Orange County (2002)

Director:

Jake Kasdan

Writer (WGA):

Mike White (written by)

Release Date:

11 January 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

It's not just a place. It's a state of mind.

Plot:

A guidance counselor mistakenly sends out the wrong transcripts to Stanford University under the name of an over-achieving high schooler.

Plot Keywords:

Guidance Counselor | Transcript | Writer | Stanford University | Surfer

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Colin Hanks	...	Shaun Brumder
Jack Black	...	Lance Brumder
Schuyler Fisk	...	Ashley
Bret Harrison	...	Lonny (as Brett Harrison)
Kyle Howard	...	Arlo
R.J. Knoll	...	Chad (as RJ Knoll)
Catherine O'Hara	...	Cindy Beugler
Mike White	...	Mr. Burke
John Lithgow	...	Bud Brumder
Lily Tomlin	...	Charlotte Cobb
George Murdock	...	Bob Beugler
Lillian Hurst	...	Lupe
Chevy Chase	...	Principal Harbert
Olivia Rosewood	...	Dana
Carly Pope	...	Tanya
Natasha Melnick	...	Katie
Manu Intiraymi	...	Male Student
Fran Kranz	...	Shane Brainard
Shawn Soong	...	Stoner
Grace Bustos	...	Cheerleader
Sarah Hagan	...	Sarah
Michael Aquino	...	Jake
Leslie Mann	...	Krista
Elsie Escobar	...	Rosa
Orlando García	...	Jorge
Daniel Farber	...	Lucas
Carolyn Wilson	...	Butch Female Janitor
Garry Marshall	...	Arthur Gantner
Dana Ivey	...	Vera Gantner
Jane Adams	...	Mona
Harold Ramis	...	Don Durkett
Brianna Shebby	...	Stephanie Durkett
Leslie Appleyard	...	Gina Durkett
Beth Gains	...	Mrs. Durkett
David Doty	...	Public Safety
Monica Keena	...	Gretchen
Sarah Loew	...	Party Girl
Lizzy Caplan	...	Party Girl
Nat Faxon	...	Kip
Sybil Azur	...	Dancer
Kimi Bateman	...	Dancer
Jennifer Chavarria	...	Dancer
Micki Duran	...	Dancer
Marisa Gilliam	...	Dancer
Bonnie-Jill Laflin	...	Dancer
Dani Lee	...	Dancer
Carolina Lancaster	...	Dancer
Melanie Lewis	...	Dancer
Brooke Long	...	Dancer
Blythe Matsui	...	Dancer
Sandra McCoy	...	Dancer
Jenny Seeger	...	Dancer
Joie Shettler	...	Dancer
Sarah Christine Smith	...	Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Luke Barnett	...	Bon-Fire Friend (uncredited)
Alexandra Breckenridge	...	Anna (uncredited)
Karen Elmore	...	Sorority Girl (uncredited)
Desmon Heck	...	Frat Partier (uncredited)
Sam Humeid	...	Frat Partier #2 (uncredited)
Tom Kenny	...	SpongeBob SquarePants / Gary (voice) (uncredited)
Kevin Kline	...	Marcus Skinner (uncredited)
Tara Rice	...	Cheerleader (uncredited)
Jerome Elston Scott	...	Stoner / Frat Partier#3 (uncredited)
Ben Stiller	...	The Firefighter (uncredited)

Directed by
Jake Kasdan

Writing credits (WGA)
Mike White		(written by)

Produced by
Scott Aversano	....	producer
Herb Gains	....	executive producer (as Herbert W. Gains)
David Gale	....	producer
Scott Rudin	....	producer
Adam Schroeder	....	executive producer
Van Toffler	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Andrews

Cinematography by
Greg Gardiner

Film Editing by
Tara Timpone

Casting by
Felicia Fasano
Anne McCarthy
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Gary Frutkoff

