The Great New Wonderful (2005)

Director:

Danny Leiner

Writer:

Sam Catlin (written by)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Rebuilding is a process.

Plot:

The Great New Wonderful weaves five stories against the backdrop of an anxious and uncertain post-9-11 New York City.

Plot Keywords:

Security Guard | Five Stories | New York City | Cake | Bully

Cast

Olympia Dukakis	...	Judy Hillerman (segment "Judy's Story")
Jim Gaffigan	...	Sandie (segment "Sandie's Story")
Judy Greer	...	Allison Burbage (segment "David and Allison's Story")
Maggie Gyllenhaal	...	Emme Keeler (segment "Emme's Story")
Thomas McCarthy	...	Davie Burbage (segment "David and Allison's Story") (as Tom McCarthy)
Sharat Saxena	...	Satish (segment "Avi and Satish's Story")
Naseeruddin Shah	...	Avinash aka "Avi" (segment "Avi and Satish's Story")
Tony Shalhoub	...	Dr. Trabulous (segment "Sandie's Story")
Stephen Colbert	...	Principal Peersall (segment "David and Allison's Story")
Dick Latessa	...	Jerry Binder (segment "Judy's Story")
Will Arnett	...	Danny Keeler (segment "Emme's Story")
Seth Gilliam	...	Clayton (segment "Emme's Story")
Anita Gillette	...	Lainie (segment "Judy's Story")
Julie Dretzin	...	Julie Driscoll (segment "Emme's Story")
Edie Falco	...	Safarah Polsky (segment "Emme's Story")
Jim Parsons	...	Justin (segment "Emme's Story")
Martha Millan	...	Alexa (segment "Emme's Story")
Nancy McDoniel	...	Agnes Whitehead (segment "Emme's Story")
Fred Burrell	...	Wexler Whitehead (segment "Emme's Story")
Jillian Crane	...	Crying Woman (segment "Emme's Story")
Mario Polit	...	Elvis Cedeno (segment "Emme's Story")
Tony Kushner	...	Himself (segment "Emme's Story")
Finnerty Steeves	...	Isabelle (segment "Emme's Story")
Priscilla Shanks	...	Priscilla Krindel (segment "Emme's Story")
Bernie McInerney	...	Duff Krindel (segment "Emme's Story")
Ari Graynor	...	Lisa Krindel (segment "Emme's Story")
Kathryn Faughnan	...	Karaoke Girl (segment "Emme's Story")
Bill Donner	...	Charlie Burbage (segment "David and Allison's Story") (as Billy Donner)
Tom Ford	...	Mr. Jeffers (segment "David and Allison's Story)
Zack Wall	...	Geography Bee Contestant (segment "David and Allison's Story")
Rosemarie DeWitt	...	Debbie (segment "David and Allison's Story")
Kapil Bawa	...	General Ganjee (segment "Avi and Satish's Story")
Eliyas Qureshi	...	Head Security Guard (segment "Avi and Satish's Story")
Rajika Puri	...	Sucheta (segment "Avi and Satish's Story")
Mukesh Patel	...	Vijay (Satish's brother-in-law) (segment "Avi and Satish's Story") (as Mukesh M. Patel)
Nikhil Patel	...	Bhanu (Satish's son) (segment "Avi and Satish's Story") (as Nikhil M. Patel)
Jyotsna Du Ciel	...	Avi's Daughter (segment "Avi and Satish's Story")
Tonye Patano	...	Shirley (Meter Maid) (segment "Avi and Satish's Story")
Alex McCord	...	Jessilyn (Lola Hostess) (segment "Avi and Satish's Story")
Moises Castillo Orta	...	Tough Teen (segment "Ari and Satish's Story")
Masayasu Nakanishi	...	Japanese Tourist (segment "Ari and Satish's Story")
Ed Setrakian	...	Henry Hillerman (segment "Judy's Story")
Sam Catlin	...	Councilman Blenick (segment "Judy's Story")
Nicky 'Pops' Anest	...	Lou
Marilyn Chris	...	Phyllis (segment "Judy's Story")
Eric Fleishman	...	Water Exercise Instructor (segment "Judy's Story")
David Costabile	...	Vending Machine Guy (segment "Sandie's Story")
Alicia Van Couvering	...	Girl in Truck (segment "Sandie's Story")
Justin Rosen	...	Boy in Truck (segment "Sandie's Story")
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kimberly Asa	...	School principal
Alexis Dziena	...	Angie (scenes deleted)
Tony Galtieri	...	Waiter
Nadir Hasan	...	Restaurant Patron
Matthew Seife	...	Boisterous Tourist Family
Parthiban Shanmugam	...	Under cover agent
Joseph M. Abbott	...	Man in Park (uncredited)
Orlagh Cassidy	...	Flirty Woman (uncredited)
Michael Den Dekker	...	Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Mike Dressel	...	Young Teacher (uncredited)
Adrianna White Eagle	...	Girl Looking Down School Hallway (uncredited)
Brian Kirchoff	...	Actor (uncredited)
Michie Madison	...	Theatregoer (uncredited)
Dominick Mancino	...	Train Passenger (uncredited)
K'Dee Miller	...	Rhonda (uncredited)
Meredith Ostrom	...	Anita (uncredited)
Farrah Peskoff	...	Girl in Pigtails (uncredited)
Dawn Ressy	...	Train Passenger (uncredited)
Emily Anila Shah	...	Avi's Daughter (segment "Avi and Satish's Story) (uncredited)
Namrata Shah	...	Avi's Daughter (segment "Avi and Satish's Story) (uncredited)
Jeremy Shamos	...	Young Rabbi (uncredited)

