The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005)

Director:

Jane Anderson

Writers (WGA):

Terry Ryan (book)
Jane Anderson (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 June 2007 (Spain)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

The true story of how a mother raised ten kids on twenty-five words or less.

Plot:

In order to support her ten children, Evelyn Ryan (Moore) enters a commercial jingle-writing contest. Based on a true story.

Plot Keywords:

Payne Ohio | Drinking | Teaching To Drive | Drunk | Spilled Milk

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Julianne Moore	...	Evelyn Ryan
Woody Harrelson	...	Kelly Ryan
Laura Dern	...	Dortha Schaefer
Trevor Morgan	...	Bruce Ryan at 16 yrs
Ellary Porterfield	...	Tuff Ryan at 13, 16 & 18 yrs
Simon Reynolds	...	Ray the Milkman
Monté Gagné	...	Lea Anne Ryan at 17 yrs
Robert Clark	...	Dick Ryan at 16 yrs
Michael Seater	...	Bub Ryan at 15 yrs
Erik Knudsen	...	Rog Ryan at 13 yrs
Jake Scott	...	Bruce Ryan at 11 yrs
Jordan Todosey	...	Tuff Ryan at 9 yrs
Ryan Price	...	Mike Ryan at 6 yrs
Shae Norris	...	Barb Ryan at 4 yrs
Abigail Falle	...	Betsy Ryan at 2 yrs
Luca Barbaro	...	Baby Dave
Brando Barbaro	...	Baby Dave
Jack Murray	...	Rog Ryan at 17 yrs
Evan Rose	...	Mike Ryan at 10 yrs
Jessica Pollock	...	Barb Ryan at 8 yrs
Emily Persich	...	Betsy Ryan at 6 yrs
Maxwell Uretsky	...	Dave Ryan at 4 yrs
Brendan Price	...	Mike Ryan at 13 yrs
Melanie Tonello	...	Barb Ryan at 11 yrs
Julia Megan Thompson	...	Betsy Ryan at 9 yrs
Connor Sharp	...	Dave Ryan at 7 yrs
Terry Ryan	...	Herself - Adult Tuff Ryan
Betsy Ryan	...	Herself - Adult Betsy Ryan
David Gardner	...	Father McCague
Martin Doyle	...	Cutter Murphy
Susan Merson	...	Mrs. Bidlack
Catherine Fitch	...	Emma Hartzler
Carolyn Scott	...	Gladys Tierney
Lindsay Leese	...	Betty Yearling
Tracey Hoyt	...	Betty White
Kathryn Haggis	...	Checkout Lady Marge
Noni White	...	Checkout Lady Pauline
Gerry Quigley	...	Vernon the Mailman
Brad Borbridge	...	Deliveryman
Dan Willmott	...	Deliveryman
Tim Dorsch	...	Deliveryman
Dan Lett	...	Detective Feeney
Lee Smart	...	Band Show Host
Frank Chiesurin	...	Rock 'n Roll Singer
Nora Dunn	...	Girl Group Member
Erin Gooderham	...	Girl Group Member
Juliann Kuchocki	...	Girl Group Member
Jim York	...	Seabrook Executive
Timm Zemanek	...	Harvey the Mechanic
Paul Brogren	...	Joe the Mechanic
Eric Fink	...	Bike Contest Man 1
Derek Keurvorst	...	Bike Contest Man 2
Scott Wickware	...	Neighbor Man
Conrad Bergschneider	...	Officer Dobbs
Bruce McFee	...	Officer Finney
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Erica Jones	...	Additional Children (voice)
Zoë Raye	...	Additional Voices (voice) (unconfirmed)
Austin Macdonald	...	Son of Dortha Shaffer (uncredited)

Directed by
Jane Anderson

Writing credits (WGA)
Terry Ryan		(book "The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less")
Jane Anderson		(screenplay)

Produced by
Marty P. Ewing	....	executive producer (as Marty Ewing)
Jack Rapke	....	producer
Steve Starkey	....	producer
Robert Zemeckis	....	producer

Original Music by
John Frizzell

Cinematography by
Jonathan Freeman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert Dalva

Casting by
Jane Alderman
Tina Gerussi
Linda Lowy

Production Design by
Edward T. McAvoy

Art Direction by
Andrew M. Stearn		(as Andrew Stern)

