Harsh Times (2005)

Director:

David Ayer

Writer (WGA):

David Ayer (written by)

Release Date:

10 November 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A tough-minded drama about two friends in South Central Los Angeles and the violence that comes between them.

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Violence | Lapd | Mexican | African American

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Christian Bale	...	Jim Luther Davis
Freddy Rodríguez	...	Mike Alonzo
Eva Longoria	...	Sylvia
Chaka Forman	...	Toussant
Tammy Trull	...	Marta
J.K. Simmons	...	Agent Richards
Michael Monks	...	Agent Hollenbeck
Samantha Esteban	...	Letty
Tania Verafield	...	Patty
Noel Gugliemi	...	Flaco
Adriana Millan	...	Rita
Geo Corvera	...	Wilo
Cesar Garcia	...	Listo
Terry Crews	...	Darrell
Emilio Rivera	...	Eddy
Sonia Iris Lozada	...	Gracie (as Sonia Lozada)
Paul Renteria	...	Ranchero
Blue Mesquita	...	Leo
Armando Riesco	...	Alex
Daniel Edward Mora	...	Joe (as Daniel E. Mora)
Barry Colvert	...	Polygraph Expert
Craig Ricci Shaynak	...	Gillespie (as Craig Shaynak)
Robert Dahey	...	Korean Clerk
Nikki Nicholle Barreras	...	Liquor Store Customer
Anthony 'Citric' Campos	...	Casper
Abel Soto	...	Lil' Chucky
Robert Larabee	...	Big Shadow
Armando Cantina	...	Little Old Man (as Armando Sanchez)
Kenneth Choi	...	Fujimoto (as Kenny Choi)
Guadalupe Vasquez Torres	...	Marta's Mom
Violeta Monroy	...	Vicky
Brisa	...	Lina
Alex Gomar	...	Guy at Party
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Curtis A. Koller	...	Undercover Agent (uncredited)
Daniel J. Soulsby	...	Undercover Detective (uncredited)
Kirk Wilson	...	Army Ranger (uncredited)

Directed by
David Ayer

Writing credits (WGA)
David Ayer		(written by)

Produced by
David Ayer	....	producer
Christian Bale	....	executive producer
Paul Anthony Barreras	....	associate producer (as Paul Barreras)
Mike Crawford	....	line producer (as Michael Crawford)
Jesse Felsot	....	co-producer
Ro Gorski	....	associate producer (as Roberta Gorski)
David Gorton	....	executive producer
Mark Heidelberger	....	producer: behind-the-scenes/EPK
Josef Lieck	....	assistant line producer
Philippe Martinez	....	executive producer
Andrea Sperling	....	producer

Original Music by
Graeme Revell

Cinematography by
Steve Mason		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Conrad Buff IV

Casting by
Shalimar Reodica
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Devorah Herbert

Art Direction by
Morgan Blackledge

Set Decoration by
Ann Cummings

Costume Design by
Michele Michel

Makeup Department
Elena Arroy	....	additional makeup artist
Thomas R. Burman	....	prosthetic makeup artist (as Tom Burman)
Thomas R. Burman	....	special makeup effects artist (as Tom Burman)
Sallie Ciganovich	....	additional hair stylist
Bari Dreiband-Burman	....	prosthetic makeup artist (as Bari Burman)
Bari Dreiband-Burman	....	special makeup effects artist (as Bari Burman)
Reyna Pecot	....	assistant special makeup effects artist
Heather Plott	....	additional makeup artist
Danny Romo	....	tattoo artist
Haruyo Sawada	....	additional makeup artist
Verina Schafer	....	additional hair stylist
Tina Sims	....	additional hair stylist
Alexis Swain	....	additional makeup artist
Tatiana Thorpe	....	key makeup artist (as Tatiana Efimova)
Chrissy Webb	....	additional makeup artist
Soo-Jin Yoon	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Burdette Anderson	....	post-production executive
Juan Manuel Gonzalez	....	unit production manager: Mexico
Isabel Henderson	....	post-production supervisor
Christopher Kulikowski	....	post-production supervisor
Josef Lieck	....	senior production associate
Chris Stinson	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ted Campbell	....	second second assistant director
Karla Carnewal	....	second second assistant director
Arturo Guzman	....	first assistant director
Jose Jimenez	....	second assistant director: Mexico (as Jose Abel Jimenez)
Elion Olson	....	second assistant director
Michael J. Sarna	....	second unit director