Set Decoration by
Chris L. Spellman

Costume Design by
Debra McGuire

Makeup Department
Laverne Caracuzzi	....	key makeup artist
Lisa Layman	....	makeup department head
Gloria Ponce	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Sara Flamm	....	production supervisor
Herb Gains	....	unit production manager (as Herbert W. Gains)
Nan Morales	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carey Dietrich	....	first assistant director
Seth Edelstein	....	second assistant director
Deborah Greaney Donovan	....	dga trainee (as Deborah Greaney)
Stephanie Kime	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Deana Albers	....	property master
David Corral	....	greensman
Kristen Gassner	....	set decorating buyer
Sean Ginevan	....	set dresser
Wendy Jerde	....	scenic painter
Adam Khalid	....	art department coordinator
Brian Markey	....	construction coordinator
James P. Meehan	....	on-set dresser
Michael Mosley	....	art department assistant
Nashon Petrushkin	....	set dresser
Chris Scher	....	carpenter
Brad Shoemaker	....	gangboss
Ramsey Smith	....	construction foreman
Parker Swanson	....	assistant property master
Jason Vanover	....	key greensman
Mark Weissenfluh	....	leadman
Quinn Yarbrough	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Claudia Carle	....	sound recordist
Patrick Cyccone Jr.	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Patrick Cyccone)
Valerie Davidson	....	foley supervisor
Valerie Davidson	....	sound editor
Barbara Delpuech	....	first assistant sound editor
Gregg Frazier	....	boom operator
Robert Grieve	....	co-supervising sound editor
Michael Keller	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ai-Ling Lee	....	sound effects editor
Paul Vik Marshall	....	sound mixer
Benjamin Martin	....	foley editor
Vince Nicastro	....	foley artist
Randy Nielsen	....	sound
Todd Orr	....	sound re-recording mixer
Vic Radulich	....	dialog editor
Timothy P. Salmon	....	boom operator
Joel Shryack	....	co-supervising sound editor
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer
Keith A. Wester	....	production sound mixer
Douglas J. Schulman	....	production sound mixer: second unit (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Joe Digaetano	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Matthew Adams	....	digital artist: Cinesite
Jonathan Alvord	....	Avid editor
Ted Andre	....	visual effects compositor
Lloyd Lee Barnett	....	digital compositor
Vijoy Gaddipati	....	software engineer
Brian Gardner	....	3D artist
Dennis Hoffman	....	vice president/head of production: Cinesite
Andrew Honacker	....	associate visual effects supervisor
Derek Ledbetter	....	visual effects
Tim Maloney	....	digital compositor
Michael J. McAlister	....	visual effects supervisor (as Micheal J. McAlister)
Michael Ramirez	....	digital artist
David Robinson	....	visual effects coordinator: Cinesite
Ramprasad Sampath	....	visual effects technical director
Kino Scialabba	....	art director: vfx
Andrew Soria	....	visual effects
Paul Taglianetti	....	visual effects producer: Cinesite
Bryan Taylor	....	visual effects artist
Dan Weston	....	software engineer
Bjorn Zipprich	....	digital artist
Bjorn Zipprich	....	visual effects
Jeffrey Edward Baksinski	....	motion tracking supervisor: Cinesite (uncredited)
Wally Chin	....	3D technical assistant (uncredited)
Robert Coquia Jr.	....	3D technical assistant (uncredited)
Fred Jimenez	....	2D technical assistant (uncredited)
Chad Owen	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Rick Avery	....	stunts
Janet Brady	....	stunts
Richard E. Butler	....	stunts (as Dick Butler)
Jacob Chambers	....	stunts
Gary Dionne	....	stunts
Jeannie Epper	....	stunts
Tanner Gill	....	stunts
Keii Johnston	....	stunt driver
Brock Little	....	stunts
Dustin Meier	....	stunts
Billy Morts	....	stunts (as William Morts)
Daniel T. O'Brien	....	stunt double
Harry O'Connor	....	stunts (as Harry O'Conner)
Matthew H. O'Connor	....	stunts (as Matt O'Connor)
Matthew H. O'Connor	....	stunts
Denney Pierce	....	stunts
Paul E. Short	....	stunts
Lee Smith	....	stunts
Gregg Smrz	....	stunt coordinator
Jim Stephan	....	stunts (as Jimmy Stephen)
Darlene Ava Williams	....	stunt double: Lily Tomlin
Al Goto	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sean Graham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lane Leavitt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Larry M. Shorts	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Troy Waters	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Alexonis	....	best boy grip
Steven Aquilino	....	second assistant camera
Bryan Ashford	....	dolly grip: "b" camera
Matthew Berner	....	assistant camera
John S. Campbell	....	grip
Betty Chow	....	film loader
Cesar Villacis De Lucia	....	camera operator
Christopher Goss	....	camera operator
Michael Herron	....	video assist operator
Chris Johnson	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Gary Kelso	....	grip
Dan Kneece	....	additional camera operator
Gemma La Mana	....	still photographer
Carson E. Mayne	....	best boy rigging electric
Noe Nava	....	set lighting technician
Stephen Martin Paull	....	lighting technician
Chris Pavlu	....	electrician
Aaron Pazanti	....	camera operator
Barry Peterson	....	additional photography
Michael C. Price	....	key grip
Landon Ruddel	....	grip
Jack Serino	....	grip
Brent Studler	....	rigging electrician
Tommy Tieche	....	second assistant camera
Jon Yirak	....	first assistant camera
Tom Fendley	....	electrician (uncredited)
John Toll	....	cinematographer: end beach sequence (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jennifer Bender	....	extras casting
Mariann H.W. Lee	....	extras casting
Beanie Barnes	....	casting intern (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Stacy Caballero	....	costumer
Joseph T. Mastrolia	....	set costumer
Katrina Mastrolia	....	set costumer
Daniel Grant North	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Donald Freeman	....	final colorist
Alan Z. McCurdy	....	assistant editor
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Hugh Ross	....	apprentice editor
Dylan Tichenor	....	additional editor

