park
10 people, 5 cars, 1 day...only in L.A.
Directed by Kurt Voelker
Starring,
William Baldwin
Ricki Lake
Cheri Oteri
OPENS NATIONWIDE OCTOBER 2007
Hi res photos & press kit available for download at:
www.parkthemovie.com
PRESS CONTACT:
Jim Dobson / Indie PR (818) 753-0700 jim@indie-pr.com
The Cast
Dennis……..……………………………………………………..WILLIAM BALDWIN
Peggy....…………………………………………………………………….RICKI LAKE
Claire.…………….……………………………………………………….CHERI OTERI
Sheryl.……………………….……………………………………MELANIE LYNSKEY
Krysta...……………………………………………………………….IZABELLA MIKO
Meredith………………………………………………………………….ANNE DUDEK
Nathan…………………………………………………………………….TRENT FORD
Babar…………………………………………………………….MAULIK PANCHOLY
Ian………………………………………………………………….…….DAVE FENNER
April…………………………………………………………………….DAGNEY KERR
Darnell…………………………………………………………………………..TREACH
Javier……………………………………………………..……….FRANCESCO QUINN
The Crew
Writer/Director……………………………………………………….KURT VOELKER
Producer…………………………………..………………………..DANA M. JACKSON
Cinematographer…………....…………………………CHRISTOPHE LANZENBERG
Casting Director…...…………………….…………………………..……JASON WOOD
Editors…...….………………………………………….ANITA BRANDT BURGOYNE
PAUL WARSCHILKA
Composer..……………………….………..JOHN PRATT & MICHAEL ALEMANIA
Music Supervisor……..……...…..………………………..…………TRISTANA WARD
Summary
Over the course of just another, everyday lunch hour, ten uniquely disaffected Los
Angelenos find love, loss, joy and pain, all in some very unexpected and humorous ways
as their paths cross and collide in a small, secluded and all-but-forgotten public park.
Synopsis
During their lunch break, twelve offbeat characters converge on a secluded
public park in the hills above Los Angeles.
APRIL (Dagney Kerry) arrives first with the intention of killing herself, but
every time she tries, she fails, which only frustrates her more. Meanwhile, in a
nearby pet grooming mobile, IAN (David Fenner) is infatuated with his fellow
groomer KRYSTA (Izabella Miko) but is crushed to realize she is planning a kinky
rendezvous with a smug attorney named DENNIS (William Baldwin).
Next, Dennis’s wife PEGGY (Ricki Lake) and her best friend CLAIRE (Cheri
Oteri) arrive to punish and humiliate Dennis, while in a nearby van, NATHAN (Trent
Ford) and BABAR (Maulik Pancholy) decide to prove to their female co-workers,
MEREDITH (Anne Dudek) and SHERYL (Melanie Lynskey), that they enjoy eating
their lunches naked.
Sex, love, suicide, betrayal, nudism, sushi and dog grooming -- and you
thought it was just a quiet little park.
Director’s Statement
The idea for PARK was born on one of the many days I’ve spent writing in public
parks in Los Angeles. Parks are a great place to write because they are mostly quiet and
anonymous. Over time however, I began to notice all sorts of intriguing things
happening around me, some undeniably suspicious. At the same time, I’ve always loved
ensemble films and I’ve always loved comedies that are really character dramas in
disguise. I admire filmmakers who can successfully interweave storylines and even more
so those who can take a contained setting and produce a taut, compelling story.
After deciding I wanted to make a film about people who come to a park, the
question became what people? My answer, for the most part, was my favorite kinds of
people. I find some comedies are really just extended exercises in condescension, and I
never wanted PARK to be that. I wanted it to be about characters I love in one way or
another – or, as is the case with Dennis (BILLY BALDWIN), a character I find in equal
parts fascinating, amusing and detestable.
In fact, Dennis was the first character I focused on -- a bastard love child of our
gluttonous affinity for SUVs and the various small-minded, testosterone warriors I’ve
known over the years. Dennis’ wife Peggy (RICKI LAKE) sprang from a life-long
fascination with the dormant yet volcanic potential of the disregarded woman. I’ve also
always admired the power of true friendship, and so appeared Claire (CHERI OTERI) -who also allowed me to mine the tragically funny symptoms of advanced emotional
desperation. Of course, Dennis needed a paramour and Krysta (IZABELLA MIKO) gave
me the chance to capture not only the melting pot nature of Los Angeles but also just how
misguided our cultural values would sound if boiled down to their most literal level.
In Ian (DAVID FENNER) and April (DAGNEY KERR) I wanted to capture the
kind of people who are in fact my very favorite -- those ultimately too fragile and kind
for this world -- characters doomed by their own sensitivity to get run over by the more
thick-skinned among us. In fact, bringing Ian and April together is really just my own
small, fictional attempt to save what I would call the “endangered” of our species.
Lastly, I wanted to explore both the wide-eyed enthusiasm and premature
cynicism that can afflict freshly-minted members of the twenty-something generation. In
Nathan (TRENT FORD), I confess a certain exaggerated homage to the crunchy-granola
side of my own personality. While in Meredith (ANNE DUDEK) I wanted to explore the
particular social paradox a woman finds herself in if she is smart, strong, funny and yet
insecure, all at the same time. Always interested in what currents course beneath the
surface of a nerd or a wallflower, I created Babar (MAULIK PANCHOLY) and Sheryl
(MELANIE LYNSKEY) to do just that.
