Running with Scissors (2006)

Director:

Ryan Murphy

Writers (WGA):

Ryan Murphy (screenplay)
Augusten Burroughs (book)

Release Date:

27 October 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Ever have one of those lives?

Plot:

Young Augusten Burroughs absorbs experiences that could make for a shocking memoir: the son of an alcoholic father and an unstable mother, he's handed off to his mother's therapist, Dr. Finch, and spends his adolescent years as a member of Finch's bizarre extended family.

Plot Keywords:

Cosmetology | Fame | Therapist | Poet | School

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Annette Bening	...	Deirdre Burroughs
Brian Cox	...	Dr. Finch
Joseph Fiennes	...	Neil Bookman
Evan Rachel Wood	...	Natalie Finch
Alec Baldwin	...	Norman Burroughs
Joseph Cross	...	Augusten Burroughs
Jill Clayburgh	...	Agnes Finch
Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Hope Finch
Gabrielle Union	...	Dorothy
Patrick Wilson	...	Michael Shephard
Kristin Chenoweth	...	Fern Stewart
Dagmara Dominczyk	...	Suzanne
Colleen Camp	...	Joan
Jack Kaeding	...	Six-Year-Old Augusten Burroughs
Gabriel Guedj	...	Poo
Nancy Cassaro	...	Christy - 1978 Poetry Club
Omid Abtahi	...	Restaurant Manager
Julie Remala	...	Restaurant Waitress
Will Carter	...	Officer Button
Bonnie Weis	...	Cocktail Waitress
Dakotah Masset	...	Waitress
Marianne Muellerleile	...	Nurse
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Augusten Burroughs	...	Himself (uncredited)
Leslie Grossman	...	Sue (uncredited)
Lindsay Huff	...	Co-Ed (uncredited)
Janis Jones	...	Lesbian Poet (uncredited)
Joshua Levine	...	Chris (uncredited)
Devanny Pinn	...	Poetry Club Member (uncredited)
Gary Sievers	...	Jewish Rabbi (uncredited)
Scott Slifer	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Cole Volmer	...	College Student (uncredited)
Pilar Walsh	...	Professor's Wife (uncredited)
Rachel Zeskind	...	Deirdre Obsessed Fan (uncredited)

Directed by
Ryan Murphy

Writing credits (WGA)
Ryan Murphy		(screenplay)
Augusten Burroughs		(book "Running with Scissors: A Memoir")

Produced by
Augusten Burroughs	....	co-producer
Dede Gardner	....	producer
Brad Grey	....	producer
Ryan Murphy	....	producer
Brad Pitt	....	producer
Steve Samuels	....	executive producer (as Steven Samuels)
Bonnie Weis	....	co-producer

Original Music by
James S. Levine

Cinematography by
Christopher Baffa		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Byron Smith

Casting by
Mali Finn

Production Design by
Richard Sherman

Art Direction by
Lorin Flemming

Set Decoration by
Matthew Flood Ferguson

Costume Design by
Lou Eyrich

Makeup Department
Stacey K. Black	....	key hair stylist
Cydney Cornell	....	hair stylist: Ms. Bening
Stephanie A. Fowler	....	makeup artist (as Stephanie Fowler)
Zoe Hay	....	makeup artist
Julie Hewett	....	makeup artist: Ms. Bening
Laurel Kelly	....	hair stylist (as Laurel E. Kelly)
Eryn Krueger Mekash	....	key makeup artist (as Eryn Krueger)
Elisa Marsh	....	hair stylist
Michele Tyminski	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Christopher Griffin	....	unit production manager (as Christopher L. Griffin)
Tim Pedegana	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dirk Craft	....	first assistant director (as Dirk Wallace Craft)
Elenie Mansalis	....	second assistant director
Maura McKeown	....	second second assistant director (as Maura McKeown Redmond)