Set Decoration by
Clive Thomasson

Costume Design by
Hala Bahmet

Makeup Department
Katie Brennan	....	assistant makeup artist
Alan D'Angerio	....	hair stylist: Julianne Moore (as Alan Dangerio)
Michael Krehl	....	prosthetic makeup artist
Patricia Medina	....	hair stylist
Jennifer Bower O'Halloran	....	key hair stylist (as Jennifer O'Halloran)
Susan Reilly LeHane	....	makeup artist: Ms. Moore
Jordan Samuel	....	makeup department head
David Scott	....	prosthetic sculptor

Production Management
Whitney Brown	....	unit production manager (as Witney K. Brown)
David Coatsworth	....	assistant unit production manager
Carey Len Smith	....	post-production supervisor
Erica Frauman	....	post-production supervisor (uncredited)
Erik Heiberg	....	production manager: re-shoots (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Penny Charter	....	second assistant director
Libby Hodgson	....	first assistant director
Patrick Murphy	....	third assistant director
Karen Young	....	third assistant director
Andrew Pritchard	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Lara Alexander	....	construction auditor
Trysh Burbidge	....	head painter
Wayne Collins	....	stand-by carpenter
Gerry Deschenes	....	set dresser
Cheryl Dorsey	....	on-set greens
Helen Field	....	property buyer
Beth Gilinsky	....	art department coordinator
Bill Harman	....	construction coordinator
Gary Harmer	....	set dresser (as Gary Farmer)
Jeff Mawle	....	assistant property master
I.R. McEune	....	key scenic artist (as Rob McEune)
Brian N. Murray	....	head carpenter
Chris Pellegrini	....	property master
Rolf Raven	....	greens coordinator
David Sauder	....	graphic designer
Michael Shocrylas	....	set designer
Jaclyn Shoub	....	assistant set decorator
Richard Snyder	....	greens supervisor
Kim Steede	....	on-set dresser (as Kimothy Sneed)
George Venckus	....	lead set decorator
Abbie Weinberg	....	second assistant art director
Andrew Yurkiv	....	assistant head carpenter
Jonathan Davis	....	art apprentice (uncredited)
Jen Gillespie	....	second assistant art director (uncredited)
Jeff Smith	....	art department apprentice (uncredited)

Sound Department
Chris Barron	....	digital sound transferer
Mark Berger	....	sound re-recording mixer
Christopher Boyes	....	sound re-recording mixer
Karen Brocco	....	assistant dialogue editor
Bruce Carwardine	....	production sound mixer
Pat Cassin	....	boom operator
Brian Chumney	....	assistant adr editor
Kyrsten Mate Comoglio	....	sound effects editor
John Countryman	....	digital sound transferer
Edwin Dunkley	....	video services
Sean England	....	digital archivist
Sean England	....	foley recordist
Erik Foreman	....	adr recordist
Kim Foscato	....	assistant sound effects editor
Sue Fox	....	adr editor
Jeff Gomillion	....	adr mixer
Jonathan Greber	....	digital sound transferer
Ellen Heuer	....	foley artist
Bruce Lacey	....	foley editor
Brian Magerkurth	....	sound re-recordist
Matthew McKenzie	....	adr recordist
Douglas Murray	....	sound effects editor
George Peterson Jr.	....	foley recordist
Brandon Proctor	....	sound mix technician
Richard Quinn	....	dialogue editor
Frank Rinella	....	foley mixer
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist
Ronald G. Roumas	....	sound re-recordist
Jurgen Scharpf	....	sound mix technician
Tony Sereno	....	sound mix technician
Robert Shoup	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Silvers	....	supervising sound editor
Mac Smith	....	assistant supervising sound editor
Dennie Thorpe	....	foley artist
John Torrijos	....	video services
Jana Vance	....	foley artist
Markus Wade	....	boom operator
Marshall Winn	....	dialogue editor

