Gimme the Loot (2012)

Director:

Adam Leon

Writer:

Adam Leon

Release Date:

2 January 2013 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Plot:

When their latest work is buffed by a rival crew, two determined graffiti writers embark on an elaborate plan to bomb the ultimate location: the New York Mets' Home Run Apple.

Plot Keywords:

Graffiti | Gang | Drug Dealer | Drugs | Jogging

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Tashiana Washington	...	Sofia
Ty Hickson	...	Malcolm
Meeko	...	Champion
Zoë Lescaze	...	Ginnie
Sam Soghor	...	Lenny
Adam Metzger	...	Donnie
Greyson Cruz	...	Alfonso
James Harris Jr.	...	Ronaldo
Joshua Rivera	...	Rico
Melvin Mogoli	...	Kaps
Hot Mess	...	Leah Hennessey
Howard Donowitz	...	Hardware Store Owner
Konstantinos Kliakas	...	Gus
Angelo Rodriguez	...	Sal
Nicole M. Ayala	...	Spanish Girl
Stephanie Solis	...	Spanish Girl
Jose Rivera	...	Bicycle Thief
Nick Zayas	...	Bicycle Thief
Hasham Kassim	...	Cell Deli Dude
Chris Bond	...	Bodega Bouncer
Hasan Williams	...	Trash Talker
Al Malby	...	Al
Gaston Monescu	...	Monkey Man
Jamund Washington	...	Bird Man
Rabbit Man	...	Himself
Gabriel Millman	...	Woodside Crew
Kim Blaschue	...	Woodside Crew
Brandon Medina	...	Woodside Crew
Matteo Mobilio	...	Woodside Crew
Marina Cukeric	...	Australian Girl
Pip White	...	Wallflower
Matthew Thomas Leon	...	Powder Nash
Bridign Brown	...	Players and Partiers
Lyssa Coote	...	Players and Partiers
Matthew Dixon	...	Players and Partiers
Pierre V. Earlington	...	Players and Partiers
Aaren Fisher	...	Players and Partiers
Gavin Jarvis	...	Players and Partiers
Josh Joya	...	Players and Partiers
George Lleves	...	Players and Partiers
Monique Millett	...	Players and Partiers
Charnay Nesbitt	...	Players and Partiers
Kadijah Ponten	...	Players and Partiers
Johnathan Rivera	...	Players and Partiers
Isaac Russell	...	Players and Partiers
Khayri Smith	...	Players and Partiers

Directed by
Adam Leon

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Adam Leon

Produced by
Dominic Buchanan	....	producer
Jonathan Demme	....	presents
Natalie Difford	....	producer
Sam Soghor	....	associate producer
Jamund Washington	....	producer

Original Music by
Nicholas Britell

Cinematography by
Jonathan Miller

Film Editing by
Morgan Faust

Casting by
Lindsay Burdge
Eleonore Hendricks

Production Design by
Katie Hickman
Sam Lisenco

Production Management
Kishori Rajan	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kishori Rajan	....	second assistant director
Jamund Washington	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Nick Dyball	....	titles
Jared Hutchinson	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Rachel Chancey	....	sound effects editor
Martin Czembor	....	sound re-recording mixer
Martin Czembor	....	supervising sound editor
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Mary Ellen Porto	....	sound editor
Anthony Thompson Jr.	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Matt Garland	....	assistant camera
Raina Oberlin	....	gaffer

Editorial Department
Alex Craig	....	colorist
Thomas Niles	....	first assistant editor
Michael J. Palmer	....	additional editor
Chell Stephen	....	additional editor
Pierce Varous	....	digital intermediate producer

Music Department
Connie Farr	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Joey Azoulai	....	production assistant
Annie Cosgrove	....	production assistant
A.J. Gonzalez Jr.	....	production assistant
Pip White	....	assistant coordinator

Thanks
Eve Battaglia	....	special thanks
Jordan Bayne	....	thanks
Byron Habinsky	....	thanks
Bennett McGhee	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Seven For Ten

Distributors

• Diaphana Films (2013) (France) (theatrical)
• Sundance Selects (2012) (USA) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Kickstarter  funding
• Nice Dissolve  DI facility

Runtime:

79 min | USA:81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

USA:Not Rated | UK:15 | Ireland:15A

Filming Locations:

Cornell's True Value Hardware, Eastchester, New York, USA

Company:

Seven For Ten

Movie Connections:

References Goodfellas (1990)

A Very Foreign Film... Set in New York!

When most people think of foreign film, they think of films in a language they don't understand, locations they've never been to, actors they've never heard of, and stories unique to a specific culture. We often fail to acknowledge that there are places and cultures within our own borders that can be just as foreign to us as any Asian or European community.

"Gimme the Loot," which is playing at the San Francisco International Film Festival, is just such a film. Set in New York City's Borough of the Bronx (talk about a foreign land!) the film tells the story of Malcolm and Sofia, a "tagging team" that set their sights on the greatest "bombing" target in the history of New York graffiti. All they need is $500 to get access to the sight. And so the adventure begins…

And that is just what this film really is – an urban adventure story. The story of two young people who set out on a trek and what happens to them along the way. If you're put off by the setting, or the language (which seems to have been scripted by David Mamet in the opening scene,) or the "Maguffin" of the graffiti bomb, please don't be. All those things are ancillary in this tale of the challenges in navigating the foreign land of inner city New York and what happens along the way. It's a funny, harsh, sweet, heartbreaking and oddly (though not unexpectedly) optimistic movie. For all the wrongdoing the couple perpetrate in their attempt to achieve their goal, you end up really liking the characters and kind of wishing they succeed.

The two lead actors, Ty Hickson and Tashiana Washington, are terrific in their roles. While their inexperience shows through at times, for the most part they ARE Malcolm and Sophia. The director, Adam Leon, assured the Festival audience that they are both nothing like their characters ("Ty actually wears bow ties all the time.")

Leon also had the advantage of having a former NYC tour guide work as his location scout, so the film transports you into parts of New York that you'd never get to see get to see on your standard city excursion. Shot on location over 21 days, every setting seems just right for this story.

Special note should also be given to the soundtrack, which is absolutely what you would NOT expect for a story with characters of their age and environment. One would expect a plethora of hip hop or rap pulsing throughout the film, but be prepared for something just a little different.

This is writer/director Leon's first feature and he's manages to deliver a film that, while small in budget, is big in heart. Well worth seeking out…

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