Listen Live
Donate
 on air
Schedule

KCRW

Read & Explore

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Culture
  • Events

Listen

  • Live Radio
  • Music
  • Podcasts
  • Full Schedule

Information

  • About
  • Careers
  • Help / FAQ
  • Newsletters
  • Contact

Support

  • Become a Member
  • Become a VIP
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop
  • Member Perks

Become a Member

Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

DonateGive Monthly

Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
Cookie Policy
|FCC Public Files

Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

'Americons'

Americons is probably the only film in history that centers on a real estate loan. The “Option Adjustable Rate Mortgage” was one of the risky mortgages that got people into deep trouble when the housing bubble burst. They also helped bring down lenders Countrywide and Washington Mutual.

  • rss
  • Share
KCRW placeholderBy Barbara Bogaev • Jan 22, 2015 • 1 min read

Americons is probably the only film in history that centers on a real estate loan. The “Option Adjustable Rate Mortgage” was one of the risky mortgages that got people into deep trouble when the housing bubble burst. They also helped bring down lenders Countrywide and Washington Mutual. Americons is a thriller of sorts, based on the experiences of the film’s star, Beau Martin Williams. He was a former college football player and aspiring actor who was working the door of a hip Hollywood nightclub when a patron offered him a chance to make it big in the high-flying mortgage business.

  • KCRW placeholder

    Barbara Bogaev

    radio journalist

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Andrew Walsh

    Too Beautiful to Live

  • KCRW placeholder

    Christian Bordal

    Managing Producer, Greater LA

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Matt Holzman

    Producer, 'The Document'

  • KCRW placeholder

    Beau Martin Williams

    writer and actor, 'Americons'

    News
Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand