America Doesn't Exist (1976)
Based on short story Amerika gibt es nicht by Peter Bichsel
Screenplay by Bill Hutchinson
2016 is the 40th anniversary of the initial release of Bill Hutchinson's 1976 film adaptation of Peter Bichsel's German short story America Doesn't Exist (Amerika gibt es nicht).
Sandy (Alexander) Mackendrick, Dean of CalArts (California Institute of the Arts) film school, always told his students to keep their film pitches short, preferably limiting the pitch to no more than three minutes. As students would start to present their pitch, Sandy would take an hourglass egg-timer and turned it upside down to ensure everyone saw the remaining time before the pitch should end.
Not only did the pitch for America Doesn't Exist end before the final grain of sand fell to the bottom chamber of the egg-timer, the final film, following the credits, is exactly three minutes.
Credits:
Special thanks to:
Eva-Maria Fallone
Luchterhand Verlag
Walt Disney Productions
Cast
Colombin.....Chris Anderson
King........Robert Wahlborg
Amerigo........Nathan Garcia
Peasant..............Cherie Godt
Narrated by
Matt West
Director of Photography
Bruce E. Nolte
Editor
Bill Hutchinson
Sound
Darrel Johansen
Mix
Don Worthen
Music Composed by
Mark Hoder
Produced and Directed by
Bill Hutchinson
Produced at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)