David Byrne's American Utopia (2020)
American Utopia (original title)Reference View | Change View
- TV-14
- 1h 45min
- Documentary, Music
- 17 Oct 2020 (USA)
- Movie
Spike Lee documents the former Talking Heads frontman's brilliant, timely 2019 Broadway show, based on his recent album and tour of the same name.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 19 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| David Byrne | ... |
Self
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Jacqueline Acevedo | ... |
Self - Percussion
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Gustavo Di Dalva | ... |
Self - Percussion
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Daniel Freedman | ... |
Self - Percussion
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Chris Giarmo | ... |
Self - Vocals / Dance & Vocal Captain
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Tim Keiper | ... |
Self - Percussion
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Tendayi Kuumba | ... |
Self - Vocals / Dance
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Karl Mansfield | ... |
Self - Keyboard & Band Leader
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Mauro Refosco | ... |
Self - Percussion & Drum Section Leader
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Stephane San Juan | ... |
Self - Percussion
(as Stéphane San Juan)
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Angie Swan | ... |
Self - Guitar
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Bobby Wooten III | ... |
Self - Bass
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Joseph Fusco | ... |
Theater Usher (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Spike Lee | ||
Written by
| David Byrne | ... | () (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Meredith Bennett | ... | executive producer |
| David Bither | ... | executive producer |
| Len Blavatnik | ... | executive producer |
| David Byrne | ... | executive producer / producer |
| Kristin Caskey | ... | executive producer |
| Patrick Catullo | ... | executive producer |
| Charlie Cohen | ... | executive producer |
| Charlie Cohen | ... | executive producer |
| Kurt Deutsch | ... | executive producer |
| Mike Isaacson | ... | executive producer |
| Jon Kamen | ... | executive producer |
| Spike Lee | ... | executive producer / producer |
| David Linde | ... | executive producer |
| Sue Naegle | ... | co-executive producer |
| Maureen Paglia | ... | associate producer |
| Bill Pohlad | ... | executive producer |
| Justin Realmuto | ... | line producer |
| Alec Sash | ... | supervising producer |
| Dave Sirulnick | ... | executive producer |
| Jeff Skoll | ... | executive producer |
| Diane Weyermann | ... | executive producer |
| Christa Zofcin Workman | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| David Byrne | ||
Cinematography by
| Ellen Kuras | ||
Editing by
| Adam Gough | ||
Editorial Department
| Kyle Casey | ... | digital intermediate producer |
| Christian G. Farfan | ... | conform artist (as Christian Farfan) |
| Sam Fischer | ... | color assist |
| Kyle Flannery | ... | post-production coordinator |
| Joe Gawler | ... | colorist |
| Margaux Hemard | ... | conform assist |
| Max Marcellus | ... | mastering technician |
| Andrew Minogue | ... | mastering technician |
| Michelle Perkowski | ... | color assist |
| Mae Sussman | ... | associate editor |
| Mallory Trice | ... | post-production coordinator |
| Ben Williams | ... | post-production coordinator |
Makeup Department
| Sarah Giggar | ... | makeup artist |
| Greg Purnell | ... | hair stylist |
Production Management
| Constantina Konugres | ... | production supervisor |
| Nina Shiffman | ... | unit production manager |
| Alex Timbers | ... | production consultant |
| Alexis Wiscomb | ... | post-production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Steven Bruno | ... | additional second assistant director |
| Jermaine Sumra | ... | first assistant director |
| Lizz Zanin | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| Akeo Ihara | ... | property master |
| Henry Lockwood | ... | props |
| Rob Sinclair | ... | lighting design |
Sound Department
| Paul Hsu | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Craig Kyllonen | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Dane Lonsdale | ... | additional sound mixer |
| Michael Lonsdale | ... | sound mixer |
| Betsy Nagler | ... | boom operator |
| Philip Stockton | ... | supervising sound editor |
Visual Effects by
| Kyle Casey | ... | DI Producer |
| Mariusz Cichon | ... | key digital imaging technician |
