The School of Rock (2003)

Director:

Richard Linklater

Writer (WGA):

Mike White (written by)

Release Date:

3 October 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Music

Tagline:

Take Notes.

Plot:

A wannabe rock star in need of cash poses as a substitute teacher at a prep school, and tries to turn his class into a rock band.

Plot Keywords:

Private School | Substitute Teacher | Guitar | Musician | Guitar Player

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Jack Black	...	Dewey Finn
Adam Pascal	...	Theo
Lucas Papaelias	...	Neil
Chris Stack	...	Doug
Sarah Silverman	...	Patty Di Marco
Mike White	...	Ned Schneebly
Lucas Babin	...	Spider
Joan Cusack	...	Rosalie Mullins
Jordan-Claire Green	...	Michelle
Veronica Afflerbach	...	Eleni
Miranda Cosgrove	...	Summer Hathaway
Joey Gaydos Jr.	...	Zack Mooneyham
Robert Tsai	...	Lawrence
Angelo Massagli	...	Frankie
Kevin Alexander Clark	...	Fred (as Kevin Clark)
Maryam Hassan	...	Tomika
Caitlin Hale	...	Marta
Cole Hawkins	...	Leonard
Brian Falduto	...	Billy
James Hosey	...	Marco
Aleisha Allen	...	Alicia
Zachary Infante	...	Gordon
Rebecca Brown	...	Katie
Jaclyn Neidenthal	...	Emily
Suzzanne Douglas	...	Tomika's Mother
Eron Otcasek	...	Musician
Carlos Velazquez	...	Musician
Kimberly Grigsby	...	Mrs. Sheinkopf
Lee Wilkof	...	Mr. Green
Kate McGregor-Stewart	...	Mrs. Lemmons
Wally Dunn	...	Gym Teacher
Tim Hopper	...	Zack's Father
Michael Dominguez-Rudolph	...	Art Student
Crash Cortez	...	Max
Nicky Katt	...	Razor
John Highsmith	...	Tony (as John E. Highsmith)
Heather Goldenhersh	...	Sheila
Timothy 'Speed' Levitch	...	Waiter
Scott Graham	...	Punk Rock Guy
Sharon Washington	...	Alicia's Mother
Kim Brockington	...	Leonard's Mother
Marty Murphy	...	Concerned Father
Kathleen McNenny	...	Freddy's Mother
Joanna Adler	...	Summer's Mother (as Joanna P. Adler)
Robert Lin	...	Lawrence's Father
Barry Shurchin	...	Cop
MacIntyre Dixon	...	Bus Driver
Amy Sedaris	...	Mrs. Haynish
Mary Fortune	...	Teacher's Assistant
Mandy Siegfried	...	Female Employee
Carlos J. Da Silva	...	Security Guard
Ian O'Malley	...	Radio Exec
Chris Line	...	Radio DJ
Kyle Meaney	...	Toby
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Elisa Pugliese	...	Concert Goer
Lauren Adler	...	Concert Goer (uncredited)
Kelly Anne Burns	...	Groupie (uncredited)
Leanne Cabrera	...	Concert Goer (uncredited)
Catherine A. Callahan	...	Concert Attendee (uncredited)
Mike Clemente	...	Crazed Fan (uncredited)
Ambi Daniel	...	Concert Goer (uncredited)
Jane DeNoble	...	Billy's Mom (uncredited)
Riley G. Matthews Jr.	...	Blood Brothers MC Biker (uncredited)
Mateo Moreno	...	Concert Goer (uncredited)
Karen Nazarov	...	Groupie (uncredited)
Ryan O'Connor	...	No Vaccancy's Biggest Fan (uncredited)
Caileigh Scott	...	Girl At Concert (uncredited)
Scott Skversky	...	Concert Goer (uncredited)
Johnny Sullivan	...	Guy in crowd who catches Dewey (uncredited)
Joe Wachowski	...	Concert Goer (uncredited)
Frank Whaley	...	Battle of the bands director (uncredited)
Angus Young	...	Himself (archive) (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Linklater

Writing credits (WGA)
Mike White		(written by)

Produced by
Scott Aversano	....	executive producer
Steve Nicolaides	....	executive producer
Scott Rudin	....	producer

