American Gun (2005)

Director:

Aric Avelino

Writers:

Steven Bagatourian (written by) and
Aric Avelino (written by)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

One nation under fire.

Plot:

Seemingly disparate portraits of people -- among them a single mother, a high school principal, and an ace student -- Distinctly American -- all affected by the proliferation of guns in American society.

Plot Keywords:

Gun | Single Mother | School Principal | High School | Liquor Store

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Marcia Gay Harden	...	Janet Huttenson
Forest Whitaker	...	Carter
Donald Sutherland	...	Carl Wilk
Lisa Long	...	Sandra Cohen
Chris Warren Jr.	...	Marcus
David Heymann	...	Producer
Chris Marquette	...	David Huttenson
Amanda Seyfried	...	Mouse
Nikki Reed	...	Tally
Joseph Kell	...	Security Guard
Tony Goldwyn	...	Frank
Rex Linn	...	Earl
Kevin Phillips	...	Reggie
Davenia McFadden	...	Felicia
Linda Cardellini	...	Mary Ann Wilk
Schuyler Fisk	...	Cicily
Michael Shannon	...	Jerry (as Michael J. Shannon)
Arlen Escarpeta	...	Jay
Charles Duckworth	...	Connie
Todd Tesen	...	Barry
Melissa Leo	...	Louise
Gary Paul Clark	...	Supervisor
Garcelle Beauvais	...	Sarah (as Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon)
Terry Rhoads	...	Ed Hogan
Michael Milhoan	...	Victim's Father
Jernard Burks	...	Burly Guy
Lombardo Boyar	...	Hector
Dallas McKinney	...	Jimmy Frank
Blake Hightower	...	Hakeem
Kiyano La'vin	...	Taft Security Guard
Rachael Bella	...	Haille
Andrew Caple-Shaw	...	College Rapist
James Morrison	...	St. Anthony's Principal
Daniel Hugh Kelly	...	Don
Dean Norris	...	Terrence
Lee Garlington	...	Psychologist
Jonathan Ahdout	...	Ike
Ali Hillis	...	Gunshop Patron
Sydney Walsh	...	Karen
Michael Dempsey	...	Landlord
Audrey Wasilewski	...	Annette
Neil Mather	...	Bob
Deanne Carlin	...	Woman
Joy Demichelle Moore	...	Marcus' Mom
Daniel Buran	...	Convenience Store Clerk (as Dan Buran)
Brian Avery	...	Convenience Store Robber
Rainbow Borden	...	Thief
Gabrielle Christian	...	Girl
Aasha Davis	...	Student
Calvin Jung	...	Store owner
Sean Rector	...	Gas Station Young Dude (as Sean Allen Rector)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lorraine Pope	...	School teacher
Sonni Stommel	...	Girl 2
Michael Molthen	...	Gun Salesman (uncredited)
John H. Price	...	Officer Kisowski (uncredited)

Directed by
Aric Avelino

Writing credits
Steven Bagatourian		(written by)
Aric Avelino		written by

Produced by
Chris Adams	....	executive producer
Holly Becker	....	executive producer
Arlene Gibbs	....	co-producer
David Grace	....	co-producer
Caroline Kaplan	....	executive producer
Ted Kroeber	....	producer
Chris Salvaterra	....	executive producer
Peter Schlessel	....	executive producer
Jonathan Sehring	....	executive producer
Jeff Skoll	....	executive producer
Forest Whitaker	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Peter Golub

Cinematography by
Nancy Schreiber		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Richard Nord

Casting by
Amanda Harding
Amanda Koblin

Production Design by
Devorah Herbert

Set Decoration by
Traci Spadorcia

Costume Design by
Deborah Everton

Makeup Department
Victoria Goodman	....	key hair stylist: pickups
Theraesa Rivers	....	key hair stylist
Joyce Taft	....	hair stylist: Chicago
Joyce Taft	....	makeup artist: Chicago
Karen Toole-Rentrop	....	key makeup artist (as Karen D. Toole)
Vito Trotta	....	hair stylist
Teresa Vest	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Nicole Colombie	....	unit production manager
Kim Knight	....	production manager: Chicago

