PRODUCTION NOTES AMERICANO
Written, Directed, and Produced by
Kevin Noland
At noon on Sunday the sixth of July the fiesta exploded.
There is no other way to describe it.
- Ernest Hemingway
Starring
Joshua Jackson
Timm Sharp
Ruthanna Hopper
and
Dennis Hopper
SYNOPSIS:
AMERICANO is set against the backdrop of the country's centuries-old Fiesta de San Fermin, better known as The Running of the Bulls at Pamplona. Chris McKinley (Joshua Jackson), a recent college graduate backpacking through Europe, savors his last three days of freedom before boarding the career fast track back in the States. In Pamplona for The Running of the Bulls with his best friend, Ryan (Sharp), and Ryan's girlfriend Michelle (Ruthanna Hopper), Chris meets a quintessential Spanish beauty Adela (Leonor Varela) and an enigmatic provocateur Riccardo (Dennis Hopper), both of whom encourage him to rethink his life. As the minutes and seconds until his departure tick away, Chris struggles with an age-old question - should he follow the beaten path, or risk it all on the road less traveled?
WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER Kevin Noland
Kevin Noland (Writer/Director/Producer)
brings a 5-year labor of love to a near close with his debut feature film Americano.
Born on an Indian reservation in Washington State and spending his
formative years living in Saudi Arabia, Noland has had the unique
opportunity to grow up traveling the world and observing cultures from
different perspectives. Coupled with a passion for the European cinema
styles of Godard, Fellini, and Truffaut, he came to Los Angeles after
graduating from the University of Washington to make films that would introduce
audiences to the importance of travel, discovery and experiencing life outside
your own comfort zone.
Noland began working in production for television and commercials, then produced
the feature film Cold Hearts for Showtime. He also produced the award winning
Crossing Chords for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's Pearl Street Productions.
In
addition to film, Noland directed the Arthur Miller play Death of a Salesman.
PRIMARY CAST
Chris McKinley - JOSHUA JACKSON
Adella - LEONOR VARELA
Ryan - TIMM SHARP
Michelle - RUTHANNA HOPPER
Riccardo Wapato - DENNIS HOPPER ABOUT THE CAST
JOSHUA JACKSON (Chris McKinley) plays a recent college graduate making serious life decisions during his last three days of a month-long, backpacking trek through Europe.
Although perhaps most widely known as "Dawson's Creek's" fast-talking, self-deprecating Pacey Witter, Joshua has been working in front of the camera for fifteen years. His first feature film was Michael Bortman's "Crooked Hearts," which was quickly followed by the "Mighty Ducks" trilogy, "Digger" and "Andre the Seal." Joshua became a leading man in Universal Pictures' "The Skulls," and more recently starred in Rose Troche's acclaimed drama "The Safety of Objects" and the HBO Films version of Moises Kaufman's groundbreaking play "The Laramie Project." He also had noted cameos in Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's 11," "Scream 2" and "Urban Legend," and featured performances in "Gossip," Bryan Singer's "Apt Pupil" and "Cruel Intentions."
Joshua's upcoming projects include Frederik Du Chau's live-action/CG animated family film "Racing Stripes," in which he'll voice a thoroughbred racing horse; and Adam Goldberg's dark comedy "I Love Your Work," making its debut at this year's Toronto International Film Festival and also starring Giovanni Ribisi, Franka Potente, Christina Ricci, Vince Vaughn and Jason Lee.
During the sixth and final season of "Dawson's Creek," Joshua got behind the camera to make his directorial debut on an episode called "Lovelines."
LEONOR VARELA (Adela), stars in AMERICANO as Adela, a quintessential Spanish beauty whose artistry and passion have profound influence on Chris.
International film star, Leonor Varela, first came to the attention of American audiences when she starred in ABC's critically-acclaimed mini-series "Cleopatra". Varela will next be seen in the heartbreaking film, "Innocent Voices". Directed by Luis Mandoki and produced by Lawrence Bender, the film will be Mexico's official "Best Foreign Language Film" entry for the 77th Annual Academy Awards (2005). The film received rave reviews at the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival, the 2004 AFI Film Festival and won "Best Movie of the Year" at the Puerto Vallarta Film Festival.
Varela's immense talent is evident by the diversity of the roles she has portrayed. She starred opposite Wesley Snipes in New Line's "Blade II", starred opposite Geoffrey Rush in "Tailor of Panama", starred opposite Ashton Kutcher and Dylan McDermott in the feature film "Texas Rangers" and appeared as a recurring guest lead in the Emmy-winning FOX series "Arrested Development".
Varela reached international stardom for her performance opposite Jean Reno and Gerard Depardieu in the mega-hit French comedy "Tais-Toi"(aka SHUT UP) which remained number one at the French box office for many weeks, and for her portrayal of a free-spirited, liberal Spanish surgeon in the French film "Pas Si Grave" directed by Bernard Rapp.
TIMM SHARP (Ryan), Timm Sharp plays AMERICANO's Ryan Greene, Chris' best friend and traveling companion, who's also struggling to find his way.
A native of Fargo, North Dakota, Timm graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, after which he immediately joined the cast of Judd Apatow's FOX series "Undeclared." He had a recurring role on HBO's award-winning "Six Feet Under," and appeared in FOX's "Malcolm in the Middle."
Timm's feature film credits include the heist comedy "Stark Raving Mad" opposite Sean William Scott and the independent film "King of the Ants" for cult director Stuart Gordon. Also a screenwriter, Timm wrote the ensemble dramedy "Standing Still," which is in pre-production with Matthew Weiss directing.
A singer and guitarist, Timm plays in two local Los Angeles bands, Good Song and Killola.
RUTHANNA HOPPER (Michelle), In addition to serving as a producer of AMERICANO, Ruthanna Hopper plays Michelle, the third of a backpacking triumvirate and a young woman at a crossroads in her life.
Born in Taos, New Mexico and raised in Marin County, California, Ruthanna is the daughter of award-winning actor Dennis Hopper and celebrated dancer and actress Daria Halprin. She began her career by studying the Meisner technique at the William Esper Studio in New York. During a trial month in Los Angeles, she landed roles in the independent films "Dancing at the Blue Iguana," "Buying the Cow" and "Crossing Cords," and decided to relocate to the West Coast.
On the set of "Crossing Cords," Ruthanna met Kevin Noland, who was producing the film for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's Pearl Street. Kevin shared his script AMERICANO with Ruthanna and offered her the role of Michelle. In the summer of 2000, they traveled to Spain, and shot some of the original draft. Ruthanna is the only actor to appear in both the initial research footage and the film, and has been instrumental in getting the independent picture made.
Born and raised in Kansas, Dennis later moved to San Diego, where graduated from high school and first performed at the La Jolla Playhouse. Among his first feature film credits were "Rebel without a Cause" and "Giant." Soon after, he became a contracted actor with Warner Bros. who lent him out to Paramount and 20th Century for "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" and "From Hell to Texas." After the latter film, Dennis moved to New York, where he studied for five years with Lee Strasberg, appeared in over 140 early television shows and made his Broadway debut in "Mandingo."
In the 1960s, Dennis appeared movies like "Hang 'em High," "Cool Hand Luke" and "True Grit," and in 1969 he co-wrote, directed and starred in "Easy Rider." The classic counterculture film was recognized as Best First Work at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was also nominated for the Golden Palm, and with a Special Award from the National Society of Film Critics. It also garnered Dennis nominations for an Academy Award (for Best Screenplay) and Writers Guild of America Award. He documented the decade in photography, and his photos were published in a book called Out of the 60's in 1986.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Dennis continued to star in foreign and domestic movies, such as Wim Wenders' "The American Friend;" "Apocalypse Now;" "Blue Velvet" (awards from the National Society of Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Boston Society of Film Critics and Montreal World Film Festival and nominations for a Golden Globe and Independent Spirit Award); "Hoosiers" (Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations); and "River's Edge." In 1988, he directed the acclaimed film "Colors." In the 1990s, he directed "The Hot Spot" and "Chasers," as well as starred in "Paris Trout" (Emmy Award nomination), "True Romance," "Red Rock West," "Speed" and "Basquiat," among others. In 2002, he starred in the FOX television series "24."
In recent years, the respected veteran actor has received lifetime achievement awards from the San Sebastian International Film Festival, Santa Monica Film Festival and Empire Awards (UK), as well as a Maverick Award from the Taos Talking Picture Festival and a Role Model Award from the Young Hollywood Awards. Currently, Dennis is preparing to shoot "Gangster," a film that begins shooting in Romania later this month.
