Bill (2007)

Directors:

Bernie Goldmann
Melisa Wallack

Writer (WGA):

Melisa Wallack (written by)

Release Date:

18 June 2008 (Iceland)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A comedy about someone you know.

Plot:

A guy fed up with his job and married to a cheating wife reluctantly mentors a rebellious teen.

Plot Keywords:

Marital Separation | Video Tape | TV Reporter | High School | Candy Bar

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Aaron Eckhart	...	Bill
Jessica Alba	...	Lucy
Elizabeth Banks	...	Jess
Logan Lerman	...	The Kid
Holmes Osborne	...	Mr. Jacoby
Todd Louiso	...	John Jr.
Timothy Olyphant	...	Chip
Reed Diamond	...	Paul
Kristen Wiig	...	Jane Whittman
Jason Sudeikis	...	Jim Whittman
Andy Zou	...	Donald Choo
Ana Lucasey	...	Sarah Sheldon
Constance Barron	...	Mrs. Jacoby
Conor O'Farrell	...	Principal
Julia Pace Mitchell	...	Dana
John Lordan	...	Headmaster
Rick Edlund	...	Anchroman
Craig Hawksley	...	Guard #1
Marisa Coughlan	...	Laura
Matt Thomas	...	Hugh
Granvile O'Neal	...	Jail Cop (as Granville O'Neal)
Michael Bowdorn	...	Heckling Drive-by
Paul Goetz	...	Tom the Fireworks Cashier
Heather Garfinkle	...	Fireworks Woman
Sarah Howard	...	Becky
John Kavanaugh	...	Donut Customer
Bill Parmentier	...	Sargent's Shopper
Ayse Eren	...	French Woman
Jason Cannon	...	Charlie Sherman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Elise Thorpe	...	Kelly (scenes deleted)
Sarah Arend	...	John Jr.'s Assistant (uncredited)
Gabriel Basso	...	Kid with Cancer (uncredited)
Patrick Belics	...	High School Student (uncredited)
Craig Bierko	...	Sargeant (uncredited)
Shirly Brener	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Brenda Sue Fowler	...	Country Club Member (uncredited)
Ken Goth	...	Donny (uncredited)
Adam Hackbarth	...	Coffee Shop Patron (uncredited)
Ted LeBlang	...	Country Club Member (uncredited)
Joseph Patrick Moynihan	...	Jim (uncredited)
Greg Reynolds	...	Sporting Goods Customer (uncredited)
Brad Schmidt	...	Jimmy (uncredited)
Gary Sedlock	...	Banker (uncredited)
Jaxon Stanford	...	Student Mentor (uncredited)
Kevin Stroup	...	Teacher (uncredited)

Directed by
Bernie Goldmann
Melisa Wallack

Writing credits (WGA)
Melisa Wallack		(written by)

Produced by
Aaron Eckhart	....	executive producer
John Penotti	....	producer
Matthew H. Rowland	....	producer
Fisher Stevens	....	producer
Tim Williams	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Ed Shearmur

Cinematography by
Peter Lyons Collister

Film Editing by
Greg Hayden
Nick Moore

Casting by
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by
Bruce Curtis

Art Direction by
Jack Thomas

Set Decoration by
Joaquin A. Morin

Costume Design by
Marian Ceo
Joslyn Lawrence

Makeup Department
Breezy Brezany	....	key makeup artist
Lisa Brockman-Kalz	....	daily makeup artist
André Dubois	....	key hair stylist
Elisabeth Fry	....	makeup department head
Theresa Miller	....	additional hair stylist
Larry Waggoner	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Scott Knollenberg	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Heather L. Hogan	....	second assistant director
Joe McDougall	....	first assistant director
Bruce Sears	....	assistant director
Clenet Verdi-Rose	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Cat Cacciatore	....	set decorator: pre-production
Fred Daniel	....	art department coordinator
Travis Eisenberg	....	set dresser
Laura Evans	....	set decorator: additional photography
Sean Gartner	....	props intern
Greg Goad	....	set dresser
Lindsay Harkema	....	set illustrator
Maria Jagodka	....	art department assistant
Brent Jaimes	....	lead man: pre-production
Ian Sebastian Kasnoff	....	sets leadman
Paul Knubley	....	assistant property master
Ellen Lampl	....	graphic designer
Kelsey Lapoint	....	painter
Lucas Leonardo Lopez	....	set illustrator
Jacen Roberts	....	art department intern
Chris Shader	....	on-set dresser
Todd Spence	....	art department assistant
Tim Stephens	....	set dresser: dayplayer
Jim Tudor	....	painter
Jeffry C. Voorhees	....	on-set dresser: additional photography
Clark Woodman	....	property master