| Othmar Dickbauer | ... | digital imaging technician |
| Artur Dzieweczynski | ... | digital imaging technician |
| Coche Gonzalez | ... | visual effects artist |
| Paul O'Shea | ... | visual effects artist |
| Matthew Olmon | ... | visual effects producer |
| Russell Porchia | ... | digital compositor: 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks |
| Victor Torres | ... | visual effects artist |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Greg Addison | ... | gaffer |
| Peter Agliata | ... | camera operator |
| Tony Arnaud | ... | dolly grip |
| Paul Bode | ... | libra technician |
| John Cardoni | ... | best boy electric |
| Rudie Carty | ... | best boy grip |
| Daniel Casey | ... | first assistant camera: b camera |
| Nina Chien | ... | first assistant camera |
| Matthew Cianfrani | ... | second assistant camera |
| John Clemens | ... | first assistant camera |
| Lamont Crawford | ... | key grip |
| Kerwin DeVonish | ... | camera operator |
| Brett Dicus | ... | technical manager |
| Rick Gioia | ... | key first assistant camera |
| Tim Ives | ... | camera operator |
| Aaron Jacobs | ... | grip |
| Jasper Johnson | ... | dolly grip |
| Jason Knobloch | ... | first assistant camera |
| David Lee | ... | still photographer |
| Jordan Levie | ... | second assistant camera |
| Sam Levy | ... | camera operator |
| Charles Libin | ... | camera operator |
| Nathan McGarigal | ... | second assistant camera |
| Parish McLean | ... | grip |
| Charlie McNamara | ... | third electric |
| Adam Miller | ... | first assistant camera |
| Peter Morello | ... | first assistant camera |
| Joseph Paolini | ... | dolly grip |
| Robert Patterson | ... | first assistant camera |
| Filipp Penson | ... | first assistant camera |
| Declan Quinn | ... | camera operator |
| Al Rodgers | ... | scorpio technician |
| Walter F. Rodriguez | ... | first assistant camera |
| Brian Spett | ... | associate lighting designer/lighting programmer |
| Eric Swanek | ... | first assistant camera |
| Yousheng Tang | ... | steadicam operator |
| Gregor Tavenner | ... | camera operator |
| Jeff Taylor | ... | second assistant camera |
| Xavier Venosta | ... | first assistant camera |
| Lee Walker | ... | dolly grip |
| David Waterston | ... | camera operator |
Location Management
| John Maher | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Jacquelene Acevedo | ... | Percussion |
| Gustavo Di Dalva | ... | Percussion |
| Daniel Freedman | ... | Percussion |
| Chris Giarmo | ... | Vocals/Dance & Vocal Captain |
| Howard Joines | ... | music coordinator |
| Tim Keiper | ... | Percussion |
| Pete Keppler | ... | music mixer |
| Tendayi Kuumba | ... | Vocals/Dance |
| Karl Mansfield | ... | Keyboard and Band Leader |
| Mauro Refosco | ... | Percussion & Drum Section Leader |
| Stephane San Juan | ... | Percussion (as Stephanie San Juan) |
| Angie Swan | ... | Guitar and Vocals |
| Allison Wood | ... | music |
| Bobby Wooten III | ... | Bass and Vocals |
Script and Continuity Department
| Lashawn Garnes | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| John Buckley | ... | driver |
| Jonathan Culver | ... | driver |
| Darada David | ... | driver |
| Norman Dhana | ... | driver |
| Barry Dmiszewicki | ... | driver |
| Megan Forste | ... | driver |
| Brian Kelly | ... | driver |
| Oscar Moreira | ... | driver captain |
| Anthony Pappalardo | ... | driver |
| Ivan Rana | ... | driver |
Additional Crew
| Judy Aley | ... | archival research & clearances |
| Jason Beekman | ... | legal counsel: RadicalMedia |
| Anthony Benedetti | ... | utility |
| Peter Boychuk | ... | supervising DI producer |
| Gabriel Brakin | ... | Chief Operating Officer for Participant |
| Luke Breland | ... | production assistant |
| Erik Ciminelli | ... | utility |
| Greg Coffey | ... | craft service |
| Rebecca Cohen | ... | production accountant: RadicalMedia |
| Chris Conod | ... | utility |
| Anna Dantas | ... | production assistant (as Anna Maria de Souza Dantas) |
| Trey Davis | ... | production assistant |
| Lizzie Dement | ... | associate choreographer |
| Julie Devore | ... | assistant stage manager |
| Prince Elder | ... | production assistant |
| Andrew Francis | ... | production assistant |
| Rachael Fung | ... | account executive |
| Les Haber | ... | creative consultant |
| Lon Haber | ... | publicist |
| Brendan Hermes | ... | executive producer: Outpost Digital |
| Jonathan Herrera | ... | production a2 comms |
| Pete Holevas | ... | production assistant |
| Stefanie Holmes | ... | VP: business & legal affairs: Participant |
| Christopher Jackson | ... | production assistant |
