Windy City Heat (2003) (TV)

Director:

Bobcat Goldthwait

Writers:

Tony Barbieri
Don Barris
(more)

Release Date:

12 October 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A man caught up in the glamor of being a Hollywood celebrity has no idea that the production he's in is a fake. |

Plot Keywords:

Practical Joke

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Perry Caravello	...	Himself / Stone Fury
Don Barris	...	Himself / Big Lou
Tony Barbieri	...	Mole / Brock
Lisa Arch	...	Susan B. Anthony / Jiggly Wrigley (as Lisa Kushell)
Bobcat Goldthwait	...	The Director
Dane Cook	...	Roman Polanski
Carson Daly	...	Himself
Jimmy Kimmel	...	Himself
Adam Carolla	...	Himself
William Perry	...	Himself (as William 'The Refrigerator' Perry)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charlie Adams	...	Usher
Kitana Baker	...	Svetlana
Tammy Faye Bakker	...	Herself
Johann Benét	...	Himself
Neena Bidasha	...	Clerk's Daughter #1
Veena Bidasha	...	Clerk's Daughter #2
Scott Hartman	...	Bartolomeo Vanzetti
Tom Hughes	...	Personal Assistant
Toby Huss	...	Ansel Adams
Sal Iacono	...	Sol Steinbergowitz-Greenbaum
Tom Kenny	...	Gay Costume Designer
Subash Kundanmal	...	Convenience Store Clerk
Bob Legionaire	...	Charlton Heston
Eric Marseglia	...	Burt Ward
Paul Motley	...	Ernie Banks
Geoff Pierson	...	President of Show Business
James Price
Colin Quinn	...	Talk Show Guest
Roger Rose	...	Reporter
Dave Sheridan	...	Travis Bickle
Laura Silverman	...	Frances Farmer
Tom Stern	...	Yurgi
Jill Sundeen	...	Nadia
Toshi Toda	...	Hiroshima Nagasaki
Vini	...	Convenience Store Clerk's Wife
Wayne Wilderson	...	Nicola Sacco
Julia Lea Wolov

Directed by
Bobcat Goldthwait

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Tony Barbieri
Don Barris
Jimmy Kimmel

Produced by
Tony Barbieri	....	producer
Don Barris	....	producer
Tim Busa	....	line producer
Adam Carolla	....	executive producer
Adam Carolla	....	producer
Doug DeLuca	....	executive producer
Chris Fraticelli	....	producer
Bobcat Goldthwait	....	supervising producer
Jennifer Heftler	....	co-executive producer
Daniel Kellison	....	executive producer
Daniel Kellison	....	producer
Jimmy Kimmel	....	executive producer
Jimmy Kimmel	....	producer
Brad Morrison	....	supervising producer
Lisa Page	....	co-executive producer

Original Music by
Cleto Escobedo III
Jonathan Kimmel
Les Pierce

Cinematography by
Noah Mathers		(electronic camera)
Brian Pratt
Bradley Sellers		(as Brad Sellers)

Film Editing by
Sean Cannon
Brad Morrison

Production Design by
Elvis Restaino

Art Direction by
Christine Mueller

Costume Design by
Rodney Munoz

Makeup Department
Tyson Fountaine	....	hair stylist
Tyson Fountaine	....	makeup artist
Veronique Guillem	....	hair stylist
Veronique Guillem	....	makeup artist
Suzi Haydon	....	hair stylist
Suzi Haydon	....	makeup artist
Maria Randelman	....	hair stylist
Maria Randelman	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Patty Hanten	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jim Goldthwait	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Randy Byers	....	set dresser
David Kolodny-Nagy	....	graphic artist
Charlotte Wincott	....	props

Sound Department
Bob Arons	....	sound effects editor
Seth Cooper	....	sound mixer
Bennie McRae	....	boom operator
Alan Tavener	....	sound
Gideon Zaretsky	....	sound supervisor

Stunts
Alex Daniels	....	stunt coordinator
Peewee Piemonte	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Bjorn Boisen	....	gaffer
Tomislav Culina	....	key grip
Paul DeMarte	....	first assistant camera
Reginald Donaldson	....	dolly grip (as Reggie Donaldson)
David Kagen	....	gaffer
April Lanci-Leseur	....	second assistant camera (as April Lanci)
Mark Pickens	....	best boy grip
Mark Andrew Smith	....	assistant camera
Joe Tamel	....	electrician
Jason Untersee	....	best boy grip

Music Department
Jonathan Kimmel	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Beth Curran	....	first assistant accountant
Clay Harrison	....	technical director
John J. Hill	....	stage manager (as John Hill)
Nancy Ramey	....	production accountant (as Nancy Ramey-Hitchings)
Brett Robinson	....	key set production assistant
Jamie R. Thompson	....	production coordinator

Production Companies

• Jackhole Industries
• Comedy Central

Distributors

• Comedy Central (2003) (USA) (TV)
• Paramount Home Video

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sexual content

Runtime:

USA:120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R

Company:

Jackhole Industries

Quotes:

Stone Fury:The doll's got a little bit of a big pot belly. I'm not a pot belly, I wear a pouch.

Movie Connections:

References Taxi Driver (1976)

Soundtrack:

Axes and Muscles

Cult classic.

Having taken some time to re-watch and ruminate over Windy City Heat (I've seen it four times and counting), explaining the enduring appeal of it is still tricky. First of all, it's funny. It's blindingly funny. It's tip a cow then kick a duck up the arse funny. It's also fantastically original in it's conception and treads heavily where few might dare to tread at all. The mark in this; possibly the most elaborate prank ever, is the fabulous Perry Caravello. Arrogant, sexist, homophobic and gullible. He is hilariously short tempered yet naive and lovable. Our catalysts and instigators are Don and Mole who according to the film have been messing with Perry for over a decade now. The setup is to have Perry, an aspiring actor and comedian in Hollywood, audition for a part in a film and win it. They go on to shoot the actual film over the course of a week, only it's all part of the setup and every scene is just another opportunity to provoke Perry's wrath while the cameras are rolling. There is physical comedy, humiliation, and provocation. It's great. When watching the film you will recognise names and faces. The in-jokes are endless. Perry gets none of the references. I do get twinges of pity for Perry as he falls for joke upon joke. Half the jokes are just to sell or justify a previous joke or fabrication. Some of the setups seem so contrived that it's hard to believe anyone would fall for it, but Perry sees no problems. It's humour is maybe a little cruel and sadistic in spirit, which in turn provokes thought on edgy comedy as an elaborate web of ethical dilemmas. Fortunately, any uncomfortable doubts about what you're watching are put to bed when you understand the relationship of Perry with Don and Mole. Perry is working, making some money and gaining the fame his so craves. Though it's clear someone like Perry can be (and has been!) taken advantage of in a town like Hollywood, I'd go as far to say Perry is protected by Don and Mole and there's obviously some affection there. The underlying fascination of WCH has percolated to the depths of my subconscious and left me quite frankly, obsessed. If there were ever a film cult I was part of than this is it. It is continued now with the excellent ongoing podcast (The Big Three podcast) and the unfolding drama and windups over facebook and other online forums. WCH triumphs where a film like I'm still here totally failed. There is no holier than thou Hollywood smugness. It is well planned and improvised and thick with gags from the most base to the marvellously subtle. It runs hand in hand with An idiot abroad as the most hilarious and startlingly real tragi-comedy out there. Comedy on film is often about levity and escapism but on the other end of that spectrum lies WCH, something that's real and engaging, provocative and most importantly, deeply and lastingly funny.