Red State
What makes it independent?
Holds a controversial subject matter about religious extremists which is based on a real figure 'fred phelps'
Overall budget is $4 Million.
Screened at the 27th Sundance Film Festival.
Budget granted through two main private investor groups.
Would not be considered appealing to a mass audience.
Auctioned the film to himself for $20 stating that he would release the film on his own.
Sent posters out with the winning bidder being able to host the poster on their website, this is relevant because he then gave the money from the auction to charity which implies a lack profit motivation.
He was able to have complete artistic control bringing in everyone he wanted to be in it.
The production cost came to $4 million whist also providing an extra $20 for the rights of his own film.
Who stars in it and why?
- Michael Parks as Pastor Abin Cooper
- John Goodman as ATF Special Agent Keenan, investigating disturbances at Cooper homestead
- Melissa Leo as Sarah Cooper, Pastor Cooper's daughter, Caleb's wife and Cheyenne's mother
- Kyle Gallner as Jared, teen who answered online sex ad
- Kerry Bishé as Cheyenne, Sarah and Caleb's daughter and Abin Cooper's granddaughter
- Michael Angarano as Travis, another teen who replied to sex ad
- Nicholas Braun as Billy Ray, third teen
- Ralph Garman as Caleb, Sarah's husband, Abin Cooper's son-in-law and Cheyenne's father
- Stephen Root as Sheriff Wynan
- James Parks as Mordechai, Pastor Cooper's son and Fiona May's father
- Haley Ramm as Maggie
- Kevin Pollak as ATF Special Agent Brooks
- Matt L. Jones as Deputy Pete
- Kevin Alejandro as Tactical Agent Harry
- Anna Gunn as Travis' mother
- Betty Aberlin as Abigail
- Marc Blucas as ATF Sniper
- Elizabeth Tripp as Melanie, Abin Cooper's granddaughter, Caleb and Sarah's daughter
- Jennifer Schwalbach Smith as Esther, Mordechai's wife and Fiona May's mother
- Molly Livingston as Fiona May, Abin Cooper's granddaughter, daughter of Mordechai and Ester.
- Alexa Nikolas as Jesse
- Hoc Sy as Butch
- Kevin Smith as prisoner who tells Pastor Abin Cooper to shut up
These are some well known names, specifically Michael Parks and John Goodman. Specifically Kevin smith wanted Michael parks after seeing his performance in From Dusk Till Dawn and that if Parks had not agreed to be in the film he would have dropped the project entirely.
Samuel L. Jackson was considered for the role that eventually went to John Goodman.
Some fun facts : Casting Director Deborah Aquila was moved to tears whilst listening to Kyle Gallner's performance during the cage scene.
In October 2011, Red State won the Best Motion Picture award at the 2011 Sitges Film Festival, while Michael Parks was named Best Actor. Parks' character, Abin Cooper, received a nomination for Villain Of The Year from the Virgin Media Movie Awards. At the 2012 Chlotrudis Awards, Melissa Leo earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
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