The Dot Film Company
In association with
Kickstand Entertainment
Present
A film by Theodore Bezaire
Run Time: 85 min.
Twitter - @TheBirderMovie
Facebook - TheBirderMovie
Website - www.thebirdermovie.com
Press Photos (link to folder)
Movie Poster 11X17 - (link to poster)
Distributor Contact (Canada):
Union Pictures
34 Park Road
Toronto, ON
M4W 2N2
416-961-4400
Production Company:
The Dot Film Company
101-B Fairview Road West
Mississauga, ON
L5B 1K7
905-848-3232
Tagline:
Birds of a feather plot revenge together!
Logline:
A mild mannered birder seeks revenge on a younger rival, after losing the highly
coveted Head of Ornithology position at the local Birding Park.
Synopsis:
Ron Spencer is a forty year-old high-school teacher and devoted bird watcher,
birder who has reached an extreme low point. His students think of him as passé,
his daughter Samantha, has adopted “new school” birding methods, and his exwife Rebecca has finally kicked him out of their home.
Ron’s only glimmer of hope is that he expects to be named the Head of
Ornithology at the local Birding Park. When the young and flashy Floyd Hawkins is
named, Ron sees his legacy slipping away and is outraged. Nowhere to go, Ron
secretly takes up residence at his High School for the summer.
Ron bumps into Ben, a pot smoking janitor and former student who quickly takes to
Ron’s cause and insists they must smear Floyd’s perfect image to secure Ron’s
legacy. The mismatched pair stealthily plot the dots of their revenge plan and after
some misguided twists and turns Ron lands in his nest and realizes what his
legacy is really all about.
Director Vision – The Birder
In my early twenties, I was invited back to my high school for the grand opening of
a new theatre complex. After the ceremony, when everyone had left, I found
myself hanging out with some old classmates and a former teacher of mine. Over
the following two hours we drank wine and discussed our lives. The teacher was
no longer “one of them”, but a human being, a peer. I know this thought had
crossed my mind before, but never so definitively -- teachers are real people.
They’re not robots that only operate between the hours of nine and three on
weekdays. They have lives, families, and emotions, just like all of us. It was a
surreal evening walking through the halls of my Alma Mater, slightly inebriated,
with a teacher who had now become one of us. It’s a night I will never forget. And
so the seeds of “The Birder” were sown.
Ron Spencer is a 40-year-old teacher, and avid birder, living in small town
Ontario. His marriage has recently fallen apart, he has become disconnected from
his daughter, and worst of all-- his life long ambition of becoming Head of
Ornithology at the National Park has been stolen by a younger rival. Much like
Ron observes birds, we will observe Ron during this transitional and very important
point in his life.
In the world of ornithology there is a term called “Drift Migration”. It is a
phenomenon in which birds are blown off course during migration and end up in a
totally different place than first intended. Ron Spencer is experiencing drift
migration in his life. He has been blown off course by various shortcomings and
has now landed at a place he would never have expected possible. He is
disoriented during this time, desperately trying to hold onto past aspirations in an
attempt to salvage his future, his legacy. We will track him, monitor behavioral
changes, and take notes in our field guide, as we witness him find a proper
balance in this new and unsettling place.
In Ron’s new world he meets up with the misguided, yet well meaning Ben. Ben
leads Ron down the wrong path, but in doing so, Ron eventually opens his eyes to
the truth and corrects his way. The characters, mainly Ron and Ben, drive the
comedy in this film. Ron and Ben are two somewhat unique (some may say
unusual) people, who find themselves in an unlikely relationship. Humour comes
out of Ron and Ben’s different approaches to life and their reactions to situations
rather than the situations themselves. There is an awkward innocence to their
approach of being bad, and this gentler idea of being mean will ultimately be their
downfall. At their core, they’re both genuinely nice people, they’re just incredibly
misguided on how to achieve their goals.
If the relationship between Ron and Ben is the basis for comedy, then Ron’s
relationship with his daughter, Samantha, is the story’s emotional anchor. Even
though Samantha is only 14, she is the voice of reason in the story. Most of the
decisions Ron makes throughout the film are motivated by his love for his
daughter, despite the fact that the outcomes don’t always reflect this. Samantha is
the last shred of normalcy Ron has in his life, and he is struggling to make sure
that their relationship does not deteriorate like everything else he once held
dear. Ron’s character transformation comes from the realization that his daughter
has been the answer to his problems all along.
“The Birder” is a comedic glimpse into the life of a high-school teacher. Just as I
saw my teacher in a new light, so will the audience view Ron. He is not just a
teacher - not just a birder; but also a real person dealing with real
problems. Watching Ron unravel and then build himself up again against the
backdrop of the unique world of birding, promises to be a fun and interesting ride.
Cast:
Tom Cavanagh as Ron Spencer
Tom Cavanagh made his professional stage debut playing "Danny Zuko" in
"Grease" in his native Canada. That led to Broadway turns in "Shenandoah" and
more recently "Urinetown" ; other selected theatre credits include "Brighton Beach
Memoirs", "A Chorus Line", "Holiday", "Cabaret", the Canadian Premiere of "Spike
Heels" and " Some Americans Abroad" at Second Stage.
