"How to Make It in America" Pilot (2010)

Director:

Julian Farino

Writers:

Ian Edelman (creator)
Ian Edelman (story)
(more)

TV Series:

"How to Make It in America" (2010)

Original Air Date:

14 February 2010 (Season 1, Episode 1)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

When his skateboard-deck business venture hits the wall, twentysomething graphic designer Ben agrees...

Plot Keywords:

Loan | Leather Jacket | Party | Mugshot | Skateboard

Cast

Bryan Greenberg	...	Ben Epstein
Victor Rasuk	...	Cameron 'Cam' Calderon
Lake Bell	...	Rachel Chapman
Eddie Kaye Thomas	...	David 'Kappo' Kaplan
Shannyn Sossamon	...	Gingy Wu
Kid Cudi	...	Domingo Brown (as Scott 'Kid' Mescudi)
Luis Guzmán	...	Rene Calderon (as Luis Guzman)
Samaire Armstrong	...	Jane
Jason Pendergraft	...	Darren Hall
Miriam Colon	...	Cam's Grandma
Torrell Bigelow	...	Anthony
Curtiss Cook	...	Alex (as Curtis I. Cook)
Bojana Barovic	...	Natalia
Eric Weinstein	...	Dock Worker
James Ransone	...	Tim (as James F. Ransone III)
Dom Magwili	...	Donny
Michael Carbonaro	...	Marco
Tuffy Questell	...	Jabar
Edgar Garcia	...	Eddie
Michael Imperiale	...	Mike
Gavin Bellour	...	Guy
David Raymond Wagner	...	Cop
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Natalie Gal	...	Wilhemina Model (as Natasha Galkina)
Jian	...	John Varvatos Friend
Cobie Smulders	...	Hayley

Directed by
Julian Farino

Writing credits
Ian Edelman		(creator)
Ian Edelman		(story)
Ian Edelman		(teleplay) and
Rob Weiss		(teleplay)

Produced by
Carole Kravetz Aykanian	....	associate producer (as Carole Kravetz-Aykanian)
Tim Christenson	....	co-producer
Ian Edelman	....	executive producer
Julian Farino	....	executive producer
Stephen Levinson	....	executive producer
Jada Miranda	....	executive producer
Margo Myers	....	producer
Mickie Reuster	....	associate producer
James L. Thompson III	....	associate producer (as James Thompson)
Mark Wahlberg	....	executive producer
Rob Weiss	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Steven Fierberg		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Carole Kravetz Aykanian		(as Carole Kravetz-Aykanian)

Casting by
Amanda Mackey Johnson		(as Amanda Mackey)
Cathy Sandrich		(as Cathy Sandrich Gelfond)

Production Design by
Nicholas Lundy

Art Direction by
John Pollard

Set Decoration by
Alyssa Winter

Costume Design by
Kurt and Bart

Makeup Department
Thom Gonzales	....	head hair stylist
Nicky Pattison	....	key makeup artist
Anita Roganovic	....	key hair stylist (as Anita Lausevic)
Bradley Stenson	....	head makeup artist

Production Management
Michael Horowitz	....	post-production supervisor
Margo Myers	....	unit production manager
Andrew Saxe	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert C. Albertell	....	first assistant director (as Robert Albertell)
Ethan Anderson	....	second second assistant director
T. Sean Ferguson	....	first assistant director
Greg White	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Tessa Brophy	....	art department coordinator
Daniel Cocuzzo	....	construction grip
Peter K. Dunbar	....	leadman (as Peter Dunbar)
Daniel Fisher	....	property master (as Dan Fisher)
Daniel Geary	....	construction foreman
Richard Hebrank	....	construction coordinator (as Rich Hebrank)
Mario Herrera	....	set scenic
Lisa Kent	....	assistant set decorator
Eugene Paul Lynch	....	key construction electric
Richard Morris	....	on-set dresser
Shawn Mulligan	....	construction grip
Larry Orvieto	....	assistant property master
Fanny Pereire	....	art consultant
Sam Rosedietcher	....	set dresser
Stephanie Armstrong	....	props (uncredited)
Mitchell Landsman	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Steven R. Paquette	....	best boy construction grip (uncredited)
Tim Zydel	....	on-set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Benson	....	supervising sound editor
Vincent Camuto	....	boom operator
Dan Flosdorf	....	music editor
Jordan Lezama	....	assistant sound editor
Jan McLaughlin	....	sound mixer
Brendan Jamieson O'Brien	....	utility sound (as Brendan J. O'Brien)
Elmo Ponsdomenech	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kevin Roache	....	sound re-recording mixer
Waldo Valenzuela	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeremy Balko	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Judah Getz	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Gary Megregian	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Stephan Szpak-Fleet	....	visual effects
Dan Lopez	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Rodrigo Washington	....	cg supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Boogie	....	still photographer
Travis Cadalzo	....	second assistant camera (as Travis Caldazo)
Travis Cadalzo	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
John Coots	....	generator operator
James J. Ferris	....	best boy rigging electric
John Foster	....	camera operator
Chris Hensel	....	rigging grip
Robert Kummert	....	dolly grip (as Rob Kummert)
Eric Liebowitz	....	still photographer (as Eric Leibowitz)
Scott Lipkowitz	....	camera loader
Edgar Martin	....	best boy grip
Thomas McGrath Woods	....	key grip (as Tom Woods)
Igor Potashanik	....	grip (as Igor Potashnik)
Frank Rinato	....	first assistant camera
Frank Rinato	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Brooke Stanford	....	gaffer
Jonathan Stern	....	best boy electric (as John Stern)
Darrall Graham	....	electrician (uncredited)
Adam Hall	....	company grip (uncredited)
Timothy Healy	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Todd Feldman	....	extras casting
Kate Caldwell	....	casting associate (uncredited)
Chrissy Fiorilli	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Chandra Moore-Telfer	....	costume ager/dyer
Kate Quinlan	....	set costumer
Michelle Elaine Teague	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Michelle Teague)
Frank Trotta Jr.	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Pankaj Bajpai	....	final colorist: DiTV
Mark Dennison	....	on-line editor
Frank Eaton	....	post-production assistant
Brent Guido	....	post-production assistant
Joe Guzman	....	post-production coordinator
Jennifer Hatton	....	assistant editor
Ken Rubenfeld	....	colorist: dailies
Brenda Teague	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Gabe Hilfer	....	music consultant
Skye Lewin	....	music editor
Scott Vener	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Jason Cipolla	....	driver
Harry J. Leavey	....	transportation co-captain (as Harry Leavey)
James Leavey	....	transportation captain (as Jimmy Leavey)
Tom Meehan	....	driver
John Ward	....	driver

