Shortbus (2006)

Director:

John Cameron Mitchell

Writer (WGA):

John Cameron Mitchell (written by)

Release Date:

6 October 2006 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Voyeurism is Participation

Plot:

A group of New Yorkers get caught up in their romantic-sexual milieu converge at an underground salon infamous for its blend of art, music, politics, and carnality.

Plot Keywords:

Kama Sutra | Video | Sex | Lifeguard | New York City

Awards:

6 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Sook-Yin Lee	...	Sofia
Paul Dawson	...	James
Lindsay Beamish	...	Severin
PJ DeBoy	...	Jamie
Raphael Barker	...	Rob
Peter Stickles	...	Caleb, the Stalker
Jay Brannan	...	Ceth
Alan Mandell	...	Tobias, the Mayor
Adam Hardman	...	Jesse, the John
Ray Rivas	...	Shabbos Goy
Bitch	...	Bitch / Shortbus House Band
Shanti Carson	...	Leah, the Beautiful Couple
Justin Hagan	...	Brad
Jan Hilmer	...	Nick, the Beautiful Couple
Stephen Kent Jusick	...	Creamy
Yolonda Ross	...	Faustus
Jocelyn Samson	...	Jid (as JD Samson)
Daniela Sea	...	Little Prince
Miriam Shor	...	Cheryl
Rachael C. Smith	...	Zoey (as Rachael Cyna Smith)
Derek Jackson	...	Derek
Paul Oakley Stovall	...	Magnus
Lex Vaughn	...	Bucky
Justin Bond	...	Himself
David Pittu	...	Jacuzzi Hunter
Jeff Whitty	...	Jacuzzi Hunted
Mickey Cottrell	...	Dead Man in the Jacuzzi
Mary Beth Peil	...	Ann (Our Lady of the Gutter)
Bradford Scobie	...	Dr. Donut
Murray Hill	...	Murray Hill
Ethan Eunson-Conn	...	Sex-Not-Bombs Room D.J.
Jonathan Caouette	...	Blondie-Grabber
Rachel Friedman	...	Yenta Voice (voice)
Reg Vermue	...	The Albino
Tanya Gagné	...	The Wau Wau Sister
Adrienne Truscott	...	The Wau Wau Sister
Dirty Martini	...	Dirty Martini
Timmy Young	...	Mikey / Oglesby the Puppet
The World Famous *BoB*	...	The World Famous *BOB*
Eric Gilliland	...	Eric Gilliland
Jasper James	...	Jasper
Grace Kahng	...	Suicide Nurse
Ralph Gunderman	...	Radio Announcer (voice)
Nate Calkins	...	Shortbus House Band
Christine Choi	...	Shortbus House Band
Paul Festa	...	Shortbus House Band / Sextra
Peter Gingerich	...	Shortbus House Band
Scott Matthew	...	Shortbus House Band
Louis Schwadron	...	Shortbus House Band
Jeanette Seidman	...	Shortbus House Band
Matt Way	...	Shortbus House Band
Jeannann Seidman	...	Shortbus House Band
Brent Alberghini	...	Sextra
Ashley Balavender	...	Sextra
Jonathan Bastiani	...	Sextra
John Caffery	...	Sextra
Anthony Cefala	...	Sextra
Aeran Doron	...	Sextra
Patrick Egan	...	Sextra
Cat Erickson	...	Sextra
Feva	...	Sextra
Colin Fitzpatrick	...	Sextra
Michael C. Freeland	...	Sextra
Shawn Frenté	...	Sextra
Pamela Giaroli	...	Sextra
Joseph Gross	...	Sextra
Christopher Hamblin	...	Sextra
Timothy Heber	...	Sextra
Sienna Horton	...	Sextra
Bel Jordan	...	Sextra
Joseph Keckler	...	Sextra
Bré Kelly	...	Sextra
Kenneth Lang	...	Sextra
Lapis Luxury	...	Sextra
Erin Markey	...	Sextra
Janie Martinez	...	Sextra
Kelly McKay	...	Sextra
Jesse Miller	...	Sextra
Kristen Munchheimer	...	Sextra
Nicole Pasulka	...	Sextra
Carlo Quispe	...	Sextra
Emma Rander	...	Sextra
David W. Robinson	...	Sextra
Jesse Sanford	...	Sextra
Frank Susa	...	Sextra
Tristan Taormino	...	Sextra
Matt Thomas	...	Sextra
Layard Thompson	...	Sextra
Colten Tognazzini	...	Sextra
Jorge Torres	...	Sextra
Lix Velvet	...	Sextra
Will D. Ware	...	Sextra
Isabelle Woodley	...	Sextra
Leopard Zeppard	...	Sextra
Kris Anton	...	Hungry March Band
Jason Candler	...	Hungry March Band
Jon 'Corn Mo' Cunningham	...	Hungry March Band
Luca Fadda	...	Hungry March Band
Emily Fairey	...	Hungry March Band
Julie Hair	...	Hungry March Band
Michele Hardesty	...	Hungry March Band
Jen Emma Hertel	...	Hungry March Band
John Heyenga	...	Hungry March Band
Ben Holtzman	...	Hungry March Band
Richard Hutchins	...	Hungry March Band
Sebastian Isler	...	Hungry March Band
Joseph B. Keady	...	Hungry March Band
Quince Marcum	...	Hungry March Band
Ben Meyers	...	Hungry March Band
Anders Nelson	...	Hungry March Band
Greg Schneiderman	...	Hungry March Band
Sasha Sumner	...	Hungry March Band
Samantha Tsisktinas	...	Hungry March Band
Sara Valentine	...	Hungry March Band
Theresa Westerdahl	...	Hungry March Band
Okkon Yokoyama	...	Hungry March Band
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harry Slattery	...	Piñata Boy
Fast Ali	...	Party Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
John Cameron Mitchell

