Johns (1996)

Director:

Scott Silver

Writer:

Scott Silver (written by)

Release Date:

31 January 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

It's the day before Christmas, the day before John's 21st birthday. He's a prostitute on Santa Monica Blvd in L.A....

Plot Keywords:

Money | Hotel | Shoe | Christmas | Birthday

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

David Arquette	...	John
Lukas Haas	...	Donner
Tony Epper	...	Santa Claus
John C. McGinley	...	Danny Cohen
Keith David	...	Homeless John
Wilson Cruz	...	Mikey
Joshua Schaefer	...	David (as Josh Schaefer)
Sydney Lassick	...	Al
Christopher Gartin	...	Eli
Ruth Silver	...	Tourist Mom
Alanna Ubach	...	Nikki
N'Bushe Wright	...	X-Mas Junkie
Richard T. Jones	...	Mr. Popper (as Richard Timothy Jones)
Richard Kind	...	Paul Truman
Elliott Gould	...	Manny Gould
Harper Roisman	...	Old Man
Terrence Howard	...	Jimmy the Warlock (as Terrence Dashon Howard)
Nicky Katt	...	Mix
Louis Mustillo	...	John Wayne
Arliss Howard	...	John Cardoza
Nina Siemaszko	...	Tiffany The Prostitute
Kurtis Kunzler	...	Hustler at Payphone
Craig Bierko	...	Christmas Preacher on Radio
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mary Kircher	...	Corporate Business Executive (uncredited)
Melissa S. Markess	...	Business Executive (uncredited)

Directed by
Scott Silver

Writing credits
Scott Silver		(written by)

Produced by
Tarek Abu-Zayyad	....	associate producer
Beau Flynn	....	producer
P. Holt Gardiner	....	executive producer
David Godbout	....	associate producer
Dolly Hall	....	co-executive producer
Elyse Katz	....	line producer
Stefan Simchowitz	....	producer
Mary Vernieu	....	associate producer
Paul Brown	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Charles Brown		(original score composed by)
Danny Caron		(original score composed by)

Cinematography by
Tom Richmond		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Dorian Harris		(edited by)

Casting by
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Amy Beth Silver

Art Direction by
William P. Paine

Set Decoration by
Jennifer M. Gentile		(as Jennifer Gentile)

Costume Design by
Sara Jane Slotnick		(as Sarah Jane Slotnick)

Makeup Department
Constance Hall	....	assistant hair
Constance Hall	....	assistant makeup
Kenneth Michael	....	key makeup/hair

Production Management
Elyse Katz	....	unit production manager
Sue Mischel	....	post-production supervisor
Ed Santiago	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard A. Cooper	....	second second assistant director (as Richard Cooper)
Steven Thomas	....	additional second second assistant director

Art Department
Fred Cisterna	....	set dresser
Ryan Folsey	....	construction coordinator
A.W. Gryphon	....	art assistant (as Allison Wilke)
Ray Harris	....	storyboard artist
Jacob Whitmore	....	prop master

Sound Department
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Charles J. Bond	....	boom operator (as Charles Bond)
Peter S. Carlstedt	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Peter Carlstedt)
Harry Cohen	....	sound effects editor
Andrew DeCristofaro	....	adr supervisor
Andrew DeCristofaro	....	supervising sound editor
William Dotson	....	dialogue editor (as Bill Dotson)
Rachel Eubanks	....	background editor
David Farmer	....	sound effects editor
Marc Fishman	....	adr editor (as Mark Fishman)
Tim Gedemer	....	sound effects editor
Brian Geer	....	foley mixer
Mike Moser	....	background editor
Vince Nicastro	....	foley artist
Mark Paperno	....	boom operator
Valentina Raksin	....	adr assistant
Paul Rodriguez	....	manager of sound services
Larry Scharff	....	sound mixer (as Larry Scharf)
Tony Sereno	....	re-recording assistant
Cathie Speakman	....	adr editor
Gary Sula-Goff	....	foley assistant
Ken Teaney	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Thompson	....	adr recordist
Ignacio Valero	....	boom operator
Harry Woolway	....	sound effects editor
Brandon Walker	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Stunts
Rick Avery	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Sean Antle	....	best boy electric (as Sean 'Cat' Antle)
David Chameides	....	Steadicam operator (as Dave Camiedes)
Young Vance Cohen	....	additional grip (as Vance Cohen)
Alfonso Delgado	....	additional electrician
Dan Hofstad	....	additional electrician (as Daniel Hofstad)
Bob Ivanjack	....	dolly grip
Bob Ivanjack	....	key grip
Tom Jensen	....	first assistant camera
Jordan Levy	....	camera loader
Jason Libretta	....	second assistant camera (as Jason D. Libretta)
Shaun Madigan	....	gaffer
Mike Manzoni	....	best boy grip
Anthony L. Newman	....	grip (as Anthony 'Nino' Newman)
Gerry O'Malley	....	steadicam operator
Travis Pafford	....	additional grip
Greg G. Reeves	....	electrician (as Greg Reeves)
Brad Siskind	....	grip
Rick Stribling	....	dolly grip
Rick Stribling	....	key grip
Adam Wilson	....	additional electrician
John Samaras	....	first assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Alyssa Weisberg	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Maria Bradley	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Christopher J. Brown	....	post production assistant (as Chris J. Brown)
Mike Mertens	....	color timer
Anthony Santiago	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Charles Brown	....	conductor: original score
Danny Caron	....	conductor: original score
Deszon Claiborne	....	musician: drums
Bob Conlon	....	assistant music engineer
Ruth Davies	....	musician: bass
Ann Kline	....	music coordinator (as Ann Karlin)
Michelle Kuznetsky	....	associate music supervisor
Samuel Lehmer	....	music engineer
Mary Ramos	....	music supervision
Clifford Solomon	....	musician: saxophone
Gary Wasserman	....	music editor: Pascal Sound

