Suffering Man's Charity (2007)

Director:

Alan Cumming

Writer:

Thomas Gallagher (written by)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Tagline:

Deadline has a new meaning.

Plot:

Jonathan Vandermark is a music teacher with a weakness for young men with great aspirations and without a pot to piss in. When Sebastian enters his life and takes advantage of John's charity, his life and afterlife will be changed forever.

Plot Keywords:

Music Teacher | Writer | Mental Illness | Beating | Abuse

Cast

Alan Cumming	...	John Vandermark
David Boreanaz	...	Sebastian St. Germain
Anne Heche	...	Helen Jacobsen
Karen Black	...	Renee
Whitney Allen	...	Blonde Girl In Bar
Carrie Fisher	...	Reporter
Henry Thomas	...	Eric Rykell
Maria-Elena Laas	...	Liliana
Rachelle Lefevre	...	Elaine
Jane Lynch	...	Ingrid Sorensen
Ermahn Ospina	...	Pedro
Alison Guh	...	Evelyn
Clay Allen	...	Max
Susie Park	...	Max's Wife
Desean Terry	...	Young Caterer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Monique La Barr	...	Dinner Guest (uncredited)
Kevin Paul	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Tom Poole	...	Party guest (uncredited)
Brandon Stacy	...	Photographer (uncredited)

Directed by
Alan Cumming

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Thomas Gallagher		written by

Produced by
Alan Cumming	....	executive producer
Thomas Gallagher	....	co-producer
David Gorder	....	co-producer
David Matthews	....	executive producer
D.J. Paul	....	producer
Jeremy Rubin	....	co-producer
Craig Snider	....	producer
Inman Young	....	line producer
Donald Zuckerman	....	producer

Original Music by
Paul Cantelon

Cinematography by
Alex Vendler

Film Editing by
Keith Reamer

Casting by
Rachel Tenner

Production Design by
Michael Krantz

Set Decoration by
Robin Mohilewsky

Costume Design by
Christopher Lawrence

Makeup Department
Ermahn Ospina	....	makeup artist
Joe Rivera	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Michael Toji	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Flanagan	....	second second assistant director
Louis Paul Tocchet	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Kim L. Boten	....	leadperson
Frank-Joseph Frelier	....	art department production assistant
Kristina Fuangkasae	....	property master
Jessie May Murray	....	art dog
Hillel Chaim Smith	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Coll Anderson	....	supervising sound re-recording mixer
Stephen Barden	....	sound re-recording mixer
Stephen Barden	....	supervising sound editor
Steve Copley	....	foley mixer
Mark Filip	....	sound effects editor
Stefan Fraticelli	....	foley artist
Matthew Harrold	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Erik Magnus	....	sound mixer
Paul Shubat	....	foley recordist
John Sievert	....	foley artist
Matt Snedecor	....	assistant sound editor
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Tyler Whitham	....	first assistant sound editor

Stunts
Brad Haight	....	stunt rigger
Chip Mefford	....	stunt double: David Boreanaz
Chip Mefford	....	stunts
Nick Plantico	....	stunt coordinator
Michael J. Sarna	....	stunts
Daniel Stevens	....	stunt double: Alan Cumming

Camera and Electrical Department
Sid Abbazi	....	still photographer
Richard W. Botchlet	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Eric Forand	....	chief lighting technician
Owen Foye	....	rigging gaffer
Stephen Furry	....	key rigging grip
Erik Gonzales	....	electrician
Chris Heinrich	....	first assistant camera
Joshua A. Hicks	....	electrician
Dan Kanes	....	rigging electrician
Sabyn Mayfield	....	key grip
David Newbert	....	best boy grip
R. Dustin Sanchez	....	electrician
Sam Stewart	....	grip
Travis Stewart	....	rigging electrician
Victoria Tidmarch	....	second assistant camera
Jim West	....	grip
Wade Whitley	....	assistant camera
Matt Whitted	....	grip

Casting Department
Sara Mannes	....	extras casting assistant
Kendra Patterson	....	casting assistant
Michael Schiavone	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lisa Marie Harris	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Joe Fineman	....	post-production consultant
Alexis Hanawalt	....	assistant editor: Los Angeles
Ali Muney	....	assistant editor
Matt Small	....	on-line editor
Nick Wenger	....	post-production coordinator

Transportation Department
John Grissom	....	transportation captain
Geno Hart	....	transportation coordinator
Jay Krueger	....	driver

Other crew
Melanie Adelberg	....	production assistant
Brandon Brush	....	office production assistant
Kristal Burch	....	office runner
Bethany Cerrona	....	assistant production coordinator
Jeff Crocker	....	production assistant
Sandi Fredlin	....	production coordinator
Joey Galvin	....	assistant to director
Genevieve Gilson	....	production intern
Sarah Holzgraf	....	assistant to producers
Jason Hoodak	....	production assistant
Hoss McCooter	....	production accountant
Candice Muller	....	production assistant
Stefanie Perez	....	production medic
Elsa Ramo	....	production legal
Anthony J. Saenz	....	location manager
Bryan Sundstrom	....	script supervisor
Margaret Tapia	....	location assistant
Katharine Trask	....	key set production assistant
Peter Addison Webb	....	production legal associate

Production Companies

• Zuckerman Entertainment
• NOW Productions
• Anacol Productions Inc.
• Sixth Way Productions
• Suffering Fools LLC

Distributors

• American World Pictures (AWP) (2007) (non-USA) (all media)
• Genius Products (2007) (worldwide) (video)

Special Effects

• Action Unlimited

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• L.A. Casting Group  extras casting
• Law Offices of Elsa Ramo  production legal
• Wildfire Studios  ADR Recording Facility
• Wilshire Stages, The  ADR recording facility

Also Known As:

Ghost Writer (International: English title) (DVD title)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Zuckerman Entertainment

Quotes:

Eric: What is he, a drag queen?

Soundtrack:

Listen To Your Heart

Good Film For What it Was, May Not Appeal to Many

Sebastian St. Germain (David Boreanz) is a struggling writer who isn't familiar with Becket (the writer of "Waiting for Godot"). This angers his host, the opera fanatic Jon Vandermark (Alan Cumming). When Sebastian can't make any payments and his writing career appears to be going nowhere, Jon takes drastic measures to get even.

This is a first film for writer Tom Gallagher, and is directed by the star, Alan Cumming. The writing and acting is excellent. For the right people, this film is going to hit home. I personally enjoyed it, and my girlfriend was liking it as well, despite not generally being a fan of movies. Where the film runs into snags, I fear, is the subject matter.

The dialogue is very heavy with references to Becket, various operas, and other pieces of literary and "high" culture. By no means do I consider myself sophisticated, but I do have a basic background in the liberal arts. I am not sure if those with less interest in literature or the arts would take much liking to the movie. The plot is pretty basic, and Boreanz is an amazing actor (Cumming is great, too). But without the dialogue, the film falls somewhat flat -- particularly in a scene where Sebastian is quizzed on a variety of topics, such as Jack Kerouac.

I would like to give the film a second viewing now that I know where it ultimately goes, and if possible get more insight from the creators. I feel the film is meant to be very deep despite being a relatively simple storyline. If there's some deeper sense, I have missed it. Perhaps it is an homage to some great literary work? This would be appropriate, but if so it was over my head.

I recommend this film for horror and thriller fans, although you won't get much in the way of gore or many scares. It's more of a violent drama. (The film is classified as "horror" or "black comedy", but it's hard to fit it neatly into either slot.) If nothing else, this film is worth your rental... you may be surprised where it goes.