Hollywood North (2003)

Director:

Peter O'Brian

Writers:

Barry Healey (writer) &
John Hunter (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 January 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The camera never lies ... only the people behind it.

Plot:

Former lawyer Bobby Myers recounts his first foray in the Canadian movie business circa 1979, when the...

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood | Box Office Flop | Female Nudity | Canada | Canadian Expatriate

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Matthew Modine	...	Bobby Myers
Saul Rubinek	...	Paul Linder
Alan Bates	...	Michael Baytes
Joe Cobden	...	Howard Atkins
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Sandy Ryan
Alan Thicke	...	Peter Casey
John Neville	...	Henry Neville
Lindy Booth	...	Molly
Fab Filippo	...	Frankie Candido (as Fabrizio Filippo)
Clare Coulter	...	Lindsay Marshall
Sandi Stahlbrand	...	Leslie Carrington
John Bayliss	...	Customs Inspector
Jennifer Tilly	...	Gillian Stevens
Audrey Lupke	...	Joanne Jennings
Kim Coates	...	Scott DiMarco
Peter Oldring	...	Seth Johnson
Jeremy Wright	...	Kenny
David Gale	...	Additional Dialogue Recordings (voice)
Stephen Sparks	...	Additional Dialogue Recordings (voice)
John Watson	...	Additional Dialogue Recordings (voice)
Jerry Bilak	...	Foreign Voices (voice)
Massimo Gargari	...	Foreign Voices (voice)
Vincent Tay	...	Foreign Voices (voice)
Xue Pingchen	...	Foreign Voices (voice)
Christine Bilak	...	Foreign Voices (voice)
Rossana Tassone	...	Foreign Voices (voice)
Carol Shean	...	Foreign Voices (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Matt Birman	...	Prop Guy (uncredited)
Sandy Kellerman	...	Camera Assistant (uncredited)
Michael Stevens	...	Bogota Sound Man (uncredited)
Nancy E.L. Ward	...	Continuity Script Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter O'Brian

Writing credits
Barry Healey		(writer) &
John Hunter		(writer) &
Tony Johnston		(writer)

Produced by
Penelope Antoniou	....	co-producer
John Gillespie	....	producer
Tony Johnston	....	co-producer
Jeffery Kirsh	....	associate producer
Aniz Manji	....	executive producer
Peter O'Brian	....	executive producer
Mark Thomas	....	executive producer
Paul Weber	....	associate producer
Michael Zannella	....	co-producer (as Michael Sannella)

Original Music by
Terence Gowan		(as Terence M. Gowan)
Blair Packham

Cinematography by
Barry Stone

Film Editing by
Lisa Grootenboer

Casting by
Paul Weber

Production Design by
Rob Gray

Art Direction by
Iain Reynolds

Set Decoration by
David Joseph
Christina Kuhnigk

Costume Design by
Kimberley Ann Rush

Makeup Department
Helen Brum	....	assistant hair stylist
Peggy Kyriakidou	....	hair stylist
Josie Licata	....	assistant makeup artist
Robbi O'Quinn	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Brad Wm. Clark	....	production manager (as Brad Clark)
John Gillespie	....	post-production supervisor
Lionel Strutt	....	post-production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael J. Bowman	....	first assistant director (as Michael Bowman)
Neille Brockie	....	third assistant director
Kareen Yalandy Glynn	....	trainee assistant director (as Kareen Glynn)
Aline Robichaud	....	second assistant director

Art Department
John Bankson	....	construction coordinator
Simon Corton	....	property master
Rojuano Espiritu	....	lead dresser
David Joseph	....	lead man
Steve Meil	....	head scenic painter (as Stephen Meil)
Graydon Nichols	....	head carpenter
William Poulter	....	set dresser
Jeff Silver	....	set dresser
Matthew G. Wright	....	set buyer (as Matthew Wright)

