American Gun (2005 film)

American Gun is a 2005 American film produced by Participant Productions, IFC Films, IFC First Take, and Spirit Dance Entertainment. It was written in 2001 by Steven Bagatourian and Aric Avelino and directed by Avelino as his directorial debut.

Contents

• American gun trailer
• american gun 2005 trailer
• Plot
• Cast
• Distribution
• Awards
• References

Avelino attended Loyola Marymount University and made the film with many LMU alumni, including producer Ted Kroeber.

The film took two and a half years to finance. The central idea came from a "Column One" article in the Los Angeles Times. In addition, the writers were influenced by a friend from the Chicago school district who related stories about how students brought guns to school, not to use them on campus, but because of the dangerous neighborhoods they live in or walk through to attend classes. Avelino was very appreciative of the directorial advice of Forest Whitaker, one of the film's producers. The first actress attached to the project was Marcia Gay Harden.

Plot

American Gun centers around three stories dealing with the results of gun use: an inner city school principal (Whitaker), a single mother (Harden), and an A student (Cardellini) who works at her family's gun shop.

Cast

Marcia Gay Harden – Janet Huttenson

Forest Whitaker – Carter

Donald Sutherland – Carl Wilk

Lisa Long – Sandra Cohen

Arlen Escarpeta – Jay

Chris Warren Jr. – Marcus

David Heymann – Producer

Chris Marquette – David Huttenson

Amanda Seyfried – Mouse

Nikki Reed – Tally

Joseph Kell – Security Guard

Tony Goldwyn – Frank

Rex Linn – Earl

Kevin Phillips – Reggie

Davenia McFadden – Felicia

Linda Cardellini – Mary Ann Wilk

Schuyler Fisk – Cicily

Michael Shannon (as Michael J. Shannon) – Jerry

Charles Duckworth – Connie

Todd Tesen – Barry

Melissa Leo – Louise

Gary Paul Clark – Supervisor

Ali Hillis - Gun Shop Patron

Garcelle Beauvais (as Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon) – Sarah

Distribution

According to boxofficemojo.com, American Gun took in $24,098 in a limited release from one to six theatres in a little over 10 weeks in theatres from March 22 – June 1, 2006. It was featured on the IFC program First Take.

Awards

Independent Spirit Awards Nominations

Best Feature, Ted Kroeber, producer.

Best Male Lead, Forest Whitaker.

Best Supporting Female, Marcia Gay Harden.