Air Guitar Nation (2006)

Director:

Alexandra Lipsitz

Release Date:

6 October 2007 (Japan)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography | Music

Tagline:

To Air is Human

Plot:

It's time to rock and roll - air guitar style. AIR GUITAR NATION is the feature documentary about the year that air guitar swept America...

Plot Keywords:

Guitar | Air Guitar | Contest | Contestant | Finland

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Dan Crane	...	Björn Türoque
David S. Jung	...	C-Diddy (as David Jung)
Hadia Ackerman	...	Jam Toast
Lance Kasten	...	The Shred
Ryan Kelly	...	Himself
John Filion	...	Johnny Rocket
Ralph Martin	...	Rufus Sewer
John Daniel Harding Jr.	...	Himself
Lucy Harrison	...	Snatchface
Rory O'Flaherty	...	Air do well
S. Craig Zahler	...	Czar
Paul Fichera	...	Himself
Erika Szanto	...	Herself
Elana Berkowitz	...	Herself
Melinda Murphy	...	Herself
Julie Schuck	...	Super Julie
Malia Sias	...	Trans Am Mama
Michael C. Carroll	...	The Goober
Christian Finnegan	...	New York Emcee
Ultan Guilfoyle	...	New York Judge
Adam Crystal	...	New York Judge
Gavin McInnes	...	New York Judge
Nancy Conrad	...	Family
Janice Lubbin	...	Family
Koock E. Jung	...	Family
Hongja Jung	...	Family
Kim Shapiro	...	Family
Zoe Wolff	...	Family
Sam Laybourne	...	Scott Blossom
Peter Cilella	...	Clayton Sweeney
Winston Story	...	Kid Wicked
Angela Shelton	...	Cherry Vanilla
Shawn Mason	...	Dick Maynard
Matthew Johndrow	...	Air Biscuit
Aaron Semmel	...	Himself
Sara Szewyck	...	Nikki Tits
Ryan Flynn	...	Benjamin Walkin
Gordon Hintz	...	Krye Tuff
Jerry McNamara	...	Himself
Lesa Barnes	...	Ms. AAA - Arizona Air Axe
Dan Kapelovitz	...	Air Messiah
Jason Strzelczyk	...	Himself
Steve Krieger	...	Journalist
Kyle Ingleman	...	Himself
Nick Pell	...	Himself
Anand Motwani	...	Himself
Garron Williams	...	Himself
Greg Behrendt	...	Los Angeles Emcee
Tom Morello	...	Los Angeles Judge
Nina Gordon	...	Los Angeles Judge
Roy Traiken	...	Los Angeles Judge
Jukka Takalo	...	Himself
Tappani Launonen	...	Himself
Anni Kokko	...	Herself
Kai Latvalehdolle	...	Student of Oulu / Aknestik
Vesa Kupilalle	...	Student of Oulu / Aknestik
Mikko Rautalinille	...	Student of Oulu / Aknestik
Maako Häröselle	...	Student of Oulu / Aknestik
Henrik Andersson	...	Finals Judge
Angela McCoy	...	Finals Judge
Juha Torvinen	...	Finals Judge
Zac Munro	...	Qualifying Judge (as Zac 'The Magnet' Munro)
Timo Pesonen	...	Qualifying Judge (as Timo 'Taavi' Pesonen)
Karoliina Brodsky	...	Qualifying Judge
Luca Gargano	...	Finals Emcee
Matti Yionen	...	Qualifying Emcee
Jordi Nieuwenburg	...	Funky Jordi
Mark Hadfield	...	Roxy McStagger
Kris Achten	...	Stan Kreich
Erikki Lilja	...	Donaldo Galvosukiai
Dave Rowlands	...	McInroe
Marco Bartolini	...	Marc Airminator Wolfscorner
Andre Ulriksen	...	Himself
Mike Kaden	...	The Judge
Niko Alm	...	Air alm
Jussi Arhinmaki	...	Kakkis
Petri Kalmari	...	Himself
Ian Stafford	...	The Red Plectrum
Hilkks Suranto	...	Gore Kitty
Dakota Smith	...	Reporter
Miri Park	...	Sonyk Rok
Fatima Hoang	...	Rockness Monster
Brian May	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sam Laybourne	...	Scott Blossom
Mark Teich	...	Terry Van Exell
Tim Enstice	...	Roadie (uncredited)

Directed by
Alexandra Lipsitz

Produced by
Anna Barber	....	producer
Damien Breen	....	associate producer
Dan Cutforth	....	producer
Cedric Devitt	....	executive producer
Casey Kriley	....	associate producer
Jane Lipsitz	....	producer
Kriston Rucker	....	executive producer
Scott Shatsky	....	co-producer
Timothy Sullivan	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Dan Crane

Cinematography by
Anthony Sacco
Tony Sacco

Film Editing by
Conor O'Neill
Clark Andrew Vogeler		(co-editor)

Sound Department
Douglas V. Carney	....	post-production sound mixer
Keith A. Garcia	....	sound supervisor
Chad Gillies	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joshua Hilson	....	sound mixer
Gavin Marshall	....	sound recordist: UK
Todd D. Reynolds	....	sound editor
Rafael Sienkiewicz	....	sound mixer

Visual Effects by
Allen Kelly	....	digital colorist

Camera and Electrical Department
Jay Feather	....	camera operator
Caroline Harting	....	camera operator
Morgan Harting	....	camera operator
Gabe Landau	....	camera operator: Los Angeles
Alexandre Lehmann	....	camera operator
Sam Levy	....	camera operator
Alexandra Lipsitz	....	camera operator: Los Angeles
Ryan McDonnell	....	camera operator
Tim Fenoglio	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Randy L. Anderson	....	color timer
Bri Dellinger	....	assistant editor
Ben Edwards	....	on-line editor
Jose Guzman	....	assistant editor
William Hoppins	....	post-production coordinator
Derek Mok	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Matt Rocker	....	composer: additional music

Other crew
Roxane Davis	....	consultant
Winston Emano	....	publicist
Tom Etlinger	....	production assistant
David Magdael	....	publicist
Tali Mansfield	....	production coordinator
Tracy Nayer	....	intern
Jackie Robbins	....	assistant to executive producers (as Jacqueline Robbins)
Richard Roll	....	production legal services

Production Companies

• Docurama
• Magical Elves Productions

Distributors

• Docurama (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Maple Pictures (2007) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Miracle Voice (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Shadow Distribution (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Tokyo Theaters Company (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Tour de Force (2007) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2008) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Future Film (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• VH1 Original Movies (2007) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Baldsound  sound equipment provided by
• Filmlook Media & Post  post-production

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some language and brief nudity

Runtime:

USA:81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:Btl | Japan:PG-12 | UK:15 | Finland:K-3 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Docurama

Soundtrack:

Swan Lake

"To ere is human. To air guitar is divine."

I saw this film at SilverDocs 2006, AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Film Festival in Silver Spring, MD. I was initially hesitant to see this movie, because seriously, how good can a film called "Air Guitar Nation" be? In actuality, I was surprisingly entertained and amazed by this engaging film.

Unlike some documentaries that seem rushed or incomplete, "Air Guitar Nation" is a finished work. The film begins by introducing a score of wholly unique and zany, yet ultimately very human competitors into the world of air guitar. Though comical at first glance, the competitors rise above the visual silliness of strumming air to let their personalities warm the hearts of the audience.

By the end of the film, I was rooting whole-heartedly for all the competitors as they battled for the World Air Guitar Championship. I walked out of the theater with the sounds of great music in my head and a newfound respect for air guitar in general. And once at home, I blew the dust off my own air guitar and jammed out a few solos!