"Luck" (2011) TV series 2011-

Creator:

David Milch
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Leave nothing to chance.

Plot:

A TV series centered around characters who are tied to the same horse-racing track.

Plot Keywords:

Race Track | Horse Trainer | Horse Race | Organized Crime | Gambling

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Dustin Hoffman	...	Chester Bernstein (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
Dennis Farina	...	Gus Demitriou (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
John Ortiz	...	Turo Escalante (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
Richard Kind	...	Joey Rathburn (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jill Hennessy	...	Jo (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
Nick Nolte	...	Walter Smith (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
Kevin Dunn	...	Marcus (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Ian Hart	...	Lonnie (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Ritchie Coster	...	Renzo (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jason Gedrick	...	Jerry (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Kerry Condon	...	Rosie (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Gary Stevens	...	Ronnie Jenkins (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Tom Payne	...	Leon Micheaux (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Miguel Delgado		(7 episodes, 2012)
Joan Allen	...	Claire Lachay (6 episodes, 2012)
Alan Rosenberg	...	Nick DeRossi (6 episodes, 2011-2012)
Michael Gambon	...	Michael (5 episodes, 2012)
Ted Levine	...	Isadore Cohen (5 episodes, 2012)
Chantal Sutherland	...	Lizzy (5 episodes, 2011-2012)
Shauna Stoddart	...	Lorelei (5 episodes, 2012)

Series Directed by
Allen Coulter		(2 episodes, 2012)
Brian Kirk		(2 episodes, 2012)
Mimi Leder		(2 episodes, 2012)

Series Writing credits
David Milch		(9 episodes, 2011-2012)
John R. Perrotta		(8 episodes, 2012)
Jay Hovdey		(2 episodes, 2012)

Series Produced by
Henry Bronchtein	....	co-executive producer (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
Dustin Hoffman	....	producer (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
Michael Mann	....	executive producer (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
David Milch	....	executive producer (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
Eric Roth	....	co-executive producer (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
Carolyn Strauss	....	executive producer (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
Kathleen M. Shea	....	associate producer (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Ra'uf Glasgow	....	co-producer (8 episodes, 2012)
Lori Slomka	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Original Music by
Gary Lionelli		(5 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jeff Beal		(3 episodes, 2012)

Series Cinematography by
Lukas Strebel		(4 episodes, 2012)
John Grillo		(2 episodes, 2012)

Series Film Editing by
Michelle Tesoro		(3 episodes, 2012)
Leo Trombetta		(3 episodes, 2012)

Series Casting by
Rebecca Mangieri		(9 episodes, 2012)
Wendy Weidman		(9 episodes, 2012)
Chris Gray		(3 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Production Design by
Tim Grimes		(8 episodes, 2012)

Series Art Direction by
John P. Goldsmith		(1 episode, 2011)
T.K. Kirkpatrick		(1 episode, 2012)

Series Set Decoration by
Elizabeth Keenan		(8 episodes, 2012)
James V. Kent		(8 episodes, 2012)

Series Costume Design by
Ane Crabtree		(9 episodes, 2012)

Series Makeup Department
Jane Galli	....	makeup department head (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Karen McDonald	....	key makeup artist (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Valli O'Reilly	....	makeup artist: Dustin Hoffman (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Michael Mosher	....	makeup artist (8 episodes, 2011-2012)
Kimberley Spiteri	....	department head hair stylist (8 episodes, 2012)
Daniel Erdman	....	hair stylist: Dustin Hoffman (2 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Production Management
Nathaniel Smith	....	post-production supervisor (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Henry Bronchtein	....	production manager (8 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jamie Kaye Wheeler	....	post-production supervisor (8 episodes, 2012)
Julie Herrin	....	production manager (7 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tyler Romary	....	first assistant director (7 episodes, 2012)
Julie Cummings	....	additional second assistant director / key second assistant director (5 episodes, 2012)
Ivan Kraljevic	....	key second assistant director (5 episodes, 2012)
Jon Mallard	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 2012)
Jeffrey Schwartz	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 2012)