Other crew
Teddy Au	....	production accountant
Brian Boulos	....	stand in: Victor Rasuk
Paul Cabbad	....	set production assistant
Shawn Corber	....	assistant: Rob Weiss
David Farr	....	first assistant accountant
Hal Fuchsman	....	staff set production assistant
Danielle Gilbert	....	assistant: Stephen Levinson
Eric Goldstein	....	technical consultant
Ben Grant	....	assistant: producers
Lauren Heath	....	assistant production coordinator
Lauren Heath	....	assistant production office coordinator
Rachel Heller	....	assistant: Rob Weiss
Zoe Lane	....	assistant: Julian Farino
M.J. Magbanua	....	production coordinator
Brian McKinley	....	office production assistant
Brian McKinley	....	production office assistant
Josh Melnick	....	main title director
J.C. Mendoza	....	assistant: Rob Weiss
Kellie Morrison	....	location manager
Derek Peterson	....	key set production assistant (as Derek Petersen)
Benjamin Petuchowski	....	assistant: Jada Miranda (as Ben Petuchowski)
Justin Rosini	....	assistant location manager
Sara Seligman	....	office production assistant
Sara Seligman	....	production office assistant
Eddie Serrano	....	production secretary
Jennifer Valadaka	....	craft service
Sharon Watt	....	script supervisor
Eric Weinstein	....	assistant: Stephen Levinson
Eric Weinstein	....	assistant: Stephen Levison
Theo Brooks	....	staff production assistant (uncredited)
Melissa Finell	....	accounting clerk (uncredited)
Rosa Garces	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Sonja Beck Gingerich	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Johnathan Hallgrey	....	stand in: Curtiss Cook/stand in (uncredited)
Edwin Lugo	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Jon Shaw	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Joshua Williams	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Sean T. Krishnan	...	Gypsy Cab Driver (uncredited)
Chris Miskiewicz	...	Jane's Brother
Andrew M. Rose	...	Dancer
Joshua Rupp	...	Club Goer (credit only)
Liam Ferguson	...	Wall Street Broker
Kimberly Leemans	...	Barneys Customer
Melanie Kannokada	...	Hot Hipster Girl
Ashley Klein	...	Window Shopper
Lila Urda	...	Art Gallery Model
Samantha Maldonado	...	Store Employee

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ian Edelman		creator

Produced by
Norman Morrill	....	co-executive producer (2009)

Film Editing by
Annette Davey		(2009)

Art Direction by
Ola Maslik		(2009)

Makeup Department
Taurance F. Williams	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Patrick	....	first assistant director (2009)
Adam T. Weisinger	....	second assistant director (2009)

Art Department
Jasmine E. Ballou	....	assistant property master
Almitra Corey	....	art department coordinator (2009)
Ramona Messina	....	set dresser (2009)
Dionis Ortiz	....	assistant art director
Kevin L. Raper	....	graphic artist (2009)
Giovanni Rodriguez	....	scenic foreman (2009)
John S. Schlicter	....	camera scenic artist (2009)
Casey Smith	....	assistant art director (2009)