Sound Department
Bill Allen	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Kevin Banks	....	sound effects editor
Christian Carruthers	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nelson Ferreira	....	sound supervisor
Nelson Ferreira	....	supervising sound editor
Attilia M. Fierro	....	sound coordinator: Dolby
Jamie Gould	....	re-recording assistant
David K. Grant	....	sound recordist
Gina Gyles	....	foley assistant
Craig Henighan	....	sound effects editor
Zach Hunter	....	sound trainee
Trevor Leis	....	trainee assistant editor
Matthew McKenzie	....	adr recordist: Toronto
Colin McLellan	....	adr recordist: Toronto
Heather Osborn	....	trainee assistant editor
Daniel Pellerin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Peter Persaud	....	foley recordist
John Sievert	....	foley artist
Andrew Tay	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Wojewoda	....	boom operator
Steve Baine	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Reg Ashby	....	special effects supervisor
Brock Jolliffe	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Mike Smith	....	titles & opticals: Film Opticals of Canada

Stunts
Matt Birman	....	stunt coordinator
Dwayne McLean	....	stunt performer
John Stoneham Jr.	....	stunt coordinator
John Stoneham Jr.	....	stunt performer
Ron Webber	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Don Anderson	....	electrician
Jennifer Beasley	....	camera loader
Mark Berlet	....	chief lighting technician
Matty Cooper	....	electrician
Dave June	....	camera assistant: second unit (as David June)
Rick Leger	....	generator operator
Russ Martin	....	still photographer
Juan Carlos Montalvo	....	second assistant camera (as Juan Montalvo)
Loreen Ruddock	....	best boy electric
Yuri Sandler	....	grip
Terry Smallwood	....	video playback technician
Craig Stewart	....	dolly grip
Barry Stone	....	camera operator
James Tamblyn	....	video playback technician
Rae Thurston	....	grip and lighting equipment: PS Production Services (as Ray Thurston)
Christopher J. Toudy	....	key grip (as Christopher Toudy)
Joe Turner	....	best boy grip
Robert Varga	....	grip and lighting equipment: PS Production Services
Brian White	....	first assistant camera
Serhat H. Yalcinkaya	....	camera trainee
Dave Sansford	....	generator operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
John Buchan	....	casting
Bradley A. Flett	....	extras casting (as Brad Flett)
Ivy Isenberg	....	casting associate
Jenny Lewis	....	casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rachel Archer	....	assistant costume designer
Erika Larner	....	wardrobe set supervisor
Jody Orsini	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Roberta Bratti	....	post-production editor: DeLuxe Toronto
Rob Dick	....	post-production editor: DeLuxe Toronto
Todd Farrell	....	first assistant editor
Karla Firby	....	post-production editor: DeLuxe Toronto
Georgina Firth	....	negative cutter: Barb Swift Neg-Cutting
Stan Ford	....	post-production editor: DeLuxe Toronto
Alfredo Frasson	....	color timer
Darren Jennekens	....	picture editor
Ivan Kovac	....	negative cutter: Barb Swift Neg-Cutting
Steve Mayhew	....	video mastering: Eyes Post
Crissy Middleton	....	negative cutter: Barb Swift Neg-Cutting
Ron Middleton	....	negative cutter: Barb Swift Neg-Cutting
Joanne Rourke	....	video mastering: HD
Lorraine Samuel	....	post-production editor: DeLuxe Toronto
Lionel Strutt	....	post-production coordinator: UK

Music Department
Kevin Banks	....	music editor
Ron Proulx	....	music supervisor
Chris Robinson	....	co-music supervisor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Martin Boon	....	driver
Paul Davies	....	driver
David McLaren	....	transportation captain
Jerry Skavinsky	....	transportation coordinator
Craig Taylor	....	driver
Greg Wall	....	driver

