What the #$*! Do We (K)now!? (2004)

Directors:

William Arntz
Betsy Chasse
(more)

Writers:

William Arntz (written by)
Betsy Chasse (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

27 November 2004 (Japan)

Genre:

Documentary | Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

a quantum fable

Plot:

"WHAT THE #$*! DO WE KNOW?!" is a radical departure from convention. It demands a freedom of view and greatness of thought so far unknown...

Plot Keywords:

Photographer | Science | Part Animated | Mistaken Assumption | Hangover

Cast

Marlee Matlin	...	Lead
Elaine Hendrix	...	Jennifer
John Ross Bowie	...	Elliot
Robert Bailey Jr.	...	Reggie
Barry Newman	...	Frank
Larry Brandenburg	...	Bruno
Daniela Serra	...	Bride
James Langston Drake	...	Groom (as Jame Drake)
Michele Mariana	...	Tour Guide (as Michelle Mariana)
Armin Shimerman	...	Older Man (in subway)
Robert Blanche	...	Bob
Pavel Mikoloski	...	Priest
Alex Rogers	...	Guy #1
Tin Tran	...	Guy #2
Leslie Taylor	...	Bridesmaid
Sherilyn Lawson	...	Bridesmaid
Mercedes Rose	...	Bridesmaid
Joelle Anthony	...	Bridesmaid
Dawnn Pavlonnis	...	Bridesmaid (as Dawnn Pavlonis)
Danny Bruno	...	Caterer
Josh Santos	...	Best Man
Kerensa Gimre	...	Kid
Heather Robertson	...	Bridesmaid
Patti Collins	...	Mother Of The Bride
Tammy Mischke	...	Chick
Justin Canfield	...	DJ
Gordon Grobelny	...	Guitar Player
Brent Pendleton	...	Conga Player
Jonathan Cammon	...	Player
Val Landrum	...	Ticket Sales Girl
Kyle Lunde	...	Bartender
Gloria Manon	...	(voice)
Robert McKeehen	...	(voice)
Eric Newsome	...	Various Character Voices (voice)
Kirk Thornton	...	Various Character Voices (voice) (as Kirk Thorton)
Michelle Ruff	...	Various Character Voices (voice)
Lia Sargent	...	Various Character Voices (voice)
Michael Sorich	...	Various Character Voices (voice)
Steve Blum	...	Various Character Voices (voice) (as Steven Jay Blum)
Tom Fahn	...	Various Character Voices (voice)
Allison Gottfried	...	(voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Albert	...	Himself (as David Albert PhD)
Joseph Dispenza	...	Himself (as Dr. Joe Dispenza DC)
Amit Goswami	...	Himself (as Amit Goswami PhD)
John Hagelin	...	Himself (as John Hagelin PhD)
Stuart Hameroff	...	Himself (as Stuart Hameroff MD)
J.Z. Knight	...	Ramtha (as Ramtha)
Miceal Ledwith	...	Himself (as Dr. Miceal Ledwith)
Daniel Monti	...	Himself (as Daniel Monti MD)
Andrew Newberg	...	Himself (as Andrew B. Newberg MD)
Candace Pert	...	Herself (as Candace Pert PhD)
Jeffrey Satinover	...	Himself (as Jeffrey Satinover MD MS)
William Tiller	...	Himself (as William Tiller PhD)
Fred Alan Wolf	...	Himself (as Fred Alan Wolf PhD)
Marsha Clark	...	Various Character Voices (voice) (uncredited)
William Joseph Elk III	...	Shaman (uncredited)
Evan Jacobs	...	Priest in flashback (uncredited)
Jeff S. Dodge	...	Extra (on train) (uncredited)
Carol Stanzione	...	Various Character Voices (voice) (uncredited)
Casper Van Dien	...	Romantic Moritz (uncredited)
Tara Walker	...	Girl at Train Station (uncredited)

Directed by
William Arntz
Betsy Chasse
Mark Vicente

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
William Arntz		written by
Betsy Chasse		written by
Matthew Hoffman		written by
Mark Vicente		written by

Produced by
Scott Altomare	....	line producer
William Arntz	....	producer
Betsy Chasse	....	producer
Mark Vicente	....	producer
Straw Weisman	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Christopher Franke

Cinematography by
David Bridges		(director of photography)
Mark Vicente		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jonathan P. Shaw		(as Jonathon Shaw)

Casting by
Valerie McCaffrey
Danny Stoltz

Production Design by
Nava

Costume Design by
Ronald Leamon

Makeup Department
E. Larry Day	....	hair department head
E. Larry Day	....	makeup department head
Amanda Williams	....	department head hair