Cavanagh recently completed the film "A Killer Among Us" and just wrapped the
indie "The Birder". Other film includes "Alchemy" ( Tribeca film festival), Breakfast
With Scot (Toronto Film Festival), Two Weeks, Gray Matters, Sublime, and Warner
Bros Yogi Bear, where he spends his time yelling at the voices of Dan Ackroyd and
Justin Timberlake.
On TV, Cavanagh was in "Bang Bang You're Dead” (Peabody Award, Emmy nom),
and the miniseries "Capture of the Green River Killer". TV Series’ include NBC's
"Ed" (multiple awards), "Scrubs" (awards), and "Love Monkey" (no awards).
Cavanagh also starred in "Trust Me" and " Royal Pains" as well as "Eli Stone",
"Jack and Bobby" and "Providence".
Cavanagh's directing credits include "Ed", the NYC-based "Money Game" about a
female playground basketball hustler, and the upcoming feature "Faith".
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, at the age of six Cavanagh and his family moved to
Ghana, where his father educated local school teachers. His family later moved
back to Quebec, where he attended Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. He
played varsity ice hockey and basketball, and graduated with degrees in English,
Biology and Education.
Mark Rendall as Ben
At the age of 10, Mark asked his parents if he could try his hand at
acting. Coincidentally, Cameron MacIntosh’s London Touring Company
production of the hit musical Oliver was holding open auditions for children. To
everyone's surprise, Mark not only won the role of “Spider”, one of Fagin's
pickpockets, but also regularly ended up performing the lead role of "Oliver" at the
Princess of Wales Theatre during its three month run.
Mark has since gone on to perform in a long list of lead roles in film and TV,
including The Impossible Elephant; Tales from the Neverending Story, for
which he received a Gemini nomination; Touching Wild Horses; The
Interrogation of Michael Crowe, for which he received a Toronto ACTRA
nomination for Outstanding Male Performance; Childstar; the animated series
Arthur; Regenesis; Spirit Bear: The Simon Jackson Story; Revelations;
Charlie Bartlett; Silk; 30 Days of Night; Victoria Day; The Exploding Girl; My
One and Only; Year of the Carnivore; The Listener; Hannibal; and the
upcoming feature film, Algonquin.
Mark dedicates his performance in The Birder to his late grandfather, Bob Sachs,
a lifelong birder who met his wife Eleanor over 70 years ago while bird-watching at
Point Pelee, not far from where the movie was filmed.
Cassidy Renee as Samantha Spencer
At the age of 8, Cassidy starred as the lead in her school's French production of
Cinderella. It was from that moment that she was hooked. She has gone on to play
numerous characters in both school and local theatre productions in the Roxy
Theatre. Cassidy attended the CMTC convention where she met and signed with
Toronto agent Colin McMurray. After studying with industry legends such as Gloria
Mann, Lewis Baumander, Susan Hart and Brett Heard, Cassidy has gained not
only expertise but skills that put her at ease when in front of the camera.
Cassidy landed her first feature film "The Birder", in which she starred opposite
Tom Cavanagh and Mark Rendall in the role of Samantha Spencer. While on set,
Cassidy also worked along side well known actors such as Fred Willard and
Graham Greene. She has also been in a McDonald's commercial as well as a
character in the animation series DOKI. She currently resides in Guelph, Ontario
with her family and attends John F. Ross High School. This is merely the beginning
of Cassidy's acting career.
Jamie Spilchuk as Floyd
Jamie has spent the last 5 years bouncing between Toronto and Los Angeles.
You’ve probably recognized Jamie on shows such as: Being Erica on CBC;
Flashpoint on CTV; Suits on USA Network; and Transporter on HBO. IN the last
year he has also completed 3 films: ‘A Fish Story’ ‘And Now A Word From Our
Sponsor’ and just recently , ‘The Birder’, a comedy starring Tom Cavanagh, Fred
Willard and Graham Greene. Oh yeah, and sometimes he’s running into a poor guy
who can’t seem to get any cell service. Jamie is currently starring as Cameron
Cahil in the television drama series Hard Rock Medical.
Graham Greene as Manny
Graham Greene’s screen debut was in 1983 in Running Brave, but it was his
Academy Award nominated role as Kicking Bird in the 1990 film Dances with
Wolves that brought him stardom. This role was followed by appearances in such
films as Thunderheart, Benefit of the Doubt, and Maverick as well as the TV series
Northern Exposure. Graham also acted along-side Bruce Willis and Samuel L.
Jackson in the 1995 film Die Hard with a Vengeance and played a death row
inmate in the Oscar nominated The Green Mile.
In 1994 Graham appeared as Mr. Crabby tree in the children’s TV series The
Adventures of Dudley the Dragon for which he received a Gemini Award. That
same year, he also accepted the Earle Grey Lifetime Achievement Award at the
Gemini’s.
In 2005, he re-emerged as the potential love interest of a pre-operative transsexual
woman in Transamerica. 2007 saw Graham playing leading roles in The Stratford
Festival theatrical productions of the Merchant of Venice and Of Mice and Men.
