Experiencing Interruptions?

Heads-Up: Will We Stop Making Cents?

Should the United States eliminate the penny? “Heads-Up: Will We Stop Making Cents?” is a documentary that explores the different sides of the debate, touching on the role of the penny in today’s economy, predictive economic models of a penniless future, and the cultural importance of the coin. Radio DJ and Actor Laurie Gallardo narrates the penny odyssey as we travel from Texas to Canada, stopping to speak with former Mint Directors, lawmakers, economists, and more than a few unique penny characters, including a coin hunter, a former President*, and one very memorable penny prankster.

* “Abraham Lincoln” appears in the film

  • Zach Edick
    Director
  • Jamie Kovach
    Director
  • Zach Edick
    Producer
  • Jamie Kovach
    Producer
  • Laurie Gallardo
    Key Cast
    "Narrator"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 7 minutes 34 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 13, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    16,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Film Festival of Columbus
    Columbus, Ohio
    United States
    September 13, 2019
    World Premiere
    Best Feature Documentary Award Winner
  • Austin Indie Fest
    Austin, Texas
    United States
    November 9, 2019
    Texas Premiere
    Audience Choice Award Winner
  • Lake Travis Film Festival
    Bee Cave, Texas
    United States
    March 1, 2020
  • Georgetown Texas Film Festival
    Georgetown, Texas
    United States
    April 25, 2020
    Best Feature Documentary Award Winner
  • New York City Independent Film Festival
    New York, New York
    United States
    May 10, 2020
Distribution Information
  • Amazon Prime Video
    Distributor
    Country: United States
    Rights: Video on Demand
  • Altavod
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: Video on Demand
Director Biography - Zach Edick , Jamie Kovach

Zach Edick and Jamie Kovach are a husband-and-wife filmmaking team based in Austin, Texas. The pair met in art school and have been working and creating together since. Zach has spent the last decade working as a director and cinematographer on various commercial, narrative, and music video projects. He recently co-directed “The Tacos of Texas,” a documentary mini-series produced by ITVS for PBS Digital Studios, and “Heads-Up: Will We Stop Making Cents?,” a feature documentary about coin production. Jamie received her MFA from the University of New Mexico in 2013 and has since taught photography and design at Central Texas College while working side-by-side with Zach on “Heads-Up.”

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

In 2014 I came across an article lamenting the cost of producing the penny compared to its face value. I grew up with an accountant mother and a more-than-a-little frugal father—both whom drilled into me the “horror” of waste. Something in the article struck a chord and stuck with me—why waste money producing something of so little value? Yet I immediately understood that the issue was much more complicated and the true value of the penny likely higher than the “one cent” printed across its face.

Using these ideas and questions as a springboard, I began digging into the history and potential future of the U.S. one-cent coin. The penny touches the hands of every American. We all feel some small connection to the coin, even if it’s one of annoyance. Thus I set out to paint a portrait of America through the lens of the penny, exploring the economic impacts of the coin, its production, and the potential of its discontinuation.

Zach Edick
Co-Director
Heads-Up: Will We Stop Making Cents?