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lauder Robinson	....	second second assistant director
Joaquin Rosalez	....	second assistant director: Chicago
Louis Paul Tocchet	....	first assistant director (as Lou Tocchet)
John Vanover	....	second second assistant director
Inman Young	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Luciano Bilvao	....	leadman
John Brunot	....	property master
Leonardo Coleman	....	swing
Ann Cummings	....	art department shopper
Ian Taylor Fisher	....	art production assistant
Gabriel Garcia	....	scenic painter
Gregory Holley	....	set dresser (as Greg Allen Holley)
David Hopkins	....	set dresser
Chris Lavalle	....	swing
Mike Manasewitsch	....	art production assistant
Mary Mathews	....	set dresser
Steven McGrew	....	additional set decorator
Michael Merriam	....	art department intern
Rory O'Cello	....	swing
Tricia O'Connell	....	production designer: Chicago
Ana Ortiz	....	art department production assistant
Ronald Price	....	set dresser
Ruth Pulido	....	scenic painter (as Ruth Ann Pulido)
Willy Roberts	....	swing
Jennifer Sanderson	....	assistant property master
Bruce S. Seymour	....	key set dresser
Robert Zalkind	....	art department intern

Sound Department
Bryan Arenas	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Keith Bilderbeck	....	sound editor
Laurel Bridges	....	boom operator
Mario Coletta	....	sound mixer: Chicago
Lori Dovi	....	sound mixer
James Eric	....	sound utility
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer (as Alan 'Danger' Freedman)
Jon Johnson	....	supervising sound editor
James Key	....	digital sound transfer engineer
Jared Marshack	....	digital sound transfer engineer
Diane Marshall	....	foley artist (as S. Diane Marshall)
Kurt Peterson	....	utility sound
Eric Raber	....	digital sound transfer engineer
Miguel Rivera	....	sound editor
Brian Runnels	....	digital transfer engineer
Jason Schmid	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brian Slack	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brad Sokol	....	sound editor
Kevin J. Summers	....	boom operator: Chicago (as Kevin Summers)
Lucy Sustar	....	foley mixer
Dennis Twitty	....	assistant sound engineer

Special Effects by
Andre G. Ellingson	....	special effects: gunfire (as Andre Ellingson)

Visual Effects by
Tim Belcher	....	visual effects VP of operations
Al Cleland	....	visual effects general manager
Ashley Farber	....	data technician
Alex Hernandez	....	imaging technician
Loc Hoang	....	imaging technician
Steve Hodge	....	imaging technician
Brian Kun	....	data technician
Christopher Kutcka	....	imaging supervisor (as Chris Kutcka)
Elizabeth Ostermann	....	digital restoration
Josh Pines	....	visual effects VP of color imaging r&d (as Joshua Pines)
Steve Rundell	....	visual effects VP of production
Kevin Schwab	....	imaging technician
Brad Sutton	....	digital restoration
Wilson Tang	....	digital restoration

Stunts
Noby Arden	....	stunt double (as Nobie Arden)
Brian Avery	....	stunts
Christopher Doyle	....	stunt coordinator (as Chris Doyle)

Camera and Electrical Department
Matthew J. Barden	....	additional best boy grip (as Matthew Barden)
Matthew C. Blea	....	additional second camera
Don Burton	....	camera loader
Marie Chao	....	additional focus puller
Brian Christie	....	dolly grip
Jon 'Scooter' Cousins	....	grip (as Jonathan 'Scooter' Cousins)
Todd Csernecky	....	electrician
Michele De Lorimier	....	first assistant camera
Andy DePung	....	additional camera loader (as Andrew Depung)
Monique Duran	....	camera loader: Chicago
Sam Emerson	....	still photographer
Eric Felland	....	lighting technician
Erasto Garcia	....	grip
Chris Godfrey	....	additional grip
Matt Gulbin	....	additional grip (as Matty Gulbin)
Wm. Terrell Hasker	....	additional grip (as Terrell Hasker)
Matthew Hawkins	....	additional grip
Ted Hayash	....	gaffer
Todd Helsley	....	electrician (as Todd A. Helsley)
Tony Jerrels	....	additional grip
Gary Johnson	....	additional second camera
Dan Kanes	....	additional electrician
Neil Kinkead	....	additional electrician
Roos Lauw	....	additional electrician
Brian Lofthouse	....	best boy electric
Alexandra Lucka	....	second assistant camera
David 'Louie' Lukasik	....	best boy electric: Chicago (as Louis Lukasik)
Steven A. Lundgren	....	best boy electric
Paul Lyons	....	electrician
Erik Messerschmidt	....	best boy grip
Erik Messerschmidt	....	gaffer: additional photography
Andrew Meyers	....	rigging electrician
Lucas Millard	....	video assist operator
Luke Miller	....	key grip: Chicago
Nathaniel Miller	....	additional focus puller
Mike Morales	....	grip
C. Roy Nigra	....	additional grip (as Roy Nigra)
Coby Nissen	....	additional electrician
Jason Oberg	....	grip: Chicago
Rick Page	....	focus puller
Kevin Pittman	....	best boy grip: Chicago
Rick Robertson	....	camera operator
Mark Sanslow	....	grip: Chicago
Riley Sidore	....	electrician (as Riley Sitore)
Meena Singh	....	second assistant camera: Chicago (as Meenah Singh)
Curtis Smith	....	dolly grip
Tim Stratton	....	rigging gaffer
Keith Talley	....	key grip
Derek Touvell	....	additional electrician
Deron Tse	....	best boy grip: pick-up shots
Michael J. Walsh	....	additional rigging gaffer (as Michael Walsh)
Thomas Wily	....	additional best boy electric
Travis Witkowski	....	grip: Chicago
Jordan Garretson	....	additional grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Johnny Montevideo	....	casting assistant
Debe Waisman	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Juliana Gomez	....	wardrobe intern
Nathaniel Greene	....	wardrobe intern
Shelli Nishino	....	key set costumer
Rachel Sage	....	wardrobe supervisor
Rebekah Wiest	....	wardrobe: Chicago