Most recently, Graham has appeared in the feature films the Twilight Saga: New
Moon, Casino Jack, Valley of the Sun, Gunless, Man on the Train, Black Forrest,
Chasing Shakespeare and a recurring role on the CBC TV series Being Erica.
Currently, Graham is in production as the series lead in Defiance for
NBC/Universal/Sci-Fi network.
Fred Willard as The Park President
Fred Willard, a four-time Emmy nominee and alumnus of the famed Second City
comedy troupe, Fred was also a founding member of the Ace Trucking Company
sketch/improv group, where he honed his comedic skills. Of course, movie
audiences know him best for his work in over seventy films. From Silver
Streak with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor to his most recent film, The Magic of
Belle Isle directed by Rob Reiner and Starring Morgan Freeman, he has worked
with Hollywood’s best. He danced with Jane Fonda in Fun with Dick and Jane. He
appeared with Jennifer Lopez in The Wedding Planner, and with Steve Martin and
Daryl Hannah in Roxanne. Fred’s improvisational performances in Waiting for
Guffman and Best in Show earned him an American Comedy Award nod for
Funniest Supporting Actor, and won him the Boston Film Critics Award, the
American Comedy Award, the Sierra Award, and a tribute from the American Film
Institute (AFI). His filmography also includes This Is Spinal Tap, Anchorman: The
Legend of Ron Burgundy, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration, the Academy
Award-nominated Monster House, and the Academy Award-winning short
film Ray’s Male Heterosexual Dance Hall. Fred starred as the only human
character in the Oscar-winning film WALL-E, which The New York Times named
the best film of the decade. He was honored by AFI for contributing to America’s
cultural legacy.
Fred has appeared in over one thousand television episodes, from the variety Tom
Jones Show to his recent appearances on Modern Family. He and Martin Mull costarred in Norman Lear’s innovative TV cult classic Fernwood 2 Night.
Fred garnered three Emmy nominations for his performance as Amy’s Dad
on Everybody Loves Raymond. Additionally he received and Emmy nomination for
Modern Family, playing Phil’s dad. He has also made over one hundred
appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Fred recently completed
Anchorman 2, which opens Christmas 2013.
Tommie-Amber Pirie as Laura
Tommie-Amber Pirie captured Toronto Film Festival audiences with her role as
Trotskys' sister in Jacob Tierney's The Trotsky (2009). But, nobody who has been
watching television is surprised by her storming the feature world.
Tommie-Amber has appeared in some of this country's most popular series: TMN's
Living in Your Car, CBC's The Border and 18 to Life, Global/ABC's Rookie Blue,
Teletoon's My Babysitter is a Vampire, Showtimes' KING and SYFY Networks'
Warehouse 13 and Lost Girl.
Her professional career started in her hometown of Ottawa with H20: The Last
Prime Minister (2004) starring Paul Gross. Tommie-Amber was then seen in Girls
Best Friend (2008) starring Janeane Garofolo, Like Mother Like Daughter (2007)
with Michelle Stafford (The Young & The Restless) as well as Final Verdict (2009)
opposite Erica Durance (Saving Hope, Smallville)
Other credits include the independent feature New Year which premiered at the
Montreal Film Festival (2010) and Lifetime Movie Networks' Another Man's Wife
(2011).
Tommie-Amber starred as Claire Webb on CBC's acclaimed half hour comedy
Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays; working alongside Bob Martin and Don McKellar,
for which she was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female at the
2012 Actra Awards, Canadian Comedy Award and a Canadian Screen Award.
Most recently Tommie-Amber worked on The F-Word starring Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe
Kazan, and Adam Driver, The Birder starring Tom Cavanagh and Mark Rendall ,
indie feature Don't Get Killed in Alaska, and the much anticipated web series Long
Story, Short alongside Katie Boland and Lauren Collins.
Tommie-Amber is currently working on Tell The World playing Ellen G.White.
Allana Harkin as Rebecca
Ms Harkin is an accomplished actor and has had the opportunity to pretend that
she’s lived in Chicago, Italy and Outer space. She has worked in theatre, television
and film. Favourite theatre credits include playing "Rosalind" in CanStage's
production of "As You Like It", "Proof" at Montreal's Centaur theatre and in the role
as "Acceptance" in the Next Stage Festival production of "First Hand Woman".
Additional theatre includes productions with Factory theatre, Necessary Angel,
Theatre Aquarius, Youtheatre, Centaur Theatre and CanStage.
Allana's TV and film roles have allowed her to play many dynamic characters.
Select credits include the upcoming "Dino Dan" with Mark McKinney and Andrea
Martin, the hilarious pilot "Meet the Wilders", "Train 48", "The Endless Grind",
"Earth: Final Conflict" and the Lifetime movie "Custody. Most recently Allana
appears alongside Tom Cavanagh in “The Birder” a revenge comedy set inside the
world of bird watching.
Crew Biographies:
Theodore Bezaire (Co-writer & Director) IMDB
Theodore has worked with notable Canadian organizations such as -- CBC, YTV,
CFTPA, Bravo!FACT and TELEFILM CANADA.
His short films have found success around the world. Of note, PRIA has won
numerous awards including the Audience Choice Award at both TIFF Kids in
Toronto and the NBC Universal Comedy Short Cuts Festival in Los Angeles. Most
recently his short TOMMY won the A&E Filmmakers Award for BEST FILM at the
NSI Canada Film Festival.