| Levi Jacobs | ... | public relations team |
| Greg Kanan | ... | tv tech engineer |
| Niki Kazakos | ... | head of communications: RadicalMedia |
| John King | ... | deputy general manager: Hudson Theatre |
| Curt Kuhl | ... | support engineer |
| Cathy Kwon | ... | foresight theatrical company manager |
| Greg Livoti | ... | stage manager |
| Joe Mancusi | ... | head utility |
| Neil Mazzella | ... | production manager: Hudson Scenic |
| Christianna Miller | ... | production coordinator |
| Niklas Moller | ... | production assistant |
| Samantha Mustari | ... | entertainment coordinator: RadicalMedia |
| Jeff Paredes | ... | production assistant |
| Eric Paris | ... | general manager: Hudson Theatre |
| Annie-B. Parson | ... | choreography and musical staging |
| Todd Piskin | ... | company manager |
| Rebecca Popple | ... | production assistant |
| Jerome Raim | ... | support engineer |
| Alexander Santoro | ... | chief technical engineer: Outpost Digital |
| Sebastian Schinkel | ... | production a2 comms |
| Peryn Schmitt | ... | theatre operations manager: Hudson Theatre |
| Amanda Silverstein | ... | production assistant |
| Amanda Silverstein | ... | production assistant |
| Gautam Sinha | ... | support engineer |
| Franklin Swann | ... | production manager: Hudson Scenic |
| Jeannine Tang | ... | general counsel: Participant |
| Reggie Thomas | ... | production assistant |
| James Uminowicz | ... | senior producer: Outpost Digital |
| Trish Ward-Torres | ... | VP: Production - Documemtary Film |
| Allan Williams | ... | foresight theatrical gm partner |
| Erena Willis | ... | production assistant |
Thanks
| Kevin Emrick | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
- 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
- HBO Documentary Films
- Participant
- RadicalMedia
- River Road Entertainment
- Spike Lee Joint
- Todo Mundo
- Warner Music Group
Distributors
- Iconic Events Releasing (2021) (United States) (theatrical)
- Parco Co. Ltd. (2021) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2021) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- HBO Latin America (2020) (Argentina) (tv)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Home Box Office (HBO) (2020) (United States)
- Universal Pictures Content Group (World-wide) (202)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (2021) (Finland) (tv) (also Internet)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks (editing facility)
- ATG Tickets (theatre ticketing)
- AbelCine (cameras and lenses)
- DA People's Republic of Brooklyn (editing facility)
- Foresight Theatrical (theatre management)
- Getty Images (archival provided by)
- Harbor Picture Company (post-production facilities)
- Hudson Theatrical Associates (theatre management)
- Mídia Ninja (archival provided by)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
This movie is an intimately shot and thus presented live performance of David Byrne's Broadway show American Utopia which emerged from his album of the same name, the album from which most of the songs performed are taken. The show itself is part concert, part musical theater, part performance art, but always Byrne's commentary on the human condition, largely of humankind trying to find its place in a world that often does not make sense. That place includes finding those much needed connections to each other in his wish, as a naturalized U.S. citizen, for society to move closer to his vision of an American utopia. Written by Huggo |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | If you look carefully, you will notice small spheres on the shoulders of all of the suits. These are tiny BlackTrax infrared transmitters which enable the lights to automatically track performers as they move around the stage. When they leave the stage to march through the theatre, you will notice some of these trackers glowing slightly. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Stacey Abrams/David Byrne/Sonny Emory (2020). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Here See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The end credits are shown on half the screen, while on the other half the band is seen cycling through New York. The music played is 'Everybody's Coming To My House' in the version by Vocal Jazz Ensemble of the Detroit School of Arts. See more » |
| Quotes |
David Byrne:
[addressing the audience]
My name is David Byrne. [the audience responds with thunderous applause and cheers] David Byrne: Thank you. I can't take any credit for that. I had no choice in the matter. See more » |