Permanent Midnight (1998)

Director:

David Veloz

Writers (WGA):

Jerry Stahl (book)
David Veloz (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 September 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Comedy writer Jerry Stahl, whose $6000-a-week heroin habit had him taking his infant daughter along...

Plot Keywords:

Habit | Flashback | Heroin | Detox | Writer

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ben Stiller	...	Jerry Stahl
Maria Bello	...	Kitty
Jay Paulson	...	Phoenix Punk
Spencer Garrett	...	Brad / Tim from Mr. Chompers
Owen Wilson	...	Nicky
Elizabeth Hurley	...	Sandra
Lourdes Benedicto	...	Vola
Fred Willard	...	Craig Ziffer
Chauncey Leopardi	...	Jerry at 16
Mary Thompson	...	Grandma Whittle
Connie Nielsen	...	Dagmar
Charles Fleischer	...	Allen from Mr. Chompers
Liz Torres	...	Dita
Douglas Spain	...	Miguel
Janeane Garofalo	...	Jana Farmer
Sandra Oh	...	Friend
Scott Williamson	...	Gary Warren
Cheryl Ladd	...	Pamela Verlaine
Jerry Stahl	...	Dr. Murphy
Peter Greene	...	Gus
Nancye Ferguson	...	Nurse
Sam Anderson	...	Dr. Olsen
Regina Nichols	...	Scrub Nurse
John Prosky	...	Cop
François Giroday	...	Peter (as Francois Giroday)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Andy Dick	...	'Damian', Talk Show Guest (uncredited)
Ren Hanami	...	TV Host (uncredited)
Daniel Hartley	...	Benny (uncredited)
Lainie Kazan	...	Jerry's Mother at Funeral (uncredited)
L. Christian Mixon	...	Tough Guy (uncredited)

Directed by
David Veloz

Writing credits (WGA)
Jerry Stahl		(book)
David Veloz		(screenplay)

Produced by
David Brookwell	....	line producer: second unit
Jane Hamsher	....	producer
Robert Leveen	....	co-producer
Don Murphy	....	producer
Yalda Tehranian	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Daniel Licht

Cinematography by
Robert D. Yeoman		(as Robert Yeoman)

Film Editing by
Cara Silverman
Steven Weisberg

Casting by
Richard Hicks
Ronnie Yeskel

Production Design by
Jerry Fleming

Art Direction by
Ryan Ong

Set Decoration by
Betty Berberian

Costume Design by
Lori Eskowitz-Carter		(as Lori Eskowitz)
Louise Mingenbach

Makeup Department
Christina Bartolucci	....	key makeup artist
Bridget C. Henry	....	assistant hair stylist
Bridget C. Henry	....	assistant makeup artist
Edward St. George	....	key hair stylist
Lynn Taylor-Wood	....	hair stylist (as Lynn Taylor)
Heba Thorisdottir	....	hair stylist
Heba Thorisdottir	....	makeup artist
Jill Von Gortler	....	assistant hair stylist (as Jill von Gortler)
Jill Von Gortler	....	assistant makeup artist (as Jill von Gortler)