Art Department
Lorenzo Aguirre Diaz	....	carpenter: Mexico
Nina Alexander	....	on-set dresser
Rebecca Balakier	....	scenic artist
Allison Carroll	....	set dresser
Allison Carroll	....	swing
Vicky Couturier	....	set dresser (as Vicky Coutourier)
Vicky Couturier	....	swing (as Vicky Coutourier)
Tracy Dishman	....	property assistant
Gerald Donahoe	....	leadman
Justin Fisher	....	set dresser
Justin Fisher	....	swing
Curtis Hauge	....	set dresser
Curtis Hauge	....	swing
Heather Hazelwood	....	art department buyer
Paul Hersey	....	set dresser
Paul Hersey	....	swing
Mimi Hsueh	....	art department intern
Vincent Jefchak	....	set painter
Eric LaBonte	....	set dresser
Eric LaBonte	....	swing
Kami Laprade	....	art department production assistant
Brendan Maze	....	set dresser
Brendan Maze	....	swing
Patricia R. Mitchell	....	lead scenic artist
Jarrette Moats	....	art department production assistant
Scott Montgomery	....	civil engineer
Gillian Moxham	....	art department production assistant
Rachael Neubauer	....	scenic artist
Cynthia Nibler	....	property master
Neal Norberg	....	set dresser
Neal Norberg	....	swing
Matthew Salata	....	set dresser
Matthew Salata	....	swing
Amy Smith	....	set dresser
Amy Smith	....	swing
Dave Soulsby	....	signage
Doug Soulsby	....	graphic artist
Spark	....	storyboard artist
Chris Withrow	....	set dresser
Chris Withrow	....	swing

Sound Department
Gary Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mary Andrews	....	adr editor
Mark Binder	....	additional sound mixer
Jason Brennan	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mike Chock	....	sound effects editor
Mark Coffey	....	first assistant sound editor
Lori Dovi	....	sound mixer
Saravoot Kaitkalang	....	utility sound
Elliott Koretz	....	sound effects editor
Anthony Krajchir	....	sound recordist: mix stage
John Kwiatkowski	....	dialogue editor
Marcel Lehrer	....	studio director: Mercury Sound Studio
Ryan Maguire	....	foley mixer
Piero Mura	....	supervising sound editor
Josephine Nericcio	....	assistant sound editor (as Josie Nericcio)
Thomas Pinney	....	utility sound (as Tom Pinney)
Paul Ratajczak	....	studio president: Mercury Sound Studios
Erin Michael Rettig	....	additional sound mixer (as Erin Rettig)
Neil Riha	....	boom operator
Katherine Rose	....	foley artist (as Catherine Rose)
Michael Sable	....	studio director: Mercury Sound Studio
Carlos Sanches	....	sound recordist: mix stage
Gabriel J. Serrano	....	sound engineer
George Simpson	....	co-supervising sound editor
Andy Sisul	....	assistant sound editor
Steve Sollars	....	boom operator
Adam Sperry	....	utility sound
Trevor Sperry	....	adr mixer: Mercury Sound Studios
Steven Stuhr	....	foley editor (as Steve Stuhr)
Cesar Suarez	....	utility sound: Mexico
Steven Utt	....	sound engineer

Special Effects by
Nick Daneschewsky	....	assistant mechanical special effects (as Nick Danischewsky)
Albert Lannutti	....	mechanical special effects (as Albert Lanutti)

Visual Effects by
Mike Castillo	....	digital compositor
Mike Castillo	....	digital paint artist
Ivan DeWolf	....	3D animator: Cydonia Studios
Chi Kin Doog	....	rotoscope artist: Cydonia Studios
Ramen Doser	....	digital artist: Cydonia Studios
Valance Eisleben	....	digital data conformist (as Val Eisleben)
Chow Emrich	....	lead animator: Cydonia Studios (as Robert Emerich)
Brian Jennings	....	title designer
Brian Jennings	....	visual effects supervisor: Cydonia Studios (as Brian M. Jennings)
Brian Knudson	....	digital animator: Cydonia Studios
Brandon Tharp	....	digital compositor
Brandon Tharp	....	digital paint artist
Mark Douglas Wells	....	digital compositor (as Mark Wells)
Mark Douglas Wells	....	digital paint artist (as Mark Wells)
Linda Williams	....	digital intermediate editor
Diane Wright	....	digital data management: Laser Pacific
Ivan DeWolf	....	sequence lead: Martian Labs (uncredited)
Chow Emrich	....	digital effects supervisor (uncredited)
Steve Wright	....	subtitles: Steve Wright Digital FX (uncredited)

