American Movie is about a filmmaker’s dream to make his own horror movies and earn a profit from them. Chris Smith’s 1999 film follows Wisconsin filmmaker Mark Borchardt as he struggles to get by in life and as he struggles to get the money together to finish one horror film, Coven, in order to fund his next horror film, Northwestern. Borchardt battles some of his own issues, including a drinking problem, family issues, relationship issues, gambling issues, and other money problems, but his dream to make horror films keeps him going through all these struggles. With the help and insight of his friend Mike Schank, he manages to cobble things together with more help from his friends (though many of them bail following production meetings), his credit card, and editing equipment at the local university. A loan from his Uncle Bill helps fund the final costs for Coven, which Borchardt screens at the documentary’s end.
The film’s official site is here. Here is an interesting interview with Mark Borchardt conducted by Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction.