Music Department
Bob Bornstein	....	music preparation
Tom Calderaro	....	conductor
Tom Calderaro	....	orchestrator
Tom Kramer	....	music editor
Manish Raval	....	music supervisor
Tom Wolfe	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Bruce Callahan	....	driver
Daniel Conte Sr.	....	driver
Dana Schisler	....	driver
William Smallwood	....	driver: production van
Jay Thompson	....	driver

Other crew
Michael Altman	....	projectionist
Chung An	....	production assistant
Malcolm Auchincloss	....	assistant: Mr. Rubin
Serena Baker	....	key assistant location manager
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer
Lil Blue	....	security officer
Ashlee Burnette	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Cassandra Butcher	....	unit publicist
Joe Camp	....	animal wrangler
Curtis Collins	....	location manager
J. John Corbett	....	title designer
Patrick Corcoran	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Jennifer Corey	....	production coordinator
David W. Dale	....	production assistant
Pam Des Vigne	....	lead payroll accountant
Dan Duffy	....	gene operator
Anne Fletcher	....	choreographer
Jay Floyd	....	clearance administrator
Sean Garcia	....	production assistant
Sarah Hendler	....	assistant: Mr. Kasdan
Joshua C. Hersko	....	assistant: Scott Rudin
Lars Knudsen	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Melvin Mar	....	assistant: Mr. Aversano
Peter McKernan	....	aerial coordinator
Blair Mealing	....	assistant to cast
Leda Nornang	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Matthew H. O'Connor	....	marine coordinator
Charley Parlapanides	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Kate Powell	....	production assistant
Glen Richard	....	production accountant
Wells Rosales	....	stand-in
Will Rowbotham	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Dana Rubenstein	....	assistant: Mr. Gains
Ahmed Saker	....	key set medic
Benjamin Scissors	....	production assistant
Chad J. Shonk	....	staff production assistant
E.R. Silverbush	....	assistant: Mr. Gale
Sue Smith	....	production secretary
Emre Sonmez	....	key assistant location manager
Debbie Tieman	....	assistant accountant
Catherine H. Vlasuk	....	assistant production office coordinator (as Cathy Vlasuk)
Kevin J. Walsh	....	executive assistant: Mr. Rudin
Nancy Anderson	....	dancer (uncredited)
Scott Brant	....	office production assistant (uncredited)
Tammy Maples	....	animal trainer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (presents)
• MTV Films
• Scott Rudin Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• East West (2002) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (UK) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2002) (Japan) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Argentina) (all media)
• Argentina Video Home (2003) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2003) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Veronica (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Film1 (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)

Special Effects

• Cinesite (Hollywood) (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  remote camera systems
• Columbia Records  soundtrack published by
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Film Art  artwork
• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles and opticals
• Mary Nelson-Duerrstein & Associates  negative cutting
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  hair and make-up trailers
• Movie Movers  production trailers
• Sony Music Soundtrax  soundtrack published by
• Transportation Resources  transportation equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for drug content, language and sexuality

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:PG | Germany:12 | Netherlands:AL | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:12A | UK:12 (video rating) | USA:PG-13 | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

California Institute of Technology - 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Jack Black wore a wig throughout the entire film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Tanya is seen with Arlo and Chad at Lonny's memorial, she has no drink in her hand. She then leans over to make-out with Chad and she has a drink in her left hand.