Directed by
Danny Leiner

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Sam Catlin		written by

Produced by
Victor Bardack	....	executive producer (as Vic Bardack)
Michael Hoffman	....	executive producer
C.C. Lagator	....	executive producer
Danny Leiner	....	producer
Damon Martin	....	executive producer
Lila Mirochin	....	associate producer
Michael Nozik	....	executive producer
Amy Robinson	....	executive producer
Gary Rubin	....	executive producer
Jesse Scolaro	....	co-producer
Nick Goodwin Self	....	co-producer
Raj Singh	....	executive producer
Daniel Swee	....	co-producer
Matt Tauber	....	producer
Leslie Urdang	....	producer
Allison Wolf	....	associate producer

Original Music by
John Swihart

Cinematography by
Harlan Bosmajian		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert Frazen

Casting by
Daniel Swee

Production Design by
Laura Ballinger

Art Direction by
Tyler Q. Rosen

Set Decoration by
Kate Foster

Costume Design by
Alysia Raycraft

Makeup Department
Tom Brumberger	....	hair stylist: Ms. Dukakis
Tom Brumberger	....	makeup artist: Ms. Dukakis
Persefone Karakosta	....	key hair stylist
Persefone Karakosta	....	key makeup artist
Brenna Scarrott	....	additional hair stylist
Brenna Scarrott	....	additional makeup artist
Joanna Stewart	....	assistant hair stylist
Joanna Stewart	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Seth Eisman	....	production supervisor
Patrick Huber	....	unit manager
Joe Leonard	....	post-production supervisor
Doug Torres	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bruce Hall	....	first assistant director: second unit
Bruce Hall	....	second second assistant director
Kathleen E. Kearney	....	second assistant director
Doug Torres	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Hillary Baldwin	....	set dresser
Fay Chang	....	set dresser
Erin Diebol	....	set dresser
Katie Dillon	....	set dresser (as Katie Dillan)
Maus Drechsler	....	property master (as Ana Katharina Drechsler)
Eduardo Garabal	....	assistant property master
Shelley Herbert	....	additional props
Sean Marks	....	set dresser
Jennifer Massi	....	set dresser
Don O'Reilly	....	additional art director (as Donald O'Reilly)
Tanya Preminger	....	set dresser
Paula Raymond	....	set dresser
Richard Rogers	....	set dresser
Justin Rosen	....	art production assistant
Justin Rosen	....	lead man
Ry Russo-Young	....	set dresser (as Ry Russo Young)
Gela Zefira	....	assistant property master
Tomas Zeman	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Joshua Anderson	....	additional sound mixer
Joshua Anderson	....	boom operator
Sarah F. Badiee	....	adr editor (as Sarah Badiee)
Dominic Bartolini	....	adr recordist
Andrew Bellware	....	additional sound mixer
Kevin Bowe	....	additional boom operator
Michael Brown	....	foley mixer
Bob Bryan	....	additional sound mixer
Gary Coppola	....	foley mixer (as Gary J. Coppola)
Gary Coppola	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Gary J. Coppola)
Alexandra Gallo	....	additional boom operator
Kenneth Hassell	....	additional boom operator
Dean Hurley	....	sound editor
Jeff Kushner	....	sound designer (as Jeffrey A. Kushner)
Jeff Kushner	....	supervising sound editor (as Jeffrey A. Kushner)
Tim H. Lee	....	adr mixer
Bryant Musgrove	....	additional boom operator
Shannon Potter	....	foley artist
Trevor Reed	....	sound effects editor
Griffin Richardson	....	sound mixer
Gabriel Sanders	....	additional boom operator
Mike Shear	....	sound effects editor
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley artist (as Edward Steidele)
Jose Torres	....	additional sound mixer
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist
David Warburton	....	post facility coordinator

