Chump Change (2000)

Director:

Stephen Burrows

Writer (WGA):

Stephen Burrows (written by)

Release Date:

7 January 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Fame, Fortune, Cheese, and Beer.

Plot:

A failed Hollywood actor returns to his home town in Wisconsin and reminisces about his life in L.A. to a potential new girlfriend about his faults, auditions, misadventures, and confrontations with the evils of Hollywood.

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood | Milwaukee Wisconsin | Script Writer | Filmmaking | Hollywood Sign

Awards:

6 wins

Cast

Stephen Burrows	...	Milwaukee Steve
Tim Matheson	...	Simon 'Sez' Simone
Traci Lords	...	Sam (as Traci Elizabeth Lords)
A.J. Benza	...	Steve's Agent
Fred Willard	...	Steve's Manager
Clancy Brown	...	The Man
McNally Sagal	...	Maloney
Jon Chardiet	...	Mr. C.
Willie Etra	...	88 Fingers
Stefane Zamorano	...	Coco Delapino
Theo Greenly	...	Chuckie Self
Mandy Levin	...	Bistro Waitress
Michael McDonald	...	Dack (as Michael James McDonald)
Jerry Stiller	...	The Colonel
Miriam Flynn	...	Bussler Waitress
John Judd	...	Wisconsin Cop
Leland Crooke	...	Commercial Director
Brett Miller	...	Crotch Fresh Team Mate
Lee Cowan	...	Crotch Fresh Announcer
Harry Burrows	...	Gong Show Player
Mary Jo Burrows	...	Gong Show Player
Anne Meara	...	Casting Director
John Rosenfeld	...	Agent #1
Mary Scheer	...	Agent #2
Mike Malin	...	Manager #1
Paula Hill	...	Manager #2
Betsy Monroe	...	Sugaree
Taylor Ewing	...	8th Grader
Joshua Glyn	...	8th Grade Dropout / Penguin Boy (as Josh 'G Man' Glyn)
Sheila Travis	...	Ria
Kristen McCullough	...	Gail
Olivia Debono	...	Ass-Slapped Girl
Vene L. Arcoraci	...	Limo Girl
Sam Dole	...	Studio Messenger
Amy Stiller	...	Cherri Contrary
Christopher Lawford	...	Studio Executive #1
Peggy Maltby	...	Studio Executive #2
Roger Clinton	...	Studio Executive #3
Tanya Veit	...	Agency Receptionist
Steve Kehela	...	Security Guard
Ernie Vincent	...	Grandfather
Steve Meisner	...	Steve Meisner Band
Bill Micale	...	Steve Meisner Band
Dale Stelzer	...	Steve Meisner Band
Gary Hendrickson	...	Steve Meisner Band
Darlene	...	Darlene
Abe Vigoda	...	The Frog
Kate Miller	...	Desiree, the Whore
Sondra Lee	...	Her Mom
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Leon Walls	...	Dave
Ernest Borgnine	...	Det. Lt. Mike Rogo (archive footage) (uncredited)
Red Buttons	...	James Martin (archive footage) (uncredited)
Carl Kocis	...	Acting Student (uncredited)
Carol Lynley	...	Nonnie Parry (archive footage) (uncredited)
Pamela Sue Martin	...	Susan Shelby (archive footage) (uncredited)
Roddy McDowall	...	Acres (archive footage) (uncredited)
Katherine Ann McGregor	...	Mrs. Lambert (uncredited)
Eric Shea	...	Robin Shelby (archive footage) (uncredited)
Stella Stevens	...	Linda Rogo (archive footage) (uncredited)
Shelley Winters	...	Belle Rosen (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
Stephen Burrows		(as Stephen D. Burrows)

Writing credits (WGA)
Stephen Burrows		(written by)

Produced by
Kirsten Caufield	....	executive producer
Chris Connolly	....	associate producer
Todd Hagopian	....	executive producer
Ray Kimsey	....	executive producer
David Kohner Zuckerman	....	co-producer
Mary Ann Page	....	producer
Tim Pennington	....	co-executive producer

Original Music by
Matt Cartsonis

Cinematography by
Allen Baker

Film Editing by
Stephen Burrows
Kevin Matusow		(as Kevin J. Matusow)
Pepper Welch

