Gracie's Choice (2004) (TV)

Director:

Peter Werner

Writers (WGA):

Rena Dictor Le Blanc (based in part on "Reader's Digest" article)
Joyce Eliason (teleplay)

Release Date:

12 January 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A story of love

Plot:

A teenage girl tries to raise her three half-brothers and 1 half-sister on her own after their drug-addicted mother is sent to jail.

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Family Crisis | Responsibility | Coming Of Age | Funeral

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Kristen Bell	...	Gracie Thompson
Diane Ladd	...	Louela Lawson
Shedrack Anderson III	...	Tommy (as Shedrack Anderson)
Anne Heche	...	Rowena Lawson
Roberta Maxwell	...	Judge
Kristin Fairlie	...	Rose Carlton
Brian Akins	...	Ryan Walker
David Gibson McLean	...	Jonny Blicker (as David McLean)
Jack Armstrong	...	Robbie Locascio
Robert Seeliger	...	Ray
Sandra Caldwell	...	Mrs. Thurston
Diego Matamoros	...	Bob Bessey
Jackie Torrens	...	Sandy Jacobs
Roger Dunn	...	Paul Gottfredson
Cecil Wright	...	Mr. Hines
Jeremy Akerman	...	Judge Ira Donner
Michael Pellerin	...	Public Defender
Shaun Clark	...	Police Officer
Mark A. Owen	...	Officer #1 (as Mark Owen)
Desiree Adams	...	Karina (as Desirée Dawn Adams)
Gordon White	...	Ricky
Kyra Harper	...	Cat-woman
Wayne Best	...	English Teacher
Maria Syrgiannis	...	Deena
Jim Codrington	...	Stan
Hollis McLaren	...	Margaret
Gerry Quigley	...	Motel Manager
Guy Germain	...	Jock #1
Linda Busby	...	Waitress
Mark Graham	...	Minister
Andrew Airlie	...	Arlo Rasmussen
Stephen Coats	...	Principal
Gary Levert	...	Interviewing Cop
Christina Collins	...	Mrs. Dotson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ashley Briggs	...	High School Student
Tony Daniels	...	Various (voice) (uncredited)
John Paul Tremblay	...	Roland (uncredited)
Amanda Twohig	...	School Student (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Werner

Writing credits (WGA)
Rena Dictor Le Blanc		(based in part on "Reader's Digest" article) (as Rena Dictor LeBlanc)
Joyce Eliason		(teleplay)

Produced by
Ted Babcock	....	co-producer
Gilles Bélanger	....	line producer
Stephanie Germain	....	executive producer
Rena Dictor Le Blanc	....	co-producer (as Rena Dictor LeBlanc)
Mike Robe	....	executive producer
Marcia Rockwood	....	co-producer
Peter Sadowski	....	co-producer
Robert M. Sertner	....	executive producer
Randy Sutter	....	producer
Frank von Zerneck	....	executive producer
Peter Werner	....	co-executive producer

Original Music by
Richard Marvin

Cinematography by
Neil Roach		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Martin Nicholson

Production Design by
Peter Cosco

Set Decoration by
Robert Grani		(as Bob Grani)

Costume Design by
Jeanie Kimber

Makeup Department
Paulette Cable	....	co-key hair stylist
Gloria Digdon	....	co-key hair stylist
Cathy O'Connell	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Karla Morash	....	production manager
Karen Mayeda Vranek	....	post-production supervisor (as Karen Mayeda-Vranek)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard O'Brien-Moran	....	first assistant director (as Richard O'Brien Moran)
Kevin Thomson	....	second assistant director
John Shurko	....	trainee assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Teresita Doucet	....	property master
Richard Fraser	....	construction coordinator
Tony Owen	....	key scenic
Darren Howse	....	second assistant art director (uncredited)
Mary Louise McCloskey	....	on-set dresser (uncredited)
Judy-Ann Obersi	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Jason Shurko	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Shawn Snip	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert L. Harman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Allen Hurd	....	re-recording recordist
Doug Johnston	....	sound mixer
Dean Okrand	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Webber	....	sound supervisor (as Rob Weber)
Burton Weinstein	....	sound supervisor (as Burt Weinstein)
Bob Costanza	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Don Ellis	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Tommy Goodwin	....	foley mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Gary Coates	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Randy Boliver	....	stunt coordinator
Colleen Pace	....	stunt actress

