Skills like This is a 2007 comedy film directed by Monty Miranda, written by Spencer Berger and distributed by Shadow Distribution released theatrically on March 20, 2009. The DVD released on November 17, 2009 and the Premium Cable premiere on Starz and Starz On Demand 1.1. 2010. It stars Berger, Gabriel Tigerman, Kerry Knuppe and Brian D. Phelan.

Accolades

• SXSW Film Festival Best narrative feature audience award
• Edinburgh International Film Festival Best of the fest
• Warsaw International Film Festival Free spirit – Special Jury Award Nomination
• Jacksonville Film Festival Jury prize award for BestUSA feature narrative

Cast

• Spencer Berger as Max Solomon
• Brian D. Phelan as Tommy
• Gabriel Tigerman as Dave
• Kerry Knuppe as Lucy
• Jennifer Batter as Lauren

Production

Spencer Berger both wrote and acts in the film. It was directed by first-time film director Monty Miranda, who previously directed television commercials, short films and created a TV series

The movie was shot in Denver, Colorado. Principal photography was completed in 17 days.

In addition to highlighting Denver, Colorado s eclectic music scene, Skills Like This is an entirely Colorado based production. Skills Like This is the first feature-length film produced in Colorado, by Colorado filmmakers to be picked up for North American theatrical distribution.

Reception

The film won the award for Best Narrative Feature at the South by Southwest film festival. The film won the Best of Fest distinction at the Edinburgh International Film Festival The film won the Jury Prize for Best USA Feature Film at Jacksonville Film Festival

Skills Like This screened worldwide on the film festival circuit prior to its American theatrical release by Shadow Distribution in 2009. The film received positive reviews from publications ranging from The New York Times and Variety to Salon.com. In her review for The New York Times, Jeanette Catsoulis wrote, the offbeat chemistry of the cast, along with Monty Miranda s eye-catching direction…make all the difference… Drawing much of its energy from an eclectic and fully integrated soundtrack, Skills Like This gazes indulgently on 20-something aimlessness and the comfort of assigned roles. In Mr. Miranda s hands sloth can be more appealing than you might think. Variety further stated that the main characters of Skills Like This showed considerable intelligence and chemistry in addition to calling the film deftly directed and from Salon Andrew O Heir reviewed Skills Like This as, Cheerfully anarchic…indescribably genuine. The film screened in theatrical release for four months.

Year	2007
ReleaseDate	2009-03-20
RuntimeMins	88
RuntimeStr	1h 28min
Plot	Max Solomon faces the awful truth that he will never be a writer. So, in a desperate attempt to find his true calling, he turns to crime. In this inventive comedy, three friends have their lives turned upside down when one of them realizes that larceny might be his best skill.
Awards	Awards, 5 wins & 1 nomination
Directors	Monty Miranda
Writers	Gabriel Tigerman, Spencer Berger
Stars	Spencer Berger, Brian D. Phelan, Gabriel Tigerman
Produced by	Paul Aaron,Greg ‘Freddy’ Camalier,Donna Dewey,Christopher Gaudiello,Timothy Gray,Amy Jarvela,Catherine J. Moore,Rock Obenchain,Brian D. Phelan,Daniell Taff,Judith Wahler
Music by	Andy Monley
Cinematography by	Robert F. Smith
Film Editing by	Rock Obenchain
Casting By	Corbin Bronson,Annie Hamilton
Production Design by	Pamela Chavez
Art Direction by	Jake Newsom
Set Decoration by	Savanna Johnson
Costume Design by	Mimi Kaupe
Makeup Department	Jenece Amella,Tanya Barnes-Jones,Jennifer Murphy,Colleen Provost,Michele Raftery,Lauren Rennells
Production Management	Amy Jarvela,Maria Sandhei
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director	Joe Crowley,Amy Jarvela,Joel Jeffrey Nishimine,Michael Piznarski,Phillip Wagner
Art Department	Jessica Bahr,Chad Branham,Evan Isoline,Kamla Presswalla,Keith Price,Clay Pruitt,Steven Schalk,Dave Schutz,Michael Stano,Rebecca Totman
Sound Department	Robert Abbott,Jeff C. Archuleta,Richard Charles,Michael Pfeifer,Andrew Vastola,Paul Vastola
Special Effects by	Chris Rink
Visual Effects by	Michael Lauter
Stunts	Tim Drnec
Camera and Electrical Department	Eli Berg,Frank Dantonio,Carlos Doerr,Cooper Donaldson,Shane Evans,Anthony Gudino,Alan Hamilton,Brad Heiner,Jon Helzer,Justin Stewart Johnson,Donald Jones,Mike Jones,Kyle Knudson,Lauren Kovarik,Will Lamborn,Cass Letson,Cassidy Letson,John Mans,Monty Miranda,Erik Gunnar Mortensen,Robert Muratore,Noah Peter,Andrew Phillips,David Quint,George Tague,Joshua Trager,Joshua H. Trager,Joshua Weinberg
Casting Department	Mitch Dickman,Chad Schnackel,Roxane Sondrup
Costume and Wardrobe Department	Brigid Moore,Kaitlin Moore,Meredith J. Murray
Editorial Department	Michael Lauter,Jon Obenchain,Scotty Pierce,David Rennie
Location Management	Justin Stewart Johnson,Daniell Taff
Music Department	Shawn Amos,Peter Hook,Andy Monley,Mark Raynes,Adam Trachsel
Script and Continuity Department	Paige Black,Barry L. Caldwell,Maria Sylva,James Waugh
Transportation Department	Issac Fogler,Phil Helman,John E. Jaramillo,Rita Schafer,Dennis Steele
Additional Crew	Roger Ames,Sarah Berkovich,Paige Black,Christopher J. Corabi,Andy Curtis,Donna Dewey,Rena Dusenbury,Janine Hagarty,Ashley Holm,Luke Hunter,Lynne Ida,Luke Hunter James-Erickson,Andy Kelts,Nick Levine,Kathryn Lichty,MaryLynn Malone,Catherine J. Moore,Austin Nunn,Jessica Picune,John Price Reynolds,Zoey Rose,Ilynn Sutton,Rob Sutton,Nicole Talbot,Carla Thilmont,Gabriel Tigerman,Judith Wahler,Brian Walker,Kathryn Warner,Brooke Warren,Amanda Woodson,Eric Zacharias,Meredith Zitron
Thanks	Peter Berg,Blaine Gray,John Hickenlooper
Genres	Comedy
Companies	Dewey-Obenchain Films, Elsboy Entertainment, Suntaur Entertainment Company
Countries	USA
Languages	English
ContentRating	Not Rated
ImDbRating	5.8
ImDbRatingVotes	505
MetacriticRating	44
Keywords	criminal,female topless nudity,bar,bare breasts,green bra