At the end of the day, I also really wanted PARK to be about “regular” people and
have nothing to do with Hollywood or any of the other hopelessly over-publicized
aspects of L.A. Instead I wanted to focus on individual, idiosyncratic expressions of the
collective emotional neediness that permeates this town, if not every sprawling, modern
metropolis. Oh, and did I mention, I also wanted PARK to be very, very funny. After
all, as a college professor once told me, comedy is just drama that can dance, and I
wanted PARK to dance like there was no tomorrow.
Kurt Voelker
About the Cast…
William Baldwin (“Dennis”)
William Baldwin has distinguished himself as an actor/ producer/writer who continues to
showcase his multitude of talents in the world of film and television.
Baldwin currently has five independent films making the Festival circuit – “Adrift in
Manhattan,” “A Plumm Summer,” “American Fork,” “Park” and “Feel.” “Adrift in
Manhattan” was featured in this year’s Sundance Film Festival and “American Fork” was
an official selection in the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival and the HBO Comedy Arts
Festival.” “Park” was showcased at the HBO Festival as well and has won the Audience
Award at several festivals.
He also appears with Tim Robbins, William Hurt and Bridget Moynahan in the upcoming
Henry Dean-directed independent black comedy “Noise.
Baldwin makes his television series debut starring in the highly-anticipated ABC series,
“Dirty Sexy Money,” opposite Jill Clayburgh, Donald Sutherland and Peter Krause. The
tongue-in-cheek drama focuses on the wealth, power & privilege of the fictional Darling
family of New York City – and the idealistic lawyer who works for them. Baldwin
portrays Patrick Darling, the state Attorney General pondering a Senate run – who is also
harboring a multitude of scandalous secrets. The show has been called a mixture of
“Dynasty,” “Desperate Housewives” and “Six Feet Under.”
On the creative side, Baldwin is partnered with Chazz Palminteri in writing and
producing a drama series for Fox Television Studios.
In 2005, Baldwin memorably starred with Laura Linney and Jeff Daniels in the critical
award-winning hit film “The Squid & The Whale.” The drama, directed by Noah
Baumbach and produced by Wes Anderson, was recognized on over 200 Top 10 Lists
that year.
Baldwin has starred in over 25 films of varied genres. He appeared in the screen
adaptation of Noel Coward’s “Relative Values” with Steven Fry, Colin Firth and Julie
Andrews; the Irish Hell’s Kitchen drama “One Eyed King” with Chazz Palminteri and
Armand Assante; and “The Brotherhood of Murder,” a drama about a breakaway faction
of the Aryan Nation with Peter Gallagher and Kelly Lynch. Other film credits include
“Backdraft,” “Curdled,” “Virus,” “Pyromaniacs: A Love Story,” “Shattered Image,”
“Double Bang,” “Fair Game,” “Sliver,” “Three of Hearts,” “Flatliners,” “Internal
Affairs,” and the “The Preppy Murder.” He made his feature film debut in Oliver Stone’s
“Born on the Fourth of July.”
A native of Massapequa, New York, Baldwin graduated from State University of New
York at Binghamton University with a degree in Political Science.
Baldwin serves on the boards of Project ALS (which raises funds to find a cure for Lou
Gehrig’s disease), The Massapequa Community Fund (an endowment providing grants to
local non-profits and scholarships for graduating seniors in his hometown), Mercy Corps
(an international relief organization) and The Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research
Fund.
Ricki Lake (“Peggy”)
Born in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, Ricki Pamela Lake developed an early interest
in performing. She took acting and music lessons for years and appeared in numerous
school plays. She enrolled in New York’s Professional Children’s School in her teens,
and by the end of her freshman year at Ithaca College in New York, she began to fear that
her dream was slipping away. She took a one-year leave of absence to pursue acting
fulltime. Toward the end of the year when Lake had begun to lose hope, she received a
call to audition for writer-director John Waters’ musical comedy “Hairspray.”
Lake’s performance as the film’s zaftig heroine, Tracy Turnblad, won over not only
audiences of Waters’ campy, affectionate production but also the cast and crew. “I do
adore Ricki,” declared Waters, who would go on to cast her in several other films. Her
performance earned Lake a 1988 Independent Spirit Award nomination for best actress,
and the following year she appeared on the 61st Annual Academy Awards broadcast in a
musical number celebrating “Break-Out Superstars of Tomorrow.”
Though heavy enough to play Tracy when cast, Lake dropped some weight learning the
array of ’60s dances featured in the film. The film’s “fat patrol” pushed her to eat
constantly, and the confluence of stardom and being overweight soon became, in Lake’s
mind, her “gimmick.” Roles in films like Waters’ “Cry-Baby” and “Cookie,” the topgrossing comedy “Working Girl,” the acclaimed drama “Last Exit to Brooklyn,” “Where
the Day Takes You” and “Inside Monkey Zetterland” followed, as well as a season on
TV’s “China Beach.” Following “China Beach,” Lake shed 125 pounds over six
difficult months. Flushed with new confidence, Lake auditioned for the hosting spot on a
new daytime talk show. She impressed the producers and appeared in a pilot in the fall of
1992; by the following year she had moved to New York and begun taping “The Ricki
Lake Show” for Sony Pictures Television.