Transportation Department
Joe Barreras	....	transportation captain
Lewis Burnett	....	driver: honey wagon (as Lew Burnett)
Gary DeVoe	....	driver (as Gary Devoe)
Dick Dionne	....	driver (as Richard Dionne)
Steve Sorkin	....	driver: grip/electric

Other crew
Francie Brown	....	dialect coach
Ian Davidow	....	office assistant
Wendy Davison	....	production accountant
Francis DeAngelo	....	assistant: Beau Flynn & Stefan Simchowitz
Maria Erspamer	....	key production assistant
Jonathan Gabriel	....	production legal (as Jonathan Gabriel Esq.)
Jane Gurtiza	....	assistant production coordinator
Alex Kivlen	....	assistant location consultant
Leslie Kurtz	....	production intern
Michael Lawson	....	publicity: The Pogachefsky Co.
Mickey Mayorson	....	legal services: Loeb & Loeb (as Mickey Mayerson Esq.)
George McDowell Agnew	....	location consultant (as George Agnew)
P. Kevin Morris	....	production legal (as P. Kevin Morris Esq.)
Diane H. Newman	....	script supervisor (as Diane Hassinger Newman)
Ken Paull	....	assistant production associate
Rich Penna	....	electronic press kit
Kim Percival	....	production coordinator
Mark Pogachefsky	....	publicity: The Pogachefsky Co.
Nick Roberts	....	security: Technical Security
Bobby Rodriguez	....	craft service
David N. Schrager	....	production associate (as David Schrager)
John Shepherd	....	assistant: Scott Silver

Thanks
Tarek Abu-Zayyad	....	the producers wish to thank
Joseph Apprendi	....	the producers wish to thank
Darren Aronofsky	....	the director would like to thank
Jonathan Beare	....	the producers wish to thank
Carol Bodie	....	special thanks
Kevin Campbell	....	special thanks: PMK
Cathy Christmas	....	special thanks: Santa Claus Productions
Jillian Dempsey	....	special thanks: Delux Beauty Parlor (as Jill Fink)
Jon Furie	....	the director would like to thank
P. Holt Gardiner	....	the producers wish to thank
David Godbout	....	the director would like to thank
Aaron Hsu	....	the producers wish to thank
Sharon Jackson	....	special thanks (as Sharon Sheinwold)
Mara Jacobs	....	the producers wish to thank
Stephanie Johnson	....	special thanks
Eldad Levy	....	the producers wish to thank
Mickey Mayorson	....	the producers wish to thank (as Mickey Mayerson)
Stuart Rosenberg	....	the director would like to thank
Marcia Ross	....	special thanks
John Shepherd	....	the director would like to thank
Henry Shinefield	....	the producers wish to thank (as Dr. Henry Shinefield)
Steven Siebert	....	special thanks
Ruth Silver	....	the director would like to thank
Mark Waters	....	the director would like to thank
Ron Wechsler	....	very special thanks
Lisa Wong	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Bandeira Entertainment (presents) (A Flynn/Simchowitz Production)

Distributors

• Civite Films (1996) (Spain) (theatrical)
• First Look International (1997) (USA) (theatrical) (as First Look Pictures) (A Division of Overseas Filmgroup)
• RCV Film Distribution (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (1997) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (1997) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• Metrodome Distribution (1997) (UK) (theatrical)
• Epicentre Films (1999) (France) (theatrical)
• Overseas FilmGroup (1996) (worldwide) (theatrical) (international distribution)
• Divisa Home Video (2005-2009) (Spain) (DVD)
• Paris Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Silvio Sardi Communications (1996) (Italy) (all media)

