Auto Focus (2002)

Director:

Paul Schrader

Writers (WGA):

Robert Graysmith (book)
Michael Gerbosi (written by)

Release Date:

8 November 2002 (Canada)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

A day without sex is a day wasted.

Plot:

A story about "Hogan's Heroes" star Bob Crane and his friendship with John Carpenter.

Plot Keywords:

Video | Swinger | Friendship | Murder | Marriage

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Greg Kinnear	...	Bob Crane
Willem Dafoe	...	John Carpenter
Rita Wilson	...	Anne Crane
Maria Bello	...	Patricia Olson / Patrica Crane / Sigrid Valdis
Ron Leibman	...	Lenny
Bruce Solomon	...	Edward H. Feldman
Michael E. Rodgers	...	Richard Dawson (as Michael Rodgers)
Kurt Fuller	...	Werner Klemperer
Christopher Neiman	...	Robert Clary
Lyle Kanouse	...	John Banner
Donnamarie Recco	...	Melissa / Mistress Victoria
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Mel Rosen
Michael McKean	...	Video Executive
Cheryl Lynn Bowers	...	Cynthia Lynn
Don McManus	...	Priest
Sarah Uhrich	...	Victoria Berry
Amanda Niles	...	Cocktail Waitress
Kelly Packard	...	Dawson's Blond
Jeff Harlan	...	Armand
Kevin Kilner	...	Clayton Moore
Kevin Beard	...	Hogan A.D.
Joe Grifasi	...	Strip Club M.C.
Vyto Ruginis	...	Nickie D
Nikita Ager	...	Julie
Alex Meneses	...	Emily
Cassie Townsend	...	Elaine
Amber Griebel	...	Jill
Hannah Feldner-Shaw	...	Judy (as Hannah Felder-Shaw)
Robert David Crane	...	Interviewer (as Bob Crane Jr.)
Arden Myrin	...	Hippie Girl
Joseph D. Reitman	...	Hippie Boy
Kitana Baker	...	Schmile Girl
Gibby Brand	...	Judge
Katie Lohmann	...	Dallas Girl
Roderick McCarthy	...	Bartender
Catherine Dent	...	Susan
John Kapelos	...	Bruno Gerussi
Shawn Reaves	...	Bob Crane Jr. at 20
Michael Tachovsky	...	Bob Crane Jr. at 12
Bruce Bauer	...	Talk Show Host
Marieh Delfino	...	Bobby's Girlfriend
Teri Geary	...	Dancer - Miss Kitty (as Kitten de Ville)
Jade Ruggiero	...	Dancer - Angela
Zen	...	Dancer (as Porcelain Twinz)
Zero	...	Dancer (as Porcelain Twinz)
Owen Masterson	...	Jackie
Bill Marinella	...	Subpoena Server (as Bill Merinella)
Jennifer Piper	...	Dinner Theatre Actress
Kelly K.C. Quann	...	Blind Man's Bluff Girl
Danielle Petty	...	Interview Montage Girl #1
Jennifer Coffmon	...	Interview Montage Girl #2
Shelley Coleman-Hiestad	...	Swinger
Christopher Hagard	...	Scotty Crane
Jacob Hagard	...	Scotty Crane
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Churchill	...	Dick Ryan (uncredited)
Kate Clarke	...	Actress in Dinner Theatre (uncredited)
H.R. Haldeman	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
LeJon	...	Ivan Dixon (uncredited)
John Mitchell	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Shannon Murphy	...	Balloon Smuggler (uncredited)
Olivia Saint	...	Extra (uncredited)
Gary Sievers	...	Beginner's Luck Cast (uncredited)

Directed by
Paul Schrader

Writing credits (WGA)
Robert Graysmith		(book "The Murder of Bob Crane")
Michael Gerbosi		(written by)

Produced by
Scott Alexander	....	producer
Alicia Allain	....	producer
Patrick Dollard	....	producer (as Pat Dollard)
Rick Hess	....	executive producer
Larry Karaszewski	....	producer
Trevor Macy	....	executive producer
Brian Oliver	....	producer
Todd Rosken	....	producer
James Schamus	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Angelo Badalamenti

