Bigger Than the Sky (2005)

Director:

Al Corley

Writer (WGA):

Rodney Patrick Vaccaro (written by)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Life has a role for everyone.

Plot:

After being dumped by his girlfriend, a man stuck in a deadend life decides to audition for a small...

Plot Keywords:

Bar | Funeral | Sword Fight | Portland Oregon | Love

Cast

Marcus Thomas	...	Peter Rooker / Cyrano
John Corbett	...	Michael Degan / Christian
Amy Smart	...	Grace Hargrove / Roxanne
Sean Astin	...	Ken Zorbell
Clare Higgins	...	Edwina Walters
Patty Duke	...	Mrs. Keene / Earlene
Allan Corduner	...	Kippy Newberg
J.W. Crawford	...	Kirk
Victor Morris	...	Steve
Brian Urspringer	...	Scott
Kenny Jones	...	Ted (as Kenneth Jones)
Orianna Herrman	...	Susan
Pam Mahon	...	Julie
Ernie Garrett	...	Paul Fisher
Matt Salinger	...	Mal Gunn
Nurmi Husa	...	David Nicolette
Greg Germann	...	Roger
Shea Curry	...	Mary Anne
Nicholas Forbes	...	Andrew
Michael Teufel	...	Male Sewer
Michael Mendelson	...	Actor
Al Corley	...	Guy in Line
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marsha Carlton	...	Actor
Francisco Diego Garcia	...	Actor
Stephanie Greig	...	Hot Girl at Bar
David Emerson Jackson	...	Extra (as David Jackson)
Mad Martian	...	Guy At Bar
Susan Moen	...	Actor
Mark Richert	...	Theater Audience
Barry Seltzer	...	The Sign Man
Megan Amram	...	Extra (uncredited)
Brandon Carmody	...	Rival Theater Actor (uncredited)
Eddie Eagle	...	The Stranger (uncredited)
Galen Flinn	...	Jim - Set Designer (uncredited)
Tommy Peters	...	Guy at funeral (uncredited)

Directed by
Al Corley

Writing credits (WGA)
Rodney Patrick Vaccaro		(written by) (as Rodney Vaccaro)

Produced by
David Arquette	....	producer
Craig Borden	....	producer
Mark Burton	....	producer
Jonathan Dana	....	executive producer
Kim Olsen	....	associate producer
Bart Rosenblatt	....	producer

Original Music by
Rob Cairns

Cinematography by
Carl Nilsson

Film Editing by
Axel Hubert

Production Design by
Stephen J. Lineweaver

Art Direction by
Mark Haack

Set Decoration by
Teresa Tamiyasu

Costume Design by
Julia Caston
Christina Mongini

Makeup Department
Terri Ewton	....	press junket: key hair stylist
Terri Ewton	....	press junket: key makeup artist
Eva Lohse	....	hair assistant
Eva Lohse	....	makeup assistant
Kelley Mitchell	....	key hair stylist
Kelley Mitchell	....	key makeup artist
Christine Steele-Smith	....	makeup artist
Jennifer Wills	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Beau J. Genot	....	post-production supervisor
Michael D. Jones	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Craig Borden	....	first assistant director
Jason Halley	....	second assistant director: second unit
Jason Halley	....	second second assistant director
Jill Hoppy	....	additional second assistant director
Aaron Walters	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Ken Erck	....	lead scenic artist
Betsy Goslin	....	property master
Ellen Lepinski	....	scenic artist
Ellen Lipinski	....	scenic artist
Don Lundell	....	construction coordinator
Nicholas Mariani	....	set dresser
Dan Schaefer	....	storyboard artist
Amanda Steen	....	on-set dresser
Amanda Steen	....	set dresser
Tim Swope	....	graphics
Teresa Tamiyasu	....	buyer
Harold 'Willy' Wilson	....	construction coordinator
Chris Pfeifer	....	props: graphics (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gary Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matthew T. Duncan	....	sound recordist
Paul Hackner	....	sound editor
Eddie Kim	....	sound editor
Matthew Nicolay	....	sound mixer
Jesse Nordhausen	....	boom operator
Vic Radulich	....	dialogue editor
Terry Rodman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard E. Yawn	....	supervising sound editor

Special Effects by
Jerry L. Buxbaum	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Chris Ervin	....	digital effects artist
Lanmana Parys	....	digital effects producer
Mike Uguccioni	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Jerry L. Buxbaum	....	stunt coordinator
Michael Marx	....	fencing master

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Best	....	best boy electric
Jonathon Bradley	....	gaffer
Ronald K. De torres	....	lighting console programmer
Jim Dunn	....	best boy grip
Jeff Ettlin	....	grip
Nate Goodman	....	camera loader
Matt Hall	....	electrician
Wes Houle	....	rigging gaffer
Brent Kellerman	....	electrician
Jason Keyes	....	electrician
Rick Lord	....	best boy electric
Dave Muskeni	....	electrician
John Nichols	....	grip
Daniel Pasley	....	grip
Rainy Rau	....	second assistant camera
Michael Shocklee	....	first assistant camera
Scott Spiker	....	still photographer
Joel Stirnkorb	....	key grip
Shawn Sundby	....	camera operator
Mark Tomlinson	....	grip
Joe Vitellaro	....	grip
James WilderHancock	....	dolly grip
James WilderHancock	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Megann Ratzow	....	casting: Portland
Megann Ratzow	....	extras casting
Laverne Springer	....	co-extras casting
Laverne Springer	....	key extras casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Layli Conway	....	wardrobe intern
Kami Gray	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Mato	....	color timer
Frank Pass	....	colorist