Casting by
Stacie Goodman

Production Design by
Naomi Slodki

Art Direction by
Julieann Getman

Set Decoration by
Jaime Rosczewski

Costume Design by
Kresta Lins

Makeup Department
Patricia Connolly	....	hair stylist: New York
Patricia Connolly	....	makeup artist: New York
Ruth Gobor	....	assistant makeup artist
Jane Kelly	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Andra Laine Hardt	....	unit production manager (as Andra L. Hardt)
Sue Mischel	....	post-production supervisor
Douglas Salkin	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Josh Binder	....	first assistant director
Bob Dohrmann	....	second assistant director
Jennifer Kelley	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Mike Brenner	....	art department assistant: Milwaukee
Mark Schuster	....	art department assistant: Milwaukee
Lisa Simmons	....	property master

Sound Department
Doug Allen	....	sound mixer
Doug Andham	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Doug Andorka)
Bob Barnes	....	boom operator: New York
Tammy Douglas	....	additional boom operator
Richard Evans	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Evans	....	supervising sound editor
Paul Holzborn	....	foley walker
Joseph Schultz	....	foley recordist
Robert Taz Larrea	....	sound mixer: New York (as Rob 'Taz' Larrea)
Paula Thompson	....	boom operator

Visual Effects by
Steven Fagerquist	....	digital effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Baker	....	grip
Mia Barker	....	first assistant camera: New York
Will Callahan	....	gaffer: New York
Jennifer Carlson	....	24 frame video operator
Kirsten Caufield	....	video assist
Chad Herr	....	grip
Harry Hope	....	key grip
Dusty King	....	electrician
Aaron Knoke	....	best boy electric
Deidre Lally	....	gaffer: New York
Terry Meadows	....	gaffer
Paul Neumann	....	still photographer: Milwaukee
Theo Pingarelli	....	first assistant camera
Le Richardson	....	electrician
Alex Schmidt	....	electrician
Danny Shear	....	second assistant camera
Mark S. Speake	....	grip (as Mark Speake)
Jason Summers	....	first assistant camera: New York
Tracey-Lee Taylor	....	still photographer
John Tyson	....	key grip: New York
Glen Weinstein	....	key grip: New York
Stephen L. Whitcomb	....	camera loader
Carl Whitney	....	first assistant camera: Milwaukee

Casting Department
Cynthia Huffman	....	extras casting
Pat McCorkle	....	casting: New York
Sarah Spearing	....	casting assistant: New York

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Melissa Dunlop	....	costume intern: New York
Jennifer Finkelstein	....	costume designer: New York
Bradley Inaba	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Rolando Diaz	....	telecine colorist: dailies
Kevin Matusow	....	assistant editor (as Kevin J. Matusow)
Lawrence Mischel	....	negative cutter (as Larry Mischel)
Suzanne Pillsbury	....	assistant editor
Lee Wimer	....	color timer

Other crew
Jeanne Beveridge	....	title designer
Beth Burrows	....	production coordinator: Milwaukee
Roseanne Champagne	....	craft service: Milwaukee
Perri Cole	....	production coordinator
Olivia Debono	....	animal wrangler
Julie Ellis	....	set production assistant
Joshua Glyn	....	script supervisor
Jonathan Granof	....	production assistant: Milwaukee
Christopher Hall	....	title designer
David Ingvolstav	....	production assistant: Milwaukee
Aubrey Isakson	....	production assistant: New York
Kimberly Knealing	....	office production assistant
Ross Lowinske	....	production assistant: Milwaukee
Michael O'Grady Moriarty	....	production assistant
Neil O'Brien	....	production assistant: New York
Steven Shkolnik	....	location manager (as Steve Shkolnik)
Julianne Wasserman	....	production accountant

Distributors

• Miramax Films (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Helkon Media AG
• Miramax Films (2004) (USA) (all media)

Other Companies

• Best Little Post House in Hollywood  sound design
• CFI Imaging Group  titles and opticals
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• DJ Audio  optical track

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual humor

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Trivia:

Miramax Films acquired Chump Change (2000) after winning the HBO Comedy Film Festival.

Quotes:

Simon 'Sez' Simone:These are the rules of comedy. Ok? For instance: right place wrong time - funny. Wrong place right time - funny. Wrong place wrong time - not funny! Stupid - funny, retarded - not funny! Fat - funny, bald - funny, hair - not funny. But, toupees and wigs - very funny...

Movie Connections:

References The Godfather (1972)

Soundtrack:

Mysterious Stranger

Really fun movie.

I recently saw this movie in Bangkok, Thailand. I really enjoyed the show. The movie made me laugh out loud three times, and I found many of the situations very amusing. Tim Matheson was absolutely funny in his role -- especially his drawn out commentary on what is funny in a movie. It is difficult for a first time filmmaker to select a pace that keeps the audience in the movie. The movie moves through a series of funny characters and situations that seem very personal to the writer, but the audience still feels empathy towards his plight.

This movie was very well written and directed and I am waiting to see what this writer/director will do next.