Neverland (2003/I)

Director:

Damion Dietz

Writer:

Damion Dietz

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

Never grow up. Never grow old.

Plot Keywords:

Gay Interest | One Word Title | Peter Pan | Never Neverland | Pirate Costume

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Deborah Quayle	...	Mrs. Darling
Marcus Reynaga	...	Michael Darling
Wil Wheaton	...	John Darling
Melany Bell	...	Wendy Darling
David Jahn	...	Mr. Darling
Joey	...	Nana
Stephanie Kirchen	...	Liza (as Stephanie Orff)
Rick Sparks	...	Peter Pan
Kari Wahlgren	...	Tink
Ryan Patrick Kelly	...	Tootles
Ian Mantha	...	Slightly
Eli Swanson	...	Curly
Zac Cole	...	Nibs (as Zach Cole)
Tyler Kremer	...	Twin #1
Nathan Towry	...	Twin #2
Jake Winsryg	...	Tink's Kid
Gary Kelley	...	Hook
Scott Mechlowicz	...	Smee
Kevin Christy	...	Crocodile
Reed Prescott	...	Boyfriend
Ray Garcia	...	Tiger Lily
Monica Louwerens	...	Indian
Yayoi Ito	...	Indian
Karen Blake Challman	...	Indian Dancer
Roman Vasquez	...	Indian
Red Savage	...	Indian (as Samuel 'Red' Savage)
Al Bee	...	Indian
Saadia Billman	...	Mermaid
Elena Fabri	...	Mermaid
Jill Kocalis	...	Mermaid
Karim Imam	...	Cecco
Gilbert Aguilera	...	Starkey
Richard John Walters	...	Bill Jukes
Steven Reiswig	...	Cookson
Craig Jackman	...	Park Announcer

Directed by
Damion Dietz

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Damion Dietz

Produced by
Damion Dietz	....	producer
Stephanie Kirchen	....	producer (as Stephanie Orff)
Elyse Rogers	....	line producer

Original Music by
Jeffery Alan Jones

Cinematography by
Derek Dale

Film Editing by
Scott Baldyga

Costume Design by
Mary Kelly

Makeup Department
Cheri Law	....	assistant makeup artist
Oscar Loya	....	makeup artist
Chip Swalley	....	assistant makeup artist
Anne Wheaton	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Vince Filippone	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dave Jackson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Kenneth Bryson	....	set builder
Gary Dennis	....	set builder
Mary Ellen	....	set builder
Richard Kelloway	....	dressing prop
Adrian Start	....	paint supervisor
Nic Stubbings	....	dressing props: dailies
Gene Tewksbury	....	set builder

Sound Department
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer
Jeffery Alan Jones	....	sound designer
Jeffery Alan Jones	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeffery Alan Jones	....	supervising sound editor
Patrick Mattison	....	assistant sound editor
Patrick Mattison	....	boom operator
Scott Parker	....	assistant sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Scott Alcala	....	assistant camera
Saadia Billman	....	still photographer
Hollywood Heard	....	electrician
Hollywood Heard	....	grip
Shuji Kobayashi	....	still photographer
Terence Pratt	....	gaffer (as Terry Pratt)
Terence Pratt	....	still photographer (as Terry Pratt)
Darryl St. Juste	....	best boy
Darryl St. Juste	....	electrician
Darryl St. Juste	....	grip
Brad Wallace	....	assistant camera

Casting Department
Elena Fabri	....	casting assistant
Bowie Sims	....	casting assistant (as Joanna Sims)

Music Department
Pablo Mathiason	....	music supervisor
Elyse Rogers	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Michael McMullen	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Stephanie Anne	....	craft service
Scott Baldyga	....	script supervisor
Stephen Bealey	....	production assistant
Saadia Billman	....	unit publicist
Joe Constantino	....	production assistant
Kristin Cronin	....	production assistant
Alan Johnson	....	choreographer
Patrick Kirchen	....	courier
Kurt Koehler	....	production assistant
Mistress Simone	....	technical advisor

Production Companies

• New Media Entertainment LLC

Distributors

• Water Bearer Films (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Water Bearer Films (2004) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Alan Audio Works  sound post-production
• Carney & Delaney LLC  legal services
• Dubscape  post-production facilities
• Film Payment Services  payroll services
• Frantone's Bellflower  catering
• Future Image  photo reproduction
• Hollywood Digital  post-production facilities
• Hot Topic  additional costumes
• Jet Rag  additional costumes
• Pic  Indian costumes
• Picante, Pasadena  catering

Runtime:

USA:83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Bellflower, California, USA

Company:

New Media Entertainment LLC

Soundtrack:

Full Moon

grand experiment that falls flat

I agree with the other commentary on this movie. This movie is interesting in that it takes an otherwise "children's story" and sets in a hyper-reality, very much adult, setting. This allows the more adult aspects of the story to be explored. Adult issues such as drug abuse, sexual "norm" deviance, and avoidance of responsibility take center stage in this update.

While a grand experiment, this movie ultimately failed for me on several levels:

The cast of characters is far too large to allow for meaningful character development for ANY of the characters. The most prominent victims of this flaw are the lost boys. There are too many of them, and as such their decision to follow Wendy and leave Neverland seems more of a plot device than a real decision on their part, as is Peter's ultimate decision to return to Neverland alone.

The Darling kids' decision to leave their home in the first place home was another problematic issue for me. Sure, they try to explain it during Wendy's "story" to the Lost Boys in Tiger Lily's dressing room, but as is the case with literary writing, showing is always better than telling. And the short sequence with the parents in the beginning is not enough to show me the kids' rationale. Wendy telling it to me just didn't cut it.

And then there's the acting. Oh, the acting. "Bad acting" is being kind. It's a shame that an experiment of this caliber couldn't gain major funding and established actors, because the premise is fabulous. I find it very interesting that through most of the movie, the acting is horrendous from each member of the cast; however, the actors playing Wendy and Peter show their real chops during the last scene they play together. They both moved me incredibly during this final scene, and the fact that they were able to do so clearly demonstrates to me that the problem (at least for these two) was not the acting, it was the writing and direction. Both actors seem promising during this final scene, languishing in otherwise poor material. This movie felt like the writer began with the final scene and worked backward.

Overall, I love the premise. I related to Wendy's concern for the drug-addled man-boy refusing to grow up because, yeah, I've dated him, and she completely conveyed the frustration in trying to break through the haze and reach him intellectually. The DVD is watchable, although grainy in parts and particularly blurred during the pirate dungeon scene. Watchable once.