Sound Department
Justin Gray	....	additional boom operator
Phil Rosati	....	additional sound utility

Stunts
Damian Achilles	....	stunt driver
Roy Farfel	....	stunt driver
Drew Leary	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Sung Rae Cho	....	additional first assistant camera
Matt Novak	....	camera production assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
David Paulin	....	ager/dyer
Deirdre Wegner	....	shopper

Editorial Department
Heydar Adel	....	on-line editor (uncredited)

Other crew
Clay Broaddus	....	set production assistant (2009)
Adam M. Carr	....	production assistant
Mike Carrier	....	office production assistant (2009)
James Coker	....	production assistant
Tristan Cowen	....	unit production assistant
Angela Cutrone	....	staff production assistant
Paige DeMarco	....	production assistant
Frank Eaton	....	production assistant
Steve Faughnan	....	location coordinator
Joshua A. Friedman	....	production assistant
Dawson Grau	....	office production assistant
Orit Greenberg	....	location scout
Sally May Homer	....	staff production assistant
Jake Javitch	....	production assistant
Brendan Kehoe	....	location scout
David Laurentin	....	assistant parking coordinator
Chris Miskiewicz	....	stand-in: (for eddie kaye thomas )
Mark Pearson	....	staff production assistant
John Puccinelli	....	additional key production assistant
Jennifer Quesenbery	....	location assistant
Antonio Ragona	....	location assistant (2009)
Chauency Reese	....	payroll accountant
Geraldine Schubert	....	production assistant
Chad Scott	....	stand in: Bryan Greenberg
Chad Scott	....	stand-in
Rebecca Thornell	....	script clearance analyst
Sasa Watt	....	first assistant accountant

Production Companies

• Leverage Management
• Closest to the Hole Productions
• Big Meyer

Distributors

• Home Box Office (HBO) (2010) (USA) (TV)
• Canal+ España (2010) (Spain) (TV)
• Canal+ (2011) (Non-USA) (TV) (Scandinavia)
• HBO Hungary (2010) (Hungary) (TV)
• HBO (2010) (Czech Republic) (TV)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Sky Atlantic (2011) (UK) (TV)

Other Companies

• Technicolor Sound Services  post-production audio provided by
• Ascent Media Laboratories  DiTV services provided by
• Gourmet To U  catering
• New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture & Television Development  special thanks
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  special thanks
• ARRI / Camera Service Center  camera equipment provided by
• ARRI / Camera Service Center  grip and lighting equipment
• Visual Sound  post-production facilities (closed caption provider)

Runtime:

27 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Broadway Stages, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Leverage Management

Movie Connections:

References G.I. Jane (1997)

Soundtrack:

Oh Boy

The young entrepreneurs

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Ben and Cam are two young New Yorkers trying to do something with their lives. Unfortunately, things have not been too good for the friends. They owe money they invested in skateboards that no one seems to be interested in. They owe Cam's cousin five thousand dollars they cannot repay. When the word comes out about some leather coats a guy is selling, they jump into action, buying the lot cheaply. The only problem is they bring the merchandise to Soho, to sell at a street corner. The police confiscate the merchandise, plus give them a summons.

The opening of a photograph exhibit, being promoted by Gingy, a friend, gets the interest of Ben and Cam. She has promised the presence of Jane, who is interested of bedding Ben. At the party, Ben sees Rachel, his former girlfriend with another man, Darren. This man is opening a new hotel at the Bowerie. Rachel acts cool toward Ben.

After the opening, Jane invites Ben to her place. Jane has also asked Marco, an artist, for a drink, but clearly, her interest is Ben. She sits at a sofa with Ben to her left and Marco to the right. Ben figures Marco is gay and seems to be interested in him. Jane asks Marco to go because it's late. Ben figuring his time has come, surprises Jane kissing Marco passionately, so he leaves.

Cam's cousin, Rene, has been released from Sing Sing. He has come to dinner at their grandmother's apartment. Rene makes no bones about the money Cam owes him, so Cam decides to leave right away. Ben, having gotten drunk goes to Rachel's building hoping to get in, but Darren is upstairs.

Help comes from an unexpected source. Ben is spotted at his job at Barney's by a school mate, who is obviously doing well financially secure. He is sporting a Russian beauty on his arm. He gives Ben his card. When things are hopeless, Ben and Cam decide to bring one of the photographs from the art exhibit to sell to their friend. He has no use for it, but he will lend them the money if they can make the bouncer of a fashionable club "like him". The friends get three thousand dollars which they invest in fabric for the jeans they want to make.

A good new series with a lot of new talent. Created by Ian Edelman, who wrote this episode, and directed by Julian Farino, the show moves as fast as New York itself. The young atmosphere is captured in a good screenplay that sets the tone for what will come after. Victor Rasuk and Bryan Greenberg are seen in the main roles. The great Luis Guzman graces this series with his amazing take on Rene.