Cinematography by
Jeffrey Greeley
Fred Murphy

Film Editing by
Kristina Boden

Casting by
Wendy Kurtzman

Production Design by
James Chinlund

Art Direction by
Seth Reed

Set Decoration by
Gene Serdena

Costume Design by
Julie Weiss

Makeup Department
Donna J. Anderson	....	hair stylist
Stephanie Coffey	....	makeup artist
Rebecca DeHerrera	....	makeup assistant department head
Cheryl Eckert	....	assistant hair stylist
Roxane Griffin	....	additional hair stylist
Isabel Harkins	....	makeup department head
Joel Harlow	....	special makeup effects artist
Rob Hinderstein	....	special makeup effects artist
Myke Michaels	....	makeup artist
Candace Neal	....	hair stylist: Rita Wilson
Michael Peterson	....	lab makeup effects
Marsha Shearrill	....	makeup artist: character makeup

Production Management
Michael Jackman	....	post-production supervisor
Cheryl Kurk	....	production supervisor
Avi Levy	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Aaron Barsky	....	first assistant director
Eric Oliver	....	second second assistant director
Barbara M. Ravis	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Rick Chavez	....	property master
William Eliscu	....	graphic designer
Lilly Frank	....	scenic painter
Luke Freeborn	....	model builder
Luke Freeborn	....	set designer
J. Michael Glynn	....	set dresser
Sean Lyons	....	painter
Sam Page	....	set designer
Nick Rock	....	construction coordinator
Kathleen Rosen	....	buyer
Grant Samson	....	lead man
Thomas Spencer	....	set dresser
Robert Stover	....	buyer

Sound Department
Steve C. Aaron	....	production sound mixer
Ken Cade	....	adr editor
Peter Kambasis	....	assistant sound editor
Peter Kelly	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris Main	....	boom operator
Colin McLellan	....	adr recordist
Timothy Mehlenbacher	....	first assistant dialogue editor
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Steve Munro	....	supervising sound editor
Daniel Pellerin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Peter Persaud	....	foley recordist
Dirk Stout	....	second boom operator
Andrew Tay	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Drainie Taylor	....	dialogue editor

Special Effects by
Damian Fisher	....	moldmaker supervisor
John C. Hartigan	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Sarah Jackson-Seirafi	....	visual effects producer
Ziad Seirafi	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Kevin Beard	....	stunt double: Greg Kinnear
Robert Benjamin	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
James W. Apted	....	assistant camera
Michael Bauman	....	gaffer
Kevin Brown	....	electrician
Andreas Crawford	....	dolly grip
Thomas M. Dangcil	....	electrician
Will Dearborn	....	camera loader
Jeffrey De La Rosa	....	electrician
Paul A. Edwards	....	camera operator
Frank Endewardt	....	electrician
Jeffrey Greeley	....	camera operator
Barry Idoine	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Richard Mall	....	key grip
Frank Masi	....	still photographer
David Scott	....	rigging electrician
Alec Shepherd	....	grip
Michael Tolochko	....	electrician

Casting Department
Sande Alessi	....	extras casting
Kristan Berona	....	extras casting
Caroline Liem	....	casting associate
Bill Marinella	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Dennison	....	assistant costume designer
Pamela Lee Incardona	....	costume supervisor
David Page	....	key set costumer
Hayley Stuppel	....	costumer
Barbara Marko	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Stuart Macphee	....	post-production coordinator
Ken Metzker	....	colorist: high definition
Hilary Peabody	....	assistant editor
Cathy Rait	....	color timer
Melissa Remenarich	....	first assistant editor: Los Angeles

Music Department
Andrew Barrett	....	composer: additional music
Jim Dunbar	....	music consultant
Tass Filipos	....	music editor
Philip W. Gough	....	composer: additional music
Christopher S. Parker	....	music clearances
G. Marq Roswell	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Robert Benjamin	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Michael Barnes	....	financial legal services
Jason Block	....	post-production accountant
Robert David Crane	....	technical advisor
Mark Dawson	....	technical advisor
Sean Donnelly	....	assistant to producer
Sean J. Donnelly	....	assistant to producer
Kenneth J. Ferris	....	title designer: main titles
Zach Fine	....	technical advisor: vintage video
Nikki Fitch	....	assistant to Pat Dollard
Will Frears	....	assistant: Paul Schrader
Charles Heaphy	....	production financing
Michael Hubert	....	production coordinator
Michelle Impellizine	....	assistant to Alicia Allain
Peter Kujawski	....	assistant: Mr. Schamus
Jonathan Levine	....	assistant: Paul Schrader
Ella Marcus	....	craft service
Eddie Merino	....	key assistant location manager
Patrick Mignano	....	location manager
Ryan Murphy	....	consultant: avid
Nathan Polatin	....	location manager
Rebecca Poulos	....	script supervisor
M. Ross-Michaels	....	production accountant
Paul Schreiber	....	location scout
Benjamin Scissors	....	key set production assistant
Lisa Womble	....	production assistant
Karen Yokomizo	....	first assistant accountant
John Bilich	....	location manager (uncredited)
Steven Jetton	....	layout board (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Focus Puller Inc.
• Good Machine
• Propaganda Films