Stunts
Brett A. Jones	....	stunt performer (as Brett Jones)
Dennis Keiffer	....	stunt performer
Eric Mansker	....	stunt coordinator assistant (as Eric Monsker)
Chip Mefford	....	stunt rigger (as Kenneth Mefford)
Richard Mesquita	....	fight coordinator
Nick Plantico	....	stunt performer
Michael J. Sarna	....	stunt coordinator (as Michael Sarna)
Paul Sklar	....	stunt performer
Chester E. Tripp III	....	stunt performer (as Chester Tripp III)
Geo Corvera	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Matthew Barbor	....	electrician (as Matt Barbor)
Richard W. Botchlet	....	swing: second unit (as Rich Botchlet)
Denise Brady	....	grip
Jamie Buff	....	camera intern
Walter Byrnes	....	additional grip
Constancio Castillo Toledo	....	electrician: Mexico
Eric C. Castro	....	additional electrician (as Eric Castro)
Roger Chingirian	....	electrician
David Chung	....	best boy electric
Sharla Cipicchio	....	second assistant camera
Brian Dawson	....	electrician (as Brian M. Dawson)
John DeFazio	....	grip
Josh Ellis	....	additional first assistant camera
Bobby Ferrara	....	gaffer
Owen Foye	....	gaffer: second unit (as Owen Foy)
Manuel Galaviz Delgado	....	grip: Mexico
Erik Gonzales	....	additional electrician
Timothy Hedgecock	....	gaffer: second unit (as Tim Hedgecock)
Brad Heiner	....	key grip
John Hoffma	....	grip
Oscar Inzunza	....	key grip: Mexico
Stephen James	....	grip (as Stephen K. James)
Kevin Jefferson	....	grip
Dan Kanes	....	additional best boy electric
Dan Kanes	....	best boy: second unit
Jennifer Lai	....	second assistant camera
Alexandra Lucka	....	additional second assistant camera
Edgar Luzanilla	....	additional grip: Mexico
Edgar Luzanilla	....	electrician: Mexico
Heriberto Luzanilla	....	additional electrician: Mexico
Heriberto Luzanilla	....	additional grip: Mexico
Jeff Lynn	....	additional second assistant camera
Sol Mason	....	camera loader
James Matlosz	....	hi-speed technician
Daniel Miller	....	electrician
Nathaniel Miller	....	additional first assistant camera
Molly Minehan	....	electrician
David Myers	....	second assistant camera: second unit (as Dave Myers)
Thomas Nemy	....	additional first assistant camera
Peter Ozarowski	....	additional first assistant camera
Christopher C. Pearson	....	director of photography: second unit
Rick Peebles	....	additional grip
Noah Peter	....	grip
Jason Puliti	....	electrician
Omar Quintero	....	grip: Mexico
Kristal Ramin	....	electrician
Lex Rawlins	....	additional first assistant camera (as Lex Rawlings)
Daniel Rico	....	electrician: Mexico
Guillermo Rivas	....	additional electrician: Mexico
Guillermo Rivas	....	additional grip: Mexico
Rocky Romines	....	grip
Jorge Román	....	second assistant camera: Mexico (as Jorge Roman)
Alexander Salazar	....	additional grip
Michael J. Scarchilli	....	additional electrician (as Michael Scarchilli)
Elliott Schackne	....	additional second assistant camera
Jim Sheldon	....	still photographer
Ray Sipots	....	key grip: second unit (as Ray Sipots Jr.)
Michael Skor	....	first assistant camera
Bernie Smith	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Jirí Solc	....	additional electrician (as Jiri Solc)
Jessica Spuehler	....	additional electrician
Michael Ursetta	....	additional electrician
Peter Villani	....	electrician (as Pete Villani)
Enrique Villegas	....	electrician: Mexico
Ben Watkins	....	electrician
Ben Watkins	....	grip and electrical equipment supplier
Nate Wayman	....	additional grip
Aiken Weiss	....	Steadicam operator
Aiken Weiss	....	camera operator
William Rick Young	....	best boy grip (as Rick Young)
Pedro Damian Zuniga	....	electrician: Mexico

