"Masters of Horror" John Carpenter's Cigarette Burns (2005)

Director:

John Carpenter

Writers:

Mick Garris (creator)
Drew McWeeny (writer) ...
(more)

TV Series:

"Masters of Horror" (2005)

Original Air Date:

November 2005 (Season 1, Episode 8)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

With a torrid past that haunts him, a movie-theater director is hired to hunt for the only known print of a film so notorious that its single screening caused the viewers to become homicidally insane.

Plot Keywords:

Collector | Angel | Wing | Millionaire | Drinking And Driving

Cast

Norman Reedus	...	Kirby
Colin Foo	...	Fung
Udo Kier	...	Bellinger
Christopher Redman	...	Willowy Being
Chris Gauthier	...	Timpson (as Christopher Gauthier)
Zara Taylor	...	Annie
Gary Hetherington	...	Walter
Chris Britton	...	Meyers
Julius Chapple	...	Henri Cotillard
Taras Kostyuk	...	Kaspar (as Taras)
Brad Kelly	...	Horst
Lynn Wahl	...	Cab Driver
Douglas Arthurs	...	Dalibor (as Douglas H. Arthurs)
Gwynyth Walsh	...	Katja
Brahm Taylor	...	Protagonist
Rikki Gagne	...	Woman #1
Crystal Mudry	...	Woman #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Christian Bocher	...	Hans Backovic (uncredited)

Directed by
John Carpenter

Writing credits
Mick Garris		(creator)
Drew McWeeny		(writer) &
Scott Swan		(writer)

Produced by
Keith Addis	....	executive producer
Bo Altherr	....	producer: special features
Morris Berger	....	executive producer
Stephen R. Brown	....	executive producer (as Steve Brown)
Ben Browning	....	co-producer
Andrew Deane	....	executive producer
Mick Garris	....	executive producer
Adam Goldworm	....	co-producer
John W. Hyde	....	executive producer
Lisa Richardson	....	producer
Grant Rosenberg	....	consulting producer
Tom Rowe	....	producer
Pascal Verschooris	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Cody Carpenter

Cinematography by
Attila Szalay		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Patrick McMahon

Casting by
Nancy Nayor		(as Nancy Nayor Battino)
Kelly Wagner		(as Kelly Martin Wagner)

Production Design by
David Fischer

Art Direction by
Teresa Weston

Set Decoration by
Ide Foyle

Costume Design by
Lyn Kelly

Makeup Department
Rexford Bangle	....	first assistant makeup artist
Mike Fields	....	on-set key makeup artist: KNB EFX Group, Inc. (as Michael Fields)
Cleo Gagner	....	first assistant hair stylist (as Cleo Gagne)
Sarah Graham	....	on-set key makeup artist: KNB EFX Group, Inc.
Dana Hamel	....	makeup department head
Adina Shore	....	hair stylist
Amanda McGowan	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
Tana Lynn Moldovanos	....	key makeup artist: second unit (uncredited)