Special Effects by
Martin Malivoire	....	special effects director
Barry Watkins	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Christopher Blasko	....	visual effects production assistant
Christian Boudman	....	interactive compositing artist
Mark Burns	....	compositor
Aimee Campbell	....	senior matchmover: roto/paint, SPI
Nicolle Cornute	....	roto artist
Lisa Deaner	....	interactive compositing artist
Debbie Denise	....	visual effects executive producer
Mitch Dobrowner	....	technical production manager
Sheena Duggal	....	visual effects supervisor
Mark Felt	....	interactive compositing artist
Doug Forrest	....	interactive compositing artist
Joshua Geisler-Amhowitz	....	matte painter
Nathalie Gonthier	....	roto artist
Jason Greenblum	....	dustbuster
Christian Hejnal	....	digital production manager
Ivo Horvat	....	matte painting lead
Kevin Hudson	....	modeler
Bernardo Jauregui	....	visual effects production coordinator (as Bernardo Jaurequi)
Jennifer Juen	....	production accountant
Keith Kellogg	....	animator
Martin A. Kline	....	visual effects art director (as Marty Kline)
Stephen Kowalski	....	senior systems architect
Daniel Kuehn	....	visual effects set producer
Nick Loy	....	production services technician
Kevin Scott Mack	....	additional visual effects set supervision (as Kevin Mack)
Paul Maples	....	motion control operator
Andrea Maxwell	....	visual effects editor
Paul McGhee	....	digital color timer
Ray McMillan	....	motion control supervisor
Jake Morrison	....	CG supervisor
Kishore Mulchandani	....	software engineering
Gregory Nic Nicholson	....	match move artist (as Nic Nicholson)
Rachel Nicoll	....	match move artist
Jessica Noll	....	production services technician
Kerry Nordquist	....	texture painter
Jeff Olm	....	Flame artist: SPI
Jean-François Panisset	....	systems research and development
Eric Peterson	....	match move artist
George Richman	....	dustbuster
John Sanders	....	resource administration
Deepak Sharma	....	software engineering
Michael Song	....	software engineering
Craig Sost	....	visual effects producer
Jeremy Squires	....	effects animator
Mathew Thomas	....	lead production services technician
James Valentine	....	roto artist
Dana Vanhove	....	digital production management
Len White	....	3D lead
David Worman	....	match move artist
Shyam V. Yadav	....	plate coordinator

Stunts
Leigh Bianco	....	stunt double: Tuff
Shelley Cook	....	stunt double: Tuff (as Shelly Cook)
Patrick Mark	....	motorcycle double: Dave
Jodi Michelle Pynn	....	stunt double: Evelyn (as Jody Michelle Pynn)
Branko Racki	....	stunt coordinator
Robert Racki	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark Beauchamp	....	second assistant camera
François Daignault	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Tim Davis	....	video assist operator
Heather Donald	....	camera loader
Michael Galbraith	....	gaffer
Michael Gibson	....	still photographer
Eric Holmes	....	electrician
James Kohne	....	grip
Bernie Lalonde	....	key rigging grip
Joseph Micomonaco	....	assistant camera
Clyde Miller	....	aerial camera operator
Clyde Miller	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Beth Nobes	....	assistant camera
Douglas Novis	....	rigging electric best boy
Derek Parkes	....	grip
Jeff Petro	....	assistant camera: Wescam camera
Ron Renzetti	....	dolly grip
Robert Rice	....	best boy grip
Don Rose	....	best boy rigging grip
Tracy Shaw	....	grip
Tom Starnes	....	key rigging gaffer
Samuel Turturici	....	grip
Ron Yolevsky	....	key grip
Ian S. Casas	....	key grip: additional photography (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jane Alderman	....	casting: Chicago
Michael Betts	....	casting assistant
Tina Gerussi	....	casting: Toronto
Zameret Kleiman	....	extras casting
Roberta Romano	....	casting assistant: Toronto
Will Stewart	....	first casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jill Aslin	....	assistant costume designer: Toronto
Heather Blurton	....	dresser: Ms. Moore
Virginia Burton	....	costume supervisor
Tricia Cruikshank	....	costumer
Loreen Lightfoot	....	costume cutter
Trelawnie Mead	....	dresser: Mr. Harrelson
Courtney Ormond	....	wardrobe assistant
Marina Ray	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Daniel Boccoli	....	second assistant editor
Diane Brunjes	....	first assistant editor
Justine Gerenstein	....	editor: main title sequence
Chad Glastonbury	....	second assistant editor
Claudia Guerrero-Zalokar	....	assistant editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Ursula Mazurkiewicz	....	apprentice editor
Dana Mulligan	....	first assistant editor
David Orr	....	color timer
Steve Porter	....	final colorist