Sound Department
Chris Benson	....	boom operator
Fred Early	....	sound mixer
Avram D. Gold	....	supervising sound editor
Adam Johnston	....	supervising sound editor
Tim LeBlanc	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marc Meyer	....	sound effects editor
Carlos Sotolongo	....	adr mixer
Deron Street	....	assistant sound editor
Gregory H. Watkins	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Matthew Stratton	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Christopher Dusendschon	....	digital imaging supervisor: iO FILM
Jeremy Hunt	....	visual effects supervisor: Screaming Death Monkey
Siobhan Prior	....	visual effects editor
Chris Watts	....	compositor
Chris Watts	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Florian Ciprian	....	stunt performer
Mihai Iliescu	....	stunt driver
Tom Lowell	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Aaron Bowen	....	second assistant camera
Darrin DeLoach	....	first assistant camera
Matt Dinerstein	....	still photographer
Anne Freivogel	....	assistant camera
Dan Gartner	....	electrician
Alan Gitlin	....	first assistant camera
James Green	....	grip
Ted Gregg	....	grip
Tim Hawn	....	electrician
Gordon Hayman	....	dolly grip
David Houlle	....	best boy electric
Keith Hueffmeier	....	camera loader
Annika Iltis	....	loader
Shane D. Kelly	....	gaffer
Dave Kube	....	grip
Peter Mercurio	....	camera operator
Charles 'Chaz' Norcross	....	key grip
Adam Reisz	....	grip
Dale Robinette	....	still photographer
Dave Rutherford	....	steadicam operator
John Sennott	....	electrician
Richard Speed	....	best boy grip
Jerry Wheat	....	electrician

Casting Department
Joni Tackette	....	casting: St. Louis
Leeba Zakharov	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mary Allen	....	seamstress
Lizzie Cook	....	set costumer
Megan Power	....	costumes
Jessica Viner	....	wardrobe intern

Editorial Department
Julian Andraus	....	first assistant editor
Mato	....	color timer: film

Music Department
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearance
Michael Brake	....	music editor
Brian Carrigan	....	music editor
Chris Fogel	....	music scoring mixer
Jen Pray	....	music clearances
Ben Schor	....	music editor
Rebekah Touma	....	music coordinator
Jojo Villanueva	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Dan 'the Mayor' Cowden	....	local transportation captain
Jimmy Cowden	....	transportation
Glenn Korbesmeyer	....	transportation
Jack Jay Reece	....	driver: production van

Other crew
Bobby Blyle	....	production supervisor
Anna Bosco	....	first accountant
Dana Collins	....	production assistant
Emma Cooper	....	unit publicist
Ron Durham	....	assistant locations
Veronica Elliott	....	assistant: Aaron Eckhart
Taylor Ellison	....	production assistant
Amanda Essick	....	assistant: John Penotti
Julie Fay	....	production coordinator: re-shoots
Patrick Fisher	....	location scout
Mike Forest	....	location production assistant
Nicholas Gartner	....	production assistant
James Green	....	production assistant
Dawn Hieger	....	production secretary
Eric Hingst	....	set production assistant
Dave Jacobsen	....	production assistant
JoAnn Fregalette Jansen	....	choreographer
Daniel V. Kinkade	....	location manager
Jennifer Klatt	....	post-production accountant
Tim Kotthoff	....	production assistant
Jesse Luke	....	production assistant
Dov Mamann	....	production assistant
Annie Marter	....	director of development: GreeneStreet Films
Ilana McAllister	....	production accountant
Lauren Moyneur	....	craft service assistant
Bill Parmentier	....	assistant to directors
Collin Preciado	....	intern
Ellen Raczkiewicz	....	production assistant
Ronit Ravich-Boss	....	script supervisor
Jacen Roberts	....	production assistant
Matt Romano	....	production assistant
Kirsten Short	....	assistant accountant
Jonathan Shukat	....	assistant: Fisher Stevens
Jed Strahm	....	post-production accountant
Matthew Stratton	....	armorer
J.T. Sumner	....	power pod technician
Cricket Vandover	....	set teacher
Kay Watkins	....	craft service
Zak White	....	production assistant
Matt Wicks	....	production secretary
Andrew Will	....	production assistant: re-shoots