Even as her talk show became a phenomenon, Lake continued to pursue acting roles,
including leads in the romantic comedy “Mrs. Winterbourne” (for which Roger Ebert
praised her “no-nonsense warmth”) and the TV mystery “Murder She Purred.” She also
garnered parts in Waters’ “Serial Mom” and “Cecil B. Demented” and a recurring role as
Stephanie Heffernan on the smash sitcom “King of Queens.” 2002 saw her onstage at
Madison Square Garden in a celebrity-studded performance of “The Vagina
Monologues.” Lake also recently completed Kurt Voelker’s film, “Park,” opposite
William Baldwin and Cheri Oteri.
Since the wrap of “The Ricki Lake Show” in August 2004, Lake has pursued a typically
personal path in her appearances: she provided a guest voice-over for Disney’s animated
series “Higglytown Heroes” and appeared as herself in Waters’ “A Dirty Shame” and the
mockumentary “The Naked Brothers Band.”
When not acting, Lake, an avid gamer, loves to take part in an occasional game of poker.
She recently displayed her poker and blackjack talents on “Celebrity Blackjack” and
Bravo’s “Celebrity Poker Showdown.” This summer, Lake shared her love for games
with millions as the host of the CBS hit, “Gameshow Marathon.”
Cheri Oteri (“Claire”)
An actress known for the boundless creativity that goes into her flawlessly detailed
characters, Cheri Oteri is branching out beyond her acclaimed work on “Saturday Night
Live” with several roles in feature films.
Oteri appeared on “Saturday Night Live” for five seasons. She is probably best known
for her portrayal of Arianna, the female half of the Spartan Spirit Cheerleader Squad. As
well as Cass Van Ry, the dense and shallow co-host of the fictional talk show “Morning
Latte”. Oteri’s other popular characters include: Rita, the self-appointed mayor of her
street who polices local neighborhood children, and the prescription-addled Colette
Reardon. Her hysterical impressions of Barbara Walters and Judge Judy have both been
“Cheered” by TV Guide. Other memorable impersonations include Mariah Carey,
Melissa Rivers, Jennifer Lopez and Ross Perot. Cheri’s SNL characters were celebrated
this year with a BEST OF CHERI OTERI special on SNL.
In addition to her acclaimed work on “Saturday Night Live” Oteri received an Emmy
nomination for the memorable guest starring appearance on the hit NBC situation
comedy series, “Just Shoot Me” as the inept but perky secretary, Cindy. She guested
opposite Larry David on CURB YOUR ENTHUSIAM. Oteri is currently developing a
comedy with JJ Abrams.
Oteri was seen in “Scary Movie” directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans. She also appeared in
LIAR, LIAR opposite Jim Carrey, SMALL SOLDIERS, INSPECTOR GADGET, LOVE
& SEX and DUMB AND DUMBERER. Recent films include PARK, SMILE shot on
location in China, last year and SURVIVING EDEN in which she co-stars as a reality
show contestant. Prior to joining “Saturday Night Live” Oteri was a member of the Los
Angeles-based improv/sketch comedy group, The Groundlings.
A native of Philadelphia, Oteri currently lives in Los Angeles.
Melanie Lynskey (“Sheryl”)
Lynskey currently stars on the CBS hit series "Two and a Half Men" opposite Charlie
Sheen and Jon Cryer. Lynskey stars as Sheen's madly in love neighbor 'Rose.'
Lynskey is currently in production on the CBS miniseries "Comanche Moon," the
prequel to the highly successful miniseries "Lonesome Dove." Written by Diana Ossana
and Larry McMurty, the team behind "Brokeback Mountain," the miniseries also stars
Val Kilmer, Rachel Griffiths, Steve Zahn and Anjelica Huston.
On the big screen, Lynskey will star in Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers" opposite
Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford and Adam Beach. Written by Paul Haggis, the film tells
the life stories of the six men who raised the flag at the Battle of Iwo Jima, a turning point
in WWII. "Flags of Our Fathers" is scheduled to be released by Paramount on
October 20th, 2006.
Lynskey took audiences by storm in 1994 with her award winning performance in Peter
Jackson's "Heavenly Creatures" opposite Kate Winslet. Since then, she has amassed a
number of credits including Andy Tennant's "Ever After" opposite Drew Barrymore and
Anjelica Huston, David McNally's "Coyote Ugly" opposite Piper Perabo, Andy Tennant's
"Sweet Home Alabama" opposite Reese Witherspoon, Jamie Babbit's "But I'm a
Cheerleader," Billy Ray's "Shattered Glass" opposite Hayden Christensen and Peter
Sarsgaard, Michael Cacoyannis' "Cherry Orchard" opposite Charlotte Rampling and Alan
Bates and written by Anton Checkhov, and the independent New Zealand road movie
"Snakeskin," which garnered Lynskey her second New Zealand Film and Television
Award nomination for Best Actress. Lynskey's television credits include Steven King's
miniseries "Rose Red" and a guest star appearance on "The Shield."
