18 . 2020 Highlights . 2022-07-11 . . en-US.
Web site: AWARDS - 2020 . 2022-07-11 . Austin Indie Fest . en.
Web site: FICOCC #37 - Short Film Awards . 2022-07-11 . Five Continents International Film Festival . en.
Web site: Winners - February 2020 . 2022-07-11 . Festigious . en.