- American Gun
Infobox_Film
name=American Gun
caption = The movie poster for "American Gun".
imdb_id=0416471
writer=Aric Avelino Steven Bagatourian
starring=Linda Cardellini Tony Goldwyn Marcia Gay Harden Donald Sutherland Forest Whitaker
director=Aric Avelino
music=Schuyler Fisk Peter Golub | distributor=IFC Films
released=September 15 ,2005 (Toronto Film Festival)March 22 ,2006 (limited US)
runtime=95 min.
language=English
movie_series=
awards=
producer=Rebecca Casey Robert Collins Kevin Harvey Ted Kroeber
budget=|"American Gun" is a 2005 film movie produced by
Participant Productions , IFC Films, IFC First Take, and Spirit Dance Entertainment. It was written in 2001 bySteven Bagatourian andAric Avelino and directed by Avelino as his directorial debut.Avelino attended
Loyola Marymount University and made the film with many LMU alumni [ [http://www.lmu.edu/Page22066.aspx LMU ALUMNI MAKE FILM DEBUT WITH “AMERICAN GUN”] , by Victoria Walsh, March 23, 2006.] , including producerTed Kroeber .The film took two and a half years to finance. The central idea came from a "Column One" article in the "
Los Angeles Times ". In addition, the writers were influenced by a friend from theChicago school district who related stories about how students brought guns to school, not to use them on campus, but because of the dangerous neighborhoods they live in or walk through to attend classes. Avelino was very appreciative of the directitorial advice ofForest Whitaker , one of the film's producers. The first actress attached to the project wasMarcia Gay Harden . [Taken from Avelino during a Q&A at [http://www.screenland.com/theatre/americangun.html The Screenland] , in Kansas City, on April 22, 2006.]Plot
American Gun centers around three stories dealing with the results of gun use: an inner city school principal (Whitaker), a single mother (Harden), and an A student (Cardellini) who works at her family's gun shop. [ [http://www.screenland.com/theatre/americangun.html Synopsis] from [http://www.screenland.com The Screenland] in Kansas City]
Distribution
According to boxofficemojo.com, American Gun took in $24,098 in a limited release from 1 to 6 theatres in a little over 10 weeks in theatres from March 22 2006 to June 1 2006. It was part of IFC's First Take, an attempt by IFC to distribute independent films via video-on-demand, but on the same day as their theatrical release -- known as day and date [ [http://www.indiewire.com/ots/2006/01/park_city_06_bi_4.html IFC Unveils Day & Date Program] , indieWIRE.] . This has caused some exhibitioners (the theatre owners) to exclude these movies from their marquee, and has caused some discord among various media and entertainment conglomerates [ [http://blogs.indiewire.com/caveh/archive/007726.html Dear Comcast] , from Caveh Zahedi's blog.] .
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 (as Michael J. Shannon) - Jerry
*Arlen Escarpeta - Jay
*Charles Duckworth - Connie
*Todd Tesen - Barry
*Melissa Leo - Louise
*Gary Paul Clark - Supervisor
*Garcelle Beauvais (as Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon) - SarahAwards
*
Independent Spirit Awards Nominations [ [http://imdb.com/title/tt0416471/awards IMDb's awards page] .]
**Best Feature,Ted Kroeber , producer.
**Best Male Lead,Forest Whitaker .
**Best Supporting Female,Marcia Gay Harden .References
External links
*
* [http://www.lmu.edu/Page22066.aspx LMU alumni] press release about the movie.
* [http://AmericanGun-movie.com American Gun official site]
* [http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2006/01/23/ifc-first-take-to-offer-indie-films-simultaneously-in-theaters-on-demand IFC "First Take"] .
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