The Big Empty (2003)

Director:

Steve Anderson

Writer:

Steve Anderson (writer)

Release Date:

28 August 2009 (Belgium)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Cowboys. Aliens. Blue suitcases and bowling balls. Strange things are happening out in the middle of nowhere.

Plot:

A budding actor is faced with a stalled career and a mountain of debt.

Plot Keywords:

Budding Actor | Desert | Gas Station | Bed | Neighbor

Cast

Jon Favreau	...	John Person
Joey Lauren Adams	...	Grace
Bud Cort	...	Neely
Jon Gries	...	Elron
Daryl Hannah	...	Stella
Adam Beach	...	Randy
Gary Farmer	...	Indian Bob
Rachael Leigh Cook	...	Ruthie
Brent Briscoe	...	Dan
Melora Walters	...	Candy
Kelsey Grammer	...	Agent Banks
Sean Bean	...	Cowboy
Alejandra Aguilan	...	Traveler
Jay Brothers	...	Traveler
Sara Fouts	...	Traveler
Britney Gillum	...	Traveler
Martin Gluhar	...	Traveler
Jessie Jenkins	...	Traveler
Steven G. Kaplan	...	Traveler
Mamie Powell	...	Traveler
Gerald Smith	...	Traveler
Maria Smith	...	Traveler
Patti Smith	...	Traveler
Brian Tippett	...	Traveler
Anthony Vallejos	...	Traveler
Gordon Vallejos	...	Traveler
Larry Mill	...	A**hole Eddie
Bona Potenta	...	Waitress
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Danny Trejo	...	Lt. Gates (uncredited)

Directed by
Steve Anderson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Steve Anderson		writer

Produced by
Tony Adler	....	associate producer
Steve Bickel	....	executive producer
Rich Cowan	....	line producer
Gregg L. Daniel	....	producer
Jon Favreau	....	executive producer
Marc Goldsmith	....	associate producer
Steven G. Kaplan	....	producer
Jeffrey Kramer	....	executive producer
Doug Mankoff	....	producer
Keith Resnick	....	executive producer
Andrew Spaulding	....	producer
Peter Wetherell	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Brian Tyler

Cinematography by
Chris Manley

Film Editing by
Scot Scalise

Casting by
Jory Weitz

Production Design by
Aaron Osborne

Art Direction by
Erin Cochran

Set Decoration by
Missy Parker

Costume Design by
Kristin M. Burke

Makeup Department
Melanie Mills	....	makeup department head
Erin Wooldridge	....	hair stylist
Erin Wooldridge	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Ian Kennedy	....	post-production supervisor
Tiffany Wallach	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve Buhai	....	first assistant director
Adam Jordan	....	second assistant director
Jason Mckee	....	second assistant director

Art Department
David L. Bell	....	property master
Ryan Cochran	....	leadman
Stephanie J. Gordon	....	set designer
Jamie Linde	....	swing
David Loitz	....	lead man
Larry Morgan	....	construction foreman
Brad Morrison	....	swing
Weston Norton	....	set dresser
Adam Tankell	....	graphic designer

Sound Department
Karma Barber	....	foley artist
Karma Barber	....	foley mixer
Robby Bartholomew	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeff Blehr	....	boom operator
Gonzo Cervantes	....	adr editor
Gonzo Cervantes	....	foley mixer
Michael P. Cook	....	dialogue editor (as MIke Cook)
Jason England	....	dialogue editor
Bill Fox	....	sound effects editor (as William Fox)
Stanley Kastner	....	sound re-recording mixer
Donald Lyles	....	adr recordist
Donald Lyles	....	sound recordist
Peter V. Meiselmann	....	production sound mixer
Peter V. Meiselmann	....	sound mixer
Todd Morrissey	....	adr mixer
George Nemzer	....	sound effects editor
Michael Resnick	....	sound effects editor
Eddie Rogers	....	dialogue editor
Eddie Rogers	....	foley mixer
John Rotondi	....	sound engineer: Y4
Clancy T. Troutman	....	supervising sound editor