THINGS TO DO, Theodore’s debut feature film premiered at the Slamdance Film
Festival in Park City Utah to sold out crowds and rave reviews. It went on to have a
theatrical release in select US cities and was a part of Mongrel Media's Festival
Collection -- it is now available worldwide.
His second feature film, THE BIRDER, starring Tom Cavanagh, Mark Rendall and
Fred Willard is currently playing festivals internationally and is scheduled for
release in early 2014.
Theodore was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario and currently calls Toronto,
Ontario home. He has numerous projects at various stages of development.
Mike Stasko (Co-writer & Co-producer) IMDB
Mike has been involved in the production of over 50 short films and documentaries.
He has also co-written, associate produced, edited and starred in THINGS TO DO,
The Dot Film Company’s debut feature film. Mike completed his directorial debut
feature film IODINE starring RAY WISE (Twin Peaks, Reaper), which opened at
the Montreal World Film Festival and was theatrically released in 2010 and won a
REMI at Houston World Film Festival for Best First Feature Film.
On The Dot Film Company’s third feature film THE BIRDER, Mike acted as a cowriter & co-producer the film stars Tom Cavanagh (Ed, Yogi Bear), Fred Willard
(Wall-E, Best In Show) and Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves, The Green
Mile).
Mike holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Windsor and a
Post-Graduate diploma in Advance Television & Film from Sheridan College, and
an MFA in Film from Columbia University.
Gerry Lattmann (Producer) IMDB
Gerry Lattmann is a senior Producer at The Dot Film Company based in Toronto,
Canada. He has produced feature films; multiple short films and his films have won
awards from TIFF Kids, NBC Universal, A&E, NSI and WorldFest Houston. Gerry
has worked with Canada’s most reputable film and media organizations including
Telefilm Canada, Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC), The Harold
Greenberg Fund, CBC, TVOntario, CTV, Omni, BravoFACT, TIFF Film Circuit and
many others. Gerry has an HBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business and the
highly competitive Post Graduate Advanced Television and Film Program at
Sheridan College.
Jeff Nadalin (Producer) IMDB
Jeff Nadalin is President and CEO of Kickstand Entertainment Inc., a film
production and finance company earning a reputation as the “go-to” partner for
independent film. His debut feature Baby Blues won Moving Image Film Festival’s
Best Picture and was nominated for three Rosie Awards. His most recent
collaboration, The Prosecution of an American President based on Vincent
Bugliosi’s book is slated for theatrical release later this year. Jeff is currently
producing and executive producing films in association with the Dot Film Company,
Splice Films, NAFTC Studios, Frenzy Films and Rocky Mountain Pictures to
name a few. He lives with his wife and daughter and Windsor, ON. Jeff also holds
a Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor.
Michael Baker (Executive Producer) IMDB
As Founder and Principal at Bunk 11 Pictures Inc., Michael is responsible for the
company’s activities in all areas and the ultimate success of the company. With
good business as a priority, Michael ensures a strong and varied slate of revenuegenerating projects, a low overhead and a focus on the bottom line. Bunk 11
currently has several scripts in development, a number of projects as executive
producer and a growing list of consulting clients.
As a distribution consultant, Michael provides services to producers related to
marketing, sales, financing, contracts and more. He teaches a distribution class
through Vitality Media and has given several courses in the Toronto area. He has
sat on panels for organizations including Women In Film and Television – Toronto,
Hot Docs, the Whistler Film Festival, and the World of Comedy Film Festival. He
was an invited attendee at the 2008 Sundance Producers Conference in Utah.
Michael most recently produced the Ottawa-shot feature film PENTHOUSE
NORTH, starring Michael Keaton and Michelle Monaghan, directed by Joseph
Ruben. He also produced SACRIFICE, starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Christian
Slater. He has Executive Produced several features including WEIRDSVILLE,
YOUNG PEOPLE FUCKING, TEXTUALITY, and EVERYTHING’S GONE GREEN.
He was also producer on the feature film SNAPPED, Co-Producer on FARCE OF
THE PENGUINS, and Associate Producer on the film HALLOW’S END.
Michael served as Vice President of Acquisitions & Development at ThinkFilm, an
independent film distributor where he worked directly with writers, directors and
producers to develop their scripts for production, negotiated deals, oversaw
productions, assisted in financing, sold Canadian television rights, screened films,
and attended major international film festivals including, Sundance, Toronto and
Cannes. Michael helped grow the business, spearheading countless profitable
films and projects, through several rounds of financing and the company’s eventual
sale.
He served as an intern at Scott Free Productions, a Hollywood production
company that is home to directors Tony and Ridley Scott, where he read scripts,
wrote coverage, attended pitch meetings and weekend read meetings, and worked
directly with the Vice President of Production.
Michael holds a BA with Distinction in Cultural Studies from McGill University in
Montreal, as well as a Post-Graduate Certificate with Highest Distinction in
Corporate Communications from Seneca College in Toronto.
