South of Pico (2007)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Ernst Gossner

Writers:

Ernst Gossner (written by)
Ernst Gossner (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A film about the social cooling in the U.S.

Plot:

"South of Pico" is an emotionally charged drama in which four strangers witness an unimaginable tragedy...

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Los Angeles | Young Boy | Chauffeur | Waitress

Awards:

5 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Kip Pardue	...	Robert Spencer
Henry Simmons	...	Dr. Walter Chambers
Gina Torres	...	Carla Silva
Soren Fulton	...	Patrick Wise
Paul Hipp	...	Comma
Jimmy Bennett	...	Mark Weston
Car'ynn Sims	...	Francine
Giovanni Lopes	...	Jorge
Christina Hendricks	...	Angela
Ken Davitian	...	Nick
Alejandro Furth	...	Miguel
Ralf Mosig	...	Mr.Weston
Almut Maria Molk	...	Mrs. Weston
Paul Rae	...	Jerry
Desmond Askew	...	Phil
Peter White	...	Mr. Rush
Jarreth J. Merz	...	Ivan
Amy Hill	...	Maria
Steven Christopher Parker	...	Michael
Carlie Westerman	...	Natalie
Maite Schwartz	...	Susan
Kathryne Dora Brown	...	Jill
Gabrielle Christian	...	Astrid
Bonita Friedericy	...	Joanna
Lorenzo Pisoni	...	Henry
Katy Selverstone	...	Maureen
Kylee Russell	...	Roxanne Chambers
Tami Roman	...	Irene
Shana Landsburg	...	School teacher
Michael Earl Lane	...	Priest
Germaine De Leon	...	Steven
Lil J	...	Fernando (as Jonathan McDaniel)
Patrick O'Connor	...	Lawrence
Christian Papierniak	...	Craig
Omega Kayne	...	Francine's Dad
Phillip Highly	...	Diner patron
Kathleen Davis	...	Diner Patron
Alexandra McTavish	...	Bodyguard
Gerold Wunstel	...	Clown
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mike Lynn	...	Groomsman
Tye Olson	...	Water Polo Player
CeCi Parker	...	Diner Patron
Angel Princess	...	Coffee Shop Patron
Bob Saldana	...	Diner Patron
Bertrand Roberson Jr.	...	Mob Member (uncredited)

Directed by
Ernst Gossner

Writing credits
Ernst Gossner		(written by)
Ernst Gossner		(story) &
Richard Marcus		(story)

Produced by
Ernst Gossner	....	producer
Jeffrey R. Iorio	....	executive producer
Kyle Dean Jackson	....	post-production producer
David Lee	....	co-executive producer
Richard Marcus	....	producer
Ralf Mosig	....	executive producer
Alan Pao	....	post-production producer
Eric Presley	....	producer
Patrick Stapleton	....	line producer

Original Music by
John Swihart

Cinematography by
Richard Marcus

Film Editing by
Jessica Kehrhahn

Casting by
Teri Fiddleman
Shana Landsburg

Production Design by
Laura Paddock

Art Direction by
Celine Diano

Set Decoration by
Julie Byon		(interior decorator)

Costume Design by
Bernie White

Makeup Department
Sean Conklin	....	makeup artist
Sheila Moran	....	key hair stylist
Judy Staats	....	makeup department head
Susan Stepanian	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bill Greenfield	....	first assistant director
Josh Holden Hume	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Seth Kenlon	....	property master
Gabriel Taslagain	....	props
Arayma Thomas	....	co-set decorator

Sound Department
James Barth	....	dialogue editor
Miriam Cole	....	adr assistant
Adam Douglass	....	boom operator
Casey A. Fife	....	sound designer
Casey A. Fife	....	sound effects editor
Andrew Ing	....	adr recordist
Andrew Ing	....	audio code
Andrew Ing	....	audio post
Andrew Ing	....	audio tester
Andrew Ing	....	cable sound
Andrew Ing	....	foley editor
Andrew Ing	....	foley recordist
Andrew Ing	....	folly artist
Andrew Ing	....	room sound
Andrew Ing	....	sound designer
Andrew Ing	....	sound effects editor
Sam C. Lewis	....	adr recordist
Sam C. Lewis	....	foley recordist
Iris Lohninger	....	boom operator
Karl W. Lohninger	....	sound mixer
Michael McDonald	....	supervising sound editor
John Taylor	....	additional sound mixer

Stunts
Holland Diaz	....	stunt double
Erica Grace	....	stunt double: Gina Torres
Frances Emma Jenkins	....	stunt double driver: Gina Torres
Frances Emma Jenkins	....	stunt performer
Nito Larioza	....	stunt double
Samuel Reynolds	....	stunt double
Craig Silva	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph Arena	....	Steadicam operator
Michael S. Beckman	....	electrician
Astrid Chevallier	....	still photographer
Hollywood Heard	....	gaffer
Saul Herckis	....	best boy
Daron Keet	....	first assistant camera
Erica Kim	....	electrician
Matt Kubas	....	electrician
Jeff Nolde	....	dolly grip
Rick Page	....	additional first assistant camera
Andy Rydzewski	....	grip
Hunter Sandison	....	film loader
Sérgio	....	additional key grip
Mike Vasovski	....	second assistant camera
David Wexler	....	additional gaffer

Casting Department
LaVonne Rae Andrews	....	additional casting
Carmen Betancourt	....	additional casting

Editorial Department
Jon Berry	....	post-production coordinator
Teague Cowley	....	colorist
Kyle Newacheck	....	additional editor
Sebastian Perez-Burchard	....	on-line editor

Transportation Department
Rick Lovoy	....	driver

Other crew
Mary Ann Boyd	....	script supervisor
Brynne Chappell	....	production coordinator
Steve Fish	....	production assistant
Natasha Giraldo	....	location manager
Natasha Giraldo	....	location scout
Allan Hagan	....	production assistant
Danny Khoudary	....	set production assistant
Leslie Mendez	....	production assistant
Gregory Segal	....	producer's representative
Abran Trujillo	....	key set production assistant
Whitney Whetstone	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Snails Pace Productions LLC
• Vent Productions

Distributors

• Image Entertainment (2008) (worldwide) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Film Emporium Insurance Services  insurance brokers
• Heat Lightning  sales
• Innovative Casting Group  extras casting
• Private Island Audio  sound post-production
• Tunnel Post  post-production

MPAA:

Rated R for some disturbing violence, language and a sex scene.

Country:

USA | Austria

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Snails Pace Productions LLC

way better than expected

Here is a movie I expected nothing from and found to be quite engaging. The blurb on the front of the DVD insert compared it to "Crash" (The Paul Haggis film, not the David Cronenberg). I was one of those few who loathed "Crash," so I did not expect much.

Let me just report that "South of Pico" exceeded my expectations in every way. Unlike "Crash," it avoids racial stereotypes even though it has a multiracial cast. The story is nothing new. Several characters of different backgrounds experience a hell of a day in L.A., ending in tragedy, of course.

This is a movie of individual vignettes involving characters who don't connect until the end. There are moments of genuine humor, warmth, and compassion, yes. But tragedy defines most of these characters, and anger becomes their undoing. Some of the most emotionally intense scenes involve a doctor and a boy dying of cancer, and the ending is a real shocker.

The cinematography, music, and lighting are all appropriately moody and somber. At times the movie is a little melodramatic, but that's expected given the material, and if you liked "Babel" and "Crash," you will probably like this. It's also a little like "Magnolia" and "Short Cuts," but of course it's not nearly as good as either of those.