Original Music by
Craig Wedren

Cinematography by
Rogier Stoffers

Film Editing by
Sandra Adair

Casting by
Ilene Starger

Production Design by
Jeremy Conway

Art Direction by
Adam Scher

Set Decoration by
Karin Wiesel		(as Karin Wiesel Holmes)

Costume Design by
Karen Patch

Makeup Department
Alan D'Angerio	....	hair stylist
Felice Diamond	....	makeup artist
Don Kozma	....	assistant makeup artist
Bernadette Mazur	....	makeup artist
Roz Music	....	makeup artist: Mr. Black
Michele Paris	....	makeup artist (as Michele Paris-Catanzarite)
Jerry Popolis	....	assistant hair stylist
Jeffrey Rebelo	....	additional hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Joseph E. Iberti	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sam Hoffman	....	first assistant director
Michelle L. Keiser	....	second assistant director
Francisco Ortiz	....	dga trainee
Kathryn-Ann Oaks Shertzer	....	second second assistant director (as Kathryn Shertzer)

Art Department
Robert Barnett	....	camera scenic
Emily Beck	....	assistant art director
Jason De Bari	....	art department coordinator
Kim Jennings	....	assistant art director
Ellen Lampl	....	graphic designer
Martin Lasowitz	....	property master
Charles E. McCarry	....	assistant art director
Christopher Nelson	....	leadman
Ken Nelson	....	construction coordinator
Tim Okamura	....	artist: paintings
Robert Schleinig	....	on-set dresser
James Bono	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Craig Denham	....	graphic designer (uncredited)
Brent Godek	....	props (uncredited)
Michael Jortner	....	props (uncredited)
Derrick Kardos	....	graphic designer: props (uncredited)
Carly Sorscher	....	art department assistant (uncredited)
Christina K. Tonkin	....	first assistant decorator (uncredited)
Ryan Viniotis	....	construction shop manager (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bill Allen	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Nancy Cabrera	....	foley artist
Ryan Collison	....	foley engineer
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Phillip Fuller	....	technical support: sound
Dan Fulton	....	assistant sound editor
Avi Laniado	....	sound engineer
Jane McCulley	....	supervising adr editor
Danny Michael	....	production sound mixer
Bob Olari	....	sound re-recordist (as Bobby Olari)
Mike Patrick	....	sound recordist
Mike Poppleton	....	first assistant sound editor
Jacob Ribicoff	....	supervising sound editor
Andrew Schmetterling	....	boom operator
Stuart Stanley	....	supervising foley editor
Jeffrey Stern	....	supervising dialogue editor
Robert Troeller	....	sound mix technician
Roland Vajs	....	sound editor
Magdaline Volaitis	....	sound effects editor
Peter Waggoner	....	sound re-recording mixer
Daniel Ward	....	assistant sound editor
Jerry Yuen	....	utility sound
Patrick Arnheim	....	voice loop (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Stifanich	....	special effects coordinator (as John Sifanich)