Arthur Cooper (Director of Photography) IMDB
Arthur Cooper,CSC is an award winning cinematographer who has worked across
the country and around the world. He began by taking photographs with his first
camera at seven years of age. After graduating from film school in Toronto, he
worked as a camera assistant on such films as Dead Ringers, Naked Lunch, and
Long Days Journey Into Night.
With over 17 years of experience as a cinematographer, he has shot feature films,
TV series, documentaries, short films and music videos. His works have enjoyed
successful theatrical releases and international broadcasts as well as screening at
festivals worldwide including Cannes, Berlin and TIFF. He moves smoothly
between genres, from feature dramas like One Week (TIFF 2008 Gala), Heater
(Sundance 1999) and the vibrant, stylish Home Again (TIFF 2012) to television
action mini-series Guns, series Life With Derek, multi-cam sitcom, What’s Up
Warthogs?, to feature comedies like Young People F*cking (TIFF 2007), Love, Sex
and Eating the Bones (TIFF 2003) and Hit By Lightning, which he just finished
shooting.
From studio productions to independent labours of love, Arthur brings a passion to
create beautiful images that tell stories and move audiences around the world.
Taavo Soodor (Production Designer) IMDB
Taavo Soodor has Production Designed over 40 feature films and television
productions. He has worked for Paramount Pictures, Columbia Tri-Star, Sony
Pictures, Lions Gate, CBS, ABC, BBC, CBC, A&E, Granada, Alliance, Turner and
Showtime Networks.
Taavo earned Genie nominations for Best Achievement in Art Direction for Jeremy
Podeswa's feature THE FIVE SENSES; Thom Fitzgerald's award-winning THE
HANGING GARDEN; and John Fawcett's THE BOY'S CLUB as well as a Gemini
nomination for Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Dramatic Program or
Series for the CBS television drama HAVEN, directed by John Gray. In 2008 he won
the award for Best Art Direction at the 28th Atlantic Film Festival for the feature
GROWING OP. He designed for the features THE BIG HIT produced by John Woo
starring Mark Wahlberg, Paramount's STEPPIN' UP/SAVE THE LAST DANCE
II, AURORA BOREALIS, starring Donald Sutherland, SPINNING BORIS, directed by
Roger Spottiswoode, and the multi-award winning feature OWNING MAHOWNY,
starring Philip Seymour Hoffman as well as NARC, produced by Tom Cruise,
starring Ray Liotta. His most recent feature is the indie quirky comedy THE
BIRDER.
Dev Singh (Editor) IMDB
Dev Singh is a picture editor. He is currently editing THE BIRDER, produced by the
Dot Film Company and directed by Theodore Bezaire, starring Tom Cavanagh and
Mark Rendall. He completed the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival selected
film, PICTURE DAY, which won the 2013 BORSOS PRIZE for Best Canadian Film
at the Whistler Film Festival along with Best Performance for Tatiana Maslany. Dev
has been named PLAYBACK 2012 One to Watch.
Dev recently edited THE AUCTIONEER (Hot Docs 2013), a National Film Board of
Canada documentary film by Hans Olson and produced by OscarTM Nominated
producers Bonnie Thompson and David Christensen. Dev has also been part of
the filmmaking team winning a 2012 International Digital Emmy and nominated for
a 2011 SXSW Interactive Festival Audience Award for his forays in interactive
storytelling. Before becoming an editor Dev worked in VFX on films such as FOUR
BROTHERS, ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13, RETURN OF ZOOM, ICE HARVEST
and RESIDENT EVIL - APOCALYPSE.
Dev’s next film is THE LAST DRUID - GARM WARS, a science fiction film directed
by Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell, Avalon).
Joanna Colbert (casting) IMDB
Joanna Colbert began her casting career in New York City working for Juliet
Taylor. In association with Taylor, she conducted the nationwide search for
“Interview with the Vampire” resulting in the discovery of Kirsten Dunst. Colbert
went on to work at Universal Pictures as the Manager of Casting and then Senior
Vice President of Casting. She formed Joanna Colbert Casting in 2001. Her credits
include “The Good Girl”, “Beyond the Sea”, “Must Love Dogs” and
“Hollywoodland”. She and her longtime collaborator, Richard Mento, formed
Colbert•Mento Casting. Their credits include: “Remember Me”, “Dear John”, “Youth
in Revolt”, “Step Up 2”, “Step Up 3-D”, and Sundance Audience Award winner,
“The Wackness”.
Richard Mento (Casting) IMDB
RICHARD MENTO's casting career began at LIVENT, the theatrical production
company, alongside such musical theatre luminaries as Frank Galati and Graciela
Daniele (RAGTIME), Susan Stroman (SHOW BOAT), Gwen Verdon and Ann
Reinking (FOSSE), and the legend, Harold Prince (SHOW BOAT, PARADE).
Looking to expand his "mental rolodex" of actors (and add a few that neither sang
nor danced), he segued into television casting at CBS and Sony Pictures TV. His
association with Joanna Colbert began in 2003 and Colbert/Mento Casting was
formed in early 2008. Selected film credits include: The "Step Up" dance trilogy,
"Sorority Row", "The Wackness" (2008 Sundance Audience Award - Drama), “Dear
John”, “Youth in Revolt”, and the upcoming "Chloe” and "Remember Me".
