All My Friends are Funeral Singers is a 2010 experimental drama film directed by Tim Rutili of the band Califone. The film makes extensive use of the music of Califone, and was released as a companion to the band's album of the same name. The film tells the story of a medium, played by Angela Bettis, living with a group of ghosts in the house who want to leave. She finds out that the ghosts were trapped by her grandmother.
Cast Role Played By Zel Angela Bettis Karen Emily Candini Ted Reid Coker Henry Kevin Ford Margaret Megan Hovde-Wilkins Camille Karol Kent Julius George McAuliffe Buñuel Michael McGinley Alice Sierra Magdalena Mitchell Alan Alan Scalpone Nyla Molly Wade Moe Wesley Walker Musicians Joe AdamikJim BeckerBen MassarellaTim Rutili Grandma's voice Suzanne Sole Answering machine voices Taylor PattersonRoseann Rutili
Production Rutili began writing the film's screenplay in September 2008, and developed the screenplay alongside the album. The screenplay was completed by December of the same year, but production on the film didn't begin until April 2009. Rutili was heavily inspired by the 1970s Spanish drama The Spirit of the Beehive, in addition to the works of David Lynch.
The film made its premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. It also screened at the 2010 South by Southwest festival where Califone played the live score and additional concerts.
Reception The film's reception has been mixed. The Hollywood Reporter noted that the film "will be of interest to fans of the band Califone" and that "filmmaker/bandmember Rutili could edit together some good concert-backdrop material from the more experimental moments." and positive reviews of the film were given by both Express Night Out and Inside Pulse Films, with the latter referring to the film as "trance-like and dreamy — like a washed-out jeans version of Beetlejuice" and "an unqualified crowd-pleaser."
References All My Friends are Funeral Singers - Official Sundance Press Kit, http://funeralsingersfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/FS_PRESS_KIT_2010.pdf
External links All My Friends are Funeral Singers