Series Art Department
Tim Burriss	....	set dresser (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
Stephanie Hein	....	set dresser / swing gang (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
Michael Diersing	....	construction coordinator (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Robert Hale	....	paint supervisor (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Fred O'Connor	....	propmaker foreman / on set carpenter (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Liza Rudolph	....	set decorating buyer / buyer (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jeff Shewbert	....	general foreman (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Parker Swanson	....	assistant property master / first assistant props (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Kacey Koeberer	....	graphic artist / researcher (8 episodes, 2012)
Trevor Larkin	....	set dresser (8 episodes, 2012)
Joseph Fedo	....	on-set dresser (6 episodes, 2012)
Jack White	....	food stylist (4 episodes, 2011-2012)
Zack Heath	....	art department coordinator (4 episodes, 2012)
Bryan McBrien	....	greens foreman (4 episodes, 2012)
Scot Broadus	....	assistant props: horses (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Peter C. Clarke	....	prop master (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Scott Henry	....	second assistant props (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Erin Fite	....	set decorating buyer (3 episodes, 2012)
Brandon Grice	....	set decoration office coordinator (3 episodes, 2012)
Melani Petrushkin	....	set decoration coordinator (3 episodes, 2012)
Roderick Curry	....	labor foreman (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
William Erini	....	painter (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
David Keir	....	carpenter / prop maker (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Vlad Pelinovschi	....	toolman (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Tim Shewber	....	prop maker (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Chad B. Daring	....	on-set dresser (2 episodes, 2012)

Series Sound Department
Christopher Barnett	....	supervising sound editor / sound re-recording mixer (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Bryan Bowen	....	supervising sound editor (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Zack Howard	....	sound mix technician (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Lisa J. Levine	....	supervising adr editor / adr supervisor (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
David Williams	....	dialogue editor (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Lee Orloff	....	sound mixer (8 episodes, 2011-2012)
Marc Fishman	....	sound re-recording mixer (8 episodes, 2012)
Fred Johnston	....	sound (8 episodes, 2012)
Karen Spangenberg	....	dialogue editor (8 episodes, 2012)
Peter Austin	....	sound editor (7 episodes, 2012)
Deron Street	....	first assistant sound editor (6 episodes, 2011-2012)
Sal Ojeda	....	dubbing re-recording mixer (6 episodes, 2012)
Tim Farrell	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 2012)
Jason Oliver	....	adr mixer (4 episodes, 2011-2012)
Matthew E. Taylor	....	sound editor (4 episodes, 2012)
Rick Owens	....	foley artist (3 episodes, 2012)
Shelley Roden	....	foley artist (3 episodes, 2012)
Courtney Bishop	....	adr recordist (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Petra Bach	....	dialogue editor (2 episodes, 2012)
Marc Meyer	....	sound effects editor (2 episodes, 2012)
Brian Robinson	....	boom operator (2 episodes, 2012)
Trevor Sperry	....	foley mixer (2 episodes, 2012)

Series Special Effects by
Scott Oshita	....	special effects: animatronic horse (1 episode, 2011)
Christian E. Lemer	....	special effects supervisor (1 episode, 2012)

Series Visual Effects by
Matthew Massarella	....	digital compositor (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jon Howard	....	visual effects producer (8 episodes, 2011-2012)
Gevork Babityan	....	visual effects artist (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Mark Intravartolo	....	Inferno artist (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Josh Miyaji	....	visual effects artist (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Matt von Brock	....	CG supervisor: FuseFX (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Max Gabl	....	matte artist (3 episodes, 2012)
Fred Pienkos	....	digital compositor (3 episodes, 2012)
Craig Edwards	....	visual effects artist: Eden FX (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Carrie L. Smith	....	visual effects artist (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
O.T. Hight	....	visual effects artist (2 episodes, 2012)
Pablo Wang	....	visual effects artist (2 episodes, 2012)

