Broden McCune, a 2025 University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate, is making Porta Bella the setting of his upcoming film as Madison’s “Most Romantic Restaurant” prepares for its likely closure.
McCune, who has been working at Porta Bella since early May 2025, studied communications and film at UW-Madison.
“UW and the classes I’ve had across subject matters have led me to a more organized and intentional approach to just about everything I do, and I think that the details of [the film] are no different,” he told The Daily Cardinal.
McCune’s film, “Fable of the Oplose,” features Porta Bella as its main setting, along with other locations, to tell the story of a workplace romance. “Oplose” is a made-up word from McCune inspired by the concept of a “clopen,” working a closing and opening shift.
“For years, I had attempted writing pieces to completion and finally came to the realization that if I’m going to be producing the project, it might as well be personal,” McCune said.
While he thinks Porta Bella's closing is unfortunate, McCune doesn’t worry that its memory will fade.
“It is great to hear the personal stories that are being shared about [Porta Bella]. So many people have come in expressing their own feelings, eventually tying it back to an anniversary dinner or birthday celebration they had once upon a time,” he said.
McCune, inspired by other UW-Madison alumni in the entertainment industry, hopes to establish a place among them someday as a writer and director. “I know this won’t be my last project, but it’s definitely going to be the first thing some people see of mine, and I want to make it count,” he said.
McCune hopes to finish the project by this spring.