PRIMARY CREW
Producers
Mark Edward RobertsRuthanna HopperKelly NolandKevin NolandNick SatrianoMaricel PagulayanClark McCutchen Executive Producers
Michelle Bircumshaw
Gustavo Ron
Co-Producer
Alvaro Ron
Director of Photography
Robert Christopher Webb
Editor
Kevin Krasny
Casting Director
Karen Meisel Music Supervisor
Rochelle Sharpe Original Score
Peter Golub UPM
Maricel Pagulayan 1st AD
Candela Figueira FULL CAST AND CREW
CHRIS McKINLEY - Joshua Jackson
ADELLA - Leonor Varela
RYAN - Timm Sharp
MICHELLE - Ruthanna Hopper
GARETH - Phil Barantini
RICCARDO WAPATO - Dennis Hopper
PRANKSTER - Marlon Grace
WALTER - Mark Edward Roberts
GYPSY THIEF - David Aguilar
ADIOS GIRL - Ashley Eisenhauer
BULLFIGHTER - Francisco Marco
DRUNK SAN FERMIN WOMAN - Monica Echeverria
GUSTAVO - Rodrigo Garcia
LITTLE WAITER #1 - Steve Babiar
LITTLE WAITER #2 - Joe Gieb
LITTLE MATADOR - Martin Klebba?
ARUNA CAFE WAITER - Jose Luis
PIMPLED WAITER - Eduardo Laporte
DRUNK WOMAN - Heather Levinson
STORYTELLER - Annie Noland
JOTA SINGER - Maria Salvatierra
STUNT COORDINATOR
Eric Rondell
STUNT PLAYERS
Steve Babiar
Joe Gieb
Martin Klebba
CREATIVE CONSULTANT
Derek
Austin
SCRIPT SUPERVISOR (SPAIN)
Stefan
de Vries
SCRIPT SUPERVISOR (L.A.)
Laurie
Esser
CAMERA
CAMERA OPERATOR
Douglas
Glover
STEADICAM OPERATOR
BJ
McDonnell
1st ASSISTANT CAMERA
Katie
Bogner
Lewis Fowler
1st ASSISTANT CAMERA (L.A.)
Cory Clay
Cale Finot
2nd ASSISTANT CAMERA (L.A.)
Dustin Fruge
Vessie Kazachka
Tom Kirlin
LOADER (L.A.)
Derek
Ho
LOADER (SPAIN)
Pello
Gutierrez
SET OPERATIONS
Michael
Dullanty
VIDEO ASSIST
Soren Garcia-Rey
SECOND UNIT
ECOND UNIT DIRECTORS
Francis
Dreis
2nd UNIT DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Douglas
Glover
ELECTRIC
GAFFER
Eric
Boland
RIGGING GAFFER/ ELECTRIC
Richard Warner Rasmussen
BEST BOY ELECTRIC
Eric
Gonzalez
ELECTRIC/GRIP
Matthew
Perry
GRIP
KEY GRIP
Timothy
Shawn Neary
BEST BOY GRIP
Brian
Moynihan
RIGGING KEY
Marcello
Colacilli
GRIP
Omar
Pea
ART DEPARTMENT
PROP MASTER (L.A.)
Cynthia
Nibler
ASSISTANT PROP MASTER (L.A.)
Lou
Niles
SET DECORATOR (L.A.)
Christy
McCaffrey
LEADMAN (L.A.)
Chris
Wessman
SET DRESSERS (L.A.)
Aaron
Acord
Justin T. Allen
Paul Dove
SCENIC PAINTER
Scott
Cassidy
SHOPPERS (L.A.)
Meg
Everist
Sara Newey
ART DIRECTOR (SPAIN)
Jason
Baldwin
PROP MASTER (SPAIN)
Paula
Trincado
SET DRESSERS (SPAIN)
Jimena
Jusue
Lorea Mendez
Mikel Larrayoz
SET ARTIST
Laura
Liz Nelson
ART JOURNALIST
Vincent
Lucido
2ND ASSISTANT DIRECTORS
2ND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (L.A.)
Daniela
De Carlo
2ND 2ND ASSISTANT DIRECTORS (L.A.)
Colleen Casey
Pilar Posse
PRODUCTION SOUND
SOUND MIXER (L.A.)
