"Revelations" (2005)TV mini-series

Creator:

David Seltzer
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

13 April 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Omnium finis imminet. The end is here.

Plot:

Just before the start of Armageddon, a physicist and a nun race against the clock to see if the end of the world apocalypse can be averted.

Plot Keywords:

TV Mini-Series

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Bill Pullman	...	Dr. Richard Massey (5 episodes, 2005)
Natascha McElhone	...	Sister Josepha Montafiore (5 episodes, 2005)
Michael Massee	...	Isaiah Haden (5 episodes, 2005)
Mark Rendall	...	Henry 'Hawk' Webber (5 episodes, 2005)
Martin Starr	...	Mark Rubio (5 episodes, 2005)
Tobin Bell	...	Nathan Volk (4 episodes, 2005)
Alexa Nikolas	...	Lucinda 'Lucy' Massey (4 episodes, 2005)
Fred Durst	...	Ogden (3 episodes, 2005)
Caryn Green	...	Tulia (3 episodes, 2005)
Scott Williams	...	Prison Guard / ... (3 episodes, 2005)
Winter Ave Zoli	...	Anna-Theresa (3 episodes, 2005)
Christopher Biggins	...	Cardinal Laveigh (2 episodes, 2005)
James Bigwood	...	Prison Chaplain (2 episodes, 2005)
Jesper Christensen	...	Torvald Eklind (2 episodes, 2005)
Werner Daehn	...	Asteroth (2 episodes, 2005)
Valerie Farr	...	Argentine Stewardess (2 episodes, 2005)
Fionnula Flanagan	...	Mother Francine (2 episodes, 2005)
Joel Polis	...	Hospital Administrator (2 episodes, 2005)
Robert Polo	...	Court TV Reporter / ... (2 episodes, 2005)
John Rhys-Davies	...	Professor Lampley (2 episodes, 2005)
Jeff Smith	...	Prison Gate Guard (2 episodes, 2005)

(more)

Series Directed by
Lili Fini Zanuck		(3 episodes, 2005)