Casting Department
Chris Bustard	....	extras casting
Julie Weissman	....	extras casting (as Julie Weismann)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Christine Bean	....	costumer
Carlos Brown	....	assistant costume designer
Marisa C. Flores	....	costumer (as Marisa Flores)
Tesshi Nakagawa	....	wardrobe assistant
Azalia Snail	....	costumer
Peter Wulff	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Randy L. Anderson	....	color timer
Ward Bank	....	editor: behind-the-scenes/epk
Kyle DeVriendt	....	digital film recordist
Anna DiNuovo	....	digital dailies services
Tom Garelick	....	data scanner
Christopher Gillaspie	....	data scanner (as Chris Gillaspie)
Bruce Goodman	....	colorist
Andrew Goodney	....	digital intermediate engineering support
Karin Graziani	....	digital intermediate services
Hawk Hamilton	....	digital intermediate services
Carole A. Kenneally	....	first assistant editor (as Carole Ann Kenneally)
Ray Mitchell	....	digital intermediate engineering support
David Perkins	....	data scanner
Christine Purse	....	digital intermediate services
Frank Roman	....	digital intermediate color timer
Joan Sobel	....	additional editor
Tom Vice	....	digital dailies services

Music Department
Celeste Chada	....	music licensing
Mark Curry	....	scoring mixer (as Mark E. Curry)
Boris Elkis	....	music programmer
John Houlihan	....	music supervisor
Season Kent	....	music coordinator
Larry Muggerud	....	composer: additional music score (as DJ Muggs)
Ashley Revell	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Ed Adams	....	transportation captain
Fidel Aguirre Diaz	....	driver: Mexico
Petronilo Aguirre Diaz	....	driver: Mexico
Greg Allen	....	driver
Collin Butrum	....	picture car coordinator
Collin Butrum	....	transportation coordinator
Sean Cyphers	....	driver
Jimmy Davis	....	driver
Jesse Gonzalez	....	driver
Bill Isaacson	....	driver: camera car
Calvin McDowell	....	driver
Richard Midiri	....	driver
John Ober	....	driver (as Johnny Ober)
Hugo Ocana	....	driver
Tony Ruiz	....	transportation co-captain
Edward Salas	....	driver: ATVs
Andrew Sarvis	....	driver
Jorge Velasquez	....	driver
Jeff White	....	driver
Don Williams	....	driver

Other crew
Chris Aguilar Garcia	....	assistant: Andrea Sperling
Mark Alvarez	....	assistant production accountant
Thomas Arellano Lopez	....	security: Mexico
Sara Aronson	....	office production assistant
Francie Brown	....	dialect coach: Mr. Bale, pre-production
Brian Buckland	....	office production assistant
James Burkhammer	....	assistant: Andrea Sperling (as James Burkhammer II)
Karla Carnewal	....	key set production assistant
Manuel Castro Curiel	....	set production assistant: Mexico
Jason Davies	....	military advisor
Janae Dimick	....	office production assistant
Ava DuVernay	....	special publicist
Mario Enriquez Jr.	....	office intern (as Mario Enriquez)
Josh Fifarek	....	production assistant
Luke Gale	....	production assistant
Ruben Garcia Camacho	....	security: Mexico
Guadalupe Garcia	....	caterer: Mexico
Trinidad Garcia	....	caterer: Mexico
Jeff Garten	....	additional military consultant
Steve Gelon	....	corporate accountant
William Goodman	....	production consultant (as Will Goodman)
Jose A. Guerrero	....	security: Mexico
Fernando Guzman	....	location scout: Mexico
Torrence Hall	....	assistant armorer
Josh Hernandez	....	production assistant
Grant Keiner	....	office production assistant
T. Scott Keiner	....	production coordinator (as Sciott Keiner)
Kelly Leffler	....	script supervisor
Jose Lopez	....	chef
Nery Arnold Lopez	....	assistant chef (as Nery A. Lopez)
Pascal Martin	....	production staff
Steve Martin	....	set medic
Toussaint Maxwell	....	production associate
Omar McGee	....	director: behind-the-scenes/epk
Edward McGurn	....	production liaison
Joe McKernan	....	office intern (as Joe McKeman)
Joe McLaughlin	....	production accountant
Luis Meza	....	assistant chef
Ellene Miles	....	special publicist
Gonzalo Mauro Montiel Aguirre	....	location liaison: Mexico
David Moss	....	assistant: Andrea Sperling
Christopher Nelson	....	set medic
Stephen Nelson	....	office intern
H. Charles Parrish	....	weapons handler
Michael Patterson	....	police consultant
Miguel Pimentel	....	chef
Moises Quiler	....	security: Mexico
Javier Ramirez	....	animal wrangler: Mexico
Irwin M. Rappaport	....	production attorney (as Irwin Rappaport)
Alia Raza	....	assistant: Michael Crawford and Chris Stinson
Emilio Rivera	....	dialect coach
Sol Rivera	....	craft service
Fernando Roche	....	production assistant
Larry Rodriguez	....	studio executive
Presa Adolardo Rodriguez	....	animal wrangler: Mexico
John Semikian	....	office intern
Mike Smith	....	double: Christian Bale (as Michael Smith)
Cesar Soto Ceja	....	security: Mexico
Rob Spence	....	assistant production coordinator
Hugh Spurling	....	studio executive
David W. Stone	....	assistant: Jesse Felsot and David Ayer (as david Stone)
David Tecson	....	title designer: Edgework
Mike Tristano	....	armorer
Veronica Valadez	....	dialect coach
Rogelio Vasquez	....	security: Mexico
Bobby Weisman	....	caterer
Earl West	....	location manager

