American Strays (1996)

Director:

Michael Covert

Writer:

Michael Covert

Release Date:

13 September 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy

Tagline:

Love 'em or Kill 'em.

Plot:

The desert can be a lonely place for the people who live there or for those who are traveling through...

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Salesman | Suicide | Satire | Road

Cast

Scott Plank	...	Sonny
Melora Walters	...	Cindy
John Savage	...	Dwayne
Brion James	...	Oris
Joe Viterelli	...	Gene
James Russo	...	Eddie
Luke Perry	...	Johnny
Will Rothhaar	...	Jordan
Jessica Perelman	...	Daphne
Toni Kalem	...	Alice
Eric Roberts	...	Martin
Vonte Sweet	...	Mondo
Anthony Lee	...	Omar
Stephanie Cushna	...	Johnny's Girlfriend
Sam J. Jones	...	Exterminator (as Sam Jones)
Stace Williamson	...	Johnny's Brother
Carol Kane	...	Helen
Luana Anders	...	Martha
Jack Kehler	...	Walker
Robert Fields	...	Harry
Charles Bailey-Gates	...	Bobby
Thomas Elliott	...	Timmy
Jennifer Tilly	...	Patty Mae
Michael Horse	...	Lead Cop
Leland Crooke	...	Cop #2
Michael Kaliski	...	Cop #3
Patrick Warburton	...	Rookie Cop

Directed by
Michael Covert

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael Covert

Produced by
Frank Agrama	....	executive producer
Trudi Callon	....	associate producer
Rod Dean	....	producer
Kirk Hassig	....	producer
Doug Textor	....	producer

Original Music by
John R. Graham		(as John Graham)

Cinematography by
Seo Mutarevic		(as Sead Mutarevic)

Film Editing by
Rod Dean

Casting by
Sheila Jaffe
Georgianne Walken

Production Design by
Paul Holt

Art Direction by
Denise Hudson

Set Decoration by
Mary E. Gullickson

Costume Design by
Tanya Gill
Magda Lavadenz

Makeup Department
Anthea Grutsis	....	assistant makeup artist
Lydia Milars	....	key makeup artist
Norman Salao	....	hair stylist
Linda Samodral	....	hair stylist
Nikoletta Skarlatos	....	additional set makeup artist
Marina Torpin	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Elizabeth Ervin	....	unit production manager
Norman Siderow	....	executive in charge of production
Bryan Yaconelli	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Chang	....	second assistant director
Phillippa Rick	....	second second assistant director
David Strupp	....	first assistant director
Doug Textor	....	second unit director

Art Department
Randy Angel	....	property master
Mike Aubury	....	scenic artist
Terry Aubury	....	scenic artist
Dianne Chadwick	....	set dresser
Jeannette Harshbarger	....	set dresser
James Koening	....	set dresser
Angel McConnell	....	set dresser
Brad Morris	....	property master
Cherilyn Niedhardd	....	assistant property master
Reno Spear	....	lead man
Wesley Tabayoyong II	....	set dresser (as Wes Tabayoyong)
Ryan Wilson	....	set dresser
Dennis Winters	....	lead man

Sound Department
Joe Barnett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jack Beck	....	boom operator
Denise Brady	....	dialogue editor
Brent Brooks	....	foley walker
Susan Conner	....	foley walker
Lorita de la Cerna	....	foley recordist
Dominique Decaudain	....	foley walker
George Flores	....	boom operator
Karla Hennessey	....	audio post coordinator
Kevin Jackson	....	sound effects editor
Adam Jenkins	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Tony Jenkins	....	sound recordist
Darryl Linkow	....	sound mixer
Ronald Long	....	sound mixer (as Ron Long)
Jennifer Nash	....	sound recordist
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	additional adr mixer
Angelo Palazzo	....	sound effects editor
Benjamin Patrick	....	sound mixer
Elizabeth Rainey	....	foley walker
Yuri Reese	....	adr editor
Yuri Reese	....	adr mixer
Alison Sanford	....	sound effects editor
Dov Schwarz	....	dialogue editor
Byron Short	....	sound effects editor
William Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Bill Smith)
William Smith	....	sound supervisor (as Bill Smith)
Raymond E. Spiess III	....	assistant dialogue editor
Ray Spiess	....	supervising dialogue editor
Renee Tondelli	....	adr supervisor
Tabby Vincent	....	boom operator
Jeffrey R. Whitcher	....	supervising sound effects editor