Writing credits (WGA)
John Cameron Mitchell		(written by)

Produced by
Wouter Barendrecht	....	executive producer
Alexis Fish	....	executive producer
Howard Gertler	....	producer
Morgan Higby	....	associate producer (as Morgan Higby Night)
Pamela Hirsch	....	co-producer
Richie Jackson	....	co-executive producer
John Cameron Mitchell	....	producer
Tim Perell	....	producer
Bobbi Thompson	....	co-executive producer
Michael J. Werner	....	executive producer
Neil Westreich	....	associate producer
Richard Wofford	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Yo La Tengo

Cinematography by
Frank G. DeMarco

Film Editing by
Brian A. Kates

Casting by
Susan Shopmaker

Production Design by
Jody Asnes

Set Decoration by
Sarah E. McMillan

Costume Design by
Kurt and Bart

Makeup Department
Jill Astmann	....	additional makeup artist
Davion Edwards	....	additional hair stylist
Fabian Garcia	....	key hair stylist
Maya Hardinge	....	key makeup artist
Julia Lallas	....	additional makeup artist
Dionne Pitsikoulis	....	additional makeup artist
Amanda Ross	....	additional makeup artist

Production Management
Ramsey Fong	....	unit production manager: second unit
Michael Romero	....	production supervisor
Matthew Shapiro	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sarah Rae Garrett	....	second assistant director
Karen Kane	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Hilary Basing	....	art department intern
James Bednark	....	art production assistant
Kate Bryant	....	set dresser
Gabu Camilo	....	assistant property master: prep
James Capolarello	....	art department intern
Benji Cox	....	art department production assistant
Yolan Fisher	....	assistant property master
Carl Li	....	art assistant
JoJo Li	....	art production assistant
Elizabeth Minot	....	set dresser
Jacquelyn Moses	....	art department production assistant
Julio Palma	....	set dresser
Kyle Salvatore	....	on-set dresser
Heather Wellik	....	art department production assistant
Bentley Wood	....	property master