Production Notes:
• “THE BIRDER” was shot in Windsor-Essex, Ontario Canada, over 18 days in
August/September 2012.
• After the success of their first feature film, THINGS TO DO, Co-Writer/Director
Theodore Bezaire, Co-Writer Mike Stasko and Producer Gerry Lattmann were
invited by Telefilm Canada to pitch their next film. THE BIRDER was the result of
that meeting and it was put into active development in early 2007. Five plus years
later the film went into production on August 27, 2012.
• Mark Rendall’s late grandfather Bob Sachs, an aerospace engineer and avid
birder, would often take Mark on birding hikes, teaching him about nature. Bob
would bird watch across Ontario and coincidentally Bob met his wife at Point Pelee
near where THE BIRDER was filmed. Early in the casting process Producers
approached Mark with the script to play the role of Ben Connor. On the same day
Mark received the email with the offer and the script, Mark also received an email
from his mother, telling him that she was spreading Bob’s ashes at Point Pelee. It
was perhaps a sign, but most certainly an interesting memorial twist to Mark’s
beloved grandfather; he of course accepted the part and dedicates his
performance to his dearly departed grandfather, Bob Sachs.
• After a successful shoot in Windsor-Essex on their first film THINGS TO DO, the
Producers and Director chose to return to the region for their second film. With
Point Pelee National Park, Ojibway Park, Holiday Beach among other parks all
within a short drive, the Windsor-Essex area is a well-known birding hot spot
around the world. It didn’t make much sense to look anywhere else when
considering shooting locations – Windsor-Essex was the obvious first choice.
• The filmmakers employed the help of local birding experts to help out on the
film. Sarah Rupert Naturalist at Point Pelee National Park and Paul Pratt,
Naturalist for The City of Windsor who works out of one of our main locations
Ojibway Park.
• The fictional “PELEE REGION PROVINCIAL PARK” was comprised of various
locations across the Windsor-Essex region. Director, Theodore Bezaire, having
been born and raised in Windsor-Essex formulated an early strategy to pull it all
off.
ST. ANNE’S HIGH SCHOOL - The bulk of the interior shooting took place at
an abandoned High School, which also served as the production’s office,
other sets, and equipment storage.
OJIBWAY PARK - Provided the majority of the exterior sets, which included
the nature trails, parking lot, and some interiors at their newly built nature
centre.
OPTOMIST PARK - The exteriors and some parking lot scenes were filmed
at another City of Windsor facility, Optomist Park.
COLLAVINO ESTATE For a major set piece in the film the crew set up shop
on the Executive Producer’s family property. Here, scenes were filmed
involving the Birding Tower and the Bird Park Entrance.
ST. THOMAS OF VILLANOVA HIGH SCHOOL - The script still required that
there be a local birding park directly beside the high school where the main
character Ron Spencer (Tom Cavanagh) was a high school
teacher. Villanova was the only school in a rural setting that offered a tree
line directly adjacent to the school where the main characters could hang
out on the roof, drink a few beers and stare at a beautiful birding park.
• Finding Ron Spencer’s house, which required a very specific aesthetic was
unusually easy. While attending the University of Windsor more than a decade
earlier, Theodore Bezaire had taken note of one of his favourite houses near the
campus and had earmarked for use in a future production. When it came time to
secure Ron Spencer’s house in THE BIRDER, Theodore had no alternative. The
Producers approached the home owners, and they were more than willing to have
a film shoot in their beautiful home.
• The Birding Tower, which was built on the Executive Producer’s family property
was a masterful stroke of genius and luck. When first conceived as per the script,
the birding tower was a partially built structure to become what would be the
“largest birding tower north of the great barrier reef”, so without fail and with some
luck, Roy Collavino - Executive Producer happened to have several telephone
poles that would eventually act as the four pillars of the birding tower from which
slats and boards would be attached to give the appearance of a birding tower. The
tower was originally going to be a partially built, non-functional structure that only
needed to slightly resemble a birding tower in the making, in the end, with the hard
work from the films’ Head of Construction, many strokes of luck and a whole lot of
generosity from our Executive Producer, the tower is a fully functional, standing
memorial to the Collavino Family.