Series Stunts
Robert Nagle	....	stunts (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
David C. Nuesch	....	stunts (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jason Rodriguez	....	stunt coordinator (8 episodes, 2012)
Brian Brown	....	stunt player / stunts (2 episodes, 2012)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Jason Brunelle	....	set lighting technician / lighting technician (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
Andy DePung	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
John Grillo	....	camera operator: "a" camera / camera operator (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Craig Grossmueller	....	a camera first assistant / first assistant camera: "a" camera (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Matthew C. McCarthy	....	grip (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Christina Presley	....	video assist / digital utility (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
David Presley	....	video engineer / video assist operator (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Chris Cuevas	....	camera operator (8 episodes, 2012)
Gregson Gabrio	....	digital imaging technician (8 episodes, 2012)
Chris Lumpkin	....	grip / rigging best boy grip (8 episodes, 2012)
Robert McFall	....	dolly grip (8 episodes, 2012)
Bret Suding	....	digital loader (8 episodes, 2012)
Lee Jordan	....	b camera second assistant (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
George Ballenger	....	digital utility / camera production assistant (6 episodes, 2011-2012)
Ron Provenzano	....	set lighting (5 episodes, 2011-2012)
Carlos M. Torres	....	lighting technician (5 episodes, 2011-2012)
Todd Barron	....	camera operator (5 episodes, 2012)
Ryan Carnahan	....	grip (5 episodes, 2012)
Jack Chouchanian	....	key grip (5 episodes, 2012)
John Janusek	....	key grip (5 episodes, 2012)
Diego Mariscal	....	dolly grip (5 episodes, 2012)
H. Mark Vuille	....	gaffer (5 episodes, 2012)
Paul Hazard	....	assistant chief lighting technician / best boy electric (4 episodes, 2012)
Gusmano Cesaretti	....	still photographer (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Chris D. Chapman	....	grip / b dolly grip (3 episodes, 2012)
Thomas A. Barrios	....	assistant camera (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Michael Piekutowski	....	lighting technician (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Nathan Spencer	....	technician: RF Video (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Donald Burghardt	....	first assistant camera operator: "c" camera (2 episodes, 2012)
Roberto De Angelis	....	camera operator: "b" camera / steadicam operator (2 episodes, 2012)
Peter Geraghty	....	first assistant camera operator: "b" camera (2 episodes, 2012)

Series Casting Department
Christopher Gonzalez	....	casting coordinator / casting assistant (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Vincent Ferro	....	casting associate (8 episodes, 2011-2012)
Dixiana Rubio	....	extras casting coordinator (8 episodes, 2012)
Rafael Fleming	....	casting associate (5 episodes, 2011-2012)
Karina Walters	....	casting associate (4 episodes, 2012)
Chris Gray	....	extras casting (3 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jessie Mann	....	costumer / shopper (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
Yvette Ammon	....	key costumer (9 episodes, 2012)
Hossein Namdar	....	tailor (9 episodes, 2012)
Natasha Romanow	....	costume assistant (9 episodes, 2012)
Sandy Kenyon	....	costume supervisor (8 episodes, 2012)
Marcie Olivi	....	set costumer (8 episodes, 2012)
Beau Desmond	....	set costumer (5 episodes, 2012)
Chris Harris	....	set costumer (4 episodes, 2012)
Matthew Jerome	....	costumer (4 episodes, 2012)
Candice Carella	....	shopper (2 episodes, 2012)
Cherlyn Lanning	....	costumer / set costumer (2 episodes, 2012)

Series Editorial Department
Richard A. Eisenstein	....	post-production technician (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Justine Gerenstein	....	editor: main title sequence (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Trevor Mersch	....	post production assistant (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Chris Mistorni	....	first assistant editor (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Keith Ponschock	....	post production assistant / post-production assistant (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Lisa De Moraes	....	assistant editor (3 episodes, 2012)
Ron Rauch	....	assistant editor (3 episodes, 2012)
Michael T. Wilson	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Carmelo Casalenuovo	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 2012)

