American Job
Encyclopedia
American Job is a 1996 independent film directed by Chris Smith
. Shot in a satirical pseudo-documentary style, the film follows Randy, a young man living in a Midwestern US town, as he tries one mundane job after another, including monitoring a machine at a plastics factory, working as a clean-up person at a fast-food restaurant, cleaning motels, and becoming a telephone solicitor.
The film was directly inspired by the 1987 magazine "American Job" created by Randy Russell, which was a collection of job stories from low-wage workers around the United States.American Job was produced by Chris Smith, edited by Sarah Price
and Chris Smith, and written by Doug Ruschaupt, Randy Russell, and Chris Smith.
in New York City
as part of the museum's Cineprobe series, and was also screened at the 1996 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas
. It has received positive reviews by various media outlets. Nicolas Rapold of The New York Sun called it "Easily one of the decade's best indie debuts" and likened it to Mike Judge
's workplace comedy Office Space
. The film also garnered director Chris Smith with a 1997 Independent Spirit Award nomination for the "Someone To Watch" Award.
Chris Smith (filmmaker)
Chris Smith is an American film director, cameraman, producer, writer, and editor. He is best known for directing American Movie, which was awarded the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival....
. Shot in a satirical pseudo-documentary style, the film follows Randy, a young man living in a Midwestern US town, as he tries one mundane job after another, including monitoring a machine at a plastics factory, working as a clean-up person at a fast-food restaurant, cleaning motels, and becoming a telephone solicitor.
The film was directly inspired by the 1987 magazine "American Job" created by Randy Russell, which was a collection of job stories from low-wage workers around the United States.American Job was produced by Chris Smith, edited by Sarah Price
Sarah Price (filmmaker)
Sarah Price is a filmmaker whose films include American Movie , Caesar's Park , The Yes Men , and Summercamp! . She grew up around the world, attending high school in Germany and Kenya...
and Chris Smith, and written by Doug Ruschaupt, Randy Russell, and Chris Smith.
Synopsis
American Job is a narrative film about Randy Scott (Randy Russell), a youth caught in the dismal confusion of living and working in the world of minimum wage. The film follows Randy through a number of low-paying, menial jobs including fast food dishwasher, custodian, telemarketer, and factory worker. It highlights the sheer boredom of minimum wage work and is a slightly comical and occasionally depressing look at what life is like in the US minimum wage arena.Awards and reception
In 1996, the film was part of a roving national exhibition as part of the Fuel Tour. It screened in 1996 at the Museum of Modern ArtMuseum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
as part of the museum's Cineprobe series, and was also screened at the 1996 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. It has received positive reviews by various media outlets. Nicolas Rapold of The New York Sun called it "Easily one of the decade's best indie debuts" and likened it to Mike Judge
Mike Judge
Michael Craig Judge is an American animator, film director, writer and voice actor, best known as the creator and star of the animated television series Beavis and Butt-head , King of the Hill , and The Goode Family .He also wrote, directed and in some instances produced the films Beavis and...
's workplace comedy Office Space
Office Space
Office Space is a 1999 American comedy film satirizing work life in a typical 1990s software company. Written and directed by Mike Judge, it focuses on a handful of individuals fed up with their jobs portrayed by Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, Gary Cole, David Herman, Ajay Naidu, and Diedrich...
. The film also garnered director Chris Smith with a 1997 Independent Spirit Award nomination for the "Someone To Watch" Award.