Production Management
Stephen McDaniel	....	production manager
Straw Weisman	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Craig Borden	....	first assistant director
Todd Guzze	....	second second assistant director
Eugene Mazzola	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Greg McMickle	....	assistant property master
Shandy Ray	....	assistant set decorator

Sound Department
Nathan Atkins	....	assistant adr recordist
Nathan Atkins	....	foley artist
Karma Barber	....	adr mixer
Karma Barber	....	foley artist
Jason England	....	dialogue editor
Stanley Kastner	....	sound re-recording mixer
Donald Lyles	....	sound re-recording mixer
Donald Lyles	....	sound recordist
Shannon Potter	....	sound recordist
Vic Radulich	....	sound editor
Edgar Rothermich	....	sound recordist
John Rotondi	....	chief engineer
Clancy T. Troutman	....	supervising sound editor (as Clancy Troutman)
Scott Westley	....	sound editor
Austin Storms	....	sound mixer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Mark Benard	....	visual effects producer
Barb Benoit	....	digital compositor
Dennis Berardi	....	visual effects producer: Mr. X Inc.
David M. Blum	....	visual effects supervisor
Jose Burgos	....	visual effects
Sharlto Copley	....	visual effects producer
Rob Del Ciancio	....	digital compositor
Bonnie Dickson	....	tape operator: Mr. X Inc.
Matthew Esterhuizen	....	digital artist
Kevin Genzel	....	digital compositor
Marc Greyvenstein	....	digital artist
Heather Grieve	....	office administrator
Simon Hansen	....	visual effects producer
Evan Jacobs	....	visual effects supervisor
Denny Kurien	....	animator
Mike Leben	....	motion control operator (as Mike Lebone)
Jef Lonn	....	digital compositor
Ali Maleka	....	digital artist
Matt McFarland	....	digital imaging supervisor
Mark Meloche	....	digital compositor
Diane Miller	....	visual effects coordinator (as Diane Evangelista Miller)
Douglas Miller	....	digital effects supervisor
Andrew Nguyen	....	compositor
Mark Palowich	....	animation supervisor
Chris Paxson	....	motion control technician
Vladimir Popovic	....	systems administrator
Julian Potgieter	....	digital compositor
Darcy Reno	....	senior systems administrator (as Darcy Bangsund)
Eric J. Robertson	....	visual effects producer
Andy Robinson	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Andy Robinson	....	digital compositor
Michael Stewart	....	digital compositor: Lost Boys Studios
Andre Van Der Merwe	....	visual effects producer
Aaron Weintraub	....	compositing supervisor
Steve Wittmann	....	3D animator

Stunts
Steve Buckley	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Matt Barbee	....	additional assistant camera
Mike Booth	....	grip: California
Melani C. Brown	....	film loader (as Melani Brown)
Noal Clemons	....	electrician (as Noal Clemmons)
Frank DiMarco	....	photographer: black and white photography
Frank DiMarco	....	still photographer
Russ Eaton	....	lighting director
Frank Engel	....	photographer: black and white photography
Brian Fleskes	....	grip
Brian Fuller	....	second assistant camera
Nate Goodman	....	videographer
Mike Hanauska	....	grip
Marc Hazewinkel	....	still photographer
Josh Hicks	....	electrician
Steve Hubert	....	electrician
David R. Kohn	....	electrician (as David Kohn)
Brent Lawson	....	best boy grip
Brian C. Lawson	....	dolly grip
Stuart T. Lillas	....	first assistant camera (as Stuart Lillis)
Richard Mauro	....	gaffer
Matthew May	....	electrician (as Matt May)
Stephen Purcell	....	electrician (as Stephen Purcel)
Scott Richmond	....	best boy electric
Greg Schmitt	....	grip (as Greg Schmidt)
Chris Steele	....	electrician
Joel Stirnkorb	....	key grip
Shawn Sundby	....	grip (as Shawn Sunby)
Mark Vicente	....	photographer: black and white photography
Aiken Weiss	....	camera operator
James WilderHancock	....	grip (as James 'Junior' Wilder Hancock)

Animation Department
Steve Wittmann	....	animator

Casting Department
Sally Gates	....	extras casting
Danny Stoltz	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marienne O'Brien	....	set costumer
Gerard Parr	....	costume department coordinator

