Drop Zone (1994)

Director:

John Badham

Writers (WGA):

Tony Griffin (story) &
Guy Manos (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

9 December 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

Taking crime to new heights

Plot:

A team of skydiving crooks led by DEA-agent-turned-bad Busey specialize in landing on police roofs and...

Plot Keywords:

Parachute | Dea | Skydiving | Washington D.C. | Plane

Cast

Wesley Snipes	...	Pete Nessip
Gary Busey	...	Ty Moncrief
Yancy Butler	...	Jessie Crossman
Michael Jeter	...	Earl Leedy
Corin Nemec	...	Selkirk
Kyle Secor	...	Swoop
Luca Bercovici	...	Jagger
Malcolm-Jamal Warner	...	Terry Nessip
Rex Linn	...	Bobby
Grace Zabriskie	...	Winona
Robert LaSardo	...	Deputy Dog
Sam Hennings	...	Torski
Claire Stansfield	...	Kara
Mickey Jones	...	Deuce
Andy Romano	...	Tom McCracken
Rick Zieff	...	Mike Milton
Clark Johnson	...	Bob Covington
Charles Boswell	...	Glenn Blackstone
Natalie Jordan	...	Lena
Ed Amatrudo	...	Detective Fox
Melanie Mayron	...	Mrs. Willins
A.J. Ross	...	Roslund
Al Israel	...	Schuster Stephens
Steve DuMouchel	...	Walsh Matthews
J.P. Patrick	...	Jump Master
Tim Powell	...	Gordon Maples (as Tim A. Powell)
Steve Raulerson	...	Commander Dejaye (as Steven Raulerson)
D.D. Howard	...	Norma
Dale Swann	...	747 Captain
Keith Leon Williams	...	747 Flight Engineer
Lexie Bigham	...	Big Man Passenger
Ron Kuhlman	...	DEA Guard
Jerry Tondo	...	DEA Guard
Kimberly Scott	...	Joanne (as Kimberly A. Scott)
Keith MacKechnie	...	Night Desk Sergeant
Jan Speck	...	Flight Attendant #1
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Badham	...	Yacht Captain (uncredited)
Vince Cecere	...	Special Agent Jones (uncredited)
Dana Cox	...	Paramedic (uncredited)
Sheldon Fogel	...	The Official (uncredited)
Anthony Giaimo	...	Head Jump Official (uncredited)
Steve Greenberg	...	Steve Greenberg, Reporter (uncredited)
Dave Knight	...	Washington DC Skydive Finals Attendee (uncredited)
Tom Lawrence	...	Airplane Passanger (uncredited)
Gary Rodriguez	...	Paramedic (uncredited)
Vic Stagliano	...	Convict (uncredited)

Directed by
John Badham

Writing credits (WGA)
Tony Griffin		(story) &
Guy Manos		(story) &
Peter Barsocchini		(story)
Peter Barsocchini		(screenplay) and
John Bishop		(screenplay)

Produced by
John Badham	....	executive producer
D.J. Caruso	....	producer
Doug Claybourne	....	co-producer
Cammie Crier	....	associate producer
Lauren Lloyd	....	producer
Wallis Nicita	....	producer

Original Music by
Hans Zimmer

Cinematography by
Roy H. Wagner		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Frank Morriss

Casting by
Carol Lewis

Production Design by
Joe Alves

Art Direction by
Mark W. Mansbridge

Set Decoration by
Richard C. Goddard

Costume Design by
Mary E. Vogt

Makeup Department
Clifford Booker	....	hair stylist
Kimberly Felix	....	makeup artist (as Kimberly Felix-Burke)
Laini Thompson	....	makeup artist: Mr. Snipes
Mark Wittenberg	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Mark Wittenberg	....	makeup artist: trauma (uncredited)

Production Management
Burt Bluestein	....	unit production manager
Marty Hornstein	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jeffrey T. Barabe	....	second second assistant director
John Hockridge	....	assistant director
Craig Huston	....	first assistant director: second unit
Kevin Williams	....	second assistant director: second unit

Art Department
John Blanchard	....	propmaker
Jerry Blohm	....	assistant property master
Ashley Burnham	....	art department coordinator
Clete Cetrone	....	construction foreman
Larry Clark	....	paint supervisor
Richard Crain	....	foreman
Stephen I. Erdberg	....	assistant property master
George Jenson	....	conceptual artist
Anthony Klaiman	....	set dresser
Gary Metzen	....	laborer
Thomas Minton	....	set designer
Maura Moss	....	props p.a
Ken Peterson	....	assistant property master
Jeremy Alan Read	....	set dresser
Tom Southwell	....	conceptual artist
Robert Van Dyke	....	propmaker gangboss
Michael A. Wells	....	propmaker
Cary Whittaker	....	lead greens
Daniel Williams	....	painter