Production Companies

• GreeneStreet Films

Distributors

• All Interactive Distribution (2008) (Australia) (all media)
• Blue Sky Media (2007) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• Festive Films (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• First Look International (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• First Look International (2007) (USA) (all media)
• Lizard Cinema Trade (2008) (Russia) (all media)
• Maple Pictures (2008) (Canada) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Chapman / Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Cut Music  music editorial services
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Rockbottom Rentals  walkie rentals

Also Known As:

Meet Bill (USA) (new title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some drug use and sex-related material.

Runtime:

Canada:97 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

Spanish | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A | USA:R

Filming Locations:

St. Albans, Missouri, USA

Company:

GreeneStreet Films

Trivia:

In the movie Bill's father in law's character is named John Jacobi. Jan Jacobi is the head of the MICDS middle school, where many of the Tate Academy scenes were shot.

Quotes:

Bill: I don't think now is the best time for me to be mentoring someone.
The Kid: Now is the perfect time!

Soundtrack:

Lustful Alice

The classic comedy is back

I attended the World Premiere of "Bill" at the Toronto International Film Festival. That fact alone is actually surprising to me, as my viewing habits tend to lean towards dramas, and this is anything but. In fact, festivals this year have been weighed down by heavy films that are about as dark as they come. "Bill" could not be more different, and what a refreshing change and much-needed uplift is this all-out, unabashed comedy. Co-directed by the husband-wife team of Bernie Goldmann and Melissa Wallack (who penned the script), "Bill" has all the elements required of the genre: characters to whom we can relate, a clever storyline, and laughs aplenty.

Aaron Eckhart ("Any Given Sunday," "Erin Brockovich," "Thank You for Smoking") is Bill, smack dab in the middle of a life becoming all-too familiar. His job is falling apart (he begrudgingly works for his irascible father-in-law), his marriage is going to pieces, his body is going to pot, and, perhaps most horrifying, his hair is rejecting his head. Bill needs a change, fast, and is not-so-voluntarily signed up for a mentoring program at the local high school. He is teamed up with young Logan Lerman ("The Butterfly Effect," "Hoot," "3:10 to Yuma"), who plays The Kid, literally (Lerman's character is never identified by name), and the two join together in battle to fight the demons at the heart of Bill's midlife crisis.

A magnificent ensemble cast including Elizabeth Banks, Timothy Olyphant, Jessica Alba, and Kristen Wiig (and far too many more to mention) are all up to the task of providing enough comedic fodder to fill several films. Discussing their characters in depth would be too revealing, and my policy is to allow the reader to find a synopsis elsewhere if desired. Ultimately the partnership between Bill and The Kid is what drives the story, and the chemistry between Eckhart and Lerman is central to the success of the film. And it works. The Kid is smart, streetwise, sexy (or so he thinks), and has the self-confidence of someone thrice his age. In short, he's everything Bill aspires to be. It's a role-reversal device that's at the heart of many classic comedies, and Wallack's brilliant writing makes it work.

Despite being an independent film (read: low budget) "Bill" has the look of a Hollywood movie. The design is bright and the sound and editing give it a crisp, bouncy feel. Best of all, the cinematography with Peter Lyons Collister at the helm is second to none. He's one of the best in the business, a classic comedy veteran, and it shows.

It's always hard to single anyone out in a fine ensemble cast but in both screenings I attended Lerman stole the show. He unquestionably got the biggest laughs and was the crowd favorite. I hesitate to call him a newcomer, as at the tender age of 15 he already has 10 movies and 23 television episodes under his belt, but he's one to watch for and has a bright career ahead of him. But this is Eckhart's film to make or break, and his sense of comedic timing and puppy-like ability to elicit just the right amount of empathy from the audience create those touching moments that leave the viewer wanting more. And so I attended the second screening as well, and enjoyed it even more. And that's the true test of a comedy. From this writer's perspective, "Bill" not only hits its mark but is also sure to be a winner for years to come.