Glimpsing Development Through a Bar’s POV: Marcie’s is a Local Treat

Director John Helde hosted the Marcie’s world premiere in a packed, sold out crowd at Northwest Film Forum. Marcie’s follows a scrappy bartender, played by Jenn Ruzumna, who is a few payments away from fully owning the good ol’ local Ed’s Tavern—a long-held dream reached by one struggling payment at a time. But a rich, ambitious man enters and tries to persuade Ed into selling the restaurant before Marcie can finish her payments. When Marcie gets included in the conversation and gets a life-changing offer, will she say a final farewell to her bar-owning dream or find some way to get out of her overwhelming debt? 

In the process of developing this film, Helde and the actors worked for months using improvisation to guide the development of the principal cast and story. This evidently had an impact on the full characters, fluidity and rhythm in dialogue, and immersive camera movements.

Marcie is the main character, but the others aren’t just side notes. Many characters have well-developed backstories, shaped through Helde’s improvisational guidance. The actors had real control over their characters—what they said, the intentions, secrets, and fears. There is a continual tenderness diving into the lives of each character. 

The supporting characters tactfully guided Marcie along her journey. Russell, played by Reginald Andre Jackson, gave scene-stealing performances. Jackson’s aspiring comedian persona fell right into the story as achieving a side-by-side journey with and for Marcie. Russell’s journey is a heartwarming addition to the main story. 

Brian, a supporting character portrayed by Eric Jordan, shed a benevolent light to his character’s intentions. Jordan made the audience question: How bad is Brian? Again, with the improvisational guidance, Jordan was able to instill an empathetic lens from the viewer. The perception of Brian may have been seen differently if the script was complete from the beginning of development.

Ryan Sanders (Murph) and Jenn Ruzumna (Marcie) in Marcie’s

Press kit

The Pacific Northwest becomes a character too, enriching the film with stunning views of North Bend, Washington, and the piney tree tops covering the Western region. Ed’s Tavern and the PNW parallelling as habitats is a key detail in the story’s progression. The bird chatter and damp moss buffer Marcie’s mounting stress. Ed’s Tavern is the single location in the story of the film, emphasizing that this is all Marcie knew. The set begs the viewer to understand the weight and severity of what is at stake.

The color palette leaned into the grays, greens, and blues of the PNW. The grungy dive bar uses muted, natural wood tones. In contrast, the characters in upscaled attire and brighter colors were used to highlight differences. 

Helde mainly chose gimbal and master shots into the final cut. With the improv nature of the film’s recording, the cinematographer had to track the actor’s expressions and dialogue from a script not set in stone. The gimbal shots were shaky, immersing the viewer as a possible nearby bar patron. The masters establish the setting and the significance of the PNW. 

There are some moments in the film that may drag you out of your immersion. With the small time and resources Helde had in the production, there may be a few little mistakes. There’s one scene with what looks like a smudge on the camera lens. Maybe you can find the scene when you watch it. 

Marcie’s explores life when home is at risk, when your community is grasping for survival. Her heroic journey from nearly having the bar paid off sets a clear understanding of the plot direction and forces Marcie to weigh her options. Marcie’s character grows from endlessly exhausted to scrappy with motivation and learns how random strangers can become allies with adjacent goals. 

The just-shy-of-two-hours feature carried a multitude of character journeys with clear beginnings, rising middles, and tied-up ends. The simple yet impactful story of Marcie’s resonates with the hustle of modern society and the disparities in lifestyles. Everyone is out for something and is their own main character. The film reminds us of the necessary support from a team to get through dire circumstances. 

The film will continue touring the Washington area, moving to Los Angeles through spring, and will be available on Apple TV on April 29, 2025. The film is geared toward a general audience and invites the viewer to take a moment and recognize who is a true supportive friend amongst the business and hustle.