Chasing Amy (1997)

Director:

Kevin Smith

Writer (WGA):

Kevin Smith (written by)

Release Date:

4 April 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

It's not who you love. It's how.

Plot:

Holden and Banky are comic book artists. Everything's going good for them until they meet Alyssa, also a comic book artist. Holden falls for her, but his hopes are crushed when he finds out she's a lesbian.

Plot Keywords:

Comic Book | Lesbian | Friendship | Gay | Homosexual

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Ethan Suplee	...	Fan
Ben Affleck	...	Holden McNeil
Scott Mosier	...	Collector
Jason Lee	...	Banky Edwards
Casey Affleck	...	Little Kid
Dwight Ewell	...	Hooper X
Joey Lauren Adams	...	Alyssa Jones
Guinevere Turner	...	Singer
Carmen Llywelyn	...	Kim (as Carmen Lee)
Brian O'Halloran	...	Jim Hicks - Executive #1
Matt Damon	...	Shawn Oran - Executive #2
Alexander Goebbel	...	Train Kid
Tony Torn	...	Cashier
Rebecca Waxman	...	Dalia
Paris Petrick	...	Tory
Welker White	...	Jane
Kelli Simpkins	...	Nica (as Kelly Simpkins)
John Willyung	...	Cohee Lundin
Tse-Mach Washington	...	Young Black Kid at Record Store (as Tsemach Washington)
Ernest O'Donnell	...	Bystander (as Ernie O'Donnell)
Jason Mewes	...	Jay
Kevin Smith	...	Silent Bob
Kristin Mosier	...	Waitress
Virginia Smith	...	Con Woman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mike Allred	...	Himself (uncredited)
Illeana Douglas	...	Alyssa's Roommate (uncredited)
'Krazy Joe' Fiore	...	Guy at Hockey Game (uncredited)
Walter Flanagan	...	Fanboy (uncredited)
Robert Hawk	...	Hooper's Lover (uncredited)
Brian Jude	...	Train Station Passenger (uncredited)
Brian Lynch	...	Bryan White (uncredited)
Jeff Millstein	...	Record Store Patron (uncredited)
Vincent Pereira	...	Startled Pinball Player (uncredited)
Joe Quesada	...	Himself (uncredited)

Directed by
Kevin Smith

Writing credits (WGA)
Kevin Smith		(written by)

Produced by
Robert Hawk	....	associate producer
Scott Mosier	....	producer
John Pierson	....	executive producer
Derrick Tseng	....	line producer

Original Music by
David Pirner

Cinematography by
David Klein		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Scott Mosier
Kevin Smith

Casting by
Shana Lory

Production Design by
Robert Holtzman		(as Robert 'Ratface' Holtzman)

Art Direction by
Jim Williams

Set Decoration by
John Carlucci
Susannah McCarthy

Costume Design by
Christopher Del Coro

Makeup Department
Jane Choi	....	hair stylist
Jane Choi	....	makeup artist
Kristin Mosier	....	hair/makeup assistant

Production Management
Monica Hampton	....	post-production manager
Monica Hampton	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Klein	....	second unit director
Linda Krantz	....	second assistant director
Chip Signore	....	second second assistant director (as Stephen 'Chip' Signore)
John M. Tyson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Laura Allred	....	artwork: Bluntman & Chronic action sequence
Mike Allred	....	artwork: Bluntman & Chronic action sequence
Scott 'Whitey' Anderson	....	construction foreman
Mike 'Gold Bond' Baker	....	construction coordinator
Kate Bartouldus	....	scenic artist (as Kate Bartoldus)
Matt Brundage	....	artwork: Bluntman & Chronic action sequence
Howard Chelder	....	leadman
Jennifer Cooke	....	set dresser
Augusta 'Gussy' Hopkins	....	property master
Mitchell Landsman	....	scenic artist
Amanda Nanawa	....	art department production assistant

Sound Department
Tim J. Carroll	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Gary Funicelli	....	foley artist
David Glaser	....	foley artist
David Glaser	....	sound designer
David Glaser	....	sound editor
Don Hankinson	....	foley artist
William Kozy	....	production sound mixer
Brian Mackewich	....	foley artist
Brian Mackewich	....	sound designer
Brian Mackewich	....	supervising adr editor
Brian Mackewich	....	supervising sound editor
Susan Mackewich	....	foley artist
Sean McAuliffe	....	foley artist
Sean McAuliffe	....	sound editor
Don Powell	....	foley artist
Dominick Tavella	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dominick 'The Dominator' Tavella)
Joe White	....	boom operator (as Joseph White Jr.)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kelly Baldwin	....	first assistant camera (as Kelly S. Baldwin)
Lorenzo Bevilaqua	....	still photographer
Andrew Blauner	....	additional electrician
Eric Boncher	....	additional electrician
Jay Chandrasekhar	....	additional grip
Divine Cox	....	additional grip
Raphaelle Gosse-Gardet	....	additional electrician (as Raphaelle Gardet)
Jeremy Graham	....	rigging electrician
Kevin Hackenberg	....	additional electrician
Monica Hampton	....	still photographer: opening credit stills
Takeshi Hattori	....	third electrician
Alan Jacobsen	....	best boy electric
Learan Kahanov	....	gaffer (as Learan 'Skippy' Kahanov)
Michele Lee Kirwan	....	second assistant camera
David Klein	....	Steadicam operator
David Klein	....	camera operator
Seth Loft	....	third grip
Roberto Lopez	....	rigging grip
John McEnerney	....	additional grip
Malcolm Murray	....	additional grip (as M.C. Murray)
Christian O'Reilly	....	additional grip
Michael 'Rodi' Rodia	....	best boy grip
Michael 'Rodi' Rodia	....	ice dolly grip
Nat Russell	....	rigging grip
Ron Stone	....	grip and electrical equipment supplier: R.D. Sparks Inc.
Peter Vietro-Hannum	....	key grip
Elizabeth Wick	....	additional electrician

