American Loser (2007) Trainwreck: My Life as an Idiot (original title)

Director:

Tod Harrison Williams

Writers:

Tod Harrison Williams (screenplay)
Jeff Nichols (book)

Release Date:

9 September 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

He may be a total disaster... but at least he's entertaining.

Plot:

A dramatic comedy about a self-induced attention-deficit disordered, learning disabled, Tourette's syndrome suffering, balance impaired, ex-alcoholic young man from the Upper East Side of Manhattan and the gold-digging girl who inspires him to try to get it together. |

Plot Keywords:

Boat | Alcoholic | Comedian | New York | No Opening Credits

Cast

Seann William Scott	...	Jeff Nichols
Gretchen Mol	...	Lynn
Deirdre O'Connell	...	Cynthia
Kevin Conway	...	Bert
Jeff Garlin	...	Lenny
Denis O'Hare	...	Mike
Stephen Adly Guirgis	...	Al
Charlie Tahan	...	Little Jeff
Tonye Patano	...	Mrs. Shelby
Jonathan Ames	...	Chairperson
Jayce Bartok	...	Brian from Boarding School
Erica Fae	...	Receptionist (as Erica Berg)
Susannah Bianchi	...	Mary - AA Member
Ian Buchanan	...	Terry
Matthew Cowles	...	Detoxer
Lars Engstrom	...	Some Guy #1
Wynn Everett	...	Saleswoman
Kevin Geer	...	Older Banker
Mary Gillen	...	Karaoke Girl
Grey Goodermote	...	Lily
Mitchell Green	...	Collector #2
Afit Hallely	...	Operator
Jack Kaplan	...	Boy on the Beach
Nicolas Kaplan	...	Boy on the Beach
Jason Mantzoukas	...	Luggage Channel Guy
Adrian Martinez	...	Harris
Matt Mulhern	...	Andy
Dan Naturman	...	Emcee (as Daniel Naturman)
Chandler Parker	...	Angry Driver
Ahmad Razvi	...	Collector
Paul Scheer	...	Junior
Remy K. Selma	...	Samy (as Remy Selma)
Elysia Skye	...	Barista
John Tormey	...	Bum
Joshua Weinstein	...	Hedge Fund Guy
Dennis Jay Funny	...	AA Member (as Dennis Funny)
Melisanne Russo	...	AA Member (as Melissa Russo)
Alyxx Morgen	...	AA Member
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kevin G. Kelly	...	Ex-Alcoholic (uncredited)
Antonio Parisi	...	Student (uncredited)
Jennifer Layne Park	...	Daphne Randall (uncredited)
Elaine Perez	...	Alcohol Anonymous Member (uncredited)
Martin Pfefferkorn	...	Wheelchair AA Member (uncredited)
Aaron Stephens	...	Albert (uncredited)
Paul Thornton	...	AA Member (uncredited)
Alexandra Wooster	...	Student (uncredited)

Directed by
Tod Harrison Williams

Writing credits
Tod Harrison Williams		(screenplay)
Jeff Nichols		(book "The Little Yellow Bus")

Produced by
Anne Carey	....	producer
Robert Delp	....	producer (as Rob Delp)
Al Hayes	....	executive producer
Graham Larson	....	co-executive producer
Jennifer Roth	....	executive producer
Daniel Sadek	....	producer
Elie Samaha	....	producer
Tod Williams	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Marcelo Zarvos

Cinematography by
Michael Simmonds

Film Editing by
Affonso Gonçalves

Casting by
Nicole Abellera
Jeanne McCarthy

Production Design by
David Doernberg

Set Decoration by
Sara Parks

Costume Design by
Eric Daman

Makeup Department
Colleen Callaghan	....	hair department head
Colleen Callaghan	....	hair designer
John Jack Curtin	....	hair stylist
Sharon Ilson	....	key makeup artist
Linda Williams	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Alexis Arnold	....	production supervisor
Jonathan Ferrantelli	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Catalano	....	second second assistant director
Vanessa Hoffman	....	second assistant director
Karen Kane	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jesse Cain	....	construction coordinator
Nicholas Hill	....	leadman
Jonathan Hustad	....	art production assistant
Alanna Levy	....	art department coordinator
Jose Pavon	....	property master
Michael Powsner	....	props
Acacia Thompson	....	set dresser
Alexis Weiss	....	props
Derek J.W. Wybourn	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Shaun Brennan	....	foley artist
David Ellinwood	....	dialogue editor
Christopher Fondulas	....	additional cable
Katherine Gordon Miller	....	assistant sound editor
Bryant Musgrove	....	boom operator
Chris Stangroom	....	assistant adr recordist
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer

Visual Effects by
Jamie Baxter	....	matte painter/compositor
Etienne Daigle	....	digital compositor
Louis Morin	....	visual effects supervisor
Benjamin Murray	....	visual effects
Mike Uguccioni	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Ian Mclaughlin	....	stunt safety

Camera and Electrical Department
Eli Aronoff	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Noam Bonkowski	....	jib technician
Terrence C. Burke	....	camera operator
Nicole Emmons	....	electrician
William Evans	....	assistant camera
Michael Grantland	....	second assistant camera
Brian Harnick	....	jimmy jib technician
Mike Kirsch	....	best boy grip
Mark Koenig	....	gaffer
Bryan Koss	....	camera intern
Jeff Panessa	....	key grip
Christopher Piazza	....	second assistant camera
Macall B. Polay	....	still photographer
Yoshi Sonoda	....	additional electrician
Matt Staples	....	grip
Adam Troeger	....	camera operator
Adam Troeger	....	jimmy jib operator
Andy Westbrook	....	dolly grip

Casting Department
Joanne Bloom	....	casting assistant
Morgan Donaho	....	casting assistant
Laura Verbeke	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jessica Chaney	....	additional on-set costumer
Marta Font	....	set wardrobe supervisor
Tonya Huskey	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
John Crowley	....	digital intermediate colorist
Ron Dulin	....	assistant editor
Ned Harvey	....	post-production assistant
Mike Nuget	....	on-line editor

Music Department
Robert Burger	....	musician: accordion
Matt Havron	....	music coordinator
Daniel Levy	....	score preparation
Tracy McKnight	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Carl Hettling	....	driver
Timothy Paustian	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Jakob Appelman	....	extra
Brian K. Aspinwall	....	executive assistant to producers
Anna Bosco	....	accountant
Danny Bress	....	assistant to Mr.Scott
Alison S. Cohen	....	production counsel
Matthew Gorenc	....	production assistant
Ned Harvey	....	set production assistant
Michael Herbert	....	production coordinator
Charlynne J. Hopson	....	assistant location manager
Peter Hutchison	....	production accountant
Kirsten Kearse	....	script supervisor
Samantha Kreitzer	....	production office coordinator
Gabriella Ludlow	....	production legal
Patrick Mahoney	....	craft service
Luke Marion	....	production assistant
Sean Oliver	....	adr loop group
Claire Pacacha	....	assistant to producer
Morgan Ressa	....	production assistant
Julie Retzlaff	....	location assistant
Adam W. Rosen	....	legal services
Will Schluter	....	key production assistant
Rob van de Laar	....	craft service
Diana Victor	....	business affairs executive: This is That
Scott Waring	....	office production assistant
Clarke Williams	....	set production assistant
Anthony Gore	....	post-production delivery (uncredited)

Production Companies

• This Is That Productions
• TruEntertainment

Distributors

• 41 (2008) (USA) (all media)
• Chicago Pictures Distribution
• FS Film Oy (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Film1 (2008) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Luxor Entertainment (2008) (Russia) (all media)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Black Dog Jib Productions  jimmy jib equipment (camera)
• Gilded Pictures  consultant
• Goldcrest Post Production New York  ADR
• Goldcrest Post Production New York  audio mixing
• Goldcrest Post Production New York  foley
• Indiepay  payroll provided by
• Wilshire Stages, The  ADR recording facility

Also Known As:

"Trainwreck: My Life as an Idiot" - USA (original title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Finland:K-11 | Australia:M | Netherlands:6 | Sweden:11 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

This Is That Productions

Movie Connections:

References Finding Nemo (2003)

Soundtrack:

Master Loveman

Great surprise!

I have to be honest, I really wasn't expecting much out of this film, I mean, Stiffler in a serious role? but wow was I pleasantly surprised, pleased as punch I would almost say. A truly heartfelt film, you get the sense the writer/director genuinely felt for his subject, which from what I have read about this film is really based on a true story which makes it even more funny in my opinion. The stuff in this movie is so funny it could not have been made up! Really well done with the writing and directing and I think it was the writer/directors debut film? which to me is even more impressive. Some of the scenes had me rolling on the floor with laughter, all in all well worth seeing, great, original and heartfelt, I really look forward to seeing more from this writer/director and I heard a rumor he plays the banjo!