Production Management
Beau J. Genot	....	post-production supervisor
Susan McNamara	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Erin Alexander	....	second second assistant director
Joel Jeffrey Nishimine	....	first assistant director
Marie O'Keefe	....	second assistant director (as Marie J. O'Keefe)
Scott Remick	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Denise Anderson	....	assistant property master
Mark Anderson	....	property master
Jeffery A. Chavers	....	construction foreman
Zachery A. Coiteau	....	on-set dresser (as Zachery Coiteau)
Orion V. Cox	....	on-set dresser
John Dennis	....	swing gang
Lance DeSpain	....	scenic artist (as Lance M. Despain)
Garrett T. Gervais	....	swing gang
Terry Hargis	....	lead man
Susan Hutchinson	....	scenic artist
Eleas Kostis	....	lead scenic
Eleas Kostis	....	paint foreman
Patricia Kruijer	....	art department coordinator
Marcus Larsen	....	scenic artist
Roy Metcalf	....	construction coordinator
Stephen Mezlor	....	carpenter
Joe Monaco	....	swing gang
Benedict S. Ofstead	....	carpenter
Nancy Olsen	....	buyer
Nancy Olsen	....	shopper
Fabrice Berger Remond	....	scenic artist
Thomas Rousseau	....	scenic artist
Chris Schultz	....	carpenter
Christopher Schultz	....	carpenter (as Christopher A. Schultz)
Christopher Schultz	....	swing gang
Dan Sherrill	....	on-set dresser
David Silverstone	....	swing gang
David Silverstone	....	swing
Michael Spitaletto	....	painter
Michael Spitaletto	....	scenic artist
Erin Thyne	....	swing gang
Erin Thyne	....	swing
Shaun Thyne	....	swing gang (as Shaun 'Evil' Thyne)
Bob Titulaer	....	on-set dresser
Jacques Vercelli	....	carpenter
J.D. White	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Peter Austin	....	adr editor
Peter Austin	....	co-supervising sound editor (as Peter Drake Austin)
Joan Chamberlain	....	adr recordist
Don Digirolamo	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dean Drabin	....	adr mixer
Eric Enroth	....	sound mixer
Ron Evans	....	dialogue editor
David E. Fluhr	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dennis Gray	....	dialogue editor
Stephen Grubbs	....	supervising sound editor
Barbara Issak	....	dialogue editor
Adam Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Linda Keim	....	sound effects editor (as Linda L. Keim)
Aaron Levy	....	sound recordist (as Aaron Levi)
Gary Lewis	....	dialogue editor
Paul Longstaffe	....	dialogue editor
Lionel Luna	....	boom operator
David Melhase	....	adr editor
Brian Thomas Nist	....	sound effects editor
Eric A. Norris	....	sound effects editor
Brian Ruberg	....	adr mixer
Cary Stratton	....	adr recordist
Lee Tinkham	....	adr mixer
Kevin Wilson	....	boom operator
James Wright	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby Stereo (as Jim Wright)
Ingrid Alexander	....	post sound recordist (uncredited)
Steve Mann	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Jeff Cadiente	....	stunts
Thomas Dewier	....	stunts (as Tom De Wier)
Clint Jones	....	stunts
Eddie Perez	....	stunt coordinator
Frank Torres	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Tim Barry	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
J.D. Bishop	....	rigging gaffer
Dustin Blauvelt	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Bryan Booth	....	best boy electric
Erik Capek	....	key rigging grip
Robert Chavez	....	electrician
Bernie Druckman	....	video playback operator
Jamal J. Farley	....	electrician (as Jamal Farley)
Dominik Feller	....	electrician
Scott Froschauer	....	dolly grip (as Scott Froschouer)
Tank Girl	....	grip
David Gonzales	....	best boy grip
Anthony Gotta	....	rigging gaffer
Greg Jarrett	....	grip (as Gregory N. Jarrett)
John Johnson	....	still photographer
Kelly Jones	....	electrician (as Dr. Kelly Jones)
Martin Leeper	....	gaffer
Todd Loncto	....	second assistant camera
John M. Norman	....	grip
Michael Pescasio	....	rigging grip (as Michael Percasio)
Storn Peterson	....	first assistant camera
Joseph Prado	....	grip
Bradley Richard	....	second assistant camera (as Bradley V. Richard)
Charles H.E. Richards	....	key grip
Kosta Rigopoulos	....	grip
Patrick Rizzotti	....	grip (as Big Pat Rizzotti)
Eric S. Rothchild	....	camera loader
Courtney Rowe	....	rigging gaffer
William Russell	....	rigging gaffer
Doug Rymes	....	rigging gaffer
Lawrence Schweich	....	electrician
Tim Shinkle	....	grip
Rachel Wells	....	electrician
Xopher	....	electrician
Dan Zaitz	....	still photographer
Chris Bangma	....	assistant camera: SpaceCam (uncredited)
Mark W. Hindle	....	video playback operator (uncredited)
Steve Koster	....	camera operator: SpaceCam (uncredited)
Sacha Riviere	....	additional first assistant camera (uncredited)
David Schmalz	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
Robert Zuckerman	....	key art photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Tony Hobbs	....	extras casting
Sandy Holt	....	adr voice casting
Jennifer Levy	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Andrea Federman	....	costumer
Andrew Federman	....	key costumer
Jenny Gering	....	costumer
Claudette Gill	....	wardrobe assistant (as Claudette Gil)
Meredith McLaughlin	....	costumer
Patricia Peppard	....	costumer
Jo Torngren	....	seamstress (as Joanne M. Torngren)
Mary Walbridge	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Joseph Bond	....	assistant editor: avid (as Joseph C. Bond IV)
Richard Conkling	....	assistant film editor (as Richard Conklin)
Roger Cooper	....	assistant editor: avid
Rick Downey	....	negative cutter
Nate Fitzgerald	....	assistant film editor
Eleanor Grand	....	assistant film editor
Harry Muller	....	color timer
Benjamin P. Schwartz	....	first assistant film editor (as Benjamin Schwartz)
Ron South	....	assistant film editor
Jonas Thaler	....	post-production consultant
Charise E. Angone	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Bryan Ellenburg	....	executive in charge of post-production (uncredited)
Dennis Thorlaksen	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Thomas Bartke	....	assistant music editor
Mike Flicker	....	music editor
Paul Hepker	....	score arranger
Daniel Licht	....	score arranger
Emma-Jane Mezher	....	assistant to composer
Jeff Rabhan	....	music supervisor
Adam Schiff	....	score mixer
Adam Schiff	....	score recordist
Klay Shroedel	....	music consultant
Jilien Smith	....	music consultant (as Jilien Manges)
Marc Bonilla	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Marc Bonilla	....	musician: electric guitar (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Joe Barreras	....	driver
Joseph G. Bingenheimer	....	driver
Michael Coady	....	transportation captain
Dick Dionne	....	driver
Chris Gorden	....	driver (as Christopher Gordon)
Steve Howard	....	driver
Mike Painter	....	transportation coordinator (as Michael A. Painter)
Michael Robbins	....	driver: insert car
Paul Tumber	....	driver
John Watson	....	driver (as John E. Watson)
Sebastian G. Zabala	....	driver