Music Department
Barklie K. Griggs	....	music supervisor
Dana Niu	....	orchestrator
Joe Privitelli	....	music editor
Jeff Vaughn	....	scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Lisa Espinoza	....	car driver
Steve Evans	....	driver
Bart Heimburger	....	transportation coordinator
Tommy Laughlin	....	driver
Brendan McKeon	....	driver: honeywagon
Greg McVey	....	driver
Robert Platt	....	driver
Tom Platt	....	driver
Joe Soleberg	....	driver
Bernard Szymanski	....	driver

Other crew
Emily Wallace Avent	....	chef assistant
David Barr	....	location assistant
Barry L. Caldwell	....	script supervisor
Steve Evans	....	production assistant
Thomas M. Gage	....	location assistant
Diana Hammons	....	office production assistant
Jennifer Hundis	....	assistant production coordinator
Karen Jo Irvin	....	executive assistant to producers
Kelly Jackson	....	craft service
Matt Jebbia	....	production assistant
Heather Jenkins	....	extras coordinator
Brian Lancaster	....	production intern
Rachel Lipsey	....	craft service
Kathleen Lopez	....	location manager
Chris Marriot	....	production intern
Ilana McAllister	....	accountant
Linda McGinnis	....	medic
Linda McGinnis	....	set medic
Jack Montague	....	production assistant
Matt Moody	....	production intern
Jordan Noce	....	production intern
R. Clifford Olson	....	intern
R. Clifford Olson	....	production intern (as Clifford Olson)
Sandy Parker	....	script supervisor
Dawnn Pavlonnis	....	production coordinator
Frederic Perrin	....	chef
Belle Suzanne Raymond	....	set intern
Collin Redmond	....	production intern
Jason Robertson	....	craft service
Margaret Santoro	....	production assistant
Darian Smith	....	assistant to director
Brian Walker	....	production intern

Thanks
Jonathan Bell	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Code Entertainment
• Coquette Productions
• Neverland Films

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Snapdragon Productions LLC

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some language and sexual references

Runtime:

USA:106 min | Argentina:106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #41290) | UK:PG | Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Portland, Oregon, USA

Company:

Code Entertainment

Quotes:

Kippy Newberg:You're on the stage, and there we're all Cyrano, all loving with no hope of true love in return; all Roxanne, loving an illusion of love; all Christian, loving with words that are not our own; all imperfect. Parading or imperfections, in spite of our fears, with one thought in mind: to play true to the end. To risk all, and to be left with only that which is most dear.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Hurt Locker (2008)

Soundtrack:

Downliner

"There is no 'I' in me..."

BIGGER THAN THE SKY has the feel of an Indie that was made out of a lot of love and commitment from all concerned. That's a good thing, but at the beginning of this little film the viewer questions whether or not the actors can make the story fly - and if you actually want to take the trip with them. But stick it out because a sound film well made rewards the hesitation. It is a 'little man finds his way' tale that makes good sense and provides good entertainment.

Peter Rooker (Marcus Thomas) is in a depressed slump after his girlfriend has dumped him. He is a 'cellophane man' computer artist, living the solitary life, noticed by no one, longing for a feeling of belonging. The place is Portland, Oregon. Peter notes the posting of auditions for a Portland Community Theater production of 'Cyrano de Bergerac' and slowly decides to attempt a moment of belonging by auditioning for the play: if he could just land a small part at least he'd belong.At the auditions he meets the warmly friendly theatrical group: Michael (John Corbett) who is a fine actor with no sense of future, Grace (Amy Smart) a pretty young sprite and competent trouper, director Edwina (Clare Higgins) who is a true theater person preferring to unmask the real Cyrano rather than hide him behind the infamous nose, sassy costumer Mrs. Keene (Patty Duke), and theater founder and adviser Kippy (Alan Corduner) who has retired from the theater due to his progressive cancer.

To everyone's surprise, especially Peter's, Peter lands the title role of Cyrano while Michael becomes Christian and Grace becomes Roxanne. Edwina's faith in the audition honesty of Peter has bolstered her own commitment to her dreams and she works with the cast to mold this very inexperienced (read lousy) actor into the tough role of Cyrano. Peter finds joy in the camaraderie of the actors, and for the first time in his life he becomes a social person. As the play is rehearsed Peter and Michael and Grace become a misguided trio - Peter does not understand the promiscuous life of the actors - and when Peter loses his job because of his increased involvement in the theater, he is informed that Edwina is forced to replace him with a seasoned actor Ken Zorbell (Sean Astin) at the 13th hour.

As good comedies go there are unexpected turns of events at every level of the remaining time until the opening night and the ending results in the personal growth of each of the actors and company. There are some well-drawn performances from John Corbett, Amy Smart, Clare Higgins, Patty Duke (in two roles), Alan Corduner, and ultimately Marcus Taylor (he is so convincingly an untrained actor at the beginning of the film that the audience will think he is wholly without talent!). Director Al Corley keeps the community theater magic alive and Rodney Patrick Vaccaro's script is sparkled by incidental quotes from Rostand's play. And to sum up the final product of the film in Cyrano's word, it has 'panache'. Not a great film, but a warm little story that examines the lonely lives of people who need the stage of a community theater to find themselves. Grady Harp