Series Music Department
Chris Newlin	....	music editor (10 episodes, 2011-2012)
Richard Henderson	....	music editor (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Gabe Hilfer	....	music supervisor (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Mario A. Vitale	....	assistant music editor (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Scott Stambler	....	music editor / composer: additional music (3 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Transportation Department
Howard Bachrach	....	transportation captain (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Michael Sean Ryan	....	transportation coordinator (9 episodes, 2012)
Cyril O'Neil	....	picture car consultant (8 episodes, 2012)
Daniel Davis	....	driver (7 episodes, 2012)
Jim DePue	....	driver (3 episodes, 2012)
Burt Campbell	....	driver (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Dana Cuccia	....	driver (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Reg Frey	....	driver (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Glenn M. Friedman	....	driver (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Chris Smallwood	....	driver (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Bobby Williams	....	driver (2 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Other crew
Kelley Carville	....	network publicist (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Robert Parker Clemente	....	production assistant / set production assistant (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Adam Green	....	Assistant to Mr. Mann (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Paul Hammond	....	commentary (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Amanda Kaplan	....	assistant to dustin hoffman / assistant to Dustin Hoffman (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Eric Aaron Lizer	....	office production assistant (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Kathryn Malm	....	set production assistant / production assistant / ... (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Alison R. Smith	....	horse wrangler (9 episodes, 2011-2012)
Caleb Bacon	....	writers assistant / assistant to writer (9 episodes, 2012)
Scott Winn	....	craft service / key craft service (9 episodes, 2012)
Gregory Alpert	....	location manager (8 episodes, 2012)
Jorge Luis Alvarez	....	key assistant location manager (8 episodes, 2012)
Heather Cohen	....	assistant production office coordinator (8 episodes, 2012)
Josh Deceuster	....	second assistant accountant (8 episodes, 2012)
Ashley T. Farrell	....	production assistant / set production assistant (8 episodes, 2012)
Leo Fialho	....	location scout (8 episodes, 2012)
Gabrielle Glorious	....	first assistant accountant (8 episodes, 2012)
Bernie Granados	....	key construction medic (8 episodes, 2012)
Gina Hendrick	....	production accountant (8 episodes, 2012)
Jo Hill	....	production assistant (8 episodes, 2012)
Andy Kastler	....	payroll assistant (8 episodes, 2012)
Alex Kivlen	....	key assistant location manager (8 episodes, 2012)
Kurt Mangum	....	consultant: visual (8 episodes, 2012)
Hipolito Paul Martinez	....	production staff (8 episodes, 2012)
Kailey Newman	....	production assistant (8 episodes, 2012)
Jennifer Shaw	....	production coordinator (8 episodes, 2012)
B.J. Smith	....	supervising set medic / set medic (8 episodes, 2012)
Marvel Wakefield	....	script supervisor (8 episodes, 2012)
Anita Wilson	....	assistant to Mr. Mann (8 episodes, 2012)
Robert Krauss	....	production assistant / Assistant to Mr. Mann / ... (7 episodes, 2011-2012)
Mark Brown	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 2012)
Kyle Segal	....	production assistant / assistant to co-executive producer (7 episodes, 2012)
Laura Davis	....	behind-the-scenes producer (5 episodes, 2012)
Robert Paulsen	....	key assistant location manager / location scout (5 episodes, 2012)
Ross Tatelman	....	production assistant (5 episodes, 2012)
Chris Winn	....	key craft service (4 episodes, 2011-2012)
Timothy Attewell	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 2012)
Kevin Mills	....	Assistant to Mr. Mann / script coordinator (4 episodes, 2012)
Susie Schelling	....	medical consultant (4 episodes, 2012)
Scott Trimble	....	location scout (4 episodes, 2012)
Clayton Trussell	....	assistant to co-executive producer (4 episodes, 2012)
Hartley Voss	....	production assistant / script coordinator (4 episodes, 2012)
JT Alexander	....	stand-in: Dustin Hoffman (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jossara Jinaro	....	voice (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Trevor Tavares	....	set production assistant (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Michelle Delgado	....	production secretary (3 episodes, 2012)
Sam Gomez	....	assistant location manager (3 episodes, 2012)
Rachel Howard	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 2012)
Matthew Chew	....	animal trainer (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Julie Fenton	....	assistant to co-executive producer (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Peter Siberell	....	representative: Santa Anita Park (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
Cody Smith	....	wrangler (2 episodes, 2011-2012)
John Balicanta	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 2012)
Peter Costelli	....	key assistant location manager (2 episodes, 2012)
Cynthia Kao	....	script coordinator (2 episodes, 2012)
Jeff Lock	....	assistant to Allen Coulter (2 episodes, 2012)
Lindsay Mizrahi	....	location scout (2 episodes, 2012)
Zack Neuman	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 2012)
Ryan Suchor	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 2012)
Elizabeth Wachsberg	....	stand-in (2 episodes, 2012)