Izabella Miko (“Krysta”)
Born in what was still Communist Poland to thespian parents, Izabella Miko could dance
before she could walk. At the age of 15 she was recruited by the School of American
Ballet in New York to study on a full scholarship. In 1997 Izabella's body could no
longer withstand the rigors of a 7-day a week ballet-training schedule and gave in to
vertebrae, knee and ankle injuries and her career as a ballet dancer was over. She returned
to Warsaw and while recovering, a casting director who was working with her parents
asked if she would play a part in a TV movie Lithuania You're My Motherland. She
accepted not knowing where else to turn. Once bitten by the acting bug and shortly before
her 18th birthday, Izabella headed back to America only this time, as an actor. She
immediately began training at The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. She shortly landed her
first American movie playing the heartbreaker "Cammie" in Jerry Bruckheimer's Coyote
Ugly. She followed this debut up with a leading role in J.S. Cardone's The Forsaken
opposite Simon Rex and Kerr Smith. She followed that with lead roles in Independent
features The Shore opposite Ben Gazzara and Lesley Ann Warren; and the haunting Bye
Bye Blackbird opposite Derek Jacobi and Michael Lonsdale.
Izabella has kept very busy recently with work on several Independent feature films
including, Flakes in which she starred opposite Zooey Deschanel, Aaron Stanford and
Christopher Lloyd; Crashing opposite Campbell Scott; The House of Usher opposite
Austin Nichols and Beth Grant and most recently Park an ensemble comedy in which she
stars with Cheri Oteri, Ricki Lake and Melanie Lynskey. She also had a recurring role in
HBO’s Emmy nominated series Deadwood. Not to mention her work in The Killers’
award winning music video “Mr. Brightside”.
Izabella recently completed working on the Paramount film Steppin’ Up, a sequel to the
hit film Save The Last Dance. The movie follows Izabella’s character, Sara, as she enters
her first year at Julliard. Unlike the first movie, this film will feature more music and
dancing. Also unlike the first film, Izabella does all her own dancing. Currently Izabella
is filming the independent feature Dark Streets opposite Bijou Phillips and Gabriel Mann
for director Rachel Samuels.
When not working, Izabella makes her home in Los Angeles where she studies
languages, loves to cook and continues to study dance.
Anne Dudek (“Meredith”)
Anne Dudek is a graduate of the Theater Program at Northwestern University. Upon
graduation, she appeared on Broadway in the comedy WRONG MOUNTAIN and
received several awards for her performances off-Broadway and at Hartford Stage in
productions of THE IPHIGENIA CYCLE and THE GLASS MENAGERIE. Dudek
starred on the BAFTA-nominated U.K. comedy series, THE BOOK GROUP, for two
years. In addition, she has guest starred on such critically-acclaimed series as
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, FRIENDS and SIX
FEET UNDER in which she played Peter Krause's love interest. In addition to starring in
the Wayans Brothers’ hit film WHITE CHICKS, Dudek just played the female lead in the
drama pilot PSYCH for the USA Network and will soon appear in 10 ITEMS OR LESS,
directed by Brad Silberling (MOONLIGHT MILE) opposite Morgan Freeman, Paz Vega
and Bobby Cannavale.
Trent Ford (“Nathan”)
Trent Ford was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but spent the better half of his adolescence in
England. His mother was from Birmingham, England and his father was a test pilot for
the U.S. Navy, they met in Kuwait while his mother was a stewardess.
A recent graduate of Cambridge University, Ford spent some of college years shooting
“She Gets What She Wants,” with Kirsten Dunst, as well as Robert Altman’s “Gosford
Park,” in which landed him and his castmates a SAG Award nomination.
Since relocating to Los Angeles, Trent has starred apposite Mandy Moore as her love
interest in “How to Deal,” and had a recurring role on “The West Wing” as the French
boyfriend of the President’s daughter. Ford was recently seen guest starring on the series
“Smallville.” In May he teamed up with Scarlet Johansson to launch a worldwide
lifestyle campaign for Calvin Klein called “Star.” Currently, he is working on the
independent feature “Primal Scream.”
Maulik Pancholy (“Babar”)
Maulik Pancholy most recently completed filming recurring roles on the Showtime
series, “Weeds” and the HBO series, “The Comeback”. Recent filmwork includes
Friends with Money (which opened the 2006 Sundance Film Festival), Hitch, Quarter
Life Crisis, The Auteur Theory and the short film Diwali, which was screened at Cannes.
He is currently filming Good Sharma, which stars Joan Allen and Billy Connolly. Other
television credits include recurring roles on Tracey Takes On and Jack & Jill as well as
guest roles on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Charmed, Felicity, and Family Law. OffBroadway, Maulik was seen in The Culture Project’s critically acclaimed production of
Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom, the New Group’s production of Aunt
Dan & Lemon, starring Lili Taylor, and the workshop production of Morbidity &
Mortality at The Cherry Lane. Most recently he played the lead in a new play called
India Awaiting, about which the New York Times called his performance “sexy,
charming and funny”. Regionally, he has performed at Yale Repertory Theatre, The
Goodman Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Shakespeare Festival/L.A., and Chicago’s Court
Theatre. He has also been the voice of various characters on Nickelodeon’s The Wild
Thornberry’s. He holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from the Yale School of Drama,
as well as a BS in Theatre from Northwestern University.