Quotes:

[Bud sees his young wife flirting with the pool guy]
Bud Brumder:What the f...?

Movie Connections:

Features "SpongeBob SquarePants: Help Wanted/Reef Blower/Tea at the Treedome (#1.1)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

The Middle

New age teen comedy that knocks it out of the park.

Orange County is a predictable, new age teen comedy. Then why is it so great?

Southern California surfer-dude Shaun Brumbder is all about surfing and partying until one of his good friends dies in a surfing accident and Shaun begins to question the point of his life which is all surfing and partying. Then he finds a book that changes his life and he decides he wants to become a writer. The problem? He lives in the rich LA suburban community of Orange County, where people are more obsessed with pop culture and themselves than being happy and Shaun feels he needs to get out to go become a writer and study under his favorite author at Stanford University. (which is about 6 hours north of where he lives)

Again, why is this great? First and foremost, we have the script. It's smart, but still wacky as a teen comedy needs to be. The characters aren't nitwits wander around aimlessly or purposely insult themselves by being complete morons. There's no pointless wandering for a car or bathing in urine. It knows what it is, a teen comedy, but it's smart enough to know it doesn't have to be grossly offensive or incredibly stupid to be funny. The story has a heart, and the wacky antics all support it.

Next is the cast. Without the perfect cast this movie could've been a dud. The main character is played by Colin Hanks (son of Tom Hanks) in his first major starring role and he nails it. He plays the smart surfer-dude with a dream perfectly and he deals and reacts to his environment and the rest of the superb cast as he should. If you really watch you can find a little bit of his father in him, but mostly he is his own actor, and a good one at that. He's very natural playing a realistic character. His girlfriend is played by Schuyler Fisk (daughter of Sissy Spacek), and she's a very positive, caring California girl. Her character wasn't as strong as Hanks', but she was mainly meant to be more of his sidekick than counterpart. Jack Black was the reason I saw this movie in theaters, and he was as awesome as usual (up until recently, where's he has just been taking whatever is thrown at him seemingly) as the unmotivated stoner older brother Hanks' character Shaun doesn't want to be. He's the worst example in the world, and is ultimately part of Shaun's motivation to not become like him. Next are Catherine O'Hara and John Lithgow, who both have seemingly come into their prime closer to middle age. They play off of each other wonderfully as Shaun's selfish parents that live the rich LA life and feel like their son owes them something. Chevy Chase is great as the school principle even though the role is small, he gets a laugh or two as he is bound to do. The teacher Mr. Burke is played by Mike White who strangely hits home as a California high school teacher more into pop culture than teaching, and he also wrote the fantastic script. Also, he is just another character in the long line of people hold Shaun down. Leslie Mann and George Murdock have funny bit parts as Shaun's step-parents who are also completely out of touch with the world. Kevin Kline has a great bit part as the author who inspires Shaun to become a writer and tells him exactly what he wants to hear.

After that, this is just quality film-making by good people. Jake Kasdan (son of Lawrence Kasdan) directed this and his style shines all the way through. I first became a fan of his after his work on the TV show Freaks and Geeks, which is rather similar to this movie in that it deals with the wackiness of teen life in a knowing way. The writer Mike White also wrote a few episodes of Freeks and Geeks, which if you haven't seen, I highly suggest you do as it just hit DVD. Kasdan knows where to put the laughs, but he also knows how to moderate them and not make it a wacky teen orgy fest like the American Pie movies which are motivated only by teen libidos rather than real ambitions. The movie has a good story, and it is well told.

In the end, there is nothing groundbreaking in Orange County. It's a pretty straightforward teen movie with a realistic plot and great performances. With another American Pie-type cast with emphasis on the goofiness, this movie would've been a low-grade teen sex flick. Instead we have a real story about ambition and teen life with a few falls off of roofs and vases falling on heads. 8/10