Art Department
Terry Adams	....	on-set dresser (as Terry L. Adams)
Sam Brinson	....	construction foreman (as Samuel H. Brinson)
Joseph C. Fama	....	construction coordinator
Ian Kay	....	assistant property master
Mark David Kersey	....	greensman (as Mark Kersey)
Jim Motyl	....	leadman (as James S. Motyl)
Christopher Redmond	....	property master
Paul M. Rohrbaugh III	....	paint foreman (as Paul Milton Rohrbaugh III)
Michael Wynands	....	labor foreman (as Michael H. Wynands)
Marissa Zajack	....	art department coordinator
Chris Clark	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Brendon Crigler	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Missy Parker	....	buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Ash	....	supervising sound mixer
Jed M. Dodge	....	sound editor (as Jed Dodge)
Rickley W. Dumm	....	sound editor (as Rickley Dumm)
Russell Farmarco	....	sound editor (as Russ Farmarco)
Frank Gaeta	....	sound designer
Luis Galdames	....	assistant sound editor (as Luis Galadames)
Marc A. Gilmartin	....	production sound mixer (as Marc Gilmartin)
Patrick Giraudi	....	supervising sound mixer
Catherine Harper	....	foley artist
Darrin Mann	....	foley mixer
Christopher Moriana	....	foley artist (as Chris Morianna)
Chris Navarro	....	adr recordist
Todd Niesen	....	sound editor
Sarah Payan	....	sound editor
Terry Rodman	....	supervising sound mixer
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Gunnar Ted Walter	....	boom operator (as Gunner Walter)
Gabriel J. Serrano	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Carl D. Ware	....	sound engineer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Kenneth C. Clark	....	special effects foreman (as Ken Clark)
Thomas Mertz	....	special effects coordinator (as Tom Mertz)

Visual Effects by
Saeed Faridzadeh	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Ntana Key	....	second digital colorist: EFILM (uncredited)
Jennifer Law-Stump	....	digital effects artist: Pacific Title Digital (uncredited)
Robert E. Phillips	....	digital intermediate assistant producer: EFILM (uncredited)
Steven J. Scott	....	supervising digital colorist: EFilm (uncredited)

Stunts
Thomas M. Ficke	....	stunt coordinator (as Tom Ficke)
Noon Orsatti	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Clyde E. Bryan	....	first assistant camera
J.A. Byerly	....	rigging chief lighting technician (as JA Byerly)
Charles Crivier	....	dolly grip
Jerry Day	....	rigging key grip
Christopher Duskin	....	camera operator (as Chris Duskin)
Andrew Glover	....	chief lighting technician
Bob Hall	....	first assistant camera
Greg Hewett	....	key grip
Dan Kneece	....	steadicam operator
Wayne Kosky	....	best boy grip
Jerry Mundy	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Jerry W. Mundy Jr.)
Doug Price	....	second assistant camera
John Scott	....	camera operator
Suzanne Tenner	....	still photographer
Henry Tirl	....	steadicam operator
Suzanne Trucks	....	second assistant camera
Mitch Byerly	....	electrician (uncredited)
Mark Mele	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Jimmie R. Owens	....	grip (uncredited)
Haydn Pazanti	....	camera loader (uncredited)
Ryan Shopay	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Justin Stroh	....	electrician (uncredited)
Earl C. Williman	....	rigging best boy (uncredited)
Matt Zschoche	....	additional lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Deanna Brigidi	....	casting assistant
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
David Rapaport	....	casting associate
Pete Sutton	....	extras casting
Sean Kevin Sweeney	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anita Louise Brown	....	costumer
Jenny Eagan	....	costumer
Jennifer Morrison Holyfield	....	costumer: Ms. Bening (as Jennifer M. Holyfield)
Krishna Ribeiro	....	costumer
Christine Wada	....	key costumer
Julie Yang Silver	....	costume supervisor
Bethany Bernhard	....	costumer (uncredited)
Suzanne Flores	....	additional costumer (uncredited)
Delia Hauser	....	wardrobe production assistant (uncredited)
Jude Christian Orlando	....	costume illustrator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Bradley Buecker	....	assistant editor (as Brad Buecker)
Jennifer Hatton	....	assistant editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Christopher Grizey	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)
Robert E. Phillips	....	digital intermediate assistant producer: EFILM (uncredited)
Faust Pierfederici	....	digital preview colorist (uncredited)
Kay Sievert	....	colorist: dailies (uncredited)
Fulvio Valsangiacomo	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
P.J. Bloom	....	music supervisor
Jennifer Reeve	....	music coordinator
Tom Trafalski	....	music editor
Josh Klein	....	assistant to composer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Dana Crocker	....	transportation captain (as Dana E. Crocker)
Ed Nassaney	....	transportation co-captain
Bruce Callahan	....	driver (uncredited)
Eddie Santana	....	driver (uncredited)
Gary Thomas Williams	....	driver: Ms. Bening (uncredited)