Other crew
Penelope Antoniou	....	production accountant
Amy Barrie	....	assistant production coordinator
Darren J. Biro	....	assistant location manager (as DJ Biro)
Chris Cirilo	....	assistant: Deborah Kara Unger
Brad Wm. Clark	....	location manager: second unit (as Brad Clark)
Cyril Drabinsky	....	executive consultant
Michael F. Gunter	....	executive consultant
Jeffrey Hands	....	creative advisor
Moria Holmes	....	completion bond company representative: Film Finances Canada
Matti Huhta	....	script supervisor
Dennis Jacobson	....	first assistant payroll accountant
Michael Kessler	....	assistant to director
Natasha Koifman	....	publicist
Bryan LaCour	....	production finance associate: Comerica Bank of California
Mary Legakis	....	film finances representative: Independent Film Financing Inc.
Rob Manson	....	location manager
Quentin Matheson	....	web site designer: The Well Dressed Robot
Chris McKean	....	crafts service
June Nayler	....	insurance provider: Jones Brown & Associates
Delia Pereira	....	banking services: Scotiabank
Laura Polley	....	film finances representative: Independent Film Financing Inc.
Kyra Rattray	....	location assistant (as Kyra Dawn Rattray)
Morgan H. Rector	....	production finance associate: Comerica Bank of California (as Morgan Rector)
Brydon Roe	....	production consultant
Ken Rosenthal	....	legal services: Gardiner-Roberts
Greg Shoom-Kirsh	....	production assistant
Vanessa Steinmetz	....	film finances representative: Independent Film Financing Inc.
Jim Sternberg	....	completion bond company representative: Film Finances Canada
Jody Tansley	....	on-set nurse (as Jodi Tansley)
Charles Taylor	....	armorer (as Charlie Taylor)
Mark Thomas	....	production consultant
Kirk Thompson	....	insurance provider: Jones Brown & Associates
Paula Thorpe	....	executive consultant
Steven Zander	....	production coordinator
Jennifer Thomas	....	key assistant accountant (uncredited)

Thanks
Chalmers Adams	....	thanks
Brian Asbury	....	the producers wish to thank
Linda Beath	....	thanks
Greg Beer	....	thanks
Carolyn Bennett	....	thanks
Phillip Borsos	....	thanks
John Bradshaw	....	the producers wish to thank
Brendan Calder	....	thanks
Diane Cappelletto	....	the producers wish to thank
Wayne Clarkson	....	thanks
Derby Crewe	....	the producers wish to thank
Michael Gebauer	....	the producers wish to thank
Janet Hadjidimitriou	....	thanks
Michael Harilaid	....	the producers wish to thank
Debra Henderson	....	thanks
Bill House	....	thanks
Jeff Jackson	....	special thanks: Heenan Blaikie
Norman Jewison	....	thanks
Jacqueline Mackey	....	thanks
Gabriella Martinelli	....	thanks
Neil Morrissey	....	the producers wish to thank
John O'Brian	....	thanks
Chan Park	....	thanks
Delia Pereira	....	special thanks: Scotiabank
Laura Polley	....	the producers wish to thank
Jason Roe	....	the producers wish to thank
Jeff Sackman	....	the producers wish to thank
Jim Sternberg	....	the producers wish to thank
Mark Terry	....	thanks
Kirk Thompson	....	the producers wish to thank
Rae Thurston	....	the producers wish to thank
Marvin Waxman	....	the producers wish to thank (as Dr. Waxman)

Production Companies

• Ballpark Productions Partnership
• New North Productions
• Now Entertainment Group

Distributors

• Franchise Pictures (USA)
• ContentFilm International (2003) (worldwide) (all media) (sales agency)
• First Look International
• Now Entertainment Group
• Teleview International (2003) (Lebanon) (TV) (Middle East)