Opening Title Credits
Union Pictures Presents
a Dot Film Company Production
in association with Kickstand Entertainment
produced with the participation of Telefilm Canada
Tom Cavanagh is
The Birder
Mark Rendall
Jamie Spilchuk
Tommie-Amber Pirie
Allana Harkin
Scott Cavalheiro, Jim Annan, Mike Stasko
with Graham Greene
and Fred Willard
Casting Director – Larissa Mair CDC
US Casting – Joanna Colbert CSA & Rich Mento CSA
Original Score – Rich Pell, Dylan Heming, Isabell Noel
Music Supervisor – David Hayman
Sound Designer – Brian Eimer
Opening Titles Designed by The Academy
Costume Designer – Barb Cardoso
Production Designer – Taavo Soodor
Editor – Dev Singh
Director of Photography – Arthur E. Cooper
Associate Producers – Serge Forte, Christian Lattman, Dev Singh
Co-Producers – Theodore Bezaire, Mike Stasko
Co- Executive Producer – John Cervini
Executive Producers – Roy A. Collavino, Michael Baker
Producers – Gerry Lattmann, Jeff Nadalin, Roy A. Collavino
Written by Theodore Bezaire & Mike Stasko
Directed by Theodore Bezaire
End Credits
Unit Production Manager
1st Assistant Director
Location Manager
Production Coordinator
Production Facilitator
Gerry Lattmann
Charles M. Smith
Jeff Nadalin
Marianne Jeney
Roy A. Collavino
Cast
(in order of appearance)
James Dunne Matt Evans
Ronnie Spencer Eden Gladstone-Martin
Ron Spencer Tom Cavanagh
Bored Student Coleton Denomme
Ben Conner Mark Rendall
Principal Jim Annan
Jock Jake Raymond
Vice-Principal Jacobs Ian Gauld
Alexis Richmond Tasha Toulouse
Babes for Biodiesel Sarah Regular
Lauren Stiers
Emma Stiers
Samantha Spencer Cassidy Renée
Darcy Scott Cavalheiro
Rebecca Allana Harkin
Junior Ornithologists Rachel Dagenais
Mackenzie Kelly
Talia Noelle
Sydney Sholdice
Park President Fred Willard
Floyd Hawkins Jamie Spilchuk
Mike The Park Worker Mike Stasko
Laura Tommie-Amber Pirie
Manny Graham Greene
Birder's For Beginners Ashley Poulin
Leilani Rup
Julia Pastorius
Tia McCann
Lianna McCann
Newscaster Christie Bezaire
Birding Tour Kids Andrew Bezaire
Mya Bezaire
Emily Mackinnon
Kierra Marenette
Sarah Pettit
Police Officers Christian Lattman
Kevin Briand
Judge Joe Stasko
Ernesto Matt Bendo
Bird Smugglers Sasha Appler
Dave "Pino" Giansante
Jeff Nadalin
Police Detectives Tim Bezaire
Brent Bondy
Teacher Mike Lepera
Safety Consultant Kevin Briand
Crew
Story Editor Christina Piovesan
Production Consultants Daniel Bekerman
Sandra Cunningham
Toronto Casting Associate
Toronto Casting Reader
Windsor Casting
Windsor Casting Assistant
Sheena Clowater
Nick Baillie
Sarah Ilijanich
Steve Ilijanich
2nd Assistant Director David Kalinauskas
3rd Assistant Director Sarah Ilijanich
Cast Tutor Matt Kanters
Art Director Jessica Cook
Set Decorator Gabriela Lopez Duran
Philip Wells
Prop Master Misty Habib
Key Scenic Painters Aaron Fauteux
Hailey August Sutherland
Madison Daneliuk
Nicole Gellman
Walter Petrichyn
Graphic Designers Nathalie McFadden
Paul Dhillon
Stephanie Myles
Art Department Assistant Mitch Hilton
Dylan Charlebois
Ryan Geburt
Artwork & Props Sarah Rupert
Michael Malone
Joan Walker
Anthony Johns
Mary Jo Grado
Richard Anthony Piet
Maria Cusumano
Dave Tootill
Lisa McGuire
Head of Construction Christian Lattman
Assistant Head of Construction Dan Bezaire
Carpenters Don Bezaire
Ron Curtis
Rob Kobielski
Construction Assistants Kevin Briand
Loris Collavino
Roy A. Collavino
Ed Tomac
Mitch Hilton
Dylan Charlebois
Jeff Sylvestre
Special Effects
Special Effects Supervisor
Special Effects Key
Special Effects Technician
1st Camera Assistant
2nd Camera Assistant
2nd Camera Assistant
Camera Trainee
DMT
DMT (Park Film)
Gaffer
Key Grip
Best Boy Electric
Best Boy Grip
Electric
Grip
Grip
Swing
Swing
Generator Operator
Max FX
Max Macdonald
Mike Murawsky
Dan Tully
Doug Nelson
Jaime Gianopoulos
John Baxter
Diana Piruzevska
Shaher Batroukh
Tim Sandik
Chris Luciow
Graham M. Sheppard
Sergio Forest
Brian Summerhayes
Greg Baldin
JD Oppen
David Ross
Katelyn Murray
Merissa Tse
Chris Gilks
Sound Recordist Kevin F. Brown
Sound Assistant Sam MacLean
2nd Unit Director Mike Stasko
2nd Unit Camera Operator Sasha Appler
Assistant Costume Designer Danielle Nietsch
Logo Designer Nick Bownes
Wardrobe Assistant Nick Bownes
Key Hair & Make-up Christina Church
1st Make-Up Assistant Carly Nicodemo
2nd Make-Up Assistant Nikki Bendo
Assistant Hair Kerri Kavanaugh
Key Hair & MakeUp (Park Film) Laura MacCon
Script Supervisor Greg Maxwell
Assistant to Gerry Lattmann Tanner Zurkoski
Assistant to Jeff Nadalin Sid Pandya
Assistants to Roy A. Collavino Mitch Hilton
Dylan Charlebois
Assistant Production Coordinator Madison Daneliuk
Production Office Assistant Mary Barrow
Assistant to Actors Carley Schweitzer
Joanne Stiers
Masseuse Bonnie Dupuis
Sue Brian
Location Support Jack Jobin
Production Assistants
Nicole Gellman
Walter Petrichyn
Mike Budinsky
Sid Pandya
Gabe Voycey
Gian Paolo Pasini
Nick Trudeau
Matt Johnson
Angela Kharboutli
Katrina Franzoi
Kurtis Schulz
Maria Cusumano
Matt Bendo
Christina Varsava
Drivers
Don Bezaire
Jim Boscariol
Zelda Elijah
Peter George
Serge Forte
Greg Maxwell
Enzo Nadalin
Gerry Papineau
Joey Stasko
Robert Milicevic
Steve Ilijanich Sr.