Production Management
Margo Coughlin Zimmerman	....	production manager: IDT Entertainment
Sally Dixon	....	post-production supervisor
Marie Norton	....	administrative manager: IDT Entertainment
Stacey Jade Smart	....	executive in charge of production: IDT Entertainment
Pascal Verschooris	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Karin Behrenz	....	third assistant director (as Karen Behrenz)
Brian Giddens	....	first assistant director
Ian Samoil	....	second assistant director
Yannick Leray	....	trainee assistant director (uncredited)
Trevor Ralph	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Andrei Andrianko	....	assistant art director
Doris Deutschmann	....	art department coordinator
Nick Dibley	....	property master (as Nicholas Dibley)
Jim Geddes	....	construction coordinator
Leesa Hanna	....	assistant set decorator (as Leesa McNalley)
John McIntosh	....	greens
Jake Miller	....	assistant property master
Matthew Power	....	leadman
Zbibgniew Scheller	....	construction foreman (as Zbish Scheller)
John Wilcox	....	paint coordinator
Dylan Dowd	....	lead greens person (uncredited)
Les Ford	....	computer graphics designer (uncredited)
Sean McGee	....	on-set props assistant (uncredited)
Regan Steele	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Anke Bakker	....	sound supervisor
Kevin Belen	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jay Cheetham	....	background sound editor
Jacqueline Cristianini	....	sound supervisor
Kris Fenske	....	sound designer
Kevin Konarzewski	....	adr mixer
Jason Mauza	....	foley editor
Laurie Melhus	....	audio post coordinator
Iain Pattison	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jean Raymond	....	foley mixer
Sebastian Salm	....	sound mixer
Paul A. Sharpe	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Paul Sharpe)
Colin Smith	....	boom operator
Matthew Wilson	....	sound effects editor (as Matt Wilson)
Kevin Konarzewski	....	walla recordist (uncredited)
Todd R. Mason	....	sound effects recordist (uncredited)
Joshua Stevenson	....	assistant dialogue editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Howard Berger	....	special effects makeup
Mark Boley	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group (as Mark Bolie)
Michael Deak	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group (as Mike Deak)
Robert Freitas	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group (as Rob Freitas)
Derek Heselton	....	special effects best boy (as Derek Heselston)
Grady Holder	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Jim Leonard	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Gregory Nicotero	....	special effects makeup
Ron Pipes	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Frank Rydberg	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group (as Frank Ryberg)
Shannon Shea	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Wayne Szybunka	....	special effects coordinator
Veronica Torres	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Lino Stavole	....	special effects technician: mold department, K.N.B Effects Group (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Corey Bastiaans	....	cg artist: Anthem Visual Effects
Matt Belbin	....	visual effects editor: Anthem Visual Effects
Sébastien Bergeron	....	digital effects supervisor: Anthem Visual Effects
Craig Clarke	....	senior compositor: Anthem Visual Effects
Michael Goddard	....	cg artist: Anthem Visual Effects (as Mike Goddard)
Darren MacKay	....	digital compositor: Anthem Visual Effects
Alessandro Nardini	....	cg artist: Anthem Visual Effects
Stephen Paschke	....	digital compositor: Anthem Visual Effects
Lisa K. Sepp	....	visual effects coordinator (as Lisa Sepp-Wilson)
Lisa K. Sepp	....	visual effects producer: Anthem Visual Effects (as Lisa Sepp-Wilson)
Lee Wilson	....	visual effects supervisor: Anthem Visual Effects
Annabelle Kent	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Mladen Miholjcic	....	senior cgi artist: Anthem Visual Effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Jim Dunn	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Bradley S. Creasser	....	camera operator: "a" camera (as Brad Creasser)
Stewart Henshaw	....	best boy lighting
Kieran Humphries	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Tom Kaczmarski	....	key grip
Christina Kasperczyk	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Mike Kolafa	....	gaffer (as Michael Kolafa)
Dean Schwingboth	....	best boy grip
Richard Wilson	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Rob Cantin	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Chris Cove	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Jeff Grimshire	....	dolly grip (uncredited)
Chris Helcermanas-Benge	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Seth Hettrick	....	key rigging grip (uncredited)
Jos Oman	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sandra-Ken Freeman	....	extras casting (as Sandra Ken-Freeman)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Linda Leduc	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Richard Cordes	....	color timer
Andrea Dixon	....	color timer
Marc Pollon	....	assistant editor
Matt Venables	....	post-production coordinator
Mike Williamson	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Mike Beckett	....	music editor
Todd Brodie	....	mix assistant
Todd Brodie	....	music recordist
Lisa Brown	....	music supervisor
Jennifer Ross	....	music supervisor
Ed Shearmur	....	composer: main title music (as Edward Shearmur)
Happy Walters	....	music supervisor
Tiffany Downey	....	music assistant (uncredited)
James Fogel	....	assistant score engineer (uncredited)
Bruce Robb	....	music engineer (uncredited)
Bruce Robb	....	music mixer (uncredited)
Bruce Robb	....	music producer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Fraser Sutherland	....	transportation coordinator
John Swetlikoe	....	transportation captain
Duane Shearer	....	office driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Barbara Barnes	....	assistant production coordinator
Steve Best	....	assistant to director
Kristi Blicharski	....	unit publicist
Sheri Buckham	....	assistant accountant
Kathryn Drew	....	production accountant (as Kath Drew)
Shalia Edl	....	production coordinator
Gary Garfinkel	....	network executive
Kristin Harris	....	production coordinator: IDT Entertainment
Dave Harvey	....	assistant accountant
Pam Lawrence	....	script supervisor
Katy Lew	....	assistant to producers
Sheri Mayervich	....	location manager
Ross Redhead	....	assistant to producers
Zaida Rodriguez	....	assistant manager: IDT Entertainment
Louis Schwartzberg	....	stock footage
Dinean Stayk	....	assistant location manager
Alison Stephen	....	production assistant
Alison Stephen	....	script coordinator
Bonnie Sutherland	....	set supervisor
Stephen Tibbetts	....	stand-in (as Stephen Tibbets)
Raj Uppal	....	assistant to producers (as Rajvinder Uppal)
Steven Vlasak	....	operations manager
Desiree Zurowski	....	stand-in
Genessa Davis	....	assistant production coordinator (uncredited)
Gina Gilberto	....	assistant: John Carpenter (uncredited)
Krista Johnston	....	clearances (uncredited)
Christina Kasperczyk	....	body double: Zara Taylor's shadow (uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Mick Garris		creator

Makeup Department
Leanne Rae Podavin	....	special makeup effects artist
Sherry Van Gool	....	additional assistant makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Raj Uppal	....	first assistant director: second unit

Art Department
Martin P. Blaine	....	lead carpenter
Bill Morrill	....	lead carpenter