Other Companies

• Absolute Locations  special thanks
• Amherst Greenhouses  special thanks
• Arpix Media  special thanks
• Barb Swift Neg Cutting  negative cutting (as Barb Swift Neg-Cutting Inc.)
• Basket Tailor  special thanks (as Basket Tailors)
• Bullseye  picture editing
• C.L.A.S.S. Productions  special thanks (as CLASS Productions)
• CBC Archives  special thanks
• CFTPA  special thanks
• Canada Square  special thanks (as Canada Square Studios)
• Capitol Centre, North Bay, Ont.  thanks (Opening shot)
• City of Toronto, Ontario  special thanks (as City of Toronto)
• Comerica Bank of California  production financing
• David J. Woods Productions  special thanks (as David J. Woods)
• DeLuxe Toronto  adr facilities
• DeLuxe Toronto  post-production facilities
• Deluxe Post-Production  post-production facilities
• Dwight Crane Rentals  special thanks (as Dwight Crane)
• Emancass Computer Systems  special thanks (as Emancass)
• Entertainment Partners Canada  payroll services
• Eyes Post  video mastering
• Fawcett Motor Carriage  special thanks
• Film Finances Canada  completion bond provided by
• Film Opticals of Canada  titles and opticals
• Four Seasons Hotel, The  special thanks
• Gardiner Roberts  legal services (as Gardiner-Roberts)
• Gowlings  special thanks
• Hand Prop  props supplied by
• Heenan Blaikie  special thanks
• Hot 'N' Ready Craft Services  craft services
• Independent Film Financing Inc.  film financing
• Intersound  adr facilities
• Johnson Furniture Rental  special thanks
• Jones Brown Insurance  production insurance provided by
• Mayflower Studios  adr recording studio
• Mini-Tankers  special thanks (as Minitankers)
• Movie Armaments Group  firearms supplied by
• Oshawa Municipal Airport  special thanks (as Oshawa Airport)
• PS Production Services  grip and lighting equipment
• Panavision  camera equipment provided by
• Payless Travel  special thanks
• Rights Company, The  special thanks (as Rights Company)
• Scotiabank  banking services
• Scotiabank  special thanks
• Showtime Craft  craft services
• Somerville Car & Truck Rentals  special thanks (as Somerville Rentals)
• Sound Dogs Toronto  sound editing services
• Soundtrack New York  adr facilities
• Starlight Catering Ltd.  catering service (as Starlight Catering)
• Sutton Rentals  special thanks
• THINKFilm  special thanks
• Thunder Thighs Costumes Ltd.  special thanks (as Thunderthighs)
• Toronto Film and Television Office, The  special thanks
• Toronto Police  special thanks (as Toronto Police Services)
• Travel Network, The  special thanks (as Travel Network)
• University of Toronto  special thanks
• Winchester Films  special thanks
• Xerox  special thanks

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, language and drug content

Runtime:

Canada:89 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Argentina:89 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Argentina:13 | Canada:14A

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Ballpark Productions Partnership

Trivia:

The character Lindsay Marshall is based on the well-respected Canadian author Margaret Atwood. The first film adaption of one of her novels Surfacing (1981) had similar problems as the movie "Flight to Bogota" being made in this movie.

Quotes:

Lindsay Marshall:If God were Canadian, he would come down and destroy you and this production in a fiery apocalyptic rebuke!

Movie Connections:

References Wuthering Heights (1939)

Soundtrack:

Lovin' You Ain't Easy

Ripe subject, but lacklustre results

There's no doubt that the Canadian tax shelter filmmaking era could be satirized, but this movie doesn't support that. The movie doesn't really go into depth about the system - I suspect that many viewers (even Canadian) won't know anything about the era, and will be confused by some parts of the movie. (I was fortunate enough to know about the era and the Canadian film industry, so I was able to understand these parts.) Part of this can be blamed on the frequent hurried and rushed feeling of the movie - there is long narration at the beginning instead of showing us what the narrator tells us, for one thing. Movie has a poor sense of time - you never feel this is 1979, and at one point, snow starts falling in the area but later the events of the movie are happening in the late summer! What really sinks the movie are the portrayal of most of the characters. They are thin, but for the most part they are so goofy we can't believe what they do. The few characters that stay serious are good (John Neville does well as the past-his-prime director character), and we see that a movie that would have been more serious and done things that COULD and DID happen would be more engaging (and would probably be a lot more funny.) The movie is also hampered by a low budget that gives the movie a murky and dark look.

From the closing credits, it appears that the Canadian government (via the Telefilm Canada film funding agency) financed this movie. This movie is just one example of the millions of dollars Telefilm has spent in financing bad movies no one wants to see. What the Canadian industry really needs is a movie that will savagely attack Telefilm and its questionable practices.