Sound Department
Albert Aquino	....	boom operator
Kevin B. Barron	....	assistant sound editor (as Kevin Poor)
James Bolt	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael C. Casper	....	sound re-recording mixer
Cory Coken	....	additional adr artist
Christopher Flick	....	foley editor
Marilyn Graf	....	foley mixer
Adam Johnston	....	sound effects editor
Steve Kohler	....	sound
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Gregg Silk	....	assistant sound engineer
Russell Williams II	....	production sound mixer
Samuel C. Crutcher	....	sound editor/design (uncredited)
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Douglas Calli	....	special effects technician
Terry Chapman	....	special effects
Scott Forbes	....	special effects technician
Chuck Gaspar	....	special effects supervisor
Jeff Jarvis	....	second unit coordinator
Marc Mercury	....	special effects
Michael A. Tice	....	special effects technician
Robert Cole	....	special effects (uncredited)
Michael Gaspar	....	special effects foreman (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Chuck Comisky	....	visual effects supervisor
Jenny Fulle	....	visual effect producer
Andrew R. Harris	....	paint/roto artist (as Andrew Harris)
Michael Hofstein	....	visual effects cinematographer
Jessica Huebner	....	visual effects coordinator
Evan Jacobs	....	miniatures
Karin Joy	....	visual effects coordinator
David C. Lawson	....	imaging assistant
Don Lee	....	digital compositor
Todd A. Marks	....	computer effects supervisor
Jeff Matakovich	....	visual effects
Ray Moore	....	modelmaker
Linda Morgenstern	....	assistant camera: visual effects unit
Michelle Murdocca	....	visual effects
Jeff Platt	....	electronics
Ron Simonson	....	digital colorist
David A. Smith	....	compositor
Tanya Spence	....	compositor: Boss Film
Greg Stuhl	....	miniatures: Boss Film
Marc Toscano	....	digital artist
Guy Williams	....	digital artist
Stuart Mintz	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Michelle Murdocca	....	digital production manager (uncredited)
Derek N. Prusak	....	visual effects assistant cameraman (uncredited)
Jeff W. Smith	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
John Ashby	....	stunt performer
Tom Bahr	....	utility stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	utility stunts
Jake Brake	....	aerial stunt double
Phil Chong	....	stunts
Doc Duhame	....	stunts
Norman Kent	....	stunts
Jake Lombard	....	stunt rigger
Guy Manos	....	aerial stunt coordinator
Guy Manos	....	skydiving supervisor
Duane Matthews	....	utility stunts
Marcus Salgado	....	fight consultant
Keith Tellez	....	stunts
Jim Vickers	....	stunts
Eddie L. Watkins	....	stunts
Craig Appel	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Daniel T. O'Brien	....	aerial stunts (uncredited)
Manny Perry	....	stunt performer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Patric J. Abaravich	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Patric J. Abaravich	....	rigging chief lighting technician
Jenna Abrahamson-Minardi	....	electrician
Jenna Abrahamson-Minardi	....	lighting technician
Dale Alexander	....	key grip
Ben Bardin	....	grip
Ben Betts	....	video engineer
Walter Bithell	....	lighting technician: night sequences (as Walt Bithell)
Don Bixby	....	gaffer
Brian S. Cooper	....	best boy rigger
Brian S. Cooper	....	set lighting
Brian Crane	....	gaffer
James 'Spud' Danicic	....	remote head technician: Hot Head
Christian E. Dirkes	....	grip (as Christian Dirkes)
Ron Goodman	....	camera operator: SpaceCam
Brad Hood	....	lighting: freefall, aerial and second unit
Casey Jones	....	key grip
Norman Kent	....	aerial cinematographer
Michael Klimchak	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera, second unit
Christopher J. Lama	....	electrician
Mark R. Leins	....	additional assistant camera: second unit and aerial unit
Michael Lyon	....	electrician
Stan McClain	....	director of photography: second and aerial unit
Mike McGowan	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
David Norris	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Kenny Rivenbark	....	camera crane operator
Gary Ryan	....	best boy rigging gaffer
Tom Sanders	....	cinematographer: skydiving, aerial and second unit
Rod Weaver	....	gaffer
Van Wideman	....	lighting: freefall, aerial and second unit
Gus Wing	....	lighting: freefall, aerial and second unit (as Albert 'Gus' Wing)
Marc Wostak	....	electrician
Grover Austin	....	grip (uncredited)
Thomas Loizeaux	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Larry Markart	....	video playback (uncredited)
Leo Tamargo	....	special cameras (uncredited)