Special Effects by
John C. Hartigan	....	special effects coordinator
David Waine	....	special effects assistant

Stunts
Michael Horse	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Collin S. Colberg	....	first assistant camera
Stephan B. Cooey	....	electrician
Rod Dean	....	still photographer
Delon Freund	....	assistant camera: "b" camera
Delon Freund	....	assistant camera: second unit
Ben Giacometti	....	dolly grip
Chris Hawkins	....	second assistant camera
Carey Hendricks	....	still photographer
Martin C. Leeper	....	gaffer
Bill-Brady Majors	....	best boy electric
Tom Marvel	....	gaffer (as Thomas Marvel)
David McLaughlin	....	best boy electric
Michael Norman	....	grip
Jennifer Perkins	....	electrician
Javier Pérez	....	key grip
Charles H.E. Richards	....	best boy grip
Joaquin Sedillo	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Joaquin Sedillo	....	director of photography: second unit
Reno Tondelli	....	electrician (as Reno Bongo Tondelli)
Missy Toy	....	second assistant camera
George Vrattos	....	key grip

Casting Department
Chris Larsen	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anne Woodard	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Floyd Dupree	....	color timer
Steve New	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Michael Aarvold	....	music mixer
Michael Aarvold	....	music recordist
Robin Bechtel	....	music supervisor
George Doering	....	composer: additional music
Avi Kipper	....	additional score mixer
Michelle Kuznetsky	....	music supervisor
Margaret Minton Fetter	....	music preparation
Jennifer Pyken	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
David Menapace	....	transportation captain
Michael Menapace	....	transportation coordinator (as Mike Menapace)

Other crew
Laura Bammage	....	production assistant
Karen Bass	....	production coordinator
Lee Berger	....	production consultant
Bradford Boll	....	production assistant (as Bradford D. Boll)
Bobby Bullon	....	assistant to producers
James Covert	....	production assistant
Rich Fleming	....	production assistant
Jennifer Henrichs	....	production assistant
Denise Karey	....	script supervisor (as Denise Fowler)
Shayne Lewin	....	production assistant
Coco San Marie	....	production assistant
Karesa McElheny	....	production assistant
Mary Anne Seward	....	script supervisor (as Mary Seward-McKeon)
Suzie Stark	....	production assistant
Alison Stone	....	production associate
Mike Tristano	....	weapons coordinator
Mike Tristano	....	weapons handler
Kieran Wong	....	craft service

Production Companies

• Canned Pictures Inc.
• Harmony Gold

Distributors

• A-Pix Entertainment
• Alliance Releasing Home Video (1996) (Canada) (VHS)
• Ardustry Home Entertainment (USA)
• Manga Films (1998) (Spain) (video)
• Unapix Entertainment Productions

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language, some violence and sexuality

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 | USA:R (Certificate #34500) | Australia:MA | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Spain:18 | Iceland:16

Company:

Canned Pictures Inc.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in BlackMale (2000)

Soundtrack:

It's Only Make Believe

You can love it or hate it, but you can't ignore this film....

Totally original ideas abound in "American Strays". This stylish black comedy where nothing is explained, has converging story lines. Among the bizarre desert travelers are a dysfunctional family, bickering mob figures, a vacuum salesman serial killer, and other quirky characters. The liberal quantities of violence are tempered by a fresh and unpredictable script. Incredible cast, incredible dialog, with above average character development. The beautiful desert locale photography adds immensely, and the soundtrack is memorable. I recommend going into this movie without reading any plot summaries, and simply coming along for the ride with these unforgettable characters. - MERK