Visual Effects by
Ian Vertovec	....	digital colorist

Stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunt coordinator
Jeff Ward	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
John Anctil	....	swing
Quarry Bastfield	....	best boy electric (as Quarry Basfield)
Bob Behrens	....	camera intern
Manuel Billeter	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Manuel Billeter	....	director of photography: second unit
Manuel Billeter	....	first assistant camera
Ethan Borsuk	....	second assistant camera
Steven Capitano Calitri	....	key grip
Matthew Caton	....	swing
Othmar Dickbauer	....	camera engineer (as Othmar Dickbaur)
Avra Fox	....	swing
Fernando Gayesky	....	second assistant camera
Abbot Genser	....	still photographer
Shawn Greene	....	gaffer
Adam Hall	....	best boy grip
Nina Kuhn	....	swing
Robert McKenna	....	additional camera operator
Jessica Miglio	....	additional still photographer
Ron Morales	....	best boy electric
Mike Morini	....	grip
Mike Morini	....	swing
Allesandra Petlin	....	additional still photographer
Daniel Sharnoff	....	camera intern (as Dan Sharnoff)
Julianna Thomas	....	additional still photographer
Kenny Trice	....	additional still photographer

Casting Department
Lois J. Drabkin	....	casting associate
Jimmy Floyd	....	extras casting
Jacob Gitzis	....	extras casting
Eddie Gutch	....	extras casting assistant
Sheila Jaffe	....	casting consultant: Serenade Films
Kristen McTigue	....	casting associate
Kristie Sessions	....	extras casting assistant
Charlotte Wanberg	....	casting intern (as Charlotte Manning)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marygrace Brennan	....	wardrobe intern (as Mary Grace Brennan)
Amy Clark	....	assistant costume designer
Catherine Osborne	....	wardrobe supervisor
Melissa Ross	....	assistant costume designer
Lea Umberger	....	wardrobe intern
Belinda Yee	....	wardrobe intern

Editorial Department
Michael Cioni	....	digital intermediate post supervisor
Jake Cohen	....	first assistant editor (as Jacob Cohen)
J.P. Impastato	....	post-production assistant
Joe Leonard	....	second assistant editor
Jesse Tushinsky	....	assistant editor: opening titles
Ian Vertovec	....	colorist
Ian Vertovec	....	on-line editor
Chris Wong	....	second assistant editor
Christopher C.C. Wong	....	assistant editor
Kai Wu	....	assistant post-production coordinator