Other crew
Crisoforo Aguilar	....	production assistant
Beth Bargas	....	assistant accountant
Chelsey Cardon	....	production assistant
William Cotton	....	production assistant
Melissa Engle	....	production assistant (as Melissa J. Engle)
Robert Foulkes	....	location manager
Terri Greening	....	production accountant
Christopher Grizey	....	production assistant
David Henke	....	assistant location manager
Alexis Martin Woodall	....	assistant: Mr. Murphy (as Alexis Martin)
Joe May	....	production assistant (as Joseph May)
Meredith Mohr	....	assistant: Ms. Bening
David Showers	....	assistant: Ms. Gardner
Jessie Sieben	....	production assistant (as Jessica Sieben)
Spooky Stevens	....	unit publicist
Diana Valentine	....	script supervisor
Rorie D. van Klaveren	....	assistant production coordinator
Eve Watterson	....	production coordinator
Andrew T. Weaver	....	production assistant (as Andrew Weaver)
Robert Crobar Bilus	....	location manager (uncredited)
Judith M. Brown	....	studio teacher (uncredited)
Cory Cate	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Matt Clifford	....	accounting clerk (uncredited)
Ashley Contino	....	assistant to cast (uncredited)
Dante	....	warm-up comic (uncredited)
Antony Diamond	....	remote head technician (uncredited)
Chris Gutierrez	....	location scout (uncredited)
Daniel Hall	....	craft service (uncredited)
Thomas Kearney	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Tilu Khalayi	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Ron Landry	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Susanne Lariviere	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Anne Lockhart	....	adr voice group (uncredited)
Alba Morera	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Richard M. Newkirk	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Andre Panossian	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Angela Randazzo	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Plan B Entertainment
• Sound for Film (uncredited)

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (2006) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2007) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2007) (Argentina) (all media)
• LK-TEL (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2007) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Greece) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Television (2007) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Big Crowds  crowd casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies (uncredited)
• Condé Nast Publications, The  courtesy: The New Yorker (as Conde Nast Publications, Inc.)
• Dan Curtis Productions  courtesy: 'Dark Shadows' (as Dan Curtis Productions, Inc.)
• EFilm  digital intermediate (uncredited)
• EMI Records  soundtrack on (as EMI America Records)
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as IATSE)
• Kodak  motion picture film
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment (uncredited)
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Wildfire Studios  ADR recording facility (uncredited)
• Wilshire Stages, The  ADR recording facility (uncredited)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and elements of sexuality, violence and substance abuse

Runtime:

USA:116 min | USA:122 min (DVD) | Argentina:116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Finland:K-15 | UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Singapore:M18 (cut) | Germany:12 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | New Zealand:R16 | Netherlands:6 | Australia:MA | South Korea:15 | Italy:VM14 | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Milbank & McFie House - 3340 Country Club Drive, Midtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Plan B Entertainment

Trivia:

Julianne Moore was originally attached to play Deirdre Burroughs.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Augusten's mother hands him the adoption papers, he crumples them with his hands and drops them. In the next shot, the papers are sitting uncrumpled on the kitchen table.

Quotes:

[from trailer]
Dr. Finch:[taking out some pills] Would you like some of these?
Augusten Burroughs:What are they?
Dr. Finch:I just got some samples in the mail, so I don't know.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Alec Baldwin/Christina Aguilera (#32.5)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Another Day

Worth the time

I have read 2 of Agustine Bourroughs novels and I was, frankly, a little afraid that this one might be ruined by being re-cast as a movie. With this story in the hands of this director and this cast, my fears were groundless: it translated beautifully. I am sure that this is in no small part due to Burroughs personal involvement in the production, but greater authors have had their work ruined right under their noses, so it is a credit to both Author and creative staff that the engaging story remains intact. I think it gives a truthful depiction of what it is like to grow-up with mental illness in the family and also presents a metaphor for the craziness and dysfunction which is, at some level, in every family. The cast was all superb, especially Annette Benning and Jill Clayburgh. Joseph Cross and Joseph Fiennes were equally superb -- in fact, EVERYONE was so good I almost don't want to single anyone out. I will recommend this movie to friends.