Editorial Department
Evans Butterworth	....	post-production executive
Brian J. Cavanaugh	....	additional editor (as Brian Cavanaugh)
Jason Henderson	....	additional assistant editor
Greg Podunovich	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Tim Bomba	....	music supervisor
Brent Pendleton	....	composer: additional music
Edgar Rothermich	....	music producer
Brian Schvartz	....	music editor
Jeff Tropeano	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Nick Edgerton	....	star driver (as Nicholas Edgerton)
Larry Gudgel	....	driver: honeywagon
Philip Krysl	....	driver
David Norris	....	transportation coordinator
Eric Solmonson	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Janet Anneman	....	script supervisor
Linda Bloom-Hedine	....	studio teacher (as Linda Bloom)
Scott Challgren	....	outreach
Hannah Childs	....	stand-in: Marlee Matlin
Mike Colemna	....	office assistant
Christopher J. Corabi	....	production legal (as Christopher Corabi)
Jonathan Dana	....	producer's representative
Julianna Darling	....	sacred mom
Victoria Dreyer	....	assistant accountant
Stephen Finders	....	assistant location manager
Michael Fine	....	set medic
Sam Gros	....	set medic
Gail Heinzman	....	corporate accountant
Melissa Henderson	....	marketing
Robin Lane	....	choreographer
Gary Laurent	....	set medic
Pavel Mikoloski	....	marketing
Adam Palmer	....	production coordinator
Scott Schmidt	....	set medic
Crystal Shade	....	body double (as Crystal Rasmussen)
Laura Stride	....	location manager
Kerby L. Verley	....	set medic (as Kerby Verley)
Aaron Walrod	....	accountant

Production Companies

• Captured Light
• Lord of the Wind

Distributors

• Samuel Goldwyn Films (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Roadside Attractions (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Cinemien (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Comart Films (2006) (South Africa) (theatrical)
• Einhorn-Film (2006) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Filmhouse (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Hopscotch Productions (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Medula Films (2007) (France) (theatrical)
• Pachamama Cine (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2007) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Boeddhistische Omroep Stichting (2008) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Filmtrade (2005) (Greece) (all media)
• Gaia Films (2006) (Italy) (all media)
• Homescreen (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Icelandic Film (2005) (Iceland) (all media)
• Isaan Entertainment (2005) (Spain) (all media)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Propeller Communications (2005) (Germany) (all media)

Special Effects

• Atomic Visual Effects
• Lost Boys Studios
• Mr. X

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies

Also Known As:

What the Bleep Do We Know!? (International: English title) (informal title) (USA)
Sacred Science (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

109 min | Germany:113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

German | English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:12 (video rating) (2005) | UK:12A (original rating) | Brazil:14 | Singapore:NC-16 | Germany:o.Al. | Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Canada:14A (Alberta/Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:AL | USA:Unrated (not rated) | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Captured Light

Trivia:

The movie that Amanda is watching is _Chasing Destiny (2001)_, which was originally called "Romantic Moritz" as shown on the marquee.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the wedding, Elliot hands over a drink to Amanda. She accidentally blows off the yellow mini-umbrella of her drink. Elliot licks the stick of his pink mini-umbrella and puts it in Amanda's drink. The next scene shows Amanda still has the yellow mini-umbrella on her drink, and Elliot still has his pink mini-umbrella on his drink. Although, in a film about how perception effects reality...maybe the umbrella was blue!

Quotes:

Fred Alan Wolf: What I thought was unreal, now for me... seems in some ways to be more real than what I think to be real... which seems now more to be unreal.

Movie Connections:

References Chasing Destiny (2001) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Forgiveness

How Do We Know What We Know?

I was not surprised to see many of the comments here about this film calling into question everything about it's premise. While reviewing this film for my newspaper (Cedar Rapids Gazette) I knew immediately that the concepts would be controversial and hard for the conditioned American mind to wrap itself around.

Having said that, it seems that many people view a movie like this as an all or nothing proposition -- if one theory or belief seems flawed, then it all must be called into question. What I think too many polemicists are forgetting is that this picture is a smorgasbord of different theories presented, as Rod Serling might say, for you approval -- or not.

But what many are missing is what makes this film revolutionary -- that filmmakers were able to present these concepts in the medium of film in a way that was at least entertaining and most, thought provoking. You don't have to buy off 100 percent on what is here, but the presentation, in and of itself, was stunning in its bombardment of the viewer with multi sensory imagery.

That this film was even made at all is a mini-miracle, especially in our current intellectual and cultural climate. Its sad to me to see such judgmental reviews. I knew conventional Christians would simply dismiss this as "new age" fluff and I mentioned that in my review. But I would have hoped that lovers of film and higher order thinking would be more tolerant of some of the excesses.

In short, this is a film that needs to be seen not just for its quasi-cinematic, quasi-documentary methodology but for a presentation of theories and beliefs that are rarely discussed in the ossified American mainstream. For that alone, I thank the filmmakers.