Sound Department
Leslie Bloom	....	foley artist
Benjamin Cheah	....	sound designer
Ryan Collison	....	foley engineer
Mark Corbin	....	adr recordist
Anguibe Guindo	....	additional boom operator
John Gutierrez	....	boom operator
Lora Hirschberg	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ken Ishii	....	production sound mixer
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Brandon Proctor	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeff Pullman	....	additional boom operator
Jac Rubenstein	....	supervising adr editor
Jac Rubenstein	....	supervising dialogue editor
Chris Stangroom	....	adr recordist
Gregg Swiatlowski	....	assistant sound
Damian Volpe	....	adr recordist
Joe White	....	boom operator

Visual Effects by
John Bair	....	animator
John Dowdell	....	2K digital intermediate colorist
Peter Heady	....	2k digital intermediate editor
Peter Heady	....	EFX artist
Robert Dahlem	....	main title designer (uncredited)

Stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Elliott Breeden	....	assistant videographer
Michael Burke	....	assistant camera
Sung Rae Cho	....	first assistant camera
Doug Foote	....	first assistant camera
Jack Foster	....	electrician
Bob Izzo	....	key grip
Paul McCarthy	....	gaffer
Paul McCarthy	....	gaffer
Jim Mickle	....	additional grip
Joseph Paolini	....	third grip
Ryan Samul	....	best boy grip
Makario Sarsozo	....	additional camera operator
Lee Vickery	....	additional assistant camera
JoJo Whilden	....	still photographer
Zenfeek	....	additional electrician

Casting Department
Judy Bowman	....	casting associate
Meredith Jacobson	....	extras casting
Erica Palgon	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Olivia Mori	....	set costumer
Shelby Saboy	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Hedia Maron	....	post-production intern
Ali Muney	....	assistant editor
Trina Rose	....	editorial assistant
Marin Sander-Holzman	....	associate editor
Stan Sztaba	....	negative matcher
Mike Trinker	....	digital intermediate editor
Ethan Weinstock	....	post-production intern

Music Department
Nancy Allen	....	music editor
Michael Hill	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Matthew Amenta	....	production assistant: first team
David Bizgia	....	pre-production assistant
Elliott Breeden	....	production assistant
Elliott Breeden	....	workshop assistant
Brian Cantaldi	....	production accountant
Carol A. Compton	....	script clearance
James Coppola	....	extras coordinator
Tristan Cowen	....	craft service
Jeremy Crane	....	assistant production coordinator
Ryan Davis	....	workshop assistant
Patricia de Paula	....	production coordinator
Andrei Diakov	....	assistant: Howard Gertler
Nikki Ellis	....	background crew
Steve Faughnan	....	assistant location manager
Eric Gerdts	....	office production intern
Peter Heady	....	finishing artist
Diane Hounsell	....	script supervisor
Blake Leyh	....	pee & vibrator consultant
Derek J. Manganelli	....	location assistant
Angel O. Mendez	....	office intern
Jasmine Mohamed	....	office production assistant
Jennifer Quesenbery	....	location scout
Will Schluter	....	production assistant
Louis Schwadron	....	assistant: John Cameron Mitchell
Collin Smith	....	location manager
Jesse Spellman	....	intern
Raymond Willis	....	production assistant
Terri Yuan	....	intern

Thanks
Miguel Arteta	....	very special thanks
Francis Ford Coppola	....	thanks
Douglas Coupland	....	thanks
David Cronenberg	....	thanks
Atom Egoyan	....	thanks
Bart Freundlich	....	thanks
Matthew Herrmann	....	thanks
Anne Hubbell	....	thanks
Dan'l Linehan	....	thanks
Moby	....	special thanks
Julianne Moore	....	thanks
Yoko Ono	....	thanks
Jeremy Podeswa	....	thanks
Patricia Rozema	....	thanks
Michael Stipe	....	thanks
Gus Van Sant	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Fortissimo Films
• Process Productions
• Q Television

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (200?) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Angel Films (2007-) (Denmark) (all media)
• Bac Films (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Future Film (2006) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Impuls Home Entertainment (2007) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Senator Film (2006) (Germany) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Senator Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• THINKFilm (2006) (Canada) (all media)
• THINKFilm (2006) (USA) (all media)
• Triangelfilm (2006) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Works, The (2006) (UK) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Fortissimo Film Sales  international sales
• IndieClear  script clearance

Also Known As:

The Sex Film Project (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Sweden:15 | New Zealand:R18 | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | Singapore:(Banned) | Argentina:18 | Hong Kong:III | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva) | USA:Unrated | Japan:R-18 | Norway:18 | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | UK:18 | Australia:R | Canada:R (British Columbia/Ontario) | South Korea:Limited | Portugal:M/18 | France:-16 (with warning) | Germany:18 | Finland:K-18 | Italy:VM18

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Fortissimo Films

Trivia:

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was going to fire Sook-Yin Lee when they learned that she was going to be participating in a film with explicit sexual content. Several prominent individuals came to her rescue, including Gus Van Sant, Atom Egoyan, David Cronenberg and Julianne Moore, in successfully urging CBC to retain Lee as a member of their staff.

Goofs:

Continuity: When James and Jamie are talking about Ceth and about their relationship, the dancer in the back goes from topless in one shot, to with a top in the next.

Quotes:

Justin Bond: These bitches sucking cock and eating ass... then they show up at the buffet and say they're vegan.

Movie Connections:

References My Own Private Idaho (1991)

Soundtrack:

Surgery

Explicity Wonderful

Shortbus reviewed by Sam Osborn

I have a bad feeling that after the first ten minutes of Shortbus are through, much of the audience will have already left; because within this first segment, sophomore director John Cameron Mitchell has the mind to show his audience the nature of this very, ahem…frank work. Audiences will have witnessed filmed masturbation, wild fornication in a myriad of poses, and a scene of S&M sexual nature. These are all acts we've seen before from other Hollywood pictures; but then again, those pictures only played pretend. Shortbus requires all its actors to do such acts for real.

Is Porn too strong a word to describe such a film? It's debatable, I suppose. Films that boast actual penetration are usually not found in theatres anymore; instead hidden in the back of your video rental stores, or placed neatly on a shady internet site. But Pornography uses plot mechanisms only to drive the story into another sex scene. Shortbus has plot mechanisms to drive the arcs of its characters. That its characters all play roles indulgent in fornication is simply the nature of Shortbus' stories. But enough about the ethics of Shortubus; it's a good film. And if you're not too squeamish for the subject matter, and have a mind for tongue-in-cheek wit, then it shouldn't matter how close to porn the film means to aim.

It's a story of New Yorkers. A fringe group of New Yorkers who all meet at the underground lounge Shortbus. It's a place of casual frivolity, where people of any sexual preference are free to indulge in whatever they please. They mingle and dance and drink and have sex, all happily and without any semblance of filth or vice. These people are simply enjoying themselves and being quite hilarious while they do it. The members that we're asked to follow all come from the Magnolia school of connections, where links between characters are often coincidental and illogical, but acceptable as obligations of an ensemble drama. Sofia (Sook-Yin Lee) is a Sex Therapist who prefers to be called a Couples Councilor and who's unable to have an orgasm. She's invited to Shortbus by the club's poster child couple, Jamie and Jamie (Paul Dawson and PJ DeBoy), who assure Sofia that if there's an orgasm to be found, it's hidden within Shortbus. In a dark room there, Sofia meets Severina (Lindsay Beamish), a lonely dominatrix who gets mean when uncomfortable, and whose longest relationship was with the geeky trust fund sexual deviant.

All their stories are all human and kind of affecting, managing to dig their way out of the film's heaping shock factor to create something like empathy. It's nothing heartbreaking or particularly inspiring, but how much can we really expect from a film that has an entire scene dedicated to the National Anthem being sung into an anal orifice. But that's the charm of Shortbus, I suppose. Director/Writer John Cameron Mitchell has made a film more explicit than most pornography while keeping eroticism completely out of the equation. The film's sexuality is frank and the humor always constant, while avoiding jokes that patronize its cast of outsiders.

It's too easy to forget the poignancy of Shortbus, though. The dialogue that's sure to be shot wild by its release won't be about its humor or spirit; talk will be of the skin that was exposed in finding the better, realer bits. It's too bad, but, again, what can we expect from a film that sings the National Anthem into a man's anus? Rating: 3 out of 4

Samuel Osborn