Childstar (2004)

Taylor Brandon Burns, a conflicted twelve-year-old TV star from the U.S., runs away from the set - and his problems - while shooting a big-budget film in Canada. His reluctant limo-driver, ... See full summary »

Director:

Don McKellar

Writers:

Michael Goldbach, Don McKellar

Stars:

Don McKellar, Peter Paige, Gil Bellows

6 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Don McKellar	...	Rick
Peter Paige	...	Tim
Gil Bellows	...	Isaac
Victoria Fodor	...	Enthusiastic Agent
Patrick Garrow	...	P.R. Agent
Alan Thicke	...	J.R.
Mark Rendall	...	Taylor Brandon Burns
Pamela Redfern	...	Stewardess (as Pam Redfern)
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Suzanne
Danielle Miller	...	Fangirl
Michael Murphy	...	Reed Harrison
Brendan Fehr	...	Chip Metzger
Noam Jenkins	...	Sydney Mehta
Jeanie Calleja	...	Jane - 3rd A.D.
Dave Foley	...	Philip Templeman

Storyline

Taylor Brandon Burns, a conflicted twelve-year-old TV star from the U.S., runs away from the set - and his problems - while shooting a big-budget film in Canada. His reluctant limo-driver, Rick Schiller, a down-on-his-luck indie filmmaker, is enlisted to find Taylor before the childstar destroys himself.

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Plot Keywords:

film within a film | mother son relationship | teenage boy | underage drinking | child actor

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Taglines:

When you're only famous for fifteen minutes, every second counts.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

TVA Films [ca]

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 June 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

L'enfant prodige

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 5,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rhombus Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 100 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie's producer, Niv Fichman, can be seen sitting in the audience towards the end of the movie, right after Taylor says to Rick, "Your introduction is longer than your film." He is sitting on the left.

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Goofs

When Fresno and his band are rehearsing, we hear a vibraphone in the background. Assuming the keyboard player is using a synthesizer, playing that sound (which is unlikely since the keyboard looks more like a Fender Rhodes electric piano, which produces quite a different sound), his hand and finger movements don't match the vibraphone notes that we hear.

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Quotes

[Natalie and Taylor have snuck onto the White House set to have sex]
Taylor Brandon Burns: So where do you want to do it? The Oval Office, The Greenroom, the Lincoln Bedroom ?
Natalie: It's your fantasy; I'm Canadian.

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Crazy Credits

The audio from the film (called "The First Son") that they are making within this movie plays over the end credits.

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Connections

Spoofs Diff'rent Strokes (1978)

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Soundtracks

"Kung Fu Fighting"
Written by Carl Douglas (CEMA)
Published by Schacht Music, Inc. (ASCAP)

User Reviews

genius

THis movie was comic genius, and is my favorite Canadian movie ever, Finally someone has made a film that manages to be thoughtful and funny at the same time. All of my friends loved it too, though some of them thought the ending was a bit incomplete. I disagree! It was fun, and touching, and never schlocky or stupid. And Don McKellar is hilarious! In fact, most of the actors were great, including the young boy (I forget his name) who plays the kid. I guess, as a Canadian, the film makes more sense. I hope Don Mckellar keeps making strange films like this and Last Night (his first one) because no one else is doing anything this interesting AND accessible, with the possible exception of Guy Maddin's last movie.