Johns (1996)

Director:

Scott Silver

Writer:

Scott Silver (written by)

Release Date:

31 January 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

It's the day before Christmas, the day before John's 21st birthday. He's a prostitute on Santa Monica Blvd in L.A....

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Money | Friend | Friendship | Christmas

Awards:

1 win

Cast

David Arquette	...	John
Lukas Haas	...	Donner
Tony Epper	...	Santa Claus
John C. McGinley	...	Danny Cohen
Keith David	...	Homeless John
Wilson Cruz	...	Mikey
Joshua Schaefer	...	David (as Josh Schaefer)
Sydney Lassick	...	Al
Christopher Gartin	...	Eli
Ruth Silver	...	Tourist Mom
Alanna Ubach	...	Nikki
N'Bushe Wright	...	X-Mas Junkie
Richard T. Jones	...	Mr. Popper (as Richard Timothy Jones)
Richard Kind	...	Paul Truman
Elliott Gould	...	Manny Gould
Harper Roisman	...	Old Man
Terrence Howard	...	Jimmy the Warlock (as Terrence Dashon Howard)
Nicky Katt	...	Mix
Louis Mustillo	...	John Wayne
Arliss Howard	...	John Cardoza
Nina Siemaszko	...	Tiffany The Prostitute
Kurtis Kunzler	...	Hustler at Payphone
Craig Bierko	...	Christmas Preacher on Radio
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mary Kircher	...	Corporate Business Executive (uncredited)
Melissa S. Markess	...	Business Executive (uncredited)

Directed by
Scott Silver

Writing credits
Scott Silver		(written by)

Produced by
Tarek Abu-Zayyad	....	associate producer
Paul Brown	....	producer
Beau Flynn	....	producer
P. Holt Gardiner	....	executive producer
David Godbout	....	associate producer
Dolly Hall	....	co-executive producer
Elyse Katz	....	line producer
Stefan Simchowitz	....	producer
Mary Vernieu	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Charles Brown		(original score composed by)
Danny Caron		(original score composed by)

Cinematography by
Tom Richmond		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Dorian Harris		(edited by)

Casting by
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Amy Beth Silver

Art Direction by
William P. Paine

Set Decoration by
Jennifer M. Gentile		(as Jennifer Gentile)

Costume Design by
Sarah Jane Slotnick

Makeup Department
Constance Hall	....	assistant hair stylist
Constance Hall	....	assistant makeup artist
Kenneth Michael	....	key makeup/hair

Production Management
Elyse Katz	....	unit production manager
Sue Mischel	....	post production supervisor
Ed Santiago	....	post production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Cooper	....	second second assistant director
Steven Thomas	....	additional second second assistant director

Art Department
Fred Cisterna	....	set dresser
Ryan Folsey	....	construction coordinator
Ray Harris	....	storyboard artist
Jacob Whitmore	....	prop master
Allison Wilke	....	art assistant

Sound Department
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Charles J. Bond	....	boom operator (as Charles Bond)
Peter S. Carlstedt	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Peter Carlstedt)
Harry Cohen	....	sound effects editor
Andrew DeCristofaro	....	adr supervisor
Andrew DeCristofaro	....	supervising sound editor
William Dotson	....	dialogue editor (as Bill Dotson)
Rachel Eubanks	....	background editor
David Farmer	....	sound effects editor
Marc Fishman	....	adr editor (as Mark Fishman)
Tim Gedemer	....	sound effects editor
Brian Geer	....	foley mixer
Mike Moser	....	background editor
Vince Nicastro	....	foley artist
Mark Paperno	....	boom operator
Valentina Raksin	....	adr assistant
Paul Rodriguez	....	manager of sound services
Larry Scharff	....	sound mixer (as Larry Scharf)
Tony Sereno	....	re-recording assistant
Cathie Speakman	....	adr editor
Gary Sula-Goff	....	foley assistant
Ken Teaney	....	re-recording mixer
Eric Thompson	....	adr recordist
Ignacio Valero	....	boom operator
Harry Woolway	....	sound effects editor
Brandon Walker	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Stunts
Rick Avery	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Sean Antle	....	best boy electric (as Sean 'Cat' Antle)
David Chameides	....	Steadicam operator (as Dave Camiedes)
Young Vance Cohen	....	additional grip
Alfonso Delgado	....	additional electrician
Dan Hofstad	....	additional electrician (as Daniel Hofstad)
Bob Ivanjack	....	dolly grip
Bob Ivanjack	....	key grip
Tom Jensen	....	first assistant camera
Jordan Levy	....	camera loader
Jason Libretta	....	second assistant camera (as Jason D. Libretta)
Shaun Madigan	....	gaffer
Mike Manzoni	....	best boy grip
Anthony L. Newman	....	grip (as Anthony 'Nino' Newman)
Gerry O'Malley	....	steadicam operator
Travis Pafford	....	additional grip
Greg G. Reeves	....	electrician (as Greg Reeves)
Brad Siskind	....	grip
Rick Stribling	....	dolly grip
Rick Stribling	....	key grip
Adam Wilson	....	additional electrician
Yiannis Samaras	....	first assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Alyssa Weisberg	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Maria Bradley	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Christopher J. Brown	....	post production assistant (as Chris J. Brown)
Mike Mertens	....	color timer
Anthony Santiago	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Charles Brown	....	musician: piano & organ
Charles Brown	....	musician: vocals
Charles Brown	....	original score arranged by
Charles Brown	....	original score conducted by
Danny Caron	....	musician: guitar
Danny Caron	....	original score arranged by
Danny Caron	....	original score conducted by
Deszon Claiborne	....	musician: drums
Bob Conlon	....	assistant music engineer
Ruth Davies	....	musician: bass
Jude	....	composer: "Life Lays You Down"
Ann Kline	....	music coordinator (as Ann Karlin)
Michelle Kuznetsky	....	associate music supervisor
Samuel Lehmer	....	music engineer
Lucky Me	....	composer: "Worthy"
Christoph Maria Moosman	....	performer: "Annum Per Annum"
Mary Ramos	....	music supervision
Clifford Solomon	....	musician: saxophone
Gary Wasserman	....	music editor: Pascal Sound

