Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)

Director:

Callie Khouri

Writers (WGA):

Rebecca Wells (novels)
Mark Andrus (adaptation)
(more)

Release Date:

7 June 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Mothers. Daughters. The never-ending story of good vs. evil.

Plot:

After years of mother-daughter tension, Siddalee receives a scrapbook detailing the wild adventures of the "Ya-Yas", her mother's girlhood friends.

Plot Keywords:

Mother | Playwright | Secret Society | Daughter | Interview

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Sandra Bullock	...	Siddalee 'Sidda' Walker
Ellen Burstyn	...	Viviane Joan 'Vivi' Abbott Walker
Fionnula Flanagan	...	'Teensy' Melissa Whitman
James Garner	...	Shepard James 'Shep' Walker
Cherry Jones	...	Grandma 'Buggy' Abbott
Ashley Judd	...	Younger Vivi Abbott Walker
Shirley Knight	...	Necie Rose Kelleher
Angus Macfadyen	...	Connor McGill
Maggie Smith	...	Caro Eliza Bennett
Jacqueline McKenzie	...	Younger Teensy Whitman
Katy Selverstone	...	Younger Caro Bennett
Kiersten Warren	...	Younger Necie Kelleher
David Lee Smith	...	Younger Shep Walker
Gina McKee	...	Genevieve Whitman
Matthew Settle	...	Lt. Jack Whitman
David Rasche	...	Taylor Abbott
Leslie Silva	...	Younger Willetta
Ron Dortch	...	Chaney
Frederick Koehler	...	Pete Abbott (as Fred Koehler)
Allison Bertolino	...	Little Sidda Walker
Austin R. Cooper	...	Little Shep Walker, Jr.
Sarah Huck	...	Lulu Walker
Alex Cooper	...	Baylor Walker
Caitlin Wachs	...	Little Vivi Abbott
Alyssa May Gold	...	Little Teensy Whitman
Mary Katherine Weiss	...	Little Caro Bennett
Nicki Tschudi	...	Little Necie Kelleher
Deborah Hobart	...	Aunt Louise
Clint Lienau	...	James Jr.
David Bridgewater	...	Dr. Beau Poche
Sarallen	...	Older Willetta
Veda Wilson	...	Shirley Whitman
Mark Joy	...	Mr. Whitman
Michael Mattison	...	Officer Roscoe Jenkins
Gil Johnson	...	Younger Chick
Boyd Kestner	...	Adult Shep Walker, Jr.
Barbara Weetman	...	Female Interviewer for Time
Suellen Yates	...	Stage Manager
Don Henderson Baker	...	Confessional Priest (as Don Baker)
E. Michael Hewett	...	Airplane Man
Robert Longstreet	...	Pilot
Mark Jeffrey Miller	...	Lyle Johnson
Nina Repeta	...	Lady at Gas Station
Mike Moyer	...	Pawn Broker (as Michael Moyer)
Taj Mahal	...	Swing Band Singer
Ann Savoy	...	Chanteuse
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ursula Burton	...	Sister Solange (uncredited)
Kevin Connington	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Aaron Fiore	...	Ballroom Photographer (uncredited)
Tristan Jackson	...	Party Guest #2 (uncredited)
Connor Matheus	...	Young Boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Callie Khouri

Writing credits (WGA)
Rebecca Wells		(novels "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" and "Little Altars Everywhere")
Mark Andrus		(adaptation)
Callie Khouri		(screenplay)

Produced by
Bonnie Bruckheimer	....	producer
Scott Elias	....	associate producer
E.K. Gaylord II	....	executive producer
Hunt Lowry	....	producer
Mary McLaglen	....	executive producer
Bette Midler	....	executive producer
Tom Proper	....	associate producer
Lisa Stewart	....	executive producer

Original Music by
T-Bone Burnett		(as T Bone Burnett)
David Mansfield

Cinematography by
John Bailey		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Andrew Marcus