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert J. Petrie	....	gaffer (as Bob Petrie)
Ross Sangster	....	key grip
Forbes MacDonald	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Raphael MacKenzie	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)
Michael P. Mason	....	daily grip (uncredited)
Eddy McInnis	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Brooke Palmer	....	still photographer (uncredited)
James Thibodeau	....	best boy (uncredited)
Rob Turner	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Susan Glicksman	....	casting: Los Angeles
Sheila Lane	....	casting: Halifax
Coral Legault	....	casting: Toronto
Alex Wald	....	casting: Los Angeles
Clare Walker	....	casting: Toronto
Elisha Gruer	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Denise Barrett	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited)
Victoria Rockwell	....	costume extras coordinator (uncredited)
Lawrence Willett	....	costume assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Tricia Fass	....	assistant editor (as Tricia Holly Fass)

Music Department
Terri Fricon	....	music supervisor
Tom Villano	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Emmanuel 'Manny' Taylor	....	transportation coordinator (as Emmanuel Taylor)
Tom Carew	....	driver: cast (uncredited)

Other crew
William Flower	....	animal wrangler
Joanne Hagen	....	script supervisor
Shauna Hatt	....	production coordinator
David Hyslop	....	location manager
Sheila Woodley	....	production accountant
Heather Macdonald	....	accounting clerk (uncredited)
Nancy Mouton	....	assistant to executive producers Robert M. Sertner and Frank von Zerneck (uncredited )
Mike Snider	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Joanne Wells	....	coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Mike Robe Productions
• Nova Scotia Film Industry Tax Credit (produced with the assistance of) (as the Nova Scotia Film Industry Tax Credit)
• Stephanie Germain Productions
• Von Zerneck Sertner Films (as von Zerneck - Sertner Films)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures
• Lifetime Television (2004) (USA) (TV)
• Lifetime Television (USA) (TV)

Special Effects

• Special Effects Atlantic (uncredited)

Other Companies

• Echo Sound Services  post-production sound by
• Encore  post-production services
• Frank & Bob Films II  author: Berne Convention
• Hand Prop  props supplied by (uncredited)
• J.R. Post  negative cutting (as JR Post)
• Panavision  camera systems by
• Toybox  dailies
• VZS: Halifax Pictures No.4  production services provided by (as VZS: Halifax Pictures No.4, Inc., A Bulloch Capital Corporation Company)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:TV-PG | Australia:M (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Company:

Mike Robe Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene at the house where the family meets after the grandmother's funeral, Gracie pulls a cigarette out of Rose's hand as they watch their mother play with their brothers. In the following scene showing the mother playing with the brothers, Rose has the cigarette back in her hand. The scene flashes back to Rose and Gracie, where Rose is now holding Gracie's hand with the hand she was holding the cigarette.

Quotes:

Gracie Thompson:C'mon boys, the judge only gave us five minutes to come up with a last name.
Ryan Walker:Hey, how about,
[sounding it out]
Ryan Walker:W-Wea-ther-ly? Because we've been through bad weather.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2004) (TV)

Wow! What an inspirational story!

I first saw this movie on the Lifetime Television network after hearing some good reviews and seeing previews. The plot follows Gracie(Kristen Bell), a 17 year old girl who deals with trying to keep her brothers from being taken away from her and put into foster homes due to her drug-addicted and often absent mother Rowena(Anne Heche). With stunning performances from both Bell and Heche as the daughter and mother duo the film has real edge. With the supporting cast including Diane Ladd, this television movie surpasses the stereotypes of a typical movie-of-the-week. I strongly recommend this movie to anyone who wants to be inspired by a true story set to the screen.