David Fenner (“Ian”)
David Fenner trained as an actor in the esteemed MFA program at UC San Diego,
graduating in 1993. As an award winning stage performer, some of David's regional
theatre credits include Marisol and Much Ado About Nothing at the La Jolla Playhouse;
The Taming Of The Shrew, The Cherry Orchard, Pterodactyls, Tartuffe, and What the
Butler Saw at South Coast Repertory; the title role in Mr. X-Mas at ASK; a witch in
Macbeth at A Noise Within, and Bob Cratchit at the San Diego Rep. He also wrote and
performed the well received one man show Et Tu Elvis.
David has appeared in several independent films including leads in Decade of Love
(written and directed by Kurt Voelker), Maria and Jose, and Clinic E. On television,
David has been a guest on Ellen and Silk Stalkings and appeared in numerous
commercials.
Dagney Kerr (“April”)
A native of Cincinnati, Dagney began her career dancing on cruise ships for the
choreographer of Solid Gold. When her cruise ship was permanently docked in San
Pedro after an E. coli outbreak, Dagney decided to ditch the big hair and sequins and
transition into acting.
PARK marks Dagney’s first starring feature film role after a number of notable TV
performances. She currently plays Nurse Heisel on Desperate Housewives. And Buffy,
The Vampire Slayer fans would remember her as Kathy, Buffy’s demon college
roommate. Other credits include stints on Six Feet Under, George Lopez, Bernie Mac
and The District.
Dagney is also an accomplished writer and director. Los Angeles’s Hudson Theater
hosted two separate extended runs of her one-person shows, Deep Sea Dagney and
Hitchhiking to Mars. And her latest creation, an over-the-top variety show called
Holiday Fever!, had a sold-out run this past winter, receiving multiple “critics picks” for
the must-see show for the holidays.
In her downtime, Dagney watches endless NBA basketball games and obsesses over her
favorite player (and fantasy husband) Steve Nash. She also enjoys running, playing with
her cats and hanging out with her kick-ass real husband who cooks her awesome
‘restaurant quality’ meals. Look for her on upcoming episodes of Desperate Housewives,
and keep an eye out for the debut of her latest musical stage creation, American Fever –
slated for a July 2007 premiere.
Treach (“Darnell”)
The CEO of Illtown Films, Treach made his film debut in the critically acclaimed urban
drama Juice with Tupac Shakur and Omar Epps. His film credits also include Jason's
Lyric, Who's The Man (1993 , Boricua's Blood, Love and a Bullet, Book of Love and
Face, a film by Bertha Pan which premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. While
continuing his recording career, Treach also builds his acting resume, most recently with
a role in the Showtime drama Conviction opposite Omar Epps, Dana Delany and Charles
Dutton. He has also had a recurring role on Showtime's Soul Food, and can be seen later
this year on an episode of NBC's Third Watch. Treach's role as a first-time felon on the
HBO series OZ was written specially for him by writer-director Tom Fontana. The
creators of OZ have also cast him as a lead in the new HBO series Baseball Wives.
Treach can be heard and seen in animated form in the new DVD release of The Contract,
which is based on the live-action feature film Love and a Bullet. Naughty By Nature's
latest album is Iicons on TVT Records.
About the Filmmakers…
Kurt Voelker – Writer/Director
Kurt Voelker was raised in Dallas, Texas, attended Harvard College, worked as an
assistant to Dan Rather at CBS News and then went to graduate film school at USC,
where he wrote and directed DECADE OF LOVE, a 35 minute “disco comedy” that
won first place honors at film festivals in Clermont-Ferrand, France; Dresden,
Germany; Texas, Florida and California. For the past eight years, he has kept busy
writing screenplays for Sony, Disney, Fox, Paramount, Warner Bros, MTV, Beacon,
and Jerry Bruckheimer, including Warner Bros’ 2001 release SWEET NOVEMBER.
He recently finished adapting the novel Sweet Hush for Disney, as well as co-creating
and supervising SWEDEN, OHIO, a comedy pilot for Warner Bros Television and
the Fox Network. He also recently directed an award-winning commercial for LBC
Advertising and recently wrapped up an adaptation of the novel A Girl Could Stand
Up for Laura Ziskin and Sony. PARK is Kurt’s first feature as a director.
Dana Jackson – Producer
Dana Jackson graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with a B.F.A. in
Film/Theatre and a minor in Business. There she produced the feature KATRINA,
directed by Denver Beattie. Relocating to L.A., she worked at the William Morris
Agency before a 5-year stint at Castle Rock Entertainment, where she rose to Director of
Development. There she worked on dozens of major releases and was instrumental in
securing distribution rights to THE SPITFIRE GRILL and PALMETTO. In 1997, she
was named Senior V.P. of Hunt/Tavel Prods., the Sony-based company of actor-producer
Helen Hunt and producer Connie Tavel. There she set up projects at Disney, Fox,
Paramount, Sony and Warner Bros and secured financing for TIMEPIECE. In 2002,
Jackson was chosen for Film Independent’s Producing Lab with the projects DIVORCE
MOMMY SANDWICH and PARK, both written by Kurt Voelker. She later headed
development for Freestyle Pictures where she set up THE ACCIDENTAL VIRGIN
(Heather Graham to star). Currently, Jackson has partnered with Reyna Morenoff to
form R.E.D. Entertainment a bicoastal management and production company.