Music Department
Christine Bergren	....	music clearance
Steve Durkee	....	score mixer
John Frizzell	....	conductor
Lisa Jaime	....	music editor
Andrew Kinney	....	orchestrator
Brian Kirk	....	composer: additional music
Brian Kirk	....	music supervisor
Gabriel Mann	....	music arranger
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor
Frederik Wiedmann	....	score coordinator
Rick Winquest	....	music scoring mixer
Hyesu Yang	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Wilfred Bell	....	transportation captain
Gord Bettles	....	picture car mechanic
Bill Boyd	....	picture vehicle coordinator
Bill Jackson	....	transportation co-captain
Carl Severin	....	transportation co-captain
Marco Sousa	....	picture car captain
Mark Van Alstyne	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Laurel Bresnahan	....	studio teacher
Katherine Brook	....	assistant: Mr. Rapke
James Campbell	....	location assistant
Arthur Clarke	....	assistant location manager
Stephen Clark	....	stand-in
Jane Conway	....	animal wrangler
Stacey Dunlop	....	stand-in
Greg Eby	....	key first assistant accountant
Sonia Farrell	....	assistant: Mr. Harrelson
Karin Fong	....	title designer
James Fraser	....	production coordinator
James A. Frith	....	production assistant
Jen Gillespie	....	clearance coordinator
Dan Gosse	....	daily production assistant
Nadia Guglieri	....	second script supervisor
Christian Hamilton	....	assistant production coordinator
Joe Hatton	....	production assistant
Nathan Hayashigawa	....	production assistant
Bill Hong	....	operator: camera car/insert car
Dustin Hughes	....	assistant: Ms. Anderson
Rachel Leko	....	production secretary
Sean Longley	....	key craft service
Janet Lonsdale	....	production accountant
Susan Marucci	....	script supervisor
Dan McCann	....	assistant: Ms. Moore
Kyla McFeat	....	accounting clerk
Sarah McIntosh	....	payroll accountant
Joe Melton	....	location assistant
Monique Perez	....	assistant to executive producer
Karen Pidgurski	....	publicist
Andrew Pritchard	....	production assistant
Fiona Robinson	....	production assistant
Judd Rubin	....	production assistant: re-shoots
Margaret Sigel	....	assistant: Mr. Rapke
Geoffrey Smither	....	location manager
Ian Smith	....	assistant location manager
Sue Sparling	....	payroll accountant
John Thomas	....	production secretary
Dave Tommasini	....	pilot: Wescam helicopter
Anthony Valenti	....	assistant accountant
Nadia Venesse	....	dialect coach
Andrew Wolinsky	....	production assistant
Greg Wood	....	on-set nurse
Amy Wright	....	choreographer
Nick Paquet	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Revolution Erie Productions Ltd.
• ImageMovers

Distributors

• DreamWorks Distribution
• Revolution Studios
• DreamWorks SKG (USA) (theatrical)
• Revolution Studios (USA) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Pacific Title (opticals)
• Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI) (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• Imaginary Forces  titles
• Orbit Digital  Avids

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 thematic elements, some disturbing images and language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Caledonia, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Revolution Erie Productions Ltd.

Trivia:

Some of the dresses worn by Julianne Moore in the film actually belonged to Evelyn Ryan. Her children had saved them and offered the use of them for the film.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: On two occasions, the point is made that Defiance, Ohio and Payne, Ohio are 85 miles apart. They are actually about 29 miles apart.

Quotes:

Evelyn Ryan: Do you know that U.S. Army research has shown a relationship between intelligence and willingness to eat unfamiliar foods?

Movie Connections:

Features "Queen for a Day" (1956)

Soundtrack:

Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams

Captured The Era/True to the Book

Don't mean to be too exuberant, BUT this was a heart-warming movie. Woody Harrelson is perfect in his pathetic role as loser. (Consider "Palmetto" and "The Money Train.") He is a winner at this type of role. Yet, in his portrayal of this father of a large family and the husband of a "stand by your man" and "look to the sunny side of life" woman. Woody manages to evoke our pity and makes us reach for understanding. A terrific supporting role.

Julianne Moore, the star of the movie, is the heroine, the mainstay who keeps everything together. Never been out of her little town of Defiance, Ohio(it's real, look it up!) until one of her daughters drives her to Goshen, Indiana. What an adventure! 100 miles from home. A different state, even though its hard to tell. This daughter is the story teller, the author of the best selling book that became a movie. She captures the 1950s, the silly excitement of writing a catchy commercial phrase, and the heroism and humor of a large family growing up in an era long gone.

It will not be a blockbuster. Opening night, which we wouldn't have missed, was in a large, mostly vacant theatre. Everyone clapped their approval at the close. I'm guessing that most of us had read the book before going.

If you're one of those who haven't read the book, don't worry about it. The movie is like a "To Kill A Mockingbird," in that it captures the book beautifully. (Doesn't deny you the pleasure that comes from reading the book; but let's you in on the wonder of it all.) I have a feeling this movie will fade from view within a few weeks. It may also be one of those movies that ends up in the Academy Awards for best screenplay, best supporting actor, best actress. So, don't let it slip away without YOUR seeing it tomorrow or next weekend. These are the kind of movies, and the caliber of performances that are so rewarding you really need to give it a look see. (Then, buy the book!)