Distributors

• Home Box Office (HBO) (2011-) (USA) (TV)
• British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) (2012) (UK) (TV) (Sky Atlantic)
• Canal+ España (2012) (Spain) (TV)
• HBO Hungary (2012) (Hungary) (TV)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Orange Cinéma Séries (2012) (France) (TV)
• SoHo (2012) (New Zealand) (TV)
• TNT Serie (2012) (Germany) (TV)

Special Effects

• Creature Effects (special effects)

Other Companies

• Allan Padelford Camera Cars  camera equipment provided by (Biscuit Jr. Rig)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Christopher Gray Casting  extras casting
• Clairmont Camera  camera equipment provided by (Hollywood, CA)
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Filmtools  expendables
• Imaginary Forces  main title design
• Movie Movers  hair and makeup trailer
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Playback Technologies  video playback
• Reel Security  production security
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services

Also Known As:

Runtime:

52 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Trivia:

Two horses were injured during filming and later euthanized. The American Humane Association released a statement saying that both racehorses suffered severed fractures that were checked by veterinarians and deemed inoperable. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals criticized HBO over the injuries and euthanization of the horses. After the death of a third horse, HBO suspended any filming involving horses while investigations by the AHA took place. It was determined that the third horse was not injured during filming. HBO decided to cancel the series rather than risk any further animal injuries.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Tosh.0: Cliff Jumper (#4.9)" (2012)

Difficult beginning due to jargon, accents and pre-existing conditions. But then...

Although the first episode of this series was painful to get through, each episode thereafter gets better and better. After an inaudible beginning "Luck" just might careers and an industry.

As a horse lover and long time fan of Nick Nolte, I wanted to like this show but the first episode was loaded with track jargon, slang, broken English, low quality sound, and heavy accents. There also wasn't much seen of Nolte in the first episode. Fortunately I had the first 3 episodes programmed on the DVR so I had a vested interest in at least watching these recorded episodes. By the third episode I enabled closed caption so that I could follow better. I wish I had not deleted the first episode because I would have re-watched it in closed caption. This first episode is chock-full of information and innuendos, probably why it was so difficult to get through.

This is unfortunate because the series gets better with each episode and I'm sure the lack of clarity in the beginning has meant the series has lost viewers.

Viewers should know, however, that Nolte and Dustin Hoffman are not in this series for nothing. Nolte, whose notorious good looks is now replaced with grey hair and lots of character is a nostalgic owner/trainer brokenhearted over the past with a keen sense of a good race horse. Hoffman starts out stiff and almost out of place, but then his character is out of place due to a series of previous events.

Integrity and love is really what this series is about. The four gamblers, you find, after a few episodes, really love each other. The jockeys love to ride, Nolte loves horses, and Hoffman loves his right hand man. What seems evident is that some day soon, all of these characters will come together in an as yet unknown common experience.

The sound quality of this series is perhaps the only flaw and it's a big flaw. This seems to be common in today's movies and series. You understood every word Bogart said in Casablanca. It is called "projection." Old school directors and actors knew about this. I don't know what happened or why contemporary films ignores the need for people to hear and understand what characters are saying. It's almost as if they think this some type of technique but it isn't and is surely the reason, perhaps the only reason that this show may not get the viewers it deserves. Despite this,I rate this series high which says just how good this series could be.

If you love horses, racing, Nolte, Hoffman or Farina, I highly recommend this series, despite the audio issues which I hope, given a second season, they fix. If you love a good race, which there seems to be one in almost every episode, this series is also for you. "Luck," given the chance, may revive the horse racing industry. It reminds you of just why this sport is the "sport of kings." Hope they will fix the audio, first time I can remember sound being such a "handicap."