Visual Effects by
Karl Denham	....	digital artist
Jeff Douglas	....	Avid DS HD artist
Erin Hicke	....	visual effects coordinator
Andrew MacDonald	....	visual effects supervisor: Creo Collective

Stunts
Manny Perry	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Rebecca Bauscher	....	still photographer
Shari Belafonte	....	still photographer
Xiomara Comrie	....	second assistant camera
Tim Cunningham	....	company grip
James Hatridge	....	electrician
Dan Heigh	....	director of photography: second unit
Brad Heiner	....	dolly grip
Daniel Kauahi	....	company grip
Eric Leach	....	company grip
John Loveless	....	crane operator
Denis Moran	....	Steadicam operator
Robert C. Murphy	....	electrician
Dane Peterson	....	gaffer
Don Presley	....	assistant camera
Marinko Spahic	....	video operator
Jonas Steadman	....	first assistant camera
Mike Vukas	....	key grip
William Rick Young	....	best boy grip
Michael E. Cole	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Chandra Moore	....	key costumer
Erika Munro	....	additional costumer

Editorial Department
Matthew W. Johnson	....	on-line editor
Stewart Maclennan	....	assistant editor
Nelson Mah	....	colorist
Jason A. Payne	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Dondi Bastone	....	music supervisor
Simon James	....	orchestra contractor
Gary Krause	....	music editor
Micha Liberman	....	music editor
Dana Niu	....	orchestrator
Brian Tyler	....	orchestrator
Jeff Vaughn	....	recording engineer

Transportation Department
Dan Fisher	....	transportation coordinator
Bart Heimburger	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Susan Bambara	....	script supervisor
Gina-Raye Carter	....	production assistant
Aaron Critchlow	....	production assistant
Bill Davis	....	weapons expert
Russ Fega	....	location manager
Eric Feig	....	production legal
Adam Jordan	....	production assistant
Christian Keib	....	production assistant
Lana Kim	....	production assistant
Mark Litwak	....	production legal
Jason Mckee	....	body double: Danny Trejo
Jason Mckee	....	production assistant
Greg Rathvon	....	production accountant
Sara Blythe Smith	....	production coordinator
Marinko Spahic	....	production assistant
Mike Warner	....	production assistant

Thanks
Richard Farmer	....	special thanks
Ron Howard	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Aura Entertainment
• Echo Lake Productions (I)
• North by Northwest Entertainment
• Rainstorm Entertainment
• The Big Empty LLC

Distributors

• Artisan Entertainment (2003) (USA)
• Aura Entertainment (non-USA)
• Califórnia Home Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (video)
• Epix Media (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• EuroVideo (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Officine UBU (2007) (Italy) (DVD)
• Versus Entertainment (2006) (Spain) (all media)

Special Effects

• CREO

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Mark Litwak & Associates  legal counsel
• Post Logic Studios  digital intermediate

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual dialogue.

Runtime:

USA:94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M (TV rating) | Australia:MA | USA:R | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Baker, California, USA

Company:

Aura Entertainment

Goofs:

Continuity: The rotating shot in the morning near the end shows that the only tire tracks around the circle are opposite each other: Bob's and the RV's. But when John enters the circle to investigate the items left behind, there is a prominent set of tracks right through the middle.

Quotes:

John Person: No, Dan, I'm waiting to deliver a mysterious suitcase to a hooker-killing cowboy who's supposed to give me $27,000. On top of that I've got my neighbor's head in a bowling ball bag under my sink.

Movie Connections:

References Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Soundtrack:

THAT'S ALRIGHT

The Perfect Black Comedy - A Real MUST SEE !!!

An actor who's out of work is hired to deliver a mysterious blue suitcase, only to find himself sucked into a different world.

I enjoyed this film very much and many people with me at the screenings at this years AFM.

I invite everybody to see this film as soon as it is released. Two Thumbs up for this great film. Jon Favreau is really fantastic !