Transportation Department
Joe Barreras	....	transportation captain
Lewis Burnett	....	driver: honey wagon (as Lew Burnett)
Gary DeVoe	....	driver (as Gary Devoe)
Dick Dionne	....	driver (as Richard Dionne)
Steve Sorkin	....	driver: grip/electric

Other crew
Francie Brown	....	dialect coach
Ian Davidow	....	office assistant
Wendy Davison	....	production accountant
Francis DeAngelo	....	assistant: Beau Flynn & Stefan Simchowitz
Maria Erspamer	....	key production assistant
Jonathan Gabriel	....	production legal (as Jonathan Gabriel Esq.)
Jane Gurtiza	....	assistant production coordinator
Alex Kivlen	....	assistant location consultant
Leslie Kurtz	....	production intern
Michael Lawson	....	publicity: The Pogachefsky Co.
Mickey Mayorson	....	legal services: Loeb & Loeb (as Mickey Mayerson Esq.)
George McDowell Agnew	....	location consultant (as George Agnew)
P. Kevin Morris	....	production legal (as P. Kevin Morris Esq.)
Diane H. Newman	....	script supervisor (as Diane Hassinger Newman)
Ken Paull	....	assistant production associate
Rich Penna	....	electronic press kit
Kim Percival	....	production coordinator
Mark Pogachefski	....	publicity: The Pogachefsky Co. (as Mark Pogachefsky)
Nick Roberts	....	security: Technical Security
Bobby Rodriguez	....	craft service
David N. Schrager	....	production associate (as David Schrager)
John Shepherd	....	assistant: Scott Silver

Thanks
Tarek Abu-Zayyad	....	the producers wish to thank
Joseph Apprendi	....	the producers wish to thank
Darren Aronofsky	....	the director would like to thank
Jonathan Beare	....	the producers wish to thank
Carol Bodie	....	special thanks
Kevin Campbell	....	special thanks: PMK
Cathy Christmas	....	special thanks: Santa Claus Productions
Jill Fink	....	special thanks: Delux beauty parlor
Jon Furie	....	the director would like to thank
P. Holt Gardiner	....	the producers wish to thank
David Godbout	....	the director would like to thank
Aaron Hsu	....	the producers wish to thank
Mara Jacobs	....	the producers wish to thank
Stephanie Johnson	....	special thanks
Eldad Levy	....	the producers wish to thank
Mickey Mayorson	....	the producers wish to thank (as Mickey Mayerson)
Stuart Rosenberg	....	the director would like to thank
Marcia Ross	....	special thanks
Sharon Sheinwold	....	special thanks
John Sheperd	....	the director would like to thank
Dr. Henry Shinefield	....	the producers wish to thank
Steven Siebert	....	special thanks
Ruth Silver	....	the director would like to thank
Mark Waters	....	the director would like to thank
Ron Wechsler	....	very special thanks
Lisa Wong	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Bandeira Entertainment (presents) (A Flynn/Simchowitz Production)