Editorial Department
Ron Barr	....	digital conformation
Ron Barr	....	digital intermediate editor
Jason Fabbro	....	video colorist
Lisa Dennis Kennedy	....	post-production consultant (as Lisa Dennis)
Frank Moshier	....	post-production director: IFC Films
Timothy Peeler	....	colorist (as Tim Peeler)
Gregg Schaublin	....	digital intermediate producer
Sharon Wong	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Lynette Jenkins	....	music supervisor
Lynnette Jenkins	....	music supervisor
Larry Robinson	....	music supervisor
Bo Sibley	....	music supervisor
Mark Wheaton	....	score mixer: Catasonic
Mark Wheaton	....	score recordist: Catasonic

Transportation Department
Ben Barsky	....	driver
Dan Conte	....	driver (as Dan Cont)
Fred Johnston	....	driver
Michael Locke	....	transportation coordinator (as Mike Locke)
Rick Locke	....	driver
Richard Maginnis	....	driver (as Rick Maginnis)
Randy Mangum	....	driver (as Randy Mangun)
Chris Mendoza	....	transportation captain
Hugo Ocana	....	driver
Benjamin Rivera	....	driver (as Benny Rivera)
George Rodriguez	....	driver
Steve Slotnick	....	driver

Other crew
David Aaron	....	armorer
Scott Adams	....	caterer: Silver Screen Catering
Jeffrey Arwine	....	set medic
Ernest Bartak	....	fire safety officer
Laura Boersma	....	stock footage provider: Steele Film Productions
Charmaine Boos	....	studio teacher
Rob Brenner	....	traffic coordinator: Chicago
Sidell Chase	....	set production assistant
Jean Costello	....	production office coordinator
Jose Cruz Tejeda	....	catering assistant
Alex Ferry	....	office production assistant
Aquil Fudge	....	assistant accountant
Darlene Fuentes	....	legal services: Goff Law
John Glosser	....	office production assistant
Roger Goff	....	legal services: Goff Law
Kent Hamilton	....	insurance: Truman Van Dyke
Janet Harold	....	location scout
Tyler Hayes	....	office production assistant
Michael Hird	....	set medic
Kevin Lane Hummel	....	location assistant
Herb Johnson	....	production accountant
Jonathan Kallus	....	set production assistant
Alec Klapper	....	set production assistant
Blair Kroeber	....	key set production assistant
Justin Lieb	....	production assistant: Chicago
Jason Maestas	....	craft service
Drew Marks	....	craft service
Christopher Mauldin	....	stand-in
Karri Mayo	....	studio teacher
Pat McConville	....	set production assistant
Mike McKean	....	set medic
Nate Moore	....	production executive: Participant Productions
Wendy Kay Moore	....	assistant production office coordinator (as Wendy Moore)
Cathy Mooses	....	craft service: Chicago
Pablo Morris	....	set production assistant (as Paul Morris)
John Stewart Muller	....	stock footage provider: Steele Film Productions
Chris Munday	....	location manager
Iliana Nikolic	....	production executive: IFC Films
Rouslan Ovtcharov	....	production assistant: electric department
Annalee Paulo	....	unit publicist: Polaris Public Relations (as Anna Lee Paulo)
Lorena Petani	....	location manager: Chicago
John Ping	....	production assistant: Chicago
Kirsten Pope	....	additional script supervisor (as Kirsten German)
Kirsten Pope	....	script supervisor: re-shoots (as Kirsten German)
John H. Price	....	on-set interviews
James Reineman	....	fire safety officer
Tom Robertson	....	fire safety officer
Oscar A. Rodriguez	....	catering assistant
Santos Rodriguez	....	cook
Marlene Rounds	....	traffic coordinator: Chicago
Joe Russo	....	electronic press kit: KG Productions
Tony Santiago	....	production assistant: Chicago
Frederick Schroeder	....	stock footage provider: Steele Film Productions
Jaime Serrano	....	office production assistant
Grant Sloss	....	set production assistant
Andy Tyler	....	location scout
Nathalie Vidlak	....	script supervisor: Chicago
Brenda K. Wachel	....	script supervisor (as Brenda Wachel)
Brenda K. Wachel	....	script supervisor
George Whitman	....	key set production assistant
Anthony Woods	....	set medic