Casting Department
Paris Petrick	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Melissa Crawford	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
David Glaser	....	assistant editor: avid
Fred Heid	....	color timer
Noëlle Penraat	....	negative cutter
Arnold Shuster	....	additional negative cutter

Music Department
Lisa Brown	....	music consultant
Jennifer Chouinard	....	music clearances
David Glaser	....	music editor
Bonnie Greenberg	....	music consultant
Brian Mackewich	....	music editor
Sean McAuliffe	....	music editor
Jill Meyers	....	music business affairs

Other crew
Mike Allred	....	artwork: Bluntman & Chronic 'Chasing Amy'
Paul Brennan	....	legal services: Sloss Law Office
John T. Copeland	....	caterer
Christopher Cram	....	office production assistant
Nicole Duryea	....	set production assistant
Randi Eaton	....	office production assistant
Doug Edwards	....	office production assistant
Nick Giovannetti	....	set production assistant
Shai Halperin	....	set production assistant
Monica Hampton	....	auditor
Mike Hansen	....	set production assistant
Carlo Hart	....	office production assistant
David Hurlburt	....	set production assistant
Bryan Johnson	....	assistant production coordinator
Brian Lynch	....	key craft service
Colleen Lynch	....	caterer
Ian MacGregor	....	location manager
David McCole	....	firearms specialist
Glenn Mobley	....	key set production assistant
Gary Muscato	....	avid supervisor
Jimmy Palmiotti	....	artwork: "White Hating Coon"
Jodi Peikoff	....	legal services: Sloss Law Office
Karen Phillips	....	location assistant
Joe Quesada	....	artwork: "White Hating Coon"
David Rhee	....	location assistant
Lance Rosario	....	security: New York
John Sloss	....	legal services: Sloss Law Office
Luis R. Soto	....	security: New York
Ritamarie Stapleton	....	caterer
Devon J. Start	....	set production assistant
Bryan W. Strang	....	craft service assistant
Peggy Sutton	....	script supervisor
Kirk Van Wormer	....	artwork: "Idiosyncratic" & "Baby Dave"
Gary Vander-Voort	....	key office production assistant
Kyle V. White	....	set production assistant
Mike Zittle	....	set production assistant (as Mike Zittel)
Neal Bennett	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Vincent Pereira	....	set production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Brooke Adams	....	thanks
Joey Lauren Adams	....	the director would like to thank: For giving me something personal to say. I love you poopie. (First one who laughs gets decked! ) (as Joey)
Mike Allred	....	the director would like to thank: For fulfilling this fanboy's dream. See you in the funny papers.
Jack Anderson	....	thanks
Mike Brodzik	....	thanks
John Burzichelli	....	thanks: Hill Studio (as John Burzachelli)
Mark Cohen	....	thanks
Chris Davis	....	thanks
Dwight Ewell	....	the director would like to thank: Hi Duh-Wight. (as Dwight)
John Gordon	....	thanks
Jonathan Gordon	....	the director would like to thank: Why, Why, Why?!? (as Jon Gordon)
Robert Hawk	....	the director would like to thank: For being there from the start, teaching us what makes a movie great, and always doing the dishes. (as Bob Hawk)
Charles Herzfeld	....	thanks (as Charlie Herzfeld)
David Klein	....	the director would like to thank: For the prettiest pictures yet. At bargain basement prices, no less! (as Dave)
Jason Lee	....	the director would like to thank: For kicking it Reynold's style.
Brian Mackewich	....	the director would like to thank: For the extra mile... and the hundred more that followed.
Scott Mosier	....	the director would like to thank: Master of the Impossible, ying to my yang, heart of my heart... He's my cherry pie. (as Scott)
Jimmy Palmiotti	....	thanks: Event Comics (as Jim Palmiotti)
John Pierson	....	the director would like to thank: Guru, Czar, friend.
Scott Purcell	....	thanks
Joe Quesada	....	thanks: Event Comics
Tony Romano	....	thanks
Matt Zoller Seitz	....	the director would like to thank: For the one review that made a difference. (as Matt Seitz)
Donald E. Smith	....	the director would like to thank: I know I've got a PG in me somewhere. (as Dad)
Grace Smith	....	the director would like to thank: I know I've got a PG in me somewhere. (as Mom)
Joe Violante	....	thanks (as Joey Violante)
Harvey Weinstein	....	the director would like to thank: Who, like a good parent, gives us money, offers endless moral support, and spanks us when we need spanking (okay... everything but the spanking part .) (as Harvey)

