Connie and Carla (2004)

Director:

Michael Lembeck

Writer (WGA):

Nia Vardalos (written by)

Release Date:

16 April 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Music

Tagline:

When you follow your dream, there's no telling what you'll become.

Plot:

A mob mix-up in Chicago sends two chanteuses screaming for L.A., where they score a perfect gig: posing as drag queens on the dinner theater/cabaret circuit. Things get extra-weird when a guy falls for one of the girls.

Plot Keywords:

Drag Queen | Mafia | Murder | Friendship | Box Office Flop

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Nia Vardalos	...	Connie
Toni Collette	...	Carla
David Duchovny	...	Jeff
Stephen Spinella	...	Robert / Peaches
Alec Mapa	...	Lee / N'Cream
Chris Logan	...	Brian / Brianna (as Christopher Logan)
Robert Kaiser	...	Paul
Ian Gomez	...	Stanley
Nick Sandow	...	Al
Dash Mihok	...	Mikey
Robert John Burke	...	Rudy
Boris McGiver	...	Tibor
Don Ackerman	...	Super Fey Guy
Debbie Reynolds	...	Herself (Special Appearance)
Veena Sood	...	Mrs. Morse
Babs Chula	...	Carla's Mom (as Babz Chula)
Linda Darlow	...	Connie's Mom
Charles Payne	...	Hollywood Policeman
Michael Roberds	...	Frank
Guy Fauchon	...	Another Super Fey Guy
Gary Jones	...	Bartender
Fiona Hogan	...	Natasha
Ryf Van Rij	...	Cute Guy
Adam Harrington	...	Cute Guy
D. Neil Mark	...	Crooked Cop
Krista Rae	...	Mary
Brittney Wilson	...	Young Carla
Danielle Woodman	...	Young Connie
Kristi Angus	...	Woman in Crowd
Douglas Baird	...	Cameraman
Nicola Crosbie	...	Reporter
Fred Keating	...	Man in Airport
Bart Anderson	...	Man in Airport
June B. Wilde	...	Woman in Airport
Paddy Ma	...	Groove Thing Queen
Jay Williams	...	Groove Thing Queen
Todd Oberg	...	Groove Thing Queen
Kristina Copeland	...	Botox Woman
Chelah Horsdal	...	Botox's Friend
Carl McDonald	...	Dressing Room Guy
Elaine Kliner	...	Snoring Woman in Airport
Douglas McLeod	...	Bass Player
Stephen Cottrill	...	Guitar Player
Lloyd Nicholson	...	Pianist
Gordon Roberts	...	Drummer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Greg Grunberg	...	Studio Tour Guide

Directed by
Michael Lembeck

Writing credits (WGA)
Nia Vardalos		(written by)

Produced by
Gary Barber	....	producer
Roger Birnbaum	....	producer
Warren Carr	....	co-producer
Warren Carr	....	line producer
Jonathan Glickman	....	producer
Tom Hanks	....	producer
Peter Safran	....	executive producer
Stephanie Striegel	....	associate producer
Nia Vardalos	....	executive producer
Rita Wilson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Randy Edelman

Cinematography by
Richard Greatrex

Film Editing by
David Finfer

Casting by
Susan Taylor Brouse
Lynne Carrow
Kathy Driscoll
Francine Maisler

Production Design by
Jasna Stefanovic

Art Direction by
Geoff Wallace

Set Decoration by
Dominique Fauquet-Lemaitre

Costume Design by
Ruth Myers

Makeup Department
Donna Bis	....	hair stylist
Rebeccah Delchambre	....	assistant makeup artist
Dena Green	....	hair stylist: Mr. Duchovny (as Dena Greene)
Lise Kuhr	....	assistant makeup artist
Tamar Ouziel	....	assistant makeup artist
Connie Parker	....	makeup artist
Christopher Mark Pinhey	....	assistant makeup artist (as Christopher Pinhey)
Charles Porlier	....	makeup artist
Jessica Rain	....	assistant hair stylist
Dean Scheck	....	assistant hair stylist
Pauline L. Tremblay	....	hair stylist (as Pauline Tremblay)
Sydney Silvert	....	personal makeup artist: Debbie Reynolds (uncredited)