Stunts
Bob Colletti	....	stunts
Vince Cupone	....	stunts
Peter Epstein	....	stunts
Stephanie Finochio	....	stunts
Donald John Hewitt	....	stunts (as Donald J. Hewitt)
Don Hewitt	....	stunt coordinator
Jery Hewitt	....	stunt coordinator
Tina Mckissick	....	stunts
David Shumbris	....	stunts (as Dave Shumbris)
Johnny Sullivan	....	stunts
Shawnna Thibodeau	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Becchio	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Angela Bellisio	....	film loader
Matt Blades	....	grip
Rod Calarco	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Michael Cambria	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Mel Cannon	....	additional grip
Nicolas L. Charuet	....	grip (as Nicholas Luc Charuet)
Alisa M. Colley	....	assistant camera
Howard Davidson	....	grip
Edwin Effrein	....	first assistant camera (as Edwin A. Effrein)
Peggy Eisenhauer	....	lighting designer: concert lighting
Jules Fisher	....	lighting designer: concert lighting
Richie Ford	....	rigging gaffer
Jim Galvin	....	light board operator
Jendra Jarnagin	....	additional electrician
Nils Johnson	....	key video assist operator
Billy Kerwick	....	key rigging grip (as William W. Kerwick)
Scott Kincaid	....	electrician
Bruce MacCallum	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Michael J. Maurer	....	electrician (as Mike Mauer)
Jim McConkey	....	Steadicam operator
Jim McConkey	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Bill O'Leary	....	gaffer (as William O'Leary)
Dave Rudolph	....	electrician
Andrew D. Schwartz	....	still photographer (as Andrew Schwartz)
Eric Swanek	....	Steadicam assistant
Eric Swanek	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Tom Vulliez	....	grip (as Tommy Voulliez)
Robert Vuolo	....	electrician
James Harker	....	electrician (uncredited)
Jeremy Knaster	....	electrician (uncredited)
Lorne MacDougall	....	gaffer (uncredited)
James Scutakes	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Patti Carns Kalles	....	casting: Seattle
Jason James	....	casting: Seattle
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting
Laurie Levine	....	casting: Seattle
Valerie Lindquist	....	casting associate
Zoe E. Rotter	....	casting assistant
Janice Wilde	....	casting associate
Elizabeth Lang	....	additional casting scout (uncredited)
Kristian Sorge	....	extras casting associate (uncredited)
Grant Wilfley	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Stephanie Biear	....	head seamstress
Kate Edwards	....	wardrobe supervisor
Sandi Figueroa	....	costumer: Jack Black
Cheryl Kilbourne-Kimpton	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Cheryl Kilbourn-Klimpton)
Joseph La Corte	....	key costumer
Debbie Lucas	....	seamstress
Chris Ann Pappas	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Adam Geiger	....	assistant editor
Harry Muller	....	color timer
Sarah Ogletree	....	post-production coordinator
David Rogow	....	first assistant editor
Andrew Weisblum	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Mark Agostino	....	music editor
Jim Dunbar	....	music coordinator
Mick Gormaley	....	music editor
Stewart Lerman	....	recording engineer
Liam Lynch	....	soundtrack consultant
Jim O'Rourke	....	music consultant
Randall Poster	....	music supervisor
Nic Ratner	....	music editor
Karen Waltuch	....	music consultant
Lee Mars	....	music scoring mixer (uncredited)

Other crew
Carlos A. Acosta	....	location assistant
Daniela Barbosa	....	production assistant (as Daniela Tomc-Barbosa)
Q. Beck	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Adam Carroll	....	production assistant
Chris Cussen	....	executive assistant: Mr. Rudin
Gerry De Leon	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Eliza Dyson	....	location assistant
Jules Eggli	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
David L. Feinberg	....	production office assistant (as David Feinberg)
Daniel Fine	....	assistant accountant
Jay Floyd	....	clearance administrator
Rhonda George	....	assistant production office coordinator
Crystal Hawkins	....	production auditor
Vanessa Hoffman	....	production assistant
Steven Holtzman	....	production assistant
Ben Howe	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Jason Ivey	....	production assistant
Sara Johnson	....	assistant: Richard Linklater
Andrew Kahn	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Ben LeClair	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
James D. Lee	....	assistant location manager
Kendra Levenberg	....	craft service
Terry McAllister	....	assistant security coordinator
Nolan B. Medrano	....	second assistant auditor (as Nolan Medrano)
Steve Moramarco	....	assistant: Mr. Black
Leda Nornang	....	production secretary
Julie Oppenheimer	....	script supervisor
Adesola A. Osakalumi	....	choreographer (as Adesola Osakalumi)
Wayne Petrucelli	....	security coordinator
Guillaume Renberg	....	remote head technician
John Rickard	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Marsha Robertson	....	publicist
Dave Rosenberg	....	production assistant
Debbie Rothstein	....	legal assistant
Chris Sanata	....	production assistant
Kris Schackman	....	location assistant
Thomas Sellitti Jr.	....	production assistant
Missy Simms	....	studio teacher (as Missy Sims)
Darryl A. Smith	....	first assistant auditor
Karen Koula Sossiadis	....	production coordinator (as Koula Sossiadis)
Robert T. Striem	....	location manager (as Robert Striem)
April Taylor	....	location assistant
Eva Vedock	....	craft service
Steven Wargo	....	craft service
Andrew Zolot	....	assistant: Mr. Nicolaides (as Andy Zolot)
Jared Cowan	....	intern (uncredited)
Matthew Mason	....	production assistant (uncredited)
David Milhous	....	studio team (uncredited)
Jessica Peters	....	adr loop group (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (presents)
• Scott Rudin Productions
• MFP Munich Film Partners GmbH & Company I. Produktions KG
• New Century
• Sor Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Finland (2004) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Finnkino (2004) (Finland) (VHS)
• Fox Network (2007) (USA) (TV)
• Nelonen (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Paramount Home Entertainment Finland (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Veronica (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)