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Classics (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Italia (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Falcon (2003) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2002) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2003) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Mongrel Media (Canada)
• Nelonen (2006) (Finland) (TV)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Digital Film Labs (visual effects)
• Ultimate Effects

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Deluxe Post-Production  post-production facilities
• Media Distributors Film Source  motion picture film supplied by
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Reder & Feig  production legal services

Also Known As:

Autofocus (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, nudity, language, some drug use and violence.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Singapore:R21 | Italy:VM14 (re-rating) (2004) | Italy:VM18 (original rating) (2003) | Finland:K-15 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R (cut) | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Canada:18A | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Japan:R-18 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | UK:18 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Iceland:16 | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Arizona, USA

Company:

Focus Puller Inc.

Trivia:

The leather jacket that Greg Kinnear wore while playing 'Bob Crane' in the "Hogan's Heroes" (1965) scenes in this movie was the one that 'Bob Crane' actually wore during that TV series "Hogan's Heroes" (1965). Crane's son Bob Jr. (Robert David Crane) loaned the jacket to Greg Kinnear for this movie. Prior to "Hogan's Heroes" (1965), this jacket was worn by Frank Sinatra in Von Ryan's Express (1965).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: At John's apartment in 1966, one of the girls asks if he has any records by Procol Harum, whose first album came out in 1967. He then puts on "Helpless" by the Four Tops from their Second Album which was out in 1965. But, the album cover shown is from the "Reach Out" album, which that song wasn't on and which didn't come out until the summer of 1967.

Quotes:

Lenny: Sex is not the answer.
Bob Crane: I know that Lenny, it's the question. 'Yes' is the answer.

Movie Connections:

References "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962)

Soundtrack:

Psychotic Reaction

a day without sex is a day wasted

-I've never seen "Hogan's Heroes" before so I had no idea who Bob Crane was going into this movie, but the great thing about this movie is that you don't need to know anything about the show or Crane to enjoy the movie. It tells the story of how Bob Crane rose to the top with his show "Hogan's Heroes" whiles spiraling out of control with his sex addiction. He first takes pictures of his sex adventures but then meets a man called John Carpenter that introduces him to video cameras. He uses the cameras to record his sex adventures and um.....does things to himself whiles watching it. His friendship with Carpenter plays a big role in the movie as the two of them share the same addiction for sex. They both need each other in some weird way. Crane needs him for the video cameras and other technical know hows, and Carpenter needs him for sex because once women learn that he's with Crane they flock to be with him. Crane's sex addiction kinda ruins his life, it becomes his source for pleasure and at the same time of pain. Later on in the movie we get to see just how addicted he is as he shocks everyone with a comment he makes about a busty women sitting in front of him. This is true addiction, and the movie shows that for what it is.

-This movie marks the return of the underrated Paul Schrader, and he comes back strong with his A game. He thankfully avoided the pitfalls that many biopics make by showing you stuff about the person we're watching that we never knew before. My biggest problem with most biopics is that they never really tell you anything that you already didn't know, but in this one they packed it full of useful info. Greg Kinnear does a great job here playing a man that really has two faces. One he puts on in public which is a nice and gentle man that's religious and never drinks, and the other one which is the horny man that thinks that a day without sex is a day wasted.

-Willem Dafoe also does a great job of playing John Carpenter who is essentially Crane's only friend in the movie. his character is probably a closet homosexual although that is never dealt with properly in the movie. In the end his friendship with Crane is what leads to him doing an act that ends their friendship for good. This movie is obviously not for kids, it has semi-graphic sex scenes and an abundance of nudity. The only problem for me was that I wish they had explained where Crane's addiction came from but the world isn't perfect

-Paul Schrader has once again made another great movie and actually made a biopic that's not predictable or boring which I thought was impossible. He lets you see the effects of addiction and how badly it can destroy someone's life. It may have gotten lost in the sea of movies that came out but if you can find it then watch it. You'll be glad you did