Music Department
Michael Baber	....	music editor (as Mike Baber)
Adam Blau	....	assistant to composer
Adam Blau	....	musician: piano
Mari Cuney	....	musician: violin
Peter Gordon	....	musician: flute and clarinet
Aram Mandossian	....	composer intern
Greg Morgenstein	....	score engineer
John Swihart	....	musician: guitar and upright bass
Robin Urdang	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Nicholas Allen	....	additional set production assistant (as Nick Allen)
Ami Armstrong	....	creative executive: Serenade Films
Georgia Boyce	....	office intern
Margaret Braun	....	cakes designer
J.C. Bridges	....	parking production assistant
Robert Broden	....	on-set medic
Eric M. Brooks	....	legal counsel: Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal & La Violette, Sky Dog Films
Olivia Byun	....	location intern
Amy Chang	....	office intern
Kira Cohen	....	assistant: Mr. Tauber
Nicholas Coles	....	additional set production assistant
Tom Collier	....	legal counsel: Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal & La Violette, Sky Dog Films (as Thomas B. Coillier)
Carol A. Compton	....	script clearance researcher: IndieClear
Christianne Cook	....	craft service
Gabrielle Cran	....	assistant: Ms. Robinson
Tim DeYoung	....	assistant: Mr. Leiner
Kat Donahue	....	assistant location manager
Rebecca Ehrhardt	....	production coordinator
Massoumeh Emami	....	script supervisor
Marta Forns-Escudé	....	key production assistant
Carol Frances	....	production banking: City National Bank
Nitin Gambhir	....	translator: Hindi
Davina Gazo	....	office intern
Laurie Gershon	....	product placement and clearances
Traci-Ann Gibson	....	office intern
Avi Glijansky	....	set production assistant
Johan Grimm	....	office intern (as Johann Grimm)
Esme Haddock	....	craft service
Patrick Huber	....	set production assistant
Todd James	....	advisory board: Serenade Films
Denyse R. Jones	....	location intern
Sarah Kramer	....	additional set production assistant
Geoff Linville	....	production executive: Serenade Films (as Geoffrey Linville)
Brian Mackey	....	additional set production assistant
Shelly Madeja	....	set production assistant (as Shelley Madeja)
Chris Marsh	....	location manager (as Christopher Marsh)
Jacquie Mitchell	....	production banking: City National Bank
Danny O'Brien	....	location assistant
Derek Pastures	....	parking coordinator
Kia Perry	....	craft service
Michael A. Price	....	advisory board: Serenade Films
Daniel Rbibo	....	insurance services: AON/Albert G. Ruben
Michele Robertson	....	publicist
Safwan Salaam	....	parking production assistant
Stephen Scharf	....	advisory board: Serenade Films
Stephen Scharf	....	legal counsel: O'Melveny and Myers
Sloane Schneier	....	office intern
Madhavi Singh	....	translator: Hindi
Raj Singh	....	advisory board: Serenade Films
Maggie Slavonic	....	title designer: end titles
Kim Tobash	....	on-set tutor
Brandi Tufenkjian	....	assistant production coordinator
Jesse Tushinsky	....	assistant title editor
Adriano Valle	....	set production assistant
Collin Warhaftig	....	office intern
Julia Wells	....	assistant to producers: Serenade Films (as Julia C. Wells)
Anthony Wright	....	additional set production assistant
Lang Yee	....	production accountant

Thanks
Kevin Kline	....	special thanks
Annie Leibovitz	....	special thanks
Susan Michals	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Serenade Films
• Sly Dog Films

Distributors

• Cinemax (2008) (Hungary) (TV)
• Conquistador Worldwide Media (2006) (Non-USA) (all media)
• First Independent Pictures (2006) (USA) (all media)
• Vivendi Entertainment (2006) (USA) (all media)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance services (as AON/Albert G. Ruben)
• Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal Laviolette & Feldman  legal counsel: Sky Dog Films
• Classic Entertainment  extras casting
• Departure Studios  foley facilities
• Departure Studios  re-recording sound facility
• Enormous Studios  piano recorded and mixed at
• IndieClear  script clearance research
• Jeremy Walker + Associates  publicity (as Jeremy Walker & Associates)
• Media Services Payments Plus  payroll services (as Media Services)
• O'Melveny & Myers  legal counsel
• Plasschaert & Associates  risk management
• Plastercity Digital Post  online and color facilities provided by (as Plastercity Post)
• Reality Check Studios  post-production facilities
• Sonic Gravy  score recorded and mixed at
• Sound Satisfaction  foley facilities

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality

Runtime:

USA:87 min (Tribeca Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Hindi

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Brazil:12 | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Serenade Films

Trivia:

WILHELM SCREAM: Heard on TV.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Avi says that the Mall of America in Minneapolis is the largest mall in the world. Actually, at the time of the store, CentralWorld Mall in Thailand is larger, opening in 1990.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Sandie - Dr. Trabulous' patient:I think I'm lost.

Movie Connections:

References The Matrix (1999)

Touching portrait of post 9/11 New York

I found this film to be a poignant portrayal of the lives of several New Yorkers post 9/11. They lead lives of quiet desperation with a backdrop of the despair that lingers after 9/11. Although the death/destruction in lower Manhattan are never mentioned, the symbols of 9/11 are there as a constant reminder. The film has both funny, and sad moments, however I found the panoramic shots of lower Manhattan sans the WTC to be especially moving. Instead of taking a heavy handed approach, the director skirts the issue and lets the viewer draw his own conclusions. Danny Leiner shows a masterful touch at revealing the emotions deep inside these characters. Who wouldn't thought this is the same guy who brought us Harold & Kumar?