Distributors

• Civite Films (1996) (Spain) (theatrical)
• First Look International (1997) (USA) (theatrical) (as First Look Pictures) (A Division of Overseas Filmgroup)
• RCV Film Distribution (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (1997) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (1997) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• Metrodome Distribution (1997) (UK) (theatrical)
• Epicentre Films (1999) (France) (theatrical)
• Overseas FilmGroup (1996) (worldwide) (theatrical) (international distribution)
• Divisa Home Video (2005-2009) (Spain) (DVD)
• Paris Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Silvio Sardi Communications (1996) (Italy) (all media)

Other Companies

• Axium Entertainment Services  payroll services
• Bandeira Entertainment  acknowledgement: is the author of this film/motion picture for the purpose of copyright and other laws
• CFI Imaging Group  titles & opticals by (as CFI: The Imaging Group)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  the director would like to thank: camera cranes and dollies (as Chapman)
• Cinelease  the director would like to thank: grip and electric equioment supplied by
• Clairmont Camera  the director would like to thank: camera systems by (as Clairmont)
• Command Performance Catering  caterer (as Command Performance)
• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  the director would like to thank: prints by (as CFI)
• Continental Graphics  special thanks
• Delux Beauty Parlor  special thanks
• Digital Cut Post Inc.  the director would like to thank: edited on Avid Media Composer provided by (as Digital Cut)
• Disc Insurance Services  insurance (as Disc Insurance)
• EFX  digital sound and re-recording by
• Eastman Kodak Company  the director would like to thank
• First Look Pictures / Overseas Filmgroup  very special thanks
• In Frame Negative Cutting  negative cutting by
• Loeb and Loeb  legal services (as Loeb & Loeb)
• Los Angeles Film Office  special thanks (as City of Los Angeles Office for Film)
• Novax Guitars  special thanks
• Omega Cinema Props  special thanks
• PMK Public Relations  special thanks (as PMK)
• Palais Royal French Antique Clock  special thanks
• Pascal Sound  music editor
• Russian Hill Recording  music studio (as Russian Hill Recording, San Francisco)
• Santa Claus Productions  special thanks
• Sundance Institute, The  very special thanks
• Support the Los Angeles Mission  special thanks
• THX Sound System Theatre  mixed and recorded in a
• Technical Security Guard Service  security (as Technical Security)
• The Pogachefsky Company  publicity (as The Pogachefsky Co.)

Also Known As:

Johns (France) [fr]
Johns (Brazil) [pt]
Johns (Spain) [es]
Johns - katu antaa (Finland) [fi]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content and language, and for some violence and drug use.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Netherlands:12 | Australia:MA | France:-12 | Singapore:R(A) | Spain:18 | USA:R (PCA #34057)

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bandeira Entertainment

Trivia:

Filmed in 20 days in and around Hollywood.

Quotes:

Donner: I am not a prostitute. I am an entertainer. I do not go in for violence.

A LONG LONG Christmas Eve in the life of a Male Prostitute

It's Christmas Eve and Arquette a Male Prostitute has a plan in mind for Christmas day; his plan involves luxury and fantasy. This means he has to catch a few extra punters and be a little more daring than usual to achieve his goal - which is quite simple - unless you have the life of Arquette.

Most of the film is set on one boulevard befamed for 'pick ups'. It may help a little if you are gay or know of the gay culture. But having said that whatever your persuasion you can't help but like Arquette as he trys to get enough dollars together for his plan.

Throughout the film we meet his clients, his friends, his enemies, and we are a voyeur to the problems he faces in his line of work. He's a likeable chap, and as someone has already mentioned it's almost played out as a Shakespearian Tragedy - especially as we frequently return to the 'set' and more or less get to know our way around.

At one point he gets it together, but tragedy strikes, in a weird kind of way, at some points of the film you really feel like sending him the extra dollars he needs, as his dream is so innocent and quite pure.

In parts, the film is quite deep as it explores a couple of the characters he interacts with, and although he's naturally streetwise, there's a vulnerablility that keeps you on his side, and you really do feel like fighting for him, but the character John (Arquette)is strangely proud, and his pride is built from street level up, with a coating of fantasy and imagination.

There's also a guy looking for him to settle a debt, which turns a bit sour - with the help of a well-meaning friend.

The day is sooooo long in the film, yet John's shortage of the stuff keeps up the tension and sympathy, especially as he allows himself to take bigger risks, and the viewer knows it, as the camera indicates visual clues as to his possible next chapter in the day.

Although fairly old (in terms of rent boy/prostitute, he carries it off very well, as he goes through the usual motions of the belly rub and boyish stance.

There's lots of comedy in the film, but you don't really want to add to his troubles, making the direction manipulative and 'classic' in terms of human tragedy.

Meet John and his friends and foes alike, and you'll find that empathy is drawn from you as you watch this unique, almost surreal film unfold.

If you find yourself alone over Christmas, it may be worth a look at somebody who's got it a bit worse than you, with just a few more complications.