Jason L. Wood – Casting Director
JASON WOOD began his casting career in his native Atlanta, Georgia working on
projects ranging from features MY COUSIN VINNY and FRIED GREEN TOMATOES
to the series HEAT OF THE NIGHT. He then moved to Los Angeles where he was
recruited as Manager of Casting at 20th Century Fox Television. He then went on to
serve as Vice President of Talent & Casting for Mandalay Television. In 2001, Jason
opened his own office. Among his many credits are the Emmy Award winning MONK,
YOUNG AMERICANS and the Oxygen hit series GOOD GIRLS DON’T from Carsey
Werner. He most recently completed the CBS movie SUZANNE’S DIARY FOR
NICHOLAS starring Christina Applegate. Jason is also actively involved in the nonprofit organizations GLASS (Gay & Lesbian Adolescent Services) where he serves in the
mentor program and Camp Heartland, a summer camp for children with HIV and/or
AIDS.
Christophe Lanzenberg - Director of Photography
Christophe Lanzenberg has evolved into one of the most sought after commercial and
music video cinematographers in the entertainment industry. He has developed strong
working relationships with a variety of commercial directors, including Marco Brambilia,
Rob Pritts, Dayton & Faris, Malcolm Venville, Nick Cassavettes, Luke Cresswell and
Steve McNicholas. Additionally, his wide array of commercials and music videos, which
include Microsoft, Bud Light, Cover Girl, Target, M&Ms, Honda, Ethan Allen, ESPN,
The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Porno for Pyros, Billy Idol, Iggy Pop, INXS and Duran
Duran, highlight his diverse style and adaptability. Lanzenberg is one the rare exceptions
in the world of cinematography, able to seamlessly move from cutting-edge commercials
and music videos to the documentary side of the feature business, tailoring his
considerable talents to the visual needs of both worlds. His documentary work includes
BROOMS, STOMP OUT LOUD, and PULSE: A STOP ODYSSEY, all directed by
Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, FETISHES, directed by Nick Broomfield,
MADONNA: TRUTH OR DARE, directed by Alex Keshishian and HOMESICK,
directed by Jauretsi Saizarbitoria. His first opportunity to work on a full-length feature
came on the period drama VACUUMS, starring Rose McGowan and directed by Luke
Cresswell and Steve McNicholas.
Anita Brandt Burgoyne - Editor
You could say that Anita Brandt Burgoyne went into the family business. Her father,
Emmy Award winning editor Byron “Buzz” Brandt paved the way for her, creating in his
daughter a deep love of the editing craft. Anita graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the USC
Film School with a degree in Critical Studies. She began her own editing career in
television movies, cutting some thirty-plus films for network and cable TV. In the feature
arena, Anita landed in the world of comedy. She began with A VERY BRADY
SEQUEL and GOOD BURGER for Paramount Studios. She edited Disney’s A KID IN
KING ARTHUR’S COURT, I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS and CONFESSIONS
OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN. She was also the editor of the popular MGM film
LEGALLY BLONDE and recently edited the Albert Brooks film LOOKING FOR
COMEDY IN THE MUSLIM WORLD. In 2002, she was nominated for both an A.C.E.
Eddie Award as well as an Emmy award for the Lifetime film HOMELESS TO
HARVARD.
Tristana Ward – Music Supervisor
Tristana founded Celluloid Jukebox in 2002 to focus primarily on feature film music
supervision and clearance. Since then, she has worked on GREEN STREET
HOOLIGANS (Elijah Wood), SAVED (Mandy Moore) and SKINS (Eric Scheig). Prior
to founding her company, Tristana worked at Universal Music Publishing, Avenger
Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Music Licensing. In addition to film, she has also
worked on television projects for VH1 and worked in live theatre. Tristana graduated
from the prestigious Berklee College of Music with a degree in Professional Music.
John Pratt - Composer
John Pratt is a composer with over 17 years of experience in film music. He earned a
degree in acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, studied Film Scoring at
UCLA with the late Don Ray and was a student of voice with Ron Anderson for 5 years.
John fronted many bands in the eighties and in addition to composition and production,
he is a session vocalist with well over two hundred film and television performances.
John has composed and produced music for movie studios such as Disney, Columbia
Tristar, Universal; celebrated television shows like A Baby Story, More than A Game
and Adventure Highway and trailers and commercials for DVD releases with Buena
Vista Home Entertainment such as THE AVIATOR, COLD MOUNTAIN, THE
ALAMO, EQUILIBRIUM and DARK WATER. John has three records out on labels in
Germany (MTM), UK (ESCAPE) and Asia (KING), and his music can be heard on A&E,
ABC, CBS, ESPN, FOXSPORTS, NBC, TLC, OLN, GSN and CSTV.
Michael Alemania - Composer
Michael Alemania is a composer with over 13 years of experience. An Emmy nominee
for musical achievement and composition, he specializes in music score and songs for
film and television. Michael’s clients include movie studios like Disney, Orion and
Universal; celebrated television shows like A Baby Story, Dr. Phil and Entertainment
Tonight; and large corporations such as Bud Light, Intel, Paul Mitchell and Toyota. His
services include composition, production and arranging, and he has worked with notable
talents including Glen Ballard, Jack Wagner, Tuesday Knight, Vixen and Wilson Phillips.
