Waiting for Guffman (1996)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Christopher Guest

Writers (WGA):

Christopher Guest (written by) &
Eugene Levy (written by)

Release Date:

31 January 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

There's A Good Reason Some Talent Remains Undiscovered

Plot:

An aspiring director and the marginally-talented amateur cast of a hokey small-town Missouri musical production go overboard when they learn that someone from Broadway will be in attendance.

Plot Keywords:

Missouri | Dairy Queen | Dentist | Amateur Theater | Travel Agent

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Deborah Theaker	...	Gwen Fabin-Blunt - Councilwoman
Michael Hitchcock	...	Steve Stark - Councilman
Scott Williamson	...	Tucker Livingston - Councilman
Larry Miller	...	Glenn Welsch - Mayor
Don Lake	...	Phil Burgess - Blaine Historian
Christopher Guest	...	Corky St. Clair
Fred Willard	...	Ron Albertson
Catherine O'Hara	...	Sheila Albertson
Parker Posey	...	Libby Mae Brown
David Cross	...	UFO Expert
Eugene Levy	...	Dr. Allan Pearl
James McQueen	...	Singing Auditioner (as Jim McQueen)
Turk Pipkin	...	Ping Pong Ball Juggler
Jerry Turman	...	Raging Bull Auditioner
Bob Balaban	...	Lloyd Miller
Paul Dooley	...	UFO Abductee
Linda Kash	...	Mrs. Allan Pearl
Lewis Arquette	...	Clifford Wooley
Matt Keeslar	...	Johnny Savage
Brian Doyle-Murray	...	Red Savage
Miriam Flynn	...	Costume Dresser
Jill Parker-Jones	...	Stage Manager
Margaret Bowman	...	Costume Designer
Paul Benedict	...	Roy Loomis
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Douglas	...	Theater Attendant (uncredited)
Shane Felux	...	DQ worker / Crowd (uncredited)
Frances Fisher	...	Rita Savage (uncredited)
Jean Fuller	...	Jean (uncredited)
Joseph T. Garrity	...	TV commercial director (uncredited)
Kathy Lamkin	...	Beautiful Dreamer Auditioner (uncredited)
Bob Odenkirk	...	Caped Man at Auditions (uncredited)

Directed by
Christopher Guest

Writing credits (WGA)
Christopher Guest		(written by) &
Eugene Levy		(written by)

Produced by
Karen Murphy	....	producer
Ginger Sledge	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Christopher Guest
Michael McKean
Harry Shearer

Cinematography by
Roberto Schaefer		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Andy Blumenthal

Production Design by
Joseph T. Garrity

Art Direction by
John Frick

Set Decoration by
Jenny C. Patrick

Costume Design by
Julie Carnahan

Makeup Department
Catherine Conrad	....	hair assistant
Catherine Conrad	....	makeup assistant
Kelly Nelson	....	hair stylist
Kate Shorter	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Adrienne Gruben	....	post-production supervisor
Sharon Smith Holley	....	post-production supervisor
Helen Pollak	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Phil Hardage	....	second assistant director (as Philip Hardage)
Liz Ryan	....	first assistant director
Courtney Wulfe	....	additional second assistant director

Art Department
Dave Arkle	....	caricaturist
Kevin Berve	....	swing gang
Christina Blackledge	....	lead scenic
Rebecca Block	....	art department intern
John V. Burson	....	lead carpenter (as John Burson)
Craig Byrom	....	carpenter
Chuy Carrera	....	swing gang (as Jesus 'Chuy' Carrera)
Raul Carrera	....	swing gang
Mary Catherine Coates	....	art department coordinator
Vicki Dempsey	....	swing gang (as Vicki B. Dempsey)
Sandy Flowers	....	swing gang
Bryant Jackson	....	assistant property master (as James Bryant Jackson Jr.)
Michael Kocurek	....	leadman
Joanne Levin	....	prop intern
Joe McCusker	....	construction foreman
Sean McKinley	....	art department intern
Darren Patnode	....	swing gang (as C. Darren Patnode)
Mari Phillips	....	buyer
Mari Phillips	....	set dresser
Kym Pykosz	....	scenic artist
Michael Riviere	....	carpenter
Jim Simard	....	construction coordinator (as James Simard)
Byron Scott Thomas	....	property master (as Byron Thomas)
Martha Waters	....	art department production assistant
Glenn Welsch	....	art department intern
Dan Wilson	....	prop intern (as Dan V. Wilson)
Kevin Kelly	....	art department (uncredited)

Sound Department
Dana Austin	....	adr recordist (as Dana Porter)
Dave Bergstrom	....	sound engineer
Neil Brody	....	sound re-recording mixer
Terry Burke	....	foley artist
Eric Cheung	....	sound production assistant
Misty Conn	....	boom operator
Yann Delpuech	....	sound effects editor
Robert Deschaine	....	adr mixer (as Bob Deschaine)
James A. Gore	....	foley assistant
Robert Grieve	....	supervising sound editor
Jordan Jannone	....	sound production assistant
Dennis Johnson	....	sound recordist
Darren King	....	dialogue editor
Jennifer Murphy	....	location sound mixer
Rob Nokes	....	post sound technical
Michael O'Farrell	....	adr editor
Gary D. Rogers	....	sound re-recording mixer
Scott Streetman	....	cable puller
Scott Streetman	....	sound assistant
Meg Taylor	....	assistant sound editor
Tony Van den Akker	....	foley recordist (as Tony Van Den Akker)

Visual Effects by
Elliott Gamson	....	optical programer

Camera and Electrical Department
David Berryman	....	second assistant camera
Dennis Clay	....	key grip
Ralph Elliott	....	grip
Ray Garcia	....	best boy grip
Edison Jackson	....	electrician
John Lacy	....	electrician (as John Dallas Lacy)
Jon H. Lewis	....	gaffer
Daniel Page McDonough	....	first assistant camera (as Daniel P. McDonough)
Eric Moynier	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Deana Newcomb	....	still photographer
Walter L. Olden	....	rigging gaffer (as Walter Olden)
Kevin Parker	....	grip
Sacha Sarchielli	....	first assistant camera
Todd Smiley	....	best boy electric (as Todd Eden Smiley)
Stan Stanley	....	electrician
Suzanne Tenner	....	still photographer
Tiffany Toby	....	video assist
Joseph Vasquez	....	grip (as Joe Vasquez)
Christopher Wiggins	....	second assistant camera (as Christopher K. Wiggins)

Casting Department
Matthew Barry	....	casting associate: Los Angeles
Jo Edna Boldin	....	casting consultant: Texas
Leigh French	....	voice casting
Beth Sepko	....	extras casting
Wendy Slutsky	....	casting consultant: Los Angeles

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lee Hunsaker	....	costumer
David W. King	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Shannon Carey	....	conformer: 16 MM
Richard Conkling	....	conformer: 16 MM
Paul Covington	....	assistant editor
Elliott Gamson	....	negative matcher: Immaculate Matching
Patricia Hollander	....	assistant editor
Michael Kolvek	....	color timer
Pamela March	....	conformer: 16 MM
Lucy Maunsell	....	assistant editor
Karen Rasch	....	assistant editor
Lisa Rosen	....	post-production coordinator
Michael Yetter	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Greg Bissonette	....	musician: drums
David Boruff	....	musician: saxophone (as Dave Boruff)
David Cole	....	music mixer
Tony Edwards	....	musician: drums/percussion, Blaine Community Orchestra
Jean Fuller	....	musician: piano, Blaine Community Orchestra
Joe Godfrey	....	music arranger: Stephen Foster arrangement
Jerry Goodman	....	musician: violin
Matt Gruber	....	music recordist
Christopher Guest	....	composer: lyrics
Richard Macdowell	....	musician: clarinet, Blaine Community Orchestra
Michael McKean	....	composer: lyrics
Tim Pierce	....	musician: guitar
Johnny Reno	....	musician: saxophone, Blaine Community Orchestra
Paul Robertson	....	musician: violin, Blaine Community Orchestra
Tracy Rosenkrans	....	musician: bass, Blaine Community Orchestra
Harry Shearer	....	composer: lyrics
Jeffrey C.J. Vanston	....	music arranger: overture arrangement (as Jeffery [C.J.] Vanston)
Jeffrey C.J. Vanston	....	music producer (as Jeffery [C.J.] Vanston)
Jeffrey C.J. Vanston	....	musician: all other instruments (as Jeffery [C.J.] Vanston)
Jeffrey C.J. Vanston	....	musician: trumpet/timpani/glockenspiel, Blaine Community Orchestra (as Jeffery [C.J.] Vanston)

Transportation Department
Ronnie D. Chambers	....	driver (as Ronald Chambers)
Joe Dye	....	driver
Cecil D. Evans	....	transportation captain
Joe Llanes	....	driver
Jerry McKnight	....	transportation coordinator
Doyle Nelson	....	driver
Lonnie Nelson	....	driver
Ronald L. Paschall	....	driver

Other crew
Margery Suzanne Anderson	....	intern
Andrea Ariel	....	choreographer
Mateo Barnstone	....	production assistant (as Mateo S. Barnstone)
Dave Bennett	....	production accountant (as David Bennett)
Thom Buckley	....	intern
Amy Chance	....	production coordinator
John P. Crowley	....	craft service (as Johnny P. Crowley)
Shanti Delsarte	....	assistant coordinator
Karen Dinitz	....	location assistant
Melanie Armstrong Fletcher	....	intern (as Melanie Armstrong)
Andy Haynes	....	intern
Ted Kantrow	....	caterer: New Orleans
Kelly Kernan	....	production assistant
Warren Long	....	caterer: Austin (as Warren David Long)
Kate McCarley	....	location manager
Rob McGrath	....	assistant location manager
Mimi N. McGreal	....	production secretary
Barb Moore	....	intern (as Barbara Boyd Moore)
Dianne M. Murphy	....	script supervisor
Robert Murphy	....	intern
Bettina Tendler O'Mara	....	product promotions coordinator (as Bettina O'Mara)
Buz Presock	....	production assistant
Todd Redilla	....	intern
Daniel J. Shaw	....	key production assistant
M.K. Shaw	....	assistant accountant (as M. K. Shaw)
Hilary Wagner	....	post-production accountant
Amy Weiner	....	intern
Philip Wood	....	travel services: World Travel Partners
Rich Feldman	....	production assistant: pre-production, Los Angeles (uncredited)
Kevin Halloran	....	location manager (uncredited)

Thanks
Tom Copeland	....	we wish to thank: Texas Film Commission
Mardik Martin	....	special thanks: for dialogue from Raging Bull
Paul Schrader	....	special thanks: for dialogue from Raging Bull
Joyce Sloane	....	we wish to thank: Second City Chicago
Elizabeth Summers	....	we wish to thank

Production Companies

• Castle Rock Entertainment (presents)
• Pale Morning Dun (producer)
• All Night Productions
• Sony Pictures Classics

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Classics (1996) (USA) (theatrical)
• Turner Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• AATEX Films  Aaton camera supplied by (as Aatex)
• Abel Cine Tech  additional camera and lenses (as Abel Cine Tech/NY)
• Ace Hardware  we wish to thank
• CMG Worldwide  courtesy of: Bogart likeness TM/© 1996 Bogart Inc. (as CMG Worldwide, Inc., Indpls., IN 46202)
• CMG Worldwide  courtesy of: Dean likeness TM/© 1996 The James Dean Foundation (as CMG Worldwide, Inc., Indpls., IN 46202)
• Cine Video  lighting and grip equipment supplied by (as Texas Cine Video)
• City Of Lockhart, Texas  we wish to thank
• City of Austin, Texas, The  we wish to thank (as City Of Austin, Texas)
• Colorlab  video dailies
• Deborah Ross Film Design  main and end title design
• Digital Editing Systems  avid editing systems provided by
• Doris Miller Recreational Center  we wish to thank (as Doris Miller Recreational Center, Austin, Texas)
• Hit Shack, The  music recorded at (as The Hit Shack, Austin, Texas)
• Immaculate Matching  negative matching
• John E. Allen Associates  optical pre-print mastering
• Kodak  film stock
• Lacy Street Production Center  sound stages
• Locations Catering  caterers: Austin
• Locations Catering  caterers: New Orleans
• Olympic Sound Studios  adr recording facility
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Second City  we wish to thank (as Second City Chicago)
• Sony Pictures Studios  re-recorded at
• Sound Dogs  sound editing
• Stock House, The  stock footage
• Texas Film Commission  we wish to thank
• Treehouse Music  music recorded at (as The Treehouse, North Hollywood, California)
• Woolrich  we wish to thank (as Woolrich Clothing Company)
• World Travel Partners  travel services provided by
• Wyman, Isaacs, Blumenthal & Lynne  legal services

Also Known As:

The Christopher Guest Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for brief strong language.

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | SDDS | SDDS (uncredited)

Certification:

UK:15 | Australia:M | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | USA:TV-14 (cable rating) | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | USA:R (No. 33995)

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

Corky St. Clair (Christopher Guest) wears a Judy Tenuta t-shirt near the beginning of the film. Tenuta's self-given nickname is "The Love Goddess".

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the last scene in the play, a tuba can clearly be heard playing, but there is no tuba in the orchestra.

Quotes:

Corky St. Clair: I got off that boat with nothing but my dancers belt and a tube of CHAPSTICK!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Dawson's Creek: Pilot (#1.1)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Blaine Panthers Fight Song

Good spoof documentary from Guest

Sometimes dry, sometimes bubbling satire of middle America chronicles Corky Corkoran's (Guest) efforts to put on a spectacle commemorating the town of Blaine's 150th anniversary. Told in "mockumentary" style like most of Guest's films. Corky drafts an odd assortment of local talent to bring his historical revue to life, including the local dentist (Levy) and travel agent couple (O'Hara and Willard). Like "Spinal Tap", this film mercilessly spoofs the "artistic" pretentions of Corky and his cast, but the audience ends up feeling genuine affection for the characters, the provincial backwater of Blaine, and even Corky's awful show with laughable music and acting. Guest's performance, as well as several of the others, is very funny and memorable.

A likeable comedy that some audiences may find too slow... much funnier than his later (and more popular) "Best of Show".