Mark Epstein
BOOM OPERATORS (L.A.)
Steve
Klinghoffer
Frank Zaragoza
CABLE INTERN (L.A.)
Lori
Gurin
SOUND MIXER (SPAIN)
Mary
Erstad
BOOM OPERATOR (SPAIN)
Marlon
Grace
COSTUMES
COSTUME DESIGNERS (L.A.)
Diane
Roberts?
Jean C.J. Bone
COSTUMER (L.A.)
Laura
Flores
WARDROBE ASSISTANT (L.A.)
Christina
Manville
COSTUMER (SPAIN)
Nerea
Landa
HAIR & MAKE UP
MAKE UP ARTISTS (L.A.)
Nicole Bolin
Shelli Hodges
Andrea Wolfe
HAIR/MAKE UP ASSISTANTS (L.A.)
Takako
Clark
Laura L. Yocum
MAKE UP ASSISTANT (L.A.)
Trista
Wahl
MAKE UP ARTIST (SPAIN)
Arantza
Otel
MAKE UP ASSISTANT (SPAIN)
Sara
Legasa
HAIRDRESSER (SPAIN)
Vanessa
Polo Calvo
LEONOR VARELA HAIR (SPAIN)
Alberto
Cerdan
PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Maitena
Muruzabal
PRODUCTION CONSULTANT
Quim
Torrents
KEY SET P.A. (SPAIN)
David
Aguilar
OFFICE PA (SPAIN)
Marta
Yudego
PAs (SPAIN)
Diana
Nava
Elena Alvaro
Marga Arraiza
Iris Ascenzo Arroyo
Itziar Garcia Zubiri
Juan Casualduero Viu
Nagore Mata
Naroa Sancho Amundarain
Sara Martorell
INTERN COORDINATOR (L.A.)
Taeyun
(Tae) Kim
KEY SET PA (L.A.)
Keith Roberts
PAs (L.A.)
Alba
Morera
Andrea Carrion
Barbara Saenz de Buruaga
Bill Rainusso
Bryan
Amburgey
Daniela
De Carlo
Esther
Ellsworth
Mark
Allen Staubach
Paul
Pastor
Quint
Jenkins
Rubn Muoz Martinez
Sanjay Nambiar
Sean Afsahi
Tony Buccola
Tyler Wirtanen
TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION CO-CAPTAINS (L.A.)
Geno
Hart
Dash Hart
DRIVER
Rod
Brodie
HONEYWAGON DRIVER
James
Lee
TRANPORTATION COORDINATOR (SPAIN)
Merc Pujol
DRIVER (SPAIN)
Luis
Labarga
CASTING
CASTING ASSISTANT
Vanessa
Schiff
ADDITIONAL CASTING
Jim
Tarzia
EXTRAS CASTING (L.A.)
Bill
Dance Casting
EXTRAS CASTING (SPAIN)
David
Aguilar Casting
PUBLICITY
PUBLICIST
Elissa
Johansmeier
PUBLICIST
Hilary
Carver
EPK/ BTS (LA)
Migueltxo
Molina
Nobuo Shima
UNIT PHOTOGRAPHER/ EPK/BTS (SPAIN)
David
George Ellis
UNIT PHOTOGRAPHERS (LA)
Lara
Porzak
Audie England
WEBSITE DESIGN
Ahmet
Sakar
LOCATIONS
LOCATION MANAGER (SPAIN)
Eduardo
Laporte
Migueltxo Molina
LOCATION MANAGER (L.A.)
Jay
Brown
CRAFT SERVICES (L.A.)
Meti
Kusari
CATERING (SPAIN)
Bon
Apetit Catering
Sarayoa
CRAFT SERVICES (SPAIN)
Macro
ACCOUNTANT
Belinda
Ellis
C.A.S.T. SECURITY (L.A.)
Art
Estrada
Mike Friedman
STUDIO TEACHER
Lynn
R. Raines
SET MEDIC
Thomas
Dowd
PITBULLS
Alvin's Animal Rentals
ANIMAL HANDLERS (L.A.)