Casting Department
Ed Arenas	....	casting: Miami

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dan Bronson	....	costume supervisor
Jessica Fasman	....	key costumer
Danielle Feller	....	set costumer
April Hunter	....	costumer
Bob Moore Jr.	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Phil Hetos	....	color timer (as Philip Hetos)
Eric Rigney	....	avid technician
Lewis Schoenbrun	....	assistant editor
Michael Thau	....	assistant editor
David Tweet	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Ryeland Allison	....	musician
Nick Glennie-Smith	....	composer: additional music
Laura Perlman	....	music editor
John Van Tongeren	....	composer: additional music

Transportation Department
Dan Marrow	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Cindy Lee Arnold	....	assistant accountant
Nigel Arscott	....	location assistant
Kip Brown	....	production assistant
Liz Cain	....	production secretary
Cristina Colissimo	....	assistant production coordinator
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Brad Hawkins	....	production assistant
Steve Hinton	....	pilot
Cindy Ichikawa	....	production coordinator: second unit
Robert Lamkin	....	caterer
Jim Lipman	....	boat captain
Tava R. Maloy	....	associate to producer
Guy Manos	....	skydiving supervisor
Deborah Marsh	....	production secretary
Helen Medrano	....	assistant accountant (as Helen Ruiz)
Andrea Metzen	....	production assistant
Kory O'Donnell	....	production assistant
Billy Pittard	....	title designer (as Pittard Sullivan Fitzgerald)
Marlis Pujol	....	assistant location manager
Huey Redwine	....	stand-in
Bill Richards	....	pilot
David M. Rodriguez	....	assistant accountant
Carrie Seeley	....	assistant: Mr. Snipes
Sally Jo Sousa	....	animal trainer: cat
Sam Tedesco	....	location manager
Barbara Thaxton	....	script supervisor
Kai Thorup	....	location scout
Sharon Vise	....	assistant accountant
Patty Wagstaff	....	pilot
C. Ransom Walrod	....	marine coordinator
Matthew Walsh	....	assistant to director
Simi Wein	....	production coordinator: second unit
Yvonne Yaconelli	....	production coordinator
Tammy Blackburn	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Tom Deakman	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Sylvie Forester	....	press attache: France (uncredited)
Arthur J. Miller Jr.	....	location scout: Tennessee and Ohio (uncredited)
David Sousa	....	animal trainer: Cats (uncredited)
Errol Anthony Wilks	....	stand-in: Malcolm Jamal Warner (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (presents)
• Nicita/Lloyd Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1995) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1995) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1995) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1995) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1995) (UK) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1995) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1995) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Pioneer (1996) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2000) (France) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1995) (Greece) (theatrical)
• CIC Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (199?) (Australia) (VHS)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1996) (Greece) (VHS)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Boss Film Studios (digital visual effects)
• CIS Hollywood (additional digital visual effects)
• Optical Illusions (additional digital visual effects)
• Todd-AO Digital Images (additional digital visual effects)

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  opticals
• Cinevideo Tech  grip and lighting equipment
• Cop Shop Miami  police cars
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background
• Reeltime Creative  trailer music
• Studio Sea  marine coordination
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:16 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Manitoba) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | France:U | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 (w) | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (cut) | USA:R (certificate #32964) | South Korea:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Florida, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The character of Jess Crossman was originally written as a man. After the character was made a woman and Yancy Butler was cast in the role, the filmmakers wanted to remove the part where Nessip hits her after she drops him out of the plane. However, Butler insisted that the "hitting" scene be left in, and it was.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Swoop is way up on the top of a skyscraper, yet he can hear Nessip calling for someone to stop Leedy.

Quotes:

[after learning the identities of three undercover DEA agents]
Ty Moncrief:These narcs are walking around somewhere thinking they're alive!
[laughs]

Movie Connections:

References Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Soundtrack:

Hyphopera

"Skydivers" with a big budget

<*sigh!*> Am I the only one this entire sad, weary world who notices that all these action films use the exact (and I mean exact!) same plot? Or am I just the only one who cares?

As action movies go, this one is OK, I guess. (But that's a little bit like saying "As cases of diarrhea go, this one was OK.") On the plus side, the aerial photography depicting the skydiving scenes was spectacular. There were the requisite number of explosions, chase scenes, and witty banter on the part of both the hero (Wesley Snipes) and the villain (Gary Busey), delivered archly in the expectation that one of their ripostes might become a popular catchphrase. And Yancy Butler is not too hard to look at, either.

However, if I pay $8 or $9$ to watch a film, I expect a little more than something made from a cookie cutter. Hollywood spends a great deal of time, effort and money putting together movies with extraordinary special effects, and they've become quite good at it. OK, so I'm impressed! Can't a few more of them work a little bit on story, characterization and dialogue? Is that really too much to ask?

As I watched this movie (and to be fair, I stumbled across it on television rather than paying an exorbitant ticket price at the theater; this probably made me more disposed to be tolerant) All I could think was that this is what Coleman Francis might have made had he had a bigger budget. Maybe he would have thrown in more coffee, cigarettes, booze and bad tempered swearing as well.