A Real Job (2001)

Director:

Ana Barredo

Writer:

Ana Barredo (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

The path of true love never runs smoothly... Especially when you're a 38 year old video store clerk!

Plot:

Meet John St. Clair, a happy employee at Videoland, home of a thousand movies. One fateful night while serving behind the counter...

Plot Keywords:

Real Job | Clerk | Los Angeles | Mini DV | Geek

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Paul Kolsby	...	John St. Clair
Sharon Repass	...	Denise M. Hunter
Alan Natale	...	Vinny
Pramod Kumar	...	Henry Hrundy
Pramod Mishrekar	...	Henry Hrundi
Mark Irvingsen	...	Nathan
Heather Hiltermann	...	Laura Bernstein
Henry Maguire	...	Lance Randall (as Henry-Alex Goelet)
Chris Casamassa	...	Bill
Cory Noji	...	Ed
Tania Gunadi	...	Tanya, Tammy & Tina
Victor Vallejo	...	Customer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tom Beyer	...	Porno Filmmaker
James Carson	...	Mail Room Clerk

Directed by
Ana Barredo

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ana Barredo		writer

Produced by
Ana Barredo	....	producer
Steve Coppel	....	producer
Henry Rivas	....	producer

Original Music by
Stefanie Fife

Cinematography by
Kai Thomasian

Film Editing by
John de Groot
Lloyd Mayerson

Casting by
Alan Natale

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jennifer Jackson	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Vini Cirilli	....	sound

Other crew
Loralee Coleman	....	craft service
T.C. Krentz	....	production assistant
Laura Langwell	....	script supervisor
Adrian Thompson	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Grand Fenwick Productions

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Grand Fenwick Productions

Soundtrack:

John St. Clair Dinner Theme

A funny look at love and labor

I've seen a lot of romantic comedies, some great and some terrible, and I've got to say that this one was really charming. The witty use of movie titles to comment on the action is really inspired, and some of the one-liners are sharp and memorable. Kudos to everyone involved for pulling off that rarity of rarities, an indie feel-good film that doesn't make you want to gag. I'll take this over a Meg Ryan cute stalker flick any day of the week, and it will really appeal to fans of geniuses like Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, and Jerry Lewis.

This also proves that movies shot on digital video can be just as much fun as big budget Jerry Bruckheimer spectacles (and he gets some nice jabs in this one, too, thanks to a funny video clerk character who has some of the best lines). And watch out for the drunk guy in the convenience store; he's a real scene stealer. Try to see this however you can; it would make a good double feature with "The Sure Thing," "Mouse on the Moon," or "Office Space." I just wish it was easier to find!