Production Management
Warren Carr	....	unit production manager
David Hyman	....	production supervisor: Los Angeles
Drew Locke	....	unit manager
Lisa Rodgers	....	post production executive (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hans Berggren	....	second second assistant director: Los Angeles
Bruce Franklin	....	first assistant director
Conte Matal	....	second assistant director: Los Angeles
Lori K. Peterson	....	second second assistant director
Michael Pohorly	....	third assistant director
Cindy Smith	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Tom Baleshta	....	assistant property master
Derek Del Puppo	....	construction coordinator
Jennifer Donaldson	....	set designer
Jacqui Dudeck	....	art department assistant
Tyler Bishop Harron	....	assistant art director
Scott Holburn	....	set dresser
Karen Mullen	....	key props buyer
Mario Tomas-Niedworok	....	paint coordinator

Sound Department
Scott Aitken	....	second boom operator
Scott Aitken	....	sound assistant
Randle Akerson	....	supervising sound editor
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer
Darren Brisker	....	production sound mixer
Valerie Davidson	....	foley supervisor
Matthew P. Hanson	....	assistant sound editor
Doc Kane	....	adr mixer
Val Kuklowsky	....	dialogue editor
Ken Lee	....	additional sound assistant
F. Hudson Miller	....	sound effects editor
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
Terry Porter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert L. Sephton	....	supervising sound editor
Adam Sharpe	....	adr mixer
Dean A. Zupancic	....	sound re-recording mixer
Christopher Flick	....	foley editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Barry Hebein	....	special effects first assistant
Tony Lazarowich	....	special effects supervisor
John Reynolds	....	special effects technician
John Sleep	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Akemi Abe	....	main titles
Ryan Beadle	....	digital I/O
Shaina Holmes	....	digital compositor
Lori C. Miller	....	digital compositor
Laurie Powers	....	digital supervisor
Amani Williams	....	digital compositor

Stunts
James Bamford	....	stunt double
Marny Eng	....	stunt coordinator
Marc C. Geschwind	....	stunt driver
Sharon Simms	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Monty Black	....	electrician
Chris Cochrane	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Sacha Fassaert	....	assistant camera: "c" camera
Ian Guns	....	crane operator: Technocrane
Dermot Hickey	....	focus puller
James L. Hurford	....	key grip
David Kurvers	....	digital video assist operator
Micah Llewellyn-Dance	....	remote head technician
Stephen J. McKnight	....	second assistant camera
Gary Stamford	....	lamp operator
Robert Stecko	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Daniel Volonino	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Richard Walden	....	additional camera operator
Richard Walden	....	camera operator

Casting Department
Andrea Brown	....	extras casting director
Melissa Perry	....	casting assistant
Michele Short	....	casting associate
Pamela Lynn Thomas	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Petra Bergholz	....	seamstress
Sandra J. Blackie	....	costume coordinator
Nancy Collini	....	costumer: Mr. Duchovny
Tina-Jane Krohn	....	costumer
Jessica Lythgoe-Green	....	costumer
William McPhail	....	costume supervisor
Patricia Peppard	....	costumer
Kurtis Reeves	....	costume set supervisor

Editorial Department
Cheryl Buckman	....	assistant editor
Elizabeth Dean	....	post-production coordinator (as Elizabeth Dionne)
Lara Johnston	....	first assistant editor: avid
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer
Dennis Newman	....	first assistant editor: film
Scott Wesley Ross	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Elton Ahi	....	scoring mixer
Stuart Balcomb	....	orchestrator
Paul Bogaev	....	music supervisor
Tim Boot	....	music editor
Tim Boot	....	music playback supervisor
Ralph Ferraro	....	orchestrator
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Charles Martin Inouye	....	supervising music editor
Eric Vetro	....	vocal coach: Ms. Vardalos
Paul Kegg	....	musician: cello (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Walter DeForest	....	driver: crew car
Rod Patten	....	transportation coordinator
Will Sickles	....	lead picture car mechanic