Series Writing credits
David Seltzer		(5 episodes, 2005)
Mark Kruger		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
James Bigwood	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Jessika Borsiczky Goyer	....	producer (unknown episodes)
James Chory	....	producer (unknown episodes)
David Minkowski	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Judy Oseransky	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Gavin Polone	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Paul Rabwin	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
David Seltzer	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Matthew Stillman	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Anne Tabor	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Joseph Vitarelli		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Joel Ransom		(unknown episodes)
Brian J. Reynolds		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Monty DeGraff		(unknown episodes)
Juan Garza		(unknown episodes)
Jill Savitt		(unknown episodes)
Sondra Watanabe		(unknown episodes)
Lynne Willingham		(unknown episodes)
Gabriel Wrye		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Wendy O'Brien		(unknown episodes)
John Papsidera		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Douglas Higgins		(unknown episodes)
Philip Toolin		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Maria L. Baker		(unknown episodes)
Roman Illovsky		(unknown episodes)
Jindrich Kocí		(unknown episodes)
Milena Koubkova		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Linda Vipond		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Eydi Caines-Floyd		(unknown episodes)
Luellyn Harper		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Georgina Abanto	....	hair department head (unknown episodes)
Barbara Kichi	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Barbara Kichiova	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Gabriela Polakova	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Gail Rowell-Ryan	....	hair department head (unknown episodes)
Richard Snell	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Rene Stejskal	....	prosthetic makeup artist / special makeup effects designer (unknown episodes)
Julie Travis-Socash	....	makeup department head (unknown episodes)
Kandace Westmore	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Joe Barzo	....	unit manager (unknown episodes)
Branko Jehlar	....	production manager: Czech Republic (unknown episodes)
Vaclav Mottl	....	unit manager (unknown episodes)
Nan Skiba	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Craig Amendola	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Deborah Greaney	....	second assistant director: second unit (unknown episodes)
Shakir Hafoudh	....	third assistant director (unknown episodes)
Nick Heckstall-Smith	....	assistant director / second unit director (unknown episodes)
Mirek Lux	....	first assistant director: Czech Republic (unknown episodes)
Mark Lyon	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Martin Sebik	....	second assistant director: second unit (unknown episodes)
George Walker	....	first assistant director: second unit (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Ross Anderson	....	property master (unknown episodes)
Bara Barova	....	set decorating coordinator (unknown episodes)
Alice Bartosova	....	graphic designer (unknown episodes)
Jirí Cihák	....	head scenic painter (unknown episodes)
Zuzana Cizmarova	....	draughtsperson (unknown episodes)
Marketa Dankova	....	assistant to production designer (unknown episodes)
Andrea Faini	....	art director: Italy (unknown episodes)
Jiri Fleischer	....	property master (unknown episodes)
Michaela Formanova	....	assistant to production designer (unknown episodes)
Jeffery Goyer	....	construction coordinator (unknown episodes)
Jiri Hrubes	....	assistant set decorator (unknown episodes)
Andrej Kostic	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)
James LaBarge	....	lead man (unknown episodes)
Lukas Lehoucka	....	stand-by props (unknown episodes)
Robin McCarthy	....	art department coordinator (unknown episodes)
Michal Ortcykr	....	painter (unknown episodes)
Jaroslav Rericha	....	draughtsperson (unknown episodes)
Barbora Ruzicková	....	painter (unknown episodes)
Monica Sironi	....	set dresser: Italy (unknown episodes)
Ján Svoboda	....	draughtsperson (unknown episodes)
David Trojan	....	draughtsperson (unknown episodes)
Katerina van Gemundova	....	art department coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Julie Altus	....	adr recordist (unknown episodes)
Brydon Baker III	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
David Baldwin	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
David Barbee	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Colin Codner	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Giancarlo Dellapina	....	production sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Robert Dufek	....	location sound: second unit (unknown episodes)
Ezra Dweck	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Wilson Dyer	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)
Tim Farrell	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Nick Foley	....	adr recordist (unknown episodes)
Cernota Honza	....	sound assistant: radio mics / sound recordist: second unit (unknown episodes)
Daryl Lathrop	....	adr recordist (unknown episodes)
Carrie Lisonbee	....	assistant sound editor (unknown episodes)
Martin Lonek	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Abel Schiro	....	sound utility (unknown episodes)
Dean St. John	....	adr mixer (unknown episodes)
Ted Swanscott	....	adr mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Jeremy Hays	....	special effects (unknown episodes)
Jan Holub	....	special effects crew (unknown episodes)
Miroslav Miclik	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes)
Brendon O'Dell	....	special effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Pavel Policar	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes)
Jake Valdez	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes)
Jirí Vater	....	special effects supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Roland Friedrich	....	Flame artist (unknown episodes)
Miro Gal	....	Inferno artist (unknown episodes)
Aaron Greenberg	....	visual effects coordinator (unknown episodes)
Patrick Halm	....	visual effects coordinator (unknown episodes)
Tom Kendall	....	visual effects producer (unknown episodes)
Jirí Linhart	....	animator (unknown episodes)
Petr Masek	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Bob Minshall	....	visual effects (unknown episodes)
Peter Nemec	....	Inferno artist (unknown episodes)
Robert Pik	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Eric J. Robertson	....	visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Michael Roderick	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Greg Russell	....	main title designer (unknown episodes)
Jiri Stamfest	....	matte artist: digital painter (unknown episodes)
David Vána	....	visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Jan Vseticek	....	visual effects producer (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Radek Bruna	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Karine Mauffrey	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Jan Petrina	....	stunt double: Bill Pullman (unknown episodes)
Rudolf Vrba	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Andy Arnautov	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Tom Boyd	....	underwater camera operator (unknown episodes)
Václav Cermak	....	rigging gaffer (unknown episodes)
Michal Chadima	....	video assist operator (unknown episodes)
Thomas Enright	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Jon Epstein	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Miro Gábor	....	cinematographer: second unit (unknown episodes)
Jiri Gazda	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
Larry D. Horricks	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Borivoj Klecka	....	gaffer: second unit (unknown episodes)
Alan Koplin	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Martin Schmarc	....	video assist operator (unknown episodes)
Robert F. Smith	....	director of photography: second unit (unknown episodes)
Stanislav Vales	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Alexis van Kersen Li	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Zdenek Vodvarka	....	rigging gaffer (unknown episodes)
Miroslav Vojkuvka	....	dolly grip (unknown episodes)
Peter Wilke	....	camera operator: "a" camera (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Nancy Bishop	....	casting: Prague (unknown episodes)
John Buchan	....	casting: Toronto (unknown episodes)
Chad Darnell	....	extras casting (unknown episodes)
Sandy Holt	....	adr voice casting (unknown episodes)
Jirí Hrstka	....	extras casting: Czech Republic (unknown episodes)
Meghan McLaughlin	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes)
Suzanne Smith	....	casting: London (unknown episodes)
Noelle Trkulja	....	casting assistant: Prague (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jill Lucas	....	costumer (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Amy R. Bynum	....	post-production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Kelley Dixon	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)
Kevin M. Falsey	....	post-production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jason Freeman	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)
Andrew Ortner	....	post-production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Roy Poole	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)
Anna Ryndová	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)
Ione Soyangco	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)
Jim Towne	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)
Susan J. Vinci	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Blake Neely	....	composer: additional music (unknown episodes)
Mary Oatman	....	music supervisor (unknown episodes)
Allan K. Rosen	....	music editor (unknown episodes)
Nicholas Viterelli	....	music editor (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Jiri Fleischer	....	picture cars coordinator (unknown episodes)
Jakub Kadlec	....	transportation captain (unknown episodes)
Tony Vizina	....	driver: cast (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Robin Anderson	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Catherine Crawford	....	assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Gregory Fein	....	clearance supervisor (unknown episodes)
Danica Fleischerova	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Adam Fuchs	....	assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Hieu Ho	....	assistant: Mr. Gavin Polone (unknown episodes)
Mark Logan	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Iva Lukesová	....	accountant: Czech Republic (unknown episodes)
Markéta Maková	....	assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Paul Marchand	....	research consultant (unknown episodes)
Dauv McNeely	....	computer and video playback technician (unknown episodes)
Pavel Mrkous	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Alicyn Packard	....	photo double (unknown episodes)
Nada Pinter	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Denisa Pugliova	....	assistant: Mr. David Seltzer (unknown episodes)
Tomas Rotnagl	....	first assistant production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Greg Russell	....	title designer: main titles (unknown episodes)
Faujja Singh	....	armorer (unknown episodes)
Veronika Skarlandtova	....	first assistant accountant (unknown episodes)
James Smith	....	assistant: Mr. Gavin Polone (unknown episodes)
Loren Spector	....	assistant production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Stuart Michael Thomas	....	synthesizer programmer (unknown episodes)
Dale Wyatt	....	dialogue coach (unknown episodes)
Christopher Zatta	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Peter Ziak	....	assistant accountant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• NBC Enterprises (in association with)
• Pariah
• Stillking Films

