Retail!, a low-budget indie film recently released on Prime Video, has captured the attention of viewers with its humorous take on the furniture business and the quirky customers that come with it. The film is the product of a lifetime of experience for siblings Eric and Renee Amber, who grew up working at their father’s furniture store, Amber’s Furniture, after he bought the business in the 1970s.
Eric, who spent much of his life at the store, explained that the film was inspired by real-life events. “What we ended up doing is just writing down everything that has actually happened here,” Eric said. “I won’t get into specifics, but the movie has a lot of real elements.”
The idea for the movie began during the pandemic when Amber’s Furniture was closed to the public. Despite the closure, Eric continued to go into work every day and started compiling stories from his years at the store. “That’s when the idea started to come,” he said. “Everyone who’s ever worked in the service industry has stories about how difficult people can be.”
Eric spent nearly two years writing the script, bouncing ideas off co-workers throughout the process. However, bringing the project to life was no easy task. “We had to cast it, get our crew together, and make a schedule,” Eric recalled. “Then everyone cancels because we’ve all got real jobs, right? But we pushed through, and we made it work.”
Pat Downing, a store employee with a theater background, was asked to direct the film. He described the production as one filled with both fun and professionalism. “The whole vibe was one of fun, but also absolute professionalism,” Downing said. “Everyone knew what the job was.”
The film used many staff members from the store and included local actors and videographers. However, people unfamiliar with the retail world were often shocked by how realistic the script was. “They’d say, ‘This is fake,’ and we’d reply, ‘No, it’s not fake,’” Downing said. Many of the actors could relate to the experiences depicted in the film since many work in the service industry to make ends meet.
Retail! offers a comedic look at the challenges of the furniture business and its eccentric customers. With a tight budget, everyone on set wore multiple hats, and Downing even took on the role of sound engineer. His biggest challenge? Not laughing during filming. “I have a bad habit because I like to laugh,” he confessed. “It’s hard when you’re the director, but the actors are giving it their all, and you’re like, ‘Can we do that again?’”
Renee Amber, who was handed the finished script, was surprised to learn that she would be playing one of the lead characters in the film. She described the experience as “hands-on” and enjoyed working with the other performers. “The other performers in the movie were just a joy to work with,” Renee said. “It was built by Canadians, for Canadians—by people like us, for people like us.”
The Ambers hope that Retail! will be the pilot for a television series. “It’s obvious that it’s a good concept for a series,” Renee said. “There’s no end of content. I’m crossing my fingers, but I think it feels right.”
Director Pat Downing echoed her sentiment, expressing hope that the film will be recognized for its value as lighthearted, wholesome entertainment. “It’s just good comedy, not trying to mess with your brain,” Downing said. “Laughter is the best medicine.”
With good ratings already coming in, Eric is hopeful that more people will discover the film on Prime Video. “We’re getting good ratings, but if people don’t know it’s out there, they won’t watch it,” he said. “That’s why we’re telling people about it.”
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