Camp (2003)

After a series of Broadway flops, songwriter Bert Hanley (Dixon) goes to work at a musical camp for young performers. Inspired by the kids, he finds an opportunity to regain success by staging an altogether new production.

Director:

Todd Graff

Writer:

Todd Graff

Stars:

Daniel Letterle, Joanna Chilcoat, Robin de Jesus

6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Daniel Letterle	...	Vlad Baumann
Joanna Chilcoat	...	Ellen Lucas
Robin de Jesus	...	Michael Flores
Steven Cutts	...	Shaun
Vince Rimoldi	...	Spitzer
Kahiry Bess	...	Petie
Tiffany Taylor	...	Jenna Malloran
Sasha Allen	...	Dee
Alana Allen	...	Jill Simmons
Anna Kendrick	...	Fritzi Wagner
Don Dixon	...	Bert
Robert Orosco	...	Emil
Stephen DiMenna	...	Glen
Omar Edwards	...	Alston
Camilla Millican Samuelson	...	Hillary

Storyline

Misfits in their lives back home, a group of young people live it up at musical-theater camp. While the sports counselor is completely ignored, the kids' spend all their time in rehearsal for a grueling schedule that involves a new show every two weeks. Several personal stories come to the fore. Is talented golden-boy Vlad honest in his feelings about Ellen? Can cross-dressing Michael have a relationship with his parents? Will one-hit-wonder musical playwrite and now camp counselor Bert Hanley remain mired in drink and cynicism? Fireworks are in store when Fritzi, who slavishly serves glamour girl Jill, is finally told to get a life, and the parents of Jenna, whose jaw has been wired shut in a compromise to avoid being sent to "fat camp", learn a valuable lesson at the summer's big end-of-season benefit.

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Plot Keywords:

musical theater | cynicism | sports counselor | summer | drink | 

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Taglines:

You can't fit in when you already stand out.

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements regarding teen sexual issues, and some language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

5 September 2003 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Anekplirotoi erotes

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£245,183 (UK) (5 September 2003)

Gross:

$1,628,154 (USA) (10 October 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

IFC Productions, Jersey Films, John Wells Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many of the musicians for the film were in the band for the Broadway musical "Rent".

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Goofs

While singing "The Ladies Who Lunch", Jill vomits several times onto the stage (we hear the splat when it hits the floor). After Fritzi replaces her (yanking her offstage from the wings), we see the stage and it's clean.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[scene opens on Dee, Shaun and Company singing "How Shall I See You Through My Tears"]
[as singing continues, scene shifts to Vlad in his bedroom]
Vlad: To all the critics out there, I know they're gonna review this, and I know they're gonna try to knock me - is it OK if I say this to the camera, Amber? - Okay. I only am who I am 'cause I was born that way. I have a gift, and I'm trying not to be selfish about it, but to use it. Okay? If you're gonna knock me for that, that's your problem....
[...]

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Connections

References Boogie Nights (1997)

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Soundtracks

"Imagining You"
Written by David Evans and Winnie Holzman
Published by David Evans Music (ASCAP) and Copyright Control
Performed by The Company
Courtesy of Jay Productions Ltd.

User Reviews

Thanks Todd Graff

Does Stephen Trask (HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH) ever write a note of bad music?

This is a wonderful movie. Admittedly, the pace is not perfection. But the music is great, the jokes are funny and most importantly it portrays a specific milieu. And movies that bring the audience into a milieu they might not know exists are almost always interesting. I've seen this movie once and I'll see it again.

Ignore the critics who want to tell you what the movie isn't and what it should be. They'll only keep you from enjoying a good movie. Todd Graff has something to say. This is his movie and it works. One magazine reviewer noted that the kids in this movie emerge as full-blown professionals. Well -- they are! Most of these kids have never done anything before. That's part of what is being said here. There's all this talent that no one has ever seen. There are kids who are this good. Todd Graff found them.