Chronic Town
Directed by Tom Hines. Written by UAF Alumnus Michael Kamskey. Co-Produced by UAF Film Program faculty member, Maya Salganek. UAF film students worked on set with the Keys as mentors. Shot on-location in Fairbanks.
Chronic Town is a bittersweet slice-of-life comedy about a cab driver with substance abuse problems who weathers a cold Alaskan winter with his cadre of friends and lovers. The film was directed by Tom Hines, and written by University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) English MFA Alumni, Michael Kamsky. UAF Assistant Professor, Maya Salganek, co-produced. The cast features JR Bourne, Emily Wagner, and Dan Butler, but also includes Fairbanks locals Evan Harris, UAF Theatre faculty Carrie Baker and Dr. Tara Maginnis, and dog musher and Esterite Andrew “Druu” Heskin . Primary locations for the film included The Boatel Sleazy Waterfront Bar and the inside of an Alaskan Eagle Cab.
Under the tutelage of Salganek and the UAF Theatre and Film Department, nine UAF students worked on the film as production assistants, and dozens more were included as extras. The UAF production team managed Fairbanks pre-production, including securing locations, vehicles, props, and costumes. They conducted casting calls for actors, and helped run each set during the shoot. The Los Angeles based film crew spent 28 days in Fairbanks in March, when the average temperature hovered around -15.
JR Bourne as 'Truman' in Chronic Town
'Chronic Town' Fairbanks, Alaska
'Boatel Bar' scene, Fairbanks, Alaska
'Chronic Town' Director Tom Hines, Director of Photography John 'Yianni' Samaras and Mr. Garry Marshall
Behind the scenes outdoor shooting of 'Chronic Town'
Tom Hines and JR Bourne
Cast
TRUMAN ...
ELEANOR ...
BARTENDER AT LONELY LADY ...
MAN IN BAR ...
BLOW JOB ...
MICHAEL THE ATTENDANT ...
SENIOR HOME RECEPTIONIST ...
ELEANOR'S FATHER ...
ELIZABETH ...
EMILY ...
MAX ...
MAJOR ...
FARADAY ...
ROGER ...
WAITRESS AT HARRY'S ...
STRIPPER IN A KNEE BRACE ...
KELLY ...
JENNY ...
THE DOCTOR ...
MAN IN BAR ...
WAITRESS AT BOATEL ...
NEWTON ...
MR. PETERSON ...
JACKSON THE ATTENDANT ...
MENTAL PATIENT ...
NURSE ...
MENTAL PATIENT ...
PETER ...
BARTENDER ...
Production Crew
Executive Producer ...
Producer ...
Executive Producer ...
Co-Producer ...
Producer ...
Associate Producer ...
Writer ...
Music ...
Cinematography ...
Editing ...
Production Design ...
Costume Design ...
Key Makeup Artist ...
Post-production supervisor ...
Second Second Assistant Director ...
Second Assistant Director ...
Re-recording Mixer ...
Foley Mixer ...
Sound Editor ...
Foley Artist ...
Foley Editor ...
Boom Operator ...
Production Sound Mixer ...
Supervising Sound Editor ...
Assistant Sound Editor ...
First Assistant Camera ...
Gaffer ...
Key Grip ...
Still Photographer ...
Additional Editor ...
Music Coordinator ...
Script Supervisor ...
Production Assistant ...
Jen Booth, Rose Cain, Chinonye Chukwu
Wes Dalton, Ben Dominick, Evan Harris
Ricky Dean Monsey, Kalesha Pearson, Angelo Salvatore Restaino, Rosie Simko, Greg
Wilson and Erik Zornes
Caterer ...
Awards & Press
Behind the Scenes
Film is available online A behind-the-scenes look at the 2007 production of Chronic Town, a movie about a Fairbanks cab driver who is going through a rough patch in his life. Driven by his fear of being alone, he uses alcohol and drugs to distract him from the realities in his life. Go behind the scenes with Chronic Town cast and crew, including UAF students (featured 35 minutes in).