Richard
Calkins
Ronnie Iglesias
Precious McClendon
Terrell Elliott
EDITORIAL
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Terri
Breed
ADDITIONAL EDITING
David
B. Baron
ADDITIONAL EDITING ASSISTANCE
Casey
Chin
ASSISTANT EDITORS
Jimmy
Sandoval
Julia Gaudette
BTS EDITING
Migueltxo
Molina
EDITORIAL CONSULTANT
Keith
Robinson
POST PRODUCTION SOUND
POST PRODUCTION SOUND SUPERVISOR
Perry
Robertson
POST PRODUCTION SOUND FACILITIES
The
Sound Shop
Ear Candy
EFFECTS EDITOR
Howard
Johnston
FOLEY
Mike
Brillantes
FINAL SOUND MIX
Westwind
Media
Larry Stensvold
Stephen Fitzmaurice
DIGITAL INTERMEDIATE
DIGITAL INTERMEDIATE SUPERVISOR
Keith
Robinson
DIGITAL ITERMEDIATE FACILITIES
FotoKem
HD TELECINE COLORIST
Willie
Lawton
NEGATIVE CUTTER
Richard
Flores
TITLES
Keith
Robinson
VENDORS
TELECINE - LOS ANGELES
Entertainment
Post
TELECINE - SPAIN
ImageFilm
S.A.
SOUND RENTALS SPAIN
OVIDE
SOUND RENTALS SPAIN
Info
TV
CUSTOMS BROKERS
Film
Logic Customs Brokers
LIGHT/GRIP EQUIPMENT RENTAL SPAIN
Argilun
LIGHT/GRIP EQUIPMENT RENTAL
L.A. Colacilli Motion
Picture
EQUIPMENT
PROPS
Universal
Studios
STOCK FOOTAGE
rtve
INSURANCE
England
Insurance Brokers, LTD.
AVID RENTAL
Entertainment
Post
AVID RENTAL
Motion
Arts
LOCATIONS AGENT
(L.A.)Unreel
Locations
CAMERA RENTALS
Alan
Gordon Camera Rentals
PAYROLL
Media
Services
PERMITS
EIDC
TRANSPORTATION
Camera
Cars Unlimited
TRANSPORTATION
Hart
Entertainment Corp.
AMERICANO
Director's Statement
written by: Kevin Noland
AMERICANO is a cross-cultural love story about Chris McKinley (Joshua Jackson), a recent college graduate whose backpacking experience through Europe with friends Ryan Green (Timm Sharp) and Michelle Romaine (Ruthanna Hopper) culminates at the infamous San Fermin festival in Pamplona, Spain. With only a few days left before he is to return home he meets the quintessential Spanish beauty (Leonor Varela) and an enigmatic ex-patriot club owner Riccardo Wapato (Dennis Hopper), all of whom challenge him to rethink his life. As the minutes and seconds until his departure tick away, Chris struggles with an age-old question: Should he follow the beaten path or risk it all on the road less traveled.
What inspired the story? That enchanting feeling of waking up in a foreign country at dawn and looking out the window and realizing you are totally surrounded by adventure. I wanted to capture the beauty of truly experiencing other cultures. I wanted to show why it's important to step outside our system and look at it from a different perspective. Life is a mysterious entity held together through a web of diversity. How boring the world would be if there was one terrain, one language, one way of doing things. Divided we stand.
I knew in order to provoke people to travel I would have to put the audience inside a mysterious world most have never experienced. Therefore, the choice was made to take an enormous, albeit calculated risk. In the process of bringing this story to the screen, the cast and crew literally risked their lives. They actually ran with the bulls to bring a level of reality to the picture that would allow the audience to experience the "awakening" of Chris McKinley. Joshua Jackson even slapped a charging bull as it was captured on camera. Furthermore, we enlisted a professional Spanish bullfighter to allow us to film him during an actual bullfight at the San Fermin festival. Shooting real time inside a packed arena had not been done until AMERICANO, which allowed me to provoke important discussions of cultural relativism.
Inside the story of AMERICANO the characters ponder their passions and their beliefs as they absorb the experiences of the festival and the beauty of Spain. This is the time of their lives when they are expected to shut the door of their youth and open a new door to the unknown of their adult lives. Their travels teach them to see rather than merely look. They have been programmed to think one way; yet travel opens their minds to consider the world. They realize what is important to them may be questionable to another culture. In the end, a fresh perspective is gained thus allowing for a renewed balance in their lives.
The power of travel has become a movement of enlightenment. I hope AMERICANO inspires further exploration of one?s self through the world of other cultures.