Cast Medicals Dr. Patz
Dr. Waxman
Catering Manager Greer Elcombe
Catering
Tecumseh Roadhouse
Whistling Kettle
Ambassador Golf Club
Bubi's Awesome Eats
Elias Deli
Enzo's Trattoria
Fogolar Furlan Windsor
Giovanni Caboto Club
Lefty's Lounge
Moxie's Grill
Penalty Box
Rino's Kitchen
Torino Plaza
Walkermole
Mark Boscariol
Dave Dimoglou
Lorraine McCann
James Renaud
The Maple Leaf
Mazaar
Starbucks
Nancy Stasko
Rina Bezaire & Gerry Papineau
Annette Bezaire & Christine Pastorius
Still Photographers Liquid Wild
Steve Nicodemo
Sean Davidson
Paul Peladeau
Additonal Still Photography Kareem Hassanien
Breanna Johnston
Brad Ouellette
Dante Pecile
Behind the Scenes Sasha Appler
Birding Consultants Sarah Rupert
Paul Pratt
Karen Cedar
Michael Malone
Joan Walker
Phil Roberts
Post-Production
DI Colorist
DI Online Editor
Digital Film Supervisor
Digital Film Technician
Sales Representative
DI Producers
Supervising Sound Editor
Dialogue Editor
Sound FX
ADR Recordist Toronto
ADR Recordist Windsor
Foley Artist/Editor
Re-Recording Mixer
Sound Design and Mix
Music Coordinator
Brett Trider
Rev.Rob Gyorgy
Andrew Pascoe
Margaret Mansell
James Kwiatkowski
Darcy Arthurs
Patrick Duchesne
Brian Eimer
Nadia Awad
Matt Vandersluys
Josh Vamos
Scott Barlow
Jake Thiesen
Brian Eimer
ImagesInSound
Cody Partridge
Soundtrack NYC
ADR Mixer Bill Higley
ADR Recordist Paul Tirone
Post Audio Coordinator Carlie Bergman
Opening Titles
Creative Direction Colin Hesterly
Illustrations & Animation Colin Hesterly
Storyboard Artist/Animator Yassir Rasan
Producer Mike Holm
Executive Producer Nathan F. Barr
VFX Supervisor
3D Animator
3D Animator
Compositor
Prionnsias Murphy
Harsha Chandriani
Gaya Armen
Brian Prieur
School Bus Sharp Bus Lines
Stevenson Transportation
Motorhome Limos by Mr. J's
Jack Jobin
Don Chalut
Joe Papia
Sun Parlour Trailers
Rob Young
Location Support Equipment Film and Event Solutions
Walkie Talkies Total Two Way
Police & Fire Services Windsor Police Service
Town of Tecumseh Fire Rescue
Ontario Provincial Police
Amherstburg Fire Department
Accommodations Caesar's Windsor
Ivy Rose Motel
Super 8 Motel
Windsor Inn on the River
St. William's Rectory
Locations
WECDSB
Ojibway Park
City of Windsor
Mackenzie Hall
Collavino Estate
The Stumble Inn
Neil & Leslie Campbell
Andy Bonnett's Auto & Oil Change
The Puce Recreation Centre
Fogolar Furlan Windsor
Town & Country Motel
Promotional Products Wellington Brewery
Canon Camera
MMI Product Placement Inc.
Printing Services Copy Cat Printing
Graphic Designer Jessica Cook
Frank D'Angelo
Marianne Jeney
Jamie Lees
Accounting Services
Audit Services
Payroll Services
Clearance Services
Sammie Bassir
Stephen Derlick
EP Canada
The Rights Company
Hall Webber LLP
Legal Services Hall Webber LLP
Insurance Frontrow Insurance
Songs
“A Better Man Than Me”
Performed by Gary Trexler
Written by Norma and Connie Conway
Courtesy of Fervor Records Vintage Masters
“All Day”
Written by Jim Guthrie and Nicholas Thornburn
Performed by Human Highway
“Who Needs What”
Written and Performed by Jim Guthrie
“Authentic”
Written by Aron D’Alesio, John Smith and Noah Fralick
Performed by Young Rival
Courtesy of Sonic Unyon Records
"Criminals"
Written and Performed by The Bluestones
Courtesy of Bluestones
“2 Birds”
Written and Performed by Nicole Reynolds
Courtesy of Godiy Music
"Pick Me Up"
Written and performed by Hollerado
© 2013 The Birder Film Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved