simmer
Embracing diversity in filmmaking
Derrick Haggerty and Owen Shwartzbard
"Simmer" is a short film centering on a young African-American man on the eve of his release from prison. While incarcerated, he found solace in the prison kitchen, befriending the prison chef and discovering a passion for culinary arts. Now that his sentence is up, he must decide whether to pursue his passion for culinary arts by enrolling in a prestigious, all-white culinary school, or to simply return home to the corrupt streets of Tremé, New Orleans.
The film is the result of a collaboration between Texas-based filmmakers Owen Schwartzbard and Derrick Haggerty, who co-wrote the screenplay. In November 2018, Owen directed the film, with Derrick producing. At just under 15 minutes in length, it represents a small piece of a feature film they have also co-written.