Production Companies

• Too Askew Prod. Inc.
• View Askew Productions (as View Askew)

Distributors

• Miramax Films (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (1997) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (1997) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1997) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Acacias Films Productions (1997) (France) (theatrical) (as Acacias)
• Finnkino (1998) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Herald Film Company (????) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (????) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Líder Films (????) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Metrodome Distribution (1997) (UK) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (????) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (????) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (????) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Comedy Central (2008) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Egmont Entertainment (1998) (Finland) (VHS)
• Egmont Entertainment (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Europa Carat (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Europa Filmes (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (????) (Portugal) (VHS)
• Fox Network (2001) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Gativideo (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Nelonen (2001) (2008) (Finland) (TV)
• New Films International
• Nordisk Film (2012) (Finland) (DVD)
• SubTV (2003) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Asbury Park Press  thanks
• Bam Media Services Inc.  post-production sound editorial
• Color Reflections of Philadelphia  thanks
• Comic Shop News  thanks
• Comicbook Buyers Guide  thanks
• Event Comics  thanks
• Gizmo Enterprises  AVID editing at
• Great Northern/Reiff & Associates  insurance provided by (as Great Northern/Reiff & Assoc.)
• Hill Studios  thanks (as Hill Studio)
• In Color of San Diego  thanks
• Keppler Entertainment  thanks
• Marina Diner  thanks
• Mode Moderne  thanks
• Oppenheimer Cameras  Arriflex cameras and lenses provided by (as Oppenheimer Camera)
• Pan American Motel of Eatontown  thanks
• Post Perfect  AVID editing at
• R.D. Sparks Ltd.  grip and electric equipment (as R.D. Sparks Inc.)
• REI Media Group  titles and opticals
• Republic National Bank of New York  banking services
• Ribcage Clothing  thanks
• Sloss Law Office  legal services (as Sloss Law Office)
• The Berkeley Carteret Hotel  thanks
• The Borough of Red Bank  thanks
• The Broadway Grill  catering
• Two River Times  thanks
• Visual Sound of Broomall  thanks
• WHTG-FM 106.3  thanks
• Weissman/Angelotti  publicity
• Wizard  thanks

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong graphic sex-related dialogue, language, sexuality and drug content

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:18 | Australia:MA | Brazil:18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | Finland:K-12 (original rating) | Finland:S (video rating) | Germany:16 | Israel:16 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 (video premiere) | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #35184) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Sweden:15 (video rating) | Canada:AA (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Too Askew Prod. Inc.

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [Kevin Smith] [hockey]Holden and Alyssa break up at a hockey game. Alyssa is wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey. Holden and Banky are also playing hockey on a Sega Genesis, which Jason Lee's character Brody does often in Kevin Smith's Mallrats (1995).

Goofs:

Continuity: Ally's hair during her long monologue in the couch after making love with Holden. She has it back her ear, then on her cheek, then on the ear again.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Comic Book Writer #1:I don't know. I love Chow Yun Fat. I just don't see him playing Madman.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Smokin' Aces (2006)

Soundtrack:

Red

Smith's best. Affleck's best. One of the greatest love stories ever.

Love stories are difficult to do well. So is comedy. Kevin Smith does both. Very very well.

Chasing Amy is, in my opinion Kevin Smith's best movie (Clerks 2nd, Dogma 3rd) and I really don't know where to start the praise.

Traditionally, Hollywood romantic comedies are... well, bad. Really lame PG-13 comedy, with some catch phrase repeated ad nauseum, and always some sort of "hilarious" incident involving a baby or a cute dog. And the characters are just as annoying as the lame jokes, so ultimately, you don't really care about whether or not they get together in the end.

Chasing Amy is different. These characters are lifelike.This isn't a romantic comedy for teenage girls. It's a movie for adults. Almost everyone can relate to being a situation where they've loved someone so much, but due to certain circumstances, you just weren't able to have that person. And I guess that's what Amy's all about. Unrequited love. Well, Unrequited love and sexual identity, but that's another topic for another day.

The real genius of this film is that for all it's serious themes, it manages to convey it's message without being at all pretentious. Most independent films have this sort of, arrogant pretentious "I'm so artistic" feel about them.......And I hate that. Smith's success lies in the fact that his movies are meaningful, and they're actually funny as well. And Chasing Amy is no exception.

In short, you'll be hard pressed to find a more entertaining, and realistic love story than Chasing Amy. It's combination of hilarious dialogue, interesting characters, and realistic themes makes it a winner.