Other crew
Harold Adler	....	title designer
Herbert W. Ankrom	....	assistant production coordinator (as Herb Ankrom)
Lynell Bangs	....	production accountant
Nicole Barnette	....	assistant: Mr. Veloz
Rick Benattar	....	assistant: Ms. Hamshee and Mr. Murphy
Kathy Berk	....	studio teacher
Jason Carney	....	professional skater
Robert Chynoweth	....	runner (as Robert C. Chynoweth)
Stephen P. Del Prete	....	set production assistant (as Stephen P. Delprete)
Kathy Ferrara	....	office production assistant (as Kathleen Ferrara)
Felipe Galdo	....	production office intern
Lori Grabowski	....	script supervisor
Kevin Gunning	....	stand-in: Ben Stiller
Harley E. Hebert	....	set production assistant (as Harley Hebert)
Paul Hepker	....	synthesizer programmer
Jennifer Hopkins	....	assistant: Mr. Stiller
Sharon House	....	unit publicist
Sam Hyde	....	assistant: Mr. Stiller
David Jenison	....	product placement supervisor
Zachary Kahn	....	office production assistant
J.C. Logan	....	creator and designer: Mr. Chompers
John Lopez	....	title designer
Casey Mako	....	office production assistant
Mike James Masumoto	....	location manager (as Michael J. Masumoto)
Robert A. Mirisch	....	legal services
David Montgomery	....	key set production assistant
Elizabeth Much	....	unit publicist
Robin Mulcahy Fisichella	....	production coordinator (as Robin Mulcahy)
Stevie Nelson	....	location manager
Stephen Price	....	assistant location manager
Dylan Shrader	....	assistant: Ms. Hurley (as Dylan Schrader)
Joel Sinderman	....	assistant location manager
Marianne E. Titiriga	....	assistant: Ms. Hurley (as Marianne Titriga)
Sara E. Tower	....	assistant production accountant
Victoria Vaus	....	title designer
J.D. Ward	....	projectionist
Carlos Yniguez	....	craft service
Carlos Yniguez	....	medic
Patrick Jack Lee	....	production financing (uncredited)
Judy Sharinger	....	credits consultant (uncredited)
Maria Williams	....	assistant: Ben Stiller (uncredited)
Jason Zook	....	production coordinator: second unit (uncredited)

Thanks
Rufus Burnam	....	thanks
Chris Davis	....	thanks
Gareth Grundy	....	thanks
Scott Mabbutt	....	thanks

Production Companies

• JD Productions

Distributors

• Artisan Entertainment
• Live Film & Mediaworks Inc.
• Videotrónica (Portugal) (video)

Special Effects

• Digiscope (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Axium Payroll Services  payroll services
• Blue Motel  titles
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Cinerep / AMPS  generators
• Digital Cut Post Inc.  non-linear editing equipment
• Film Finances  completion bond
• Great Northern Brokerage Services  insurance
• Imagination FX  titles and opticals
• Imperial Bank  production financing
• Inter Video  video playback services
• International Catering  catering
• J.L. Fisher  camera dollies
• Jason Carney  professional skating
• LoopEase  loop group
• Paramount Pictures  the Maury Povich Show courtesy of
• RD Negative Cutting  negative cutting
• Robert A. Mirisch, Esq.  legal services
• Ronnie Yeskel Casting  casting
• Temptu  tattoos
• Todd-AO Studios  sound post-production services
• Worldwide Pants  the Late Late Show with Tom Snyder courtesy of

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive graphic drug use, strong sexuality and language

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #35790) | Australia:MA | New Zealand:R18 | Iceland:16 | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

JD Productions

Trivia:

Actor Charles Fleischer, best known for playing Roger Rabbit, has the small role of Allen from Mr. Chompers. According to the book, Permanent Midnight, Jerry Stahl wrote an unaired television pilot as a vehicle for Fleischer.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Jerry is at the methadone clinic, the doctor is checking boxes on a form he's filling out. The questions he asks Jerry do not match the boxes he checks.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jerry:You know what's mortifying? Smack is like the leisure suit of the nineties. Instead of wrecking dad's Buick on prom might, these little suburban fucks are coping habits and OD'ing in the rec room.
Kitty:And you're different, because?
Jerry:I never got to the prom.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: Business Guy (#8.9)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

TAKE YOUR TIME

My 2 hits... I mean cents

Probably one of the best movies about drugs that I've ever seen. An excellent performance by Ben Stiller in one of his most serious roles. If you want to see a movie that portrays the life-style associated with drugs accurately, watch this movie.