Sound Department
Kris Casavant	....	assistant sound editor
Dario DiSanto	....	foley editor
Talvinder Gill	....	assistant sound editor
Shawn Miller	....	sound mixer: second unit

Special Effects by
Ozzy Alvarez	....	lab technician: K.N.B. EFX Group
Jenny Wallace	....	special effects runner

Stunts
Byron Briscoe	....	stunt double
Clint Carleton	....	stunt double: Ethan Embry
Janina Dall	....	stunt double
Jim Dunn	....	stunt coordinator (12 episodes)
Ashlea Earl	....	stunt double: Bree Turner
Lani Gelera	....	stunt double
Jon Kralt	....	stunt rider
James Ralph	....	stunt double: William Forsythe
Jeff Sanca	....	stunt driver
Sharon Simms	....	stunt double
Eli Zagoudakis	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
John Brown	....	rigging lamp operator
Jeff Cassidy	....	second assistant camera
T.C. Chapman	....	rigging gaffer
Glen A. Dickson	....	camera operator: "b" camera (episode: "Deer Woman")
David Gray	....	still photographer
Gary Stamford	....	gaffer: second unit

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dawn Grey	....	dresser

Music Department
Amanda Sobeck	....	music coordinator

Transportation Department
John Sorenson	....	driver
Larry Tardif	....	driver: camera car and process trailer

Other crew
Ron Buck	....	technical advisor: military
Simon Chin	....	extras wrangler
Andrzej Dec-Williams	....	assistant location manager (odd episodes) (as Andrzej Dec)
Pancho Mansfield	....	network executive
Sandra Montgomery	....	script supervisor: second unit
Rainer Scheelisch	....	special equipment
Stephen Sobisky	....	interactive designer
Ryan Steacy	....	armorer

Production Companies

• IDT Entertainment
• Industry Entertainment
• Nice Guy Productions
• Reunion Pictures

Distributors

• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Cinemax (2007) (Hungary) (TV)
• Future Film (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Kadokawa Entertainment (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
• Midget Entertainment (2006) (Denmark) (DVD)
• Nelonen (2008) (Finland) (TV)
• Premiere (2007) (Germany) (TV)
• SBP (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Showtime Networks (2005) (USA) (TV)
• Splendid Film (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Vertice Cine (2007) (Spain) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Anthem Visual Effects

Other Companies

• Aikins / Cossey Casting  casting
• BBC Motion Gallery  images courtesy of
• Background, The  walla group
• Blacklight Films  stock footage
• Boardwalk Foley  foley artists
• Cherokee Studios  original music recorded and mixed at
• Getty Images  stock footage provided by
• Rainmaker Digital Pictures  post-production services
• Robb Brothers, The  music production
• Sharpe Sound Studios  audio post production
• Thomas Cobb Design  title design

Runtime:

59 min | Germany:56 min (cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Germany:18 (cut) | USA:TV-MA | Argentina:18 | Finland:K-15 (TV rating) (self applied) (2008) | Finland:K-18 (DVD) (self applied) (2007)

Company:

IDT Entertainment

Trivia:

The newspaper columnist lives in a secluded house in Carthage, New York. John Carpenter, who directed the movie, was born in Carthage, New York.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Kirby is confronted by Walter about the money he owes, Walter tells Kirby he's got one week to come up with it. Kirby towards the end of the movie gets the money and finds the theater chained up. When on the phone with one of the employees from the theater he says that he was given *two* weeks to get the money.

Movie Connections:

References Deep Red (1975)

La Fin Absolue Du Monde...The Absolute End of the World.

This is the first "Masters of Horror" episode that I've watched and I thought it was a fairly cool and creepy little story. It reminded me of The Ninth Gate, only this time, instead of books, the search was for a very rare movie called La Fin Absolue Du Monde, or The Absolute End of the World. The movie was said to be so powerful, so evil, that anyone who watched it turned violently insane. The man who wants this notorious film is played by Udo Kier, who is always fun to watch and has great expressions. The rest of the cast is adequate and Carpenter's direction is mostly solid, though it doesn't really feel like a Carpenter picture. His son, Cody, composed the music, which fit the short quite well; it was like the Halloween theme with a touch of Goblin.

Cigarette Burns was a TV production and unfortunately, it felt like one. I think it would've been better suited as a full length feature, where the characterization and plot could be fleshed out further and fine tuned, instead of trying to cram everything into under an hour. Still, it was an admirable effort and the material is definitely interesting (I especially liked the angel subplot). And with the gore, crazy scenes, and several nods to horror fans, collectors, and cinema itself, Cigarette Burns turned out to be a pretty entertaining little picture.

The DVD has many extras (and Easter Eggs), including a commentary with the director and one with the writers. Carpenter's has a few fun moments but going by it and his interviews on the disc, he just doesn't seem to care much anymore. The writers, Scott Swan and Drew McWeeny (McWeeny…hehe), were a lot more excited and hopefully we'll see good things from them in the future. I see they're currently writing the script for the remake of Race with the Devil.