Other Companies

• Axium Entertainment Services  payroll services
• Bandeira Entertainment  acknowledgement: is the author of this film/motion picture for the purpose of copyright and other laws
• CFI Imaging Group  titles & opticals by (as CFI: The Imaging Group)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  the director would like to thank: camera cranes and dollies (as Chapman)
• Cinelease  the director would like to thank: grip and electric equioment supplied by
• Clairmont Camera  the director would like to thank: camera systems by (as Clairmont)
• Command Performance Catering  caterer (as Command Performance)
• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  the director would like to thank: prints by
• Continental Graphics  special thanks
• Delux Beauty Parlor  special thanks
• Digital Cut Post Inc.  the director would like to thank: edited on Avid Media Composer provided by (as Digital Cut)
• Disc Insurance Services  insurance (as Disc Insurance)
• EFX  digital sound and re-recording by (as EFX Burbank, California)
• Eastman Kodak Company  the director would like to thank
• First Look Pictures / Overseas Filmgroup  very special thanks
• In Frame Negative Cutting  negative cutting by
• Loeb & Loeb  legal services (as Loeb & Loeb)
• Los Angeles Film Office  special thanks (as City of Los Angeles Office for Film)
• Novax Guitars  special thanks
• Omega Cinema Props  special thanks
• PMK Public Relations  special thanks (as PMK)
• Palais Royal French Antique Clock  special thanks
• Pascal Sound  music editor
• Russian Hill Recording  music studio (as Russian Hill Recording, San Francisco)
• Santa Claus Productions  special thanks
• Sundance Institute, The  very special thanks
• Support the Los Angeles Mission  special thanks
• THX Sound System Theatre  mixed and recorded in a
• Technical Security Guard Service  security (as Technical Security)
• The Pogachefsky Company  publicity (as The Pogachefsky Co.)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content and language, and for some violence and drug use

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:MA | France:-12 | Singapore:R(A) | Spain:18 | USA:R (PCA #34057) | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bandeira Entertainment

Trivia:

Director Scott Silver researched his script by offering $20 to rent boys to tell him tales of their lives on the street.

Quotes:

Donner:I am not a prostitute. I am an entertainer. I do not go in for violence.

Movie Connections:

References True Grit (1969)

Soundtrack:

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

Scott Silver's Johns

Despite the title, this is not one man's history of the toilet. Lukas

Haas, the little kid from "Witness," is all grown up and taking some

serious adult roles. "Johns" is his film, and he does a great job

here.

David Arquette plays John, who will be turning 21 on Christmas

Day. He is a gay hustler who is looking to stay on his birthday in a

fancy L.A. hotel. Haas is his best friend, the new guy working the

street. His father is a doctor, but kicked him out for being gay.

Most of the film concerns John's efforts to collect money he owes a

drug dealer. His shoes are stolen in the opening moments of the

film, and we find out that was where he stashed his cash. This

opening also sets up a failed surprise ending that is really forced.

The film's sparse plot meanders through John's encounters,

some with other men named John, hence the film's title, until the

end. Haas and Arquette are ready to leave for Branson, Missouri

on a bus but Arquette wants to do "one last date." You can

probably see where that is going.

The film has enough quirky characters to make a "Northern

Exposure" fan drool. Richard Kind is a kind hotel clerk. Keith David

is a mysterious homeless man. John C. McGinley is a Hollywood

producer. Arliss Howard is a stuttering Bible beater who becomes

Arquette's last date. Elliot Gould plays a rich client of Arquette's.

Arquette's drug dealing nemesis cannot add and subtract. All of

these actors have little quirks and tics that I think the film maker

wanted us to find endearing. You only have sympathy for Haas, so

I felt the film wasted too much time showing us all the other

scenes. Arquette is five years too old for this role, and I smiled

every time he picked up a phone, wondering if he would follow his

own advice in those terrible phone company ads he appeared in.

His career choices lately have been stupid ("Ready to Rumble"

anyone?), and this leaves a bad impression on anything serious

he attempts.

Accept for Haas, everyone goes through the motions of a story that

liberally borrows from "Midnight Cowboy." You just know one of

them will die in the end, and sure enough, one does. The film

wants to make a moral point, but try to have fun doing it at the

same time, and this does not work.

One creepy scene involves Arquette and Gould having a rendezvous and kissing. Arquette is married to Courteney Cox in

real life, and Gould plays Cox's father on "Friends." After this

twisted "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon"-like game, I felt really weird

watching their scene.

Silver's direction is better than his script, and you have to give him

credit for coming up with one of the most eclectic soundtracks I

have ever heard, but eventually "Johns" fails both Haas, and us. If

you want to see a real film about street children, watch the

documentary "Streetwise." That film makes this look like "Sesame

Street."

This is rated (R) for physical violence, some gore, strong profanity,

very brief male nudity, strong sexual content, strong sexual

references, and adult situations.