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (2005) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Cinemax (2005-2006) (Hungary) (TV)
• Danmarks Radio (DR) (2005) (Denmark) (TV)
• FEM (2007-2008) (Norway) (TV)
• Fox (2006) (Japan) (TV)
• M6 Métropole Télévision (2006) (France) (TV)
• SPO (2007) (Japan) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Universal Production Partners (UPP)

Other Companies

• CE VideoAssist Rental  VideoAssist equipment provided by
• Chapman / Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Hollywood Caterers  catering
• Panavision  camera equipment provided by
• Runway  post-production

Runtime:

43 min (6 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Matera, Basilicata, Italy

Company:

NBC Enterprises

Trivia:

Again in reference to the articles Dr. Massey looked up online, Sister Josepha is once credited as, "Isabela Josepha Montafiore". This could mean possibly one of two things: that her name was first Isabela before becoming a nun and then changed it to Josepha, or her first name is Isabela and she chooses to go by her middle name, Josepha.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Bugenhagen's Antichrist book could not have been written in Braille, since Braille was not invented until the 19th century and Bugenhagen lived in the 15th century.

Quotes:

Isaiah Haden: [Isaiah is on a plane experiencing turbulence] 3... 2... 1...
[he snaps his fingers, the turbulence stops immediately after]
Isaiah Haden: Coincidence? You'll never know.

An interesting, if not hugely original, take on the apocalypse

The end of the world is always intriguing subject matter, for the religious and non-religious alike, and with cinematic explorations of the Apocalypse such as the Omen it's themes are at least vaguely familiar to even those of us not raised in Christianity. Revelations does not stray far from the formula in that respect- the birth of the anti-Christ, the second coming of Jesus, it's all handled or hinted at in ways that will not wow us with originality, but it does manage to place them in a contemporary context without alienating the audience- we are drawn into the story, and it is believable to us.

Bill Pullman and Natascha McElhone play the spiritual equivalents of Mulder and Scully, but with the gender roles reversed. It's a well-worn concept- the believer and the pessimist having to work together to achieve a common goal, but credit has to be given to the actors, who do bring something new to the roles, and make them characters we can acre about easily. Natascha McElhone conveys the wide eyed Sister Josepha Montafiore with such conviction that you find yourself envious of her sense of almost child-like wonder. Bill Pullman also shines as a jaded man who has lost so much.

Revelations also follows the recent trend of focusing on family- it's something I noticed recently in the cancelled sci fi show Invasion. I think it's an effective way of bringing the events occurring around the characters home, quite literally, for the audiences, and for a theme as huge as the world ending, it's a way of not overwhelming the audience with ideas- this is not a cinematic epic, it's very much about the central characters.

There are of course weaknesses with the show also. Prisoners who share a jail with Satan worshipper Isaiah Haden are very easily "converted to the dark side" and it's not completely believable because they are treated as a homogeneous group- they are in jail therefore they must all be unrepentant people who will side with Satan in order to feel good about themselves. It just doesn't work, and considering the depth in writing in some aspects of the show, it's a stark contrast. Similarly, the brief references we get terrorism are handled in a very Christian-centric manner. In a show that deal with God and faith, you would expect some exploration of different religions, and the different forms in which faith and a belief in God can manifest itself, but instead I felt we were being spoon-fed things that boiled down to "good" and "bad@ and that's not what an adult audience wants.

Despite these weaknesses, it's unfortunate that the show was not given an opportunity to grow- I would have been very curious to see the direction the show would have taken, particularly with more episodes per season to really explore the themes laid down in these 6 episodes.

I would certainly recommend this to people who are interested in the subject matters stated earlier, and for those in the mood to get into a story that won't take weeks to see through.