Other crew
Akemi Abe	....	main title
Harrison Beal	....	assistant choreographer
J.B. Benna	....	production assistant
Shawn Booth	....	production assistant
Kim Buttlar	....	executive coordinator: Mr. Barber
John Cefalu	....	location manager
Terence Chase	....	security
Jeffrey Chernov	....	production executive
Gloria Davies	....	unit publicist
Ric De Groot	....	first assistant accountant
Andrzej Dec-Williams	....	key set production assistant (as Andrzej Dec)
Kristen Dick	....	assistant: Mr. Lembeck
Ian Doig	....	animal trainer
Marc C. Geschwind	....	extras coordinator
Darren Giblin	....	office production assistant
Catherine Gordon	....	assistant accountant
Brandon Hollyer	....	post-production accountant
Ken Hovgaard	....	location scout
Jared Howitt	....	second assistant production coordinator
Lisa Joy	....	assistant: Mr. Lembeck
Peter Klassen	....	assistant location manager
Eric Knight	....	assistant: Mr. Duchovny
Ashley Kravitz	....	script clearance
Laura Livingstone	....	assistant production coordinator
Natalia Lusinski	....	assistant: Ms. Vardalos
Grace MacLeod	....	cat trainer
Barbara Mercer	....	lead payroll accountant
Robert Milicevic	....	security
Tim Moshansky	....	location scout
Nancy Needham	....	assistant: Ms. Collette
Cynthia Onrubia	....	choreographer
Ann Partrich	....	assistant: Ms. Vardalos
Benjamin R. Reder	....	production legal counsel
Michael Roberts	....	production accountant
Jennifer Roe Emery	....	production coordinator
Benjamin Salka	....	assistant: Mr. Glickman
Gail Simpson	....	stand-in
Julie Slater	....	locations: preparation
J. Amelia Taggart	....	assistant: Mr. Carr (as Jodie Taggart)
Marlena Thomas	....	executive coordinator: Mr. Birnbaum
Kendrie Upton	....	location manager
Cristina Weigmann	....	script supervisor
Kirk Worley	....	assistant location manager

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (presents)
• Spyglass Entertainment (presents)
• CCLA Productions
• Epsilon Motion Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Studios (2004) (worldwide) (all media)
• Universal Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Independent Films (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Medusa Distribuzione (2005) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Rialto Film AG (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Solar Films (2004) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Village Films (Greece) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• PlazaVista Entertainment (2005) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Argentina) (all media)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2005) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Custom Film Effects (digital optical effects)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Epic Records  soundtrack
• Sony Music Soundtrax  soundtrack
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual humor and drug references

Runtime:

USA:98 min | Argentina:98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L (original rating) | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Malaysia:18SX | South Korea:15 | Australia:PG | Brazil:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 | Netherlands:MG6 | Finland:K-7 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

When Connie and Carla are introduced at the auditions as Al and Mikey, Stanley says that they come from Winnipeg. Nia Vardalos is from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Goofs:

Continuity: When they are doing the Evita number, the positions of their arms repeatedly change between shots.

Quotes:

Carla:Maybe we're having a delayed reaction to the trauma of being shot at like those guys in 'Nam.
Connie:You can say 'Name Carla. You weren't in 'Nam. You have to call in Vietnam.
Carla:Shut up Connie! I can call it what I want!

Movie Connections:

References Yentl (1983)

Soundtrack:

What I Did for Love

Maximum Silliness, But Still Fun

First things first: this is a very silly movie with a cardboard plot, hackneyed characters, and some atrocious dialog. BUT - nobody goes to see a movie like this for its iconic "film" moments. You go because it looks utterly ridiculous and you're in the mood for just that sort of fluff. On that basis, the movie delivers a lot of entertainment - many out-loud laughs and a variety of entertaining songs.

Toni Collette's talent reservoir seems bottomless - she can act, sing AND dance. Nia Vardalos also sings sufficiently well, and her easy, comic manner nicely leavens the somewhat hysterical character played by Collette. Together, the actresses are genuinely entertaining as they work their way through the list of Broadway standards. David Duchovny, in a role that could have been painful to watch in less competent hands, instead brings an unusually light and friendly touch to the role of Vardalos's love interest (Aside: where's he been? He's cuter than he's ever been in his life - stop languishing at home with Tea and Madelaine!).

Yes, the ending is silly; pay attention - I already said the whole movie is silly. But did I laugh loudly several times? Yup. Hysterically a couple of times? Uh-huh. Did I enjoy the musical numbers? Definitely. Will I ever feel the same way about the song "Mame" again? Not hardly. Did I get my money's worth? You betcha!