Thanks
Timothy Loughran	....	special thanks (as Tim Loughran)
Roeg Sutherland	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• IFC Films
• Participant Productions (as Participant Films)
• Spirit Dance Entertainment

Distributors

• IFC Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Bo Casper (2008) (Italy) (all media)
• Califórnia Home Vídeo (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• IFC First Take (2006) (USA) (video)
• Tiglon (2006) (Turkey) (all media)

Special Effects

• MW Media Services (titles and visual effects)

Other Companies

• Catasonic Studios  score recording and mixing (as Catasonic)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Comerica Bank of California  banking services (as Comerica Bank)
• Film Finance  completion bond
• FotoKem Laboratory  dailies (as FotoKem)
• Fury & Grace Digital  sound effects design (as Fury & Grace)
• KG Productions  electronic press kit
• NT Audio Visual  optical soundtrack negative
• Participant Productions  funding
• Polaris Public Relations  unit publicist
• Silver Screen Caterers  catering (as Silver Screen Catering)
• Steele Films  stock footage
• Technicolor Digital Intermediates  digital intermediate
• Truman Van Dyke Company  insurance (as truman Van Dyke)
• Urbaniti  music supervision
• Widget Post Production  rerecording facilities
• Widget Post Production  sound post-production

MPAA:

Rated R for violent content and language.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #41047) | Australia:MA | New Zealand:R13 | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

IFC Films

Trivia:

While shooting scenes with Forest Whitaker and 'Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon' in an LA neighborhood, the arrival of Britney Spears halted production. She was visiting a friend in the house next door, trailed by several shouting paparazzi photographers.

Goofs:

Continuity: When David is drawing the tattoo on Tally's leg, she takes her glasses off and places them beside her. In the next cut her glasses are on, and in the next cut her glasses are off.

Movie Connections:

References "Dragon Ball Z" (1989/I)

Soundtrack:

The Good Stuff

Please open your minds with American Gun!!

I've read comment after comment and review after review saying this film is just a remake of Crash. Some even saying the director should receive some "props" from being so quick on the draw on capitalizing on this. However, anyone who actually follows films outside of what they read in People Magazine will know that this film was being shot BEFORE Crash, and had actually been completed as far back as June 2005. It is a film that was in pre-production a year before that. Unfortunately, the distribution company decide to hold this film from release until this past weekend, prompting hack critics to say it's just a knock-off of this year's "Best Picture" (also to be strongly debated).

This is a film that doesn't need to have a Hollywood ending. Is driven by such strong performances and directing that it leaves you motionless in your seat at its conclusion. A rare film that hits harder and harder with each repeat screening. I could go on and on about the performances of Marcia Gay Harden and Forest Whitaker (who by the way gives his best performance to date in this film), but what was even more impressive was the performances by the younger actors on screen. The Son of Marcia Gay Harden and the character "Jay" both blew me away by the quality of their performances.

American Gun is well worth the money. Please don't be closed-minded and see this film as just a knock-off of Crash. Just because a movies is released after another film DOES NOT MEAN that it was made after that film. It's just bad luck for this movie and for first time writer and director Aric Avelino, who proves excellent movies can still be made with a purpose and without big budgets.