Casting by
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by
David J. Bomba

Art Direction by
John R. Jensen		(as John Jensen)

Set Decoration by
James Edward Ferrell Jr.		(as James Ferrell)

Costume Design by
Gary Jones

Makeup Department
Jeri Baker	....	hair department head (as Jeri Baker-Sadler)
Wendy Bell	....	makeup artist
Felicity Bowring	....	makeup department head
Rita Parillo	....	hair stylist
Charlene Roberson	....	makeup artist: Mr. Garner
Lana Sharpe	....	hair stylist: Ms. Burstyn
Lona Vigi	....	hair stylist: Ms. Bullock
Pamela S. Westmore	....	makeup artist: Ms. Bullock (as Pamela Westmore)
Coni Andress	....	second hair stylist (uncredited)
Susan Buffington	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Herita Jones	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Linda Kamp	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Jennifer Santiago	....	assistant hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Mary McLaglen	....	unit production manager
Donna E. Bloom	....	unit production manager: additional photography (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jonathan Capra	....	second second assistant director
Jennifer A. Giancola	....	second assistant director (as Jennifer Giancola)
Matthew H. Rowland	....	first assistant director (as Matthew Rowland)

Art Department
Robert Beck	....	property master (as Bobby Beck)
Robin Dean	....	art department researcher
Debbie Nolan	....	propmaker
Mari Phillips	....	assistant property master
Raymond Prado	....	storyboard artist (as Ray Prado)
Thomas Ryan	....	construction foreman
Jeffrey Schlatter	....	construction coordinator
Rob Simons	....	set designer
Duane Williamson	....	lead
Ross Anderson	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Joshua L. Ellsworth	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Brian Kontz	....	scenic painter (uncredited)
Rick Mobbs	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard Burton	....	sound effects editor
David V. Butler	....	dialogue editor
Kevin E. Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kim Drummond	....	dialogue editor
Carl Fischer	....	boom operator
Dana LeBlanc Frankley	....	assistant sound editor
David Giammarco	....	supervising sound editor
Petur Hliddal	....	production sound mixer
Scott A. Jennings	....	sound effects editor
Jonathan Klein	....	supervising foley editor
Mary Jo Lang	....	foley mixer (as Mary Jo Lange)
Alyson Dee Moore	....	foley artist (as Alyson Moore)
Michael Rayle	....	cable
John Rush	....	foley artist
Joe Schiff	....	first assistant sound editor
Gregory H. Watkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kerry Dean Williams	....	supervising adr editor
David V. Butler	....	adr editor (uncredited)
Troy Porter	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
John Roesch	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Joe Schiff	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Walter Kiesling	....	special effects coordinator
David Hill	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Don Lee	....	digital compositor
Tim 'Timco' Conway	....	compositor: CREO (uncredited)
Andrew MacDonald	....	compositor: Creo Collective (uncredited)
Rebecca Ramsey	....	title producer (uncredited)
James D. Tittle	....	digital visual effects coordinator: Pacific Title (uncredited)

Stunts
M. James Arnett	....	stunt coordinator
Karen Brigman	....	stunts
Donna Evans	....	stunts (as Donna Evans Merlo)
Cinda-Lin James	....	stunts (as Cinda Lin James)
John Mark Martin	....	stunt pilot
Tree O'Toole	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Patrick Borowiak	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
David Burnett	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Frank Godwin	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Anette Haellmigk	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Daniel R. Haizlip	....	best boy grip (as Daniel 'D.J.' Haizlip)
W.C. 'Chunky' Huse	....	key grip (as Walter 'Chunky' Huse)
Peter Kuttner	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Scott W. Leftridge	....	dolly grip (as Scott Leftridge)
Malcolm MacIntosh	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Mike Moyer	....	chief lighting technician (as Michael Moyer)
Derek Smith	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Michael Tackett	....	still photographer
Ched Beckwith	....	video technician (uncredited)
Gil Brady	....	electrician (uncredited)
Simon Carey	....	pre-rigging electrician (uncredited)
Chris Dambra	....	electrician (uncredited)
Tom Dean	....	electrician (uncredited)
Geoff Gann	....	grip (uncredited)
Brian Heller	....	aerial camera operator (uncredited)
Adam Hinson	....	dimmer board operator (uncredited)
Charles Laughon	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
David Noble	....	key rigging grip (uncredited)
John R. Sutton	....	rigging grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Marty Cherrix	....	casting: North Carolina
Maureen Whalen	....	casting associate
Chad Darnell	....	extras casting: additional photography, Los Angeles (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cheryl Cravedi	....	costumer: Ms. Judd
Bruce Ericksen	....	costume supervisor
Joyce Marling	....	costumer
Jessica Peel	....	assistant costume designer
Keith Taylor	....	costumer (as Michael 'Keith' Taylor Jr.)
Joel Voorhies	....	costumer: Ms. Bullock
Pauline White-Kassulke	....	key costumer (as Pauline White Kassulke)
Jason Salzman	....	wardrobe production assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Sean Menzies	....	assistant editor (as Sean William Menzies)
Alain J. Romi	....	assistant editor
Ann Trulove	....	associate editor
Lee Wimer	....	color timer
Bill Daly	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Music Department
Debra Baum	....	music consultant
Allan Kaufman	....	music consultant
Darrell Leonard	....	additional music arranger
Mike Piersante	....	score recordist
Allan K. Rosen	....	supervising music editor
Nicholas Viterelli	....	music editor (as Nick Viterelli)
Frank Wolf	....	score recordist
Brent Brooks	....	music editor: temp music (uncredited)
Larry Campbell	....	musician (uncredited)
Joe Sublett	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Anthony Forester	....	transportation captain (as Anthony 'Bubba' Forester)
Bill Pitts	....	transportation coordinator
Charlie Wright	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Tammy Arnold	....	dialogue coach: Walker children
Eyal Axelrod	....	assistant to producers
Hanelle M. Culpepper	....	assistant: Callie Khouri
Sherri Daye	....	staff assistant
Jennifer DiQuollo	....	craft service
Lisa DiQuollo	....	craft service
Rhoda Fine	....	studio teacher
Nicole Furia	....	production accountant
E. Michael Hewett	....	location manager
Ingrid Johanson	....	production office coordinator
Eric Johnson	....	staff assistant
Aileen Kiernan	....	assistant to producers
Andrew L. Lanier	....	studio teacher (as Andrew Lanier)
Eric Layne	....	first assistant accountant
Michael J. Leone	....	script supervisor (as Michael Leone)
Lilene Mansell	....	dialect coach
Noelle M. Pflum	....	assistant to producers
Ian Prange	....	staff assistant
Geoffrey Ryan	....	assistant location manager
Jessica Sheaffer	....	production secretary
Aaron Skotland	....	staff assistant
Patricia Story	....	unit publicist
Carmen Trejo	....	staff assistant
Ashleigh Tucker	....	assistant production office coordinator
Rachel Brewer	....	stand-in: Ashley Judd (uncredited)
Sheila Brothers	....	choreographic coordinator (uncredited)
Paulette Dauber	....	publicity consultant (uncredited)
Ashley Edner	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Janette Evans	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)
Philippe Gallichet	....	chef (uncredited)
Tim Grady	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Jennifer Haire	....	intern (uncredited)
Joyce Heftel	....	script supervisor: pre-timing (uncredited)
Joseph Long	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Bill Richards	....	aerial coordinator (uncredited)
Bill Richards	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Nicholas Ryan Rumpf	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Lauren Schaffel	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Catherine Sewell	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Laura Tiz	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Jennifer Lea Turner	....	photo double (uncredited)
Richard E. White	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Production Companies

• All Girl Productions
• Gaylord Films

Distributors

• Fox-Warner (2002) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2003) (Finland) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (USA) (as Warner Bros. Pictures) (an AOL Time Warner company)
• Warner Bros. (Argentina)
• Warner Bros.
• Warner Bros.
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (200?) (Netherlands) (video)

Special Effects

• CREO (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Buckner Hill Plantation, Faison, North Carolina  special thanks
• Cinema Catering  catering
• Columbia Records  soundtrack released by
• DMZ Records  soundtrack released by
• EUE/Screen Gems Studios  stage facilities
• Kaleidoscope Films Group  main and end title design
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Locations...+  location scouting and management
• Major League Baseball Properties  trademarks licensed by
• Orton Plantation  special thanks
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Royal Geographic Society  Baron De Meyer photos licensed by
• Sony Music Soundtrax  soundtrack released by
• The Mel Bourdeaux Southern Heritage Library  special thanks
• Transportation Resources  transportation equipment
• University of North Carolina  special thanks (as University of North Carolina at Wilmington)
• Warner Bros. Pictures  "Looney Tunes" merchandise and character licensed by

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, language, and brief sensuality.

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

UK:12 (video rating) (2002) | UK:12A (original rating) | Iceland:10 ) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Malaysia:U | Canada:A (Ontario) | Finland:K-11 | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #38793)

Filming Locations:

Burgaw, North Carolina, USA

Company:

All Girl Productions

Trivia:

As part of the initiation to the Ya-Ya Sisterhood club, Siddalee Walker (Sandra Bullock) has the palm of hand cut. In the movie 'Practical Magic', Sally Owens, Sandra Bullock's character, cuts the palm of her hand too.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the plane, Vivi has her scarf on in the long shots, but all the close-ups show her with her hair loose.

Quotes:

Vivi: Mary... mother of the motherless. I need your help again. I need your divine intervention once again, quelle grande surprise. My oldest daughter, Siddalee, the one I've been complaining about, the loudmouth... She may be walkin' away from true love. Please stop her. This is because o' me...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Psych: Talk Derby to Me (#3.7)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Waitin' For You

Na-Na?

I liked this movie. I really did. Someone very close to me has a mother very much like this. It's reality folks, not everyone has a sensible loving mother that grasps the role of "motherhood" like a duck to water. Some people remain stuck in a selfish state where they blame everyone/thing else for all their unhappiness and the misdirection of their lives. I'm glad there's a movie that brought that subject to light. One user said the movie is celebrating an alcoholic, but that's untrue. You're watching a woman go further and further into a downward spiral of self-pitying despair and hatred for the events of her life. I also didn't find Vivi's mother to be evil, but she seemed to have been desperately trying to claim her role as a respectable wife. When your husband treats horses better than you, you get a little miffed. He dismissed her as his partner in life for a child she gave him, so the woman aimed her frustrations at her child, instead of her husband. At that time, what could she have really done to the husband? He would've beaten her most likely. I appreciated the fact that Vivi was flawed. Just humanly flawed and admitted it. It sucks that people have parents like this, but Sidda learned to deal with it in her own way. I'm glad it wasn't a typical reaction, like drugs or promiscuity. She just accepted her mother for what she is: flawed and screwed up. Motherhood doesn't make you unselfish and well-versed in letting go of your troubles. That's something you learn over time, and the movie showed that. It might take 40-odd years as it did them, or someone could get it the moment the child is born. What I got from the film is that your parents had dreams and nightmares before you came into the picture, and it takes a lot out of them to come to terms with being responsible for a life that they may or may not be ready for. I also really loved the part where Sidda begins to question her ability to be a good mother and wife. I think that resonated well. I certainly would start to wonder. Parents can screw up their kids easily I tell ya. It's not a responsibility to enter into lightly. I'm sure there were flaws like the accents of Louisiana and technical stuff, but altogether, the movie really reaches many levels.