He has been a touring and session keyboardist and is a recording artist for Escape
Records (Europe) and King Records (Asia). Michael is a graduate of UCLA’s Film
Scoring Program and has five years private study for piano. Michael’s representative
work can be heard on A&E, ABC, CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC, TNN, Disney Channel, Fox
Sports West, The Learning Channel and The Outdoor Channel.
Cast
(In Order of Appearance)
April
Dog
Rocker Dad
Boy
Ian
Krystal
Mr. Habib
Nathan
Babar
Meredith
Sheryl
Dennis
Claire
Peggy
Jogger
Ice Cream Man
Joyce
Darnell
Javier
Bar Woman
Cop #1
Cop #2
Other Woman
DAGNEY KERR
TANK
VINCENT RIVERSIDE
IAN SHELLEY
DAVID FENNER
IZABELLA MIKO
HAKAN KIZILOCAK
TRENT FORD
MAULIK PANCHOLY
ANNE DUDEK
MELANIE LYNSKEY
WILLIAM BALDWIN
CHERI OTERI
RICKI LAKE
ANGELA BOZARTH
KOJI KATAOKA
INGRID CASWELL
TREACH
FRANCESCO QUINN
IMELDA CORCORAN
ALFRED WOODLEY
JOEL J. EDWARDS
HEIDI HUBER
Stunt Coordinators
Stunt Doubles
First Assistant Camera
Second Assistant Camera
Camera Loader
Camera Production Assistant
Steadicam Operators
Aerohead Technician
JEFF IMADA
ANNIE ELLIS
ANNIE ELLIS
MIKE JUSTUS
R.C. ORMOND
MATT BAKER
BENN MARTENSON
AUGUST THURMER
DAWN VASEY
BOB GORELICK
BRAD GRIMMETT
BRUCE PASTEL
Second Unit Photography
Director of Photography
First Assistant Camera
2nd Assistant Director
Set Decorator
Set Dressers
DAVID LANZENBERG
JOSEPH AGUIRRE
JOEL ELLIOT
NASHON PETRUSHKIN
CRAIG HANDSCHU
MICHAEL KIM
MELANIE LEWIS
JUSTIN OWENSBY
JOEL WASHBURN
HEATHER "PNUT" WILLIAMSON
Property Master
Propmakers
Scenic Painter
Car Rigger
Gaffer
Best Boy Electric
Electricians
Key Grip
Best Boy Grip
Grips
Sound Mixer
Boom Operator
Wardrobe Supervisor
Wardrobe Assistant
Key Makeup Artist and
Department Head
Key Hair Stylist
Assistant Hair and Makeup Artist
Assistant Makeup Artist
Script Supervisors
Still Photographers
CHRISTIAN WASHBURN
JOE LOLLAMOND
BRAD NOVA CLARK
JOE O’NEIL
AUSTIN HIGDON
PATRICK LENNON
KONRAD SIGURDSSON
TIMOTHY GILLIS
JARROD HEATH
RUDY MARTINEZ
JOHN BUSCH
SCOTT HATLEY
WILLIAM CLOUTER
MICHAEL KOEPKE
TIM SUSCO
JERRY WOLFE
EMRE KORKMAZ
ASIA AHEARN
CHARLOTTE MOUNTFORD
SHARON E. PHILLION
JULIE DUFFER
OLIVE
JEANINE FARRELL
AARON POPE
EVELYN DUBUC
DAVID FENNER
LAURA LEIGH HUGHES
BRIAN JACKSON
JESSICA SHULMAN
JERRY WOLFE
Photo Doubles
Animal Handler
Production Coordinator
JOEL J. EDWARDS
SARAH FELDMAN
JESSICA SHULMAN
ANDREA WISE
CRISTIE MIELE
ANITA GOULOOMIAN
2nd 2nd Assistant Director
H. CONRAD KNAPP
Production Accountant
Post Production Accountant
LIANA DIAZ
JANET STERN, CPA
Assistant to Director and Producer
JESSICA SHULMAN
Office Production Assistants
ANDREA CHRISTENSEN
DEAN CONKLIN
TESSA NORIEGA
KARINA SMITH
Set Production Assistants
TRAVIS BALL
TANISHA BERG
ELAINE GIBSON
ALEX GUERRERO
GRAHAM HUNTER
HARRY JACKSON
JAIME SERRANO
ADAM SHORT
TRENT WATTS
Casting Associate
JANET MARKMAN
Set Medics
Studio Teacher
Caterer
Chefs
Craft Service
Transportation Coordinator
Transportation Drivers
Production Counsel
Financial Legal Services
Labor Counsel
Assistant Editor
Supervising Sound Editor
Sound Effects Editor
Sound Editor
Assistant Sound Editor
ADR Mixers
Foley Mixer
Foley Artist
BEN GONZALEZ
JAMES WATSON
KENT LINKER
MARIO GUZMAN CATERING
FERNANDO GUZMAN
MARIO GUZMAN
SARAH FELDMAN
TIMOTHY FAGAN
ANDREW COX
FRANK X. SULLIVAN
ROBERT TORRES
ALISON COHEN, ESQ.