Other Companies

• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• On Location Education  child cast tutoring
• Coast to Coast Catering  catering
• The McKenna Brothers  craft service
• Atlantic Records  soundtrack published by
• David Kramer's Looping Group  sound re-recording
• Grant Wilfley Casting  extras casting
• Post Logic Studios  digital film mastering
• WMG Soundtracks  soundtrack published by

Also Known As:

School of Rock (Germany) (UK) (DVD box title) (USA) (promotional title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some rude humor and drug references.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Spain:T | Malaysia:U | Iceland:L | Finland:K-3 | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Brazil:Livre | Canada:G (Québec) | Canada:PG | Germany:6 (bw) | Hong Kong:I | Netherlands:AL | Norway:A | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40075)

Filming Locations:

Buckley Country Day School - I.U. Willets Road, Herricks, Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

When Dewey asks Marta to prove she can sing, she sings "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow" from Annie. She in fact, starred in Annie on Broadway when she was younger.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: During one of the scenes when the band is practicing Zack's song, there is a shot where Freddy is seen sitting on the stool doing nothing, but the drum line is still being played.

Quotes:

Dewey Finn: I'll have the rent by the end of the week, go tell the mayor.

Movie Connections:

Features AC/DC: Let There Be Rock (1980)

Soundtrack:

In The End Of Time

Jack Black is Back! Better than Ever!

Finally! Somebody has done right by Jack Black. Somebody has actually made a movie where Jack Black can be the man and show off his talents. This is Jack Black at his best and I feel privileged to be alive while this guy's star continues to skyrocket!

Dewey Finn (Jack Black) loves rock and roll. He is the consummate fan who knows every worthwhile group and song. He is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist in his own band called "No Vacancy." But other members of the group have grown tired of his immature stage antics, such as 20-minute solos and stage-dives. They vote him out and hire someone to replace him for an upcoming Battle of the Bands contest.

Downcast and distraught, Dewey doesn't know what to do. Plus, his usually patient roommate Ned (Mike White), a schoolteacher, is being pressured by his aggressive girlfriend (Sarah Silverman) to make Dewey pay the money he owes for rent or get out. When a call comes in to Ned asking him to serve as a substitute teacher at the prestigious Horace Green Elementary School, Dewey decides to assume his identity and take the job.

Of course, faced with a class of fifth-graders all nicely clothed in their school uniforms, this rocker doesn't have a clue as to what to do. So he tells them to chill out and enjoy some downtime. This scheme works for a little while but then Dewey visits the orchestra class. Lights go off in his head and bingo! -- the new class project is to form a rock band. He decides to teach them everything he knows about rock with lectures on its history, the evils of "The Man," and the essentials of playing rock songs.

Dewey's spirits are lifted when he realizes that there are some talented musicians in the class including Zack (Joey Gaydos, Jr.), the lead guitarist; Katie (Rebecca Brown) on bass; and Lawrence (Robert Tsai) on keyboards. Freddy (Kevin Clark), the class rebel, turns out to be an eager learner on drums, and Tomika (Maryam Hassan) surprises him with her unusual singing talent. The smartest girl in the class, Summer (Miranda Cosgrove), gets her chance to excel as band manager while others serve as back-up singers, special effects wizard, head of security, and the official selectors of the band's name.

The humor quotient of the film is heightened by the funny performance of Joan Cusack as the uptight and unlocked principal of Horace Green Elementary School. When Dewey discovers that she is a secret fan of Fleetwood Mac, they are able to connect as friends. The rock fan gets his wish when he has the class entered in the local Battle of the Bands. By the end of this rollicking film, you'll happily be chanting, "For those about to rock, we salute you!"

Overall: 9/10