Thanks
Alia Raza	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Andrea Sperling Productions
• Crave Films
• Harsh Times

Distributors

• Bauer Martinez Studios (2006) (USA) (all media)
• Bazuca Films (2008) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Pathé Distribution (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (UK) (DVD)
• DeA Planeta Home Entertainment (2007) (Spain) (all media)
• Deepjoy Picture (2007) (Taiwan) (DVD)
• Eagle Films (2005) (non-USA) (all media) (Middle East)
• Gativideo (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Genius Products (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Odeon (2007) (Greece) (DVD)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2005) (Romania) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD)
• Splendid Film (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Weinstein Company, The (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Cydonia Studios (visual effects)
• Martian Labs (visual effects) (uncredited)

Other Companies

• Barn, The (I)  foley recording facility (as I Make Noise - The Barbn)
• Bobby Weisman Caterers  catering
• Central Casting  extras casting
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color
• DeLuxe Laboratories  digital to film transfer
• Digital Cut Post Inc.  editing equipment
• Edgeworx Studios  titles
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• I Make Noise  foley recording facility (as I Make Noise - The Barn)
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• LaserPacific  digital motion picture laboratory services
• Mercury Sound Studios  sound re-recording facility
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Ragland, Strother & Lafitte  production insurance
• Soul Assassin Studios  additional music (as Soul Assassins Inc.)
• Sundance Institute, The  miscellaneous assistance (developed with the assistance of)
• Worldwide Locations  location services

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language and drug use

Runtime:

116 min | South Korea:103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish | Korean

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Australia:MA | USA:R (certificate #42104) | Singapore:M18 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-15 | New Zealand:R18 | Italy:VM14 | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:16 | South Korea:18

Filming Locations:

Baja California, Mexico

Company:

Andrea Sperling Productions

Trivia:

According to Eva Longoria, money was so tight on the film, the production couldn't afford catering.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jim gets attacked by Flaco and his crew, the fighting stops when he fires his pistol two times in the air. Being a semi-auto pistol, at this time the gun would have to be cocked. Yet after Jim tells Mike to check the car only a few seconds later, he cocks the gun again.

Quotes:

Leo:[pointing firearm at Mike and Jim] Blink and die, scumbag!

Movie Connections:

References The Sixth Sense (1999)

Soundtrack:

Party's Just Begun

Training Day... but with a better script, better actors, and a better director

An intense film, that FEELS a lot like Training Day, but with more of a gritty approach, and with actors who seem actually believable... which makes sense since it's based on the real life experiences of the director/writer and people he knows.

Rodriguez (who was at the World Premiere) and Bale give stellar performances. Rodriguez, if this film is well distributed, will get huge exposure and will likely go far. His performance was incredible, believable, and emotional. Bale continues to show that he's one of the best in Hollywood. Sure, he's playing a slightly psychotic, mentally unstable fellow, similar to a number of previous roles he's played, but he does it so well.

Ayer has improved as a writer, and considering this is his feature film debut as a director, he did fantastically. His knowledge as a director shone through in the Q&A after the film. He also made sure to mention the Cannes labs, where he worked on the script for this film, and how it helped him improve as a writer.

Go see it. It's intense, well written, incredibly performed, and is a thinker of a film.