EPSTEIN, LEVINSOHN,
BODINE HURWITZ &
WEINSTEIN, LLP
MICHAEL OVERN, ESQ.
SCOTT WITLIN, ESQ.
MELISSA TURAI, ESQ.
HELEN HAND
JASON KING
RICK DUMM
MATT REALE
KELLY KENAN
MICHAEL FOX
MIKE UNGAR
GREG MAUER
ADAM DECOSTER
Music Editor
Re-Recorded at
Re-Recording Mixer
Additonal ADR
Dolby Consultant
Dailies and Avid Nitris
Picture Conforming by
Dailies Colorist
Online Colorist
Electronic Negative Conforming
JAY DUERR
MONKEYLAND AUDIO, INC.
GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
KELLY VANDEVER
ADR BROADWAY SOUND
BRYAN K. PENNINGTON
NT VIDEO
MILTON RUDGE
JOHN COLDIRON
MAGIC FILM & VIDEO WORKS
SYD COLE
Titles, Opticals and Digital Effects by
IDENTITY STUDIOS, INC
Producers
Lead Artist
Digital Artist
DAVID SCOTT VAN WOERT
LEO H. VEZZALI
STEVE FAGERQUIST
JOHN L. WECKWORTH
Digital Intermediate Services Provided by
MATCHFRAME DIGITAL INTERMEDIATE
Senior Producer
DAVID WATERS
Production Supervisor
Client Services
IO Supervisor
SARAH PRIESTNALL
RUBEN GARCIA
JIM DELANY
Digital Intermediate Colorist
JULIUS FRIEDE
Production Coordinator
DENNIS LITTLE
DI Online Editor
Assistant DI Editor
Senior Graphic Artist
Scanning Operator
Digital Cleanup Artists
Film and HD Coordinator
Production Assistant
Insurance Provided by
Filmed at
JON PEHLKE
MICHAEL GRAWERT
LARRY ARPIN
ARTURO LOPEZ
ALBERT VIVAS
DAN WOLFE
RACHEL CLEMENT
DIETZ ICHISHITA
CRISTINE MONFORE
PRINCE BAGDASARIAN
LEIGH JONES
TRUMAN VAN DYKE
FRANKEL & ASSOCIATES
BALDWIN HILLS
SCENIC OVERLOOK
CALIFORNIA STATE PARK
Camera Equipment Provided by
Grip Equipment Provided by
Lighting Equipment Provided by
Camera Cranes and Dollies by
Makeup Provided by
Drums, Bass and Guitar
Harmonica
Music Clearance by
“Jane Doe”
Written by Nik Kershaw and Chesney
Hawkes
Performed by Nik Kershaw
Courtesy of Koch Records
“Let’s Never Stop Falling in Love”
Written by Thomas Lauderdale and
China Forbes
Performed by Pink Martini
Courtesy of Heinz Records & Naïve
Records
OTTO NEMENZ
TOMZILLA, INC.
CINELEASE, INC.
CHAPMAN/LEONARD
STUDIO EQUIPMENT, INC.
MAC
JOHN THOMAS
LONESOME JOHN PRATT
TRISTANA WARD
“We’ve Only Just Begun”
Written by Roger Nichols and Paul
Williams
Performed by Angela Alemania
“Do Ya Love”
Written by Michael Franti and Carl
Rogers Young
Performed by Michael Franti &
Spearhead Courtesy of Six Degrees
Records, Ltd.
By arrangement with Ocean Park Music
Group
“While You Were Sleeping”
Written by Robb Vallier
Performed by Grandeville
“Runaway Train From Poland”
Written by Cody Carpenter and Kurt
Voelker
Performed by Cody Carpenter and David
Fenner
“Take Me To the Top”
Written by
Paul Warren and Douglas Leonard
Johnson
Performed by Loverboy
Courtesy of Sony BMG Music (Canada)
Inc.
By arrangement with Sony BMG Music
"You Dick"
Written by Cody Carpenter and Kurt
Voelker
Performed by Cody Carpenter and
Dagney Kerr
“Almighty Authority”
Written by Alex Cremers and Robert
Jelmer
Courtesy of 5 Alarm Music
“Sanctuary”
Written by Alex Cremers and Robert
Jelmer
Courtesy of 5 Alarm Music
“Nowhere Ride”
Written by Christian Black,
Todd Youth and Tim Mosher
Performed by The Chelsea Smiles
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Film &
Television Music
“The Pusher”
Written by Hoyt Axton
Performed by Nina Simone
Courtesy of RCA Records Label
By arrangement Sony BMG Music
Entertainment
“Dark Night of My Soul”
Written by Jamie Dunlap,
Molly Pasutti and Scott Nickoley
Courtesy of Marc Ferrari /MasterSource
“Closer to Fine”
Written by Emily Ann Saliers
Performed by Indigo Girls
Courtesy of Epic Records
By arrangement with Sony BMG Music
Entertainment
“This Guy’s In Love With You”
Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal
David
Performed by Steve Tyrell
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By arrangement with Sony BMG Music
Entertainment
“Have a Nice Life”
Written by Nik Kershaw
Performed by Nik Kershaw
Courtesy of Pyramid Records
“Disaster Fiend”
Written by Robb Vallier
Performed by Grandville