12 (2003/I)

Director:

Lawrence Bridges

Writer:

Lawrence Bridges (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Tagline:

The Greek Gods are alive and well and living in Los Angeles

Plot:

A half-sister and brother, illegitimate offsprings of Zeus, are stranded on a Channel Island ranch and face eviction by the US Government...

Plot Keywords:

Hera | Pagan Comedy | Greek Mythology | California | Los Angeles California

Awards:

6 wins

Cast

Alison Elliott	...	Marie-Noel
Tony Griffin	...	Filmore West
Allen Lulu	...	Allen
Brenda Varda	...	Hera
Eugene Rubenzer	...	Zeus
Blake Robertson	...	Monk
Golde Starger	...	Aunt Debbie
David Franko	...	Pan
Eddie Zona	...	Hermes
Julienne Greer	...	Julienne
Mike Upton	...	Ranch Hand
Lili Barsha	...	Aphrodite
Lisa Stark	...	2nd Tutor
Mark Dalton	...	H. Tom
Regina Leeds	...	1st Tutor
Anthony T. Mazzola	...	Surfer
Nancy Langdon	...	Nymph Chained to Rock
Dee Maaske	...	Woman in Drugstore
Allison Gregory	...	Woman in Bar
Jennifer Somers	...	Woman in car
Jeff Thiel	...	Twin
James Thiel
Richard Pollack	...	Old Man at Ranch
John Tollsky	...	Popping John
Richard Goldstone	...	Allen's Agent
Karen Møller E.	...	Empusea
Toshi Toda	...	Government Investigator
Dave Kershaw	...	Government Investigator
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mel Bridges	...	Marie-Christine
Peter James Cooper	...	Pete (as Peter Cooper)
Richard Dutcher	...	Minister
Melissa Vinicor	...	Girl on car hood

Directed by
Lawrence Bridges

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Lawrence Bridges		writer

Produced by
Lawrence Bridges	....	producer
Jay Kelman	....	line producer
Jay Kelman	....	producer
Jeffrey E. Poehlmann	....	producer
Phil Spilker	....	line producer

Cinematography by
Lawrence Bridges

Film Editing by
Lawrence Bridges

Production Design by
Nesdon Foye Booth

Art Direction by
Nesdon Foye Booth
Larry Vigus

Production Management
Jeffrey E. Poehlmann	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jeffrey E. Poehlmann	....	second assistant director
Phil Spilker	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Nesdon Foye Booth	....	property master
Larry Vigus	....	property master

Sound Department
Kathryn Korniloff	....	supervising sound editor

Visual Effects by
Christopher Dusendschon	....	digital imaging supervisor: iO Film
Adam Hawkey	....	digital compositor: iOFilm

Editorial Department
Andrew Charlton	....	assistant film editor
Ryan Zuttermeister	....	apprentice editor: Red Car Editorial (uncredited)

Other crew
Dana MacDuff	....	production coordinator

Distributors

• Ostrow & Company (2008) (worldwide) (all media)

Other Companies

• Ostrow & Company  producer's representative
• Widget Post Production  sound post-production

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Channel Islands National Park, Channel Islands, California, USA

Trivia:

The actors aged during the production and the director used the aging process as a practical effect.

The way of all things

This film, the "guerilla drive-in" picture that has had ads in the LA Weekly ever since I moved here, has had its chance. Recently seeing that it was going to be shown in a theatre (the Sunset 5) I gave in to my curiosity and checked it out. I was the only person in the theatre. And I walked out after 1 hour and 20 minutes. I realize that I did not see it under optimal "guerilla drive-in" conditions but I think I got a fair picture of the picture. There is some interesting photography, some nice shots of the character Filmore walking with nicely deepened and textured backgrounds. To be honest a lot of what kept me in my seat was the beauty of Allison Elliot, playing Marie-Noel. But she really can't handle those faux poetic monologues. During most of the film the characters talk at each other instead of to each other in maddeningly pretentious existentia-speech. Then there are exchanges that are set up so they can exchange what are intended as witty ripostes and thought-provoking badinage. It doesn't work. Most important on the "deal-breaker" front: Artemis is the goddess of chastity, why would she be a model? Why would she be more attractive than Aphrodite? Most importantly and really the reason I left was that the character of "Allen" and the actor playing the part were so intensely irritating every moment he was on screen I began to make another move to prepare to leave until I found myself exiting the theatre as a reflex. And I don't walk out on movies. And please why does every film have to have an actor character that is so annoying? Can somebody be courageous and show us an honorable actor and not a piece of s#!t that claims to be an artist to avoid a real job? I know it's hard to imagine out there, but some places in the world don't always have invisible quotes around the word "artist" when referring to actors. this film "12" had a great initial idea: Zeus birthed so many demi-gods, why aren't some of the more recent ones hanging around today, and the old ones too for that matter? That's a pity because now no one else can use it to make a good movie. And what the f%$# did "the importance of being earnest" have to do with the price of fake chicken at panda express? I know it is a radical idea, but maybe the Gods of cinema would have forgiven Mr. Bridges for giving his characters something interesting to do. Even without special effects. Oy. This film is from 1999. Indiana, let it go.