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Heff Grogradsky (Damon Guerrasio) is a 29 year old college graduate stuck at a dead-end office job that keeps him miserable. He claims he is staying at this soul sucking company, FCT, to help his widowed, custodian mother (Constance Elmore) move out of her crappy apartment. One reason his 9-5 is awful is the the management – led by tools like Tab Chester (Robert Bottlesen Jr.) and Marge (Pamela McCreary), who implement “Standards of Ethical Conduct” after a hilarious mishap at an office Halloween party. Also, Heff didn’t do too well on his security clearance (thanks to his outlandish roommates) so he is he is stuck with a desk job where he can’t even touch the files. Heff’s mother and roommate Binger (Last Comic Standing comedian Chuck Roy) agree that he should just focus on his own happiness. Fate would have it that his dream job was staring him in the face all along.

Hardgrave, a Baltimore resident although the film was shot in Denver, writes a tickling script and his editing helped bring the office farce to life. Although not particularly strong visually it has a supurb cast. The film is a must-see for anyone at an impasse in their career. I got the rundown from director Roman Hardgrave via AIM about how Standards of Ethical Conduct was born and what you can expect to see from him in the future.

Christen Cromwell (2:01:46 PM): AH okay. so first I just have to ask what inspired the film “Standards of Ethical Conduct”?

Roman Hardgrave (2:02:29 PM): It really was a combination of a couple things that I was experiencing while working a cube job

RH (2:03:02 PM): The first being the desire to make fun of all the things I saw around the office

RH (2:03:33 PM): I’d sit in HR meetings or training sessions, and just feel like, wow, this is SO ripe with humor…its basically writing itself

RH (2:03:55 PM): I’d be scribbling notes and I’m sure the HR person thought I was her #1 pupil

RH (2:04:18 PM): little did she know what I was really doing

CC (2:04:42 PM): haha i see. I was wondering if the costume scene was inspired by a real life experience as well

CC (2:04:46 PM): because it was hilarious

RH (2:05:02 PM): unfortunately no

RH (2:05:12 PM): I have been at same pretty lamo office parties, but none quite like that

RH (2:05:48 PM): I was at one big corporate all-hands where the CEO came running onto stage w/ techno music pumping and he was almost like a rock star trying to get the crowd fired up

CC (2:06:01 PM): hahaha

RH (2:06:14 PM): Surprisingly the crowd was getting fired up!

RH (2:06:34 PM): I was like, um, its 10:30 AM and we’re about to talk about synergy

CC (2:07:33 PM): ugh at 10:30 my body still wants me to sleep; maybe they were trying to make sure you were as awake as you could be

RH (2:08:29 PM): I know it, I’m the same way

RH (2:08:50 PM): Luckily I’m usually dialed-in for those, so I don’t actually have to pay attention

CC (2:09:16 PM): sweet! and the actors, were they professional actors, or were they friends that just fit the roles perfectly they HAD to be in the film?

RH (2:09:46 PM): they were all professionals…my friends subbed in as extra roles here and there, but all the primary roles were actors in Denver

RH (2:09:59 PM): really an interesting group of folks

RH (2:10:21 PM): many of them act and do something else…the Denver film scene isn’t enough for most folks to make a living

RH (2:11:24 PM): Chuck, the big furry guy who plays Binger, is a prominent stand-up comedian…Damon, who plays the lead of Heff, is also the lead singer of a band called Savage Henry…Bill, who played the army guy, is a big-time commercial actor, I see him all the time on TV

RH (2:11:41 PM): Michelle works for the NFL Network, Pam is an author, the list goes on and on

CC (2:12:10 PM): that’s awesome

RH (2:12:11 PM): I did have a couple friends who inspired characters though

RH (2:12:21 PM): Poo is one of those

CC (2:12:41 PM): haha great names by the way

RH (2:12:44 PM): the real Poo makes a cameo in one of the office scenes

RH (2:12:49 PM): that’s really his name, I can’t take credit!

RH (2:13:18 PM): and that character is kinda like Poo hyped up on speed, but he still inspired him

CC (2:15:08 PM): so what’s next for you, so you just think you’ll stick to films about office life, or would you want to venture into writing comedy about something totally fictional?

RH (2:17:06 PM): that’s a good question…I’m not quite sure what is next. I have some other comedies floating around in my head, but if I had to guess, I’d think a documentary would be my next film project. Maybe a webshow. I find Economics fascinating, I’m actually pursuing a Masters in Economics at the moment at George Mason, so that might be the next subject.

RH (2:17:49 PM): I’m honestly kinda worn out! This project is over 4 years old, about 4 times longer than I thought it would take!

CC (2:18:30 PM): wowzers

RH (2:18:47 PM): haha, yeah, a bit off what this project is about

RH (2:19:19 PM): if I did do another comedy, it wouldn’t be an office one…I have some other subjects I’d like to poke fun at

CC (2:19:42 PM): economics seems like a very serious business these days

CC (2:19:52 PM): but I’m sure there are some laughs in there somewhere

RH (2:20:00 PM): yeah its an interesting time to be studying it…

RH (2:20:11 PM): yeah, unfortunately those laughs might be at our collective expense!

Roman promises to shoot in Baltimore soon, which makes me feel all good inside. For now, everyone should feel content in supporting him through the film’s website and becoming a fan of the film on Facebook (you know you have a profile!)

Standards of Ethical Conduct
Roman Hardgrave, Director
U.S.A., 2009, 45 min

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by Christen Cromwell

Christen wishes the Spice Girls would bring their reunion tour to Baltimore. I also want everyone to understand how magically delicious the blueberry, strawberry and banana griddlecakes at XS restaurant on Charles Street are; go get some…now!