American Meltdown
A 'Millennial Coming-of-Rage' comedy about a young woman who loses her job and struggles to pay rent - until she befriends a pickpocket who convinces her that the only way to survive in America is by committing petty crime.
Interview with Writer/Director Andrew Adams
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I'd always dreamed of making feature films, and I needed a distraction when the pandemic began and we all went into quarantine. I had just lost a dream job, didn't know how I was going to pay rent, and had no place to channel that stress and anxiety. Quarantine also got me reflecting on what it was like to graduate from film school and into the Great Recession, only to struggle with bills and housing costs and financial precarity for so much of my adult life. It felt like the deck had been stacked against my entire generation, and I wanted to scream about it, but that seemed unhealthy and unproductive and bad for my vocal cords.
So I picked Plan B and I started channeling all of those frustrations into a little dark comedy about all the ways late-stage capitalism has screwed the Millennial generation. Which sounded depressing. So we filled it with jokes and twists and heart and funk music and crime caper to make sure it was an entertaining lil romp. That's how we wound up with American Meltdown -- a character-driven, heart-filled, and satirical dark "Coming of Rage" comedy about a millennial woman who loses her job and struggles to pay rent -- until she befriends a pickpocket who convinces her that the only way to survive in America is by committing petty crime. It's got some real "eat the rich" energy to it.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It's fun! It has heart! It'll make you pump your fist! The cinematography by Mark Evans is gorgeous and the funky score by Jason Martin Castillo is like a fusion of Jonny Greenwood and Marvin Gaye and "Out of Sight." But also, most importantly, if you're a Millennial who has ever struggled to feel stable -- this movie will make you feel seen. If you're older, maybe a Boomer, then this movie might help you better understand the rage, frustration and despair that younger generations are feeling - we've had reports from many parents that it helped them better understand their children.
The ultimate takeaway is that we're all in this together, and these financial insecurities that you're embarrassed to discuss are maybe more widespread than you realized, and the only way to find a solution is if we all work together to fix a broken system.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The whole spirit of this project was to "go personal." American Meltdown specifically explores all the myriad ways that American culture can often dehumanize and destroy the people who try to play by its rules - often by using real examples that have happened to me or my friends (but in a fun way!)
The shoot was exciting because, very often, we'd finish filming a scene and the cast and crew would turn to each other and start discussing all the ways they could relate. One assistant cameraman even interrupted a rehearsal because the dialogue was so relatable that he didn't realize it was dialogue, and thought the actors were just having a conversation without him!
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The first draft of the script was very angry and much more blunt. Outside the usual polishes, the majority of the revision process was about making sure that the outrage of American Meltdown was still delivered in a fun and entertaining way.
The final product is a very unique blend of real drama, big laughs and unexpected story turns, which is why audiences have been responding so well to it. We also embraced a unique rehearsal process in which our actors were welcome to give feedback and reshape their characters, which helped add further depth and authenticity.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We've been thrilled with the response to the film! We've won Best Feature and Best Screenplay at multiple fests, as well as performance awards for our cast. People seem to connect very deeply to the personal elements, and it's been simultaneously comforting and dispiriting to see how universal some of these economic issues are. Many people have told us they felt "seen" or "healed" by elements of the film. And others just think it's a fun romp with some good laughs! Which is also good!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
American Meltdown is unabashedly political and leans pretty far to the left, but it's been embraced by viewers on both sides of the aisle. It's been really nice to see it so celebrated by people who might be a little receptive to its messages if, say, those same thoughts were delivered at Thanksgiving dinner instead. I love that the film seems to bring people together by finding the personal commonalities among us all.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
At the moment, we just want people to watch American Meltdown! It'll be playing at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival and Anchorage International Film Festival in late 2023, and we expect to be streaming sometime in 2024.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
The more press, the better!
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Do you like your life? That's a big question in the movie. And a good follow-up question is -- what do you do when the answer is no?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Cinematographer Mark Evans is promoting an emotional gut-punch of a horror feature on the festival circuit, called New Life. Editor Josh Cole is editing two new features. Our actors continue to work. Writer/director Andrew Adams is writing several new scripts and seeking financing for more indie features.
Interview: November 2023
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
American Meltdown
A 'Millennial Coming-of-Rage' comedy about a young woman who loses her job and struggles to pay rent - until she befriends a pickpocket who convinces her that the only way to survive in America is by committing petty crime.
Length: 1:22:00
Director: Andrew Adams
Producer: Andrew Crabtree, Stewart Castleberry Cory
Writer: Andrew Adams
About the writer, director and producer:
ANDREW ADAMS is an LA-based writer/director whose debut feature film, American Meltdown, won Best Feature at the Chattanooga Film Festival. He has directed commercials, branded content, dance videos, and narrative work for Disney XD, Crypt TV, and Universal Studios' Hollywood Horror Nights. He also spent years working as a travel videographer in over 25 countries. He strives to create entertaining and fun genre features that incorporate an adventurous spirit and progressive ideals.
Key cast: Jacki Von Preysing (Olivia), Nicolette Sweeney (Mari), Clayton Farris (Lou), DeMorge Brown (Detective Sampson), Shaun Boylan (Officer Bronson)
Looking for: distrobutors, journalists
Instagram: @wanderadams
Website: www.wanderadams.com
Other: IMDb
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Sherman Oaks Film Festival - Wed, Nov 29 2023 8:00pm - LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Glendale - Tickets: https://www.goelevent.com/discoverfilm/e/Program01-AmericanMeltdown