The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

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:

Contest | Money | Mortgage | Ohio | Jingle Contest

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 - an Affadaisy
Carolyn Scott	...	Gladys Tierney - an Affadaisy
Lindsay Leese	...	Betty Yearling - an Affadaisy
Tracey Hoyt	...	Betty White - an Affadaisy
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:
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
John Brace
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)
Patricia Medina	....	assistant hair stylist
Patricia Medina	....	hair stylist
Jennifer Bower O'Halloran	....	key hair stylist (as Jennifer O'Halloran)
Susan Reilly LeHane	....	makeup artist: Julianne Moore (as Susan Reilly Lehane)
Jordan Samuel	....	department head makeup artist
Michael Krehl	....	prosthetic makeup artist (uncredited)
David Scott	....	prosthetic sculptor (uncredited)

Production Management
Whitney Brown	....	unit production manager (as Witney K. Brown)
David Coatsworth	....	assistant unit production manager
Marty P. Ewing	....	unit production manager (as Marty Ewing)
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
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 (as Richard Snider)
Kim Steede	....	on-set dresser (as Kimothy Steede)
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
Mark Berger	....	sound re-recording mixer
Christopher Boyes	....	sound re-recording mixer
Karen Brocco	....	assistant dialogue editor (as Karen A. Brocco)
Rick Canelli	....	adr recordist
Bruce Carwardine	....	production sound mixer
Pat Cassin	....	boom operator
Brian Chumney	....	assistant adr editor
Brian Chumney	....	assistant dialogue editor
Kyrsten Mate Comoglio	....	sound effects editor (as Kyrsten Comoglio)
Erik Foreman	....	adr recordist
Kim Foscato	....	assistant sound effects editor
Sue Fox	....	adr editor (as Suzanne Fox)
Jeff Gomillion	....	adr mixer
Ellen Heuer	....	foley artist
Bruce Lacey	....	foley editor
Brian Magerkurth	....	sound re-recordist (as Brian D. Magerkurth)
Matthew McKenzie	....	adr mixer (as Matt McKenzie)
Douglas Murray	....	sound effects editor (as Douglas S. Murray)
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer (as Tom O'Connell)
George Peterson Jr.	....	foley recordist
Brandon Proctor	....	mix technician
Richard Quinn	....	dialogue editor
Frank Rinella	....	foley mixer
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist (as Phillip Rogers)
Ronald G. Roumas	....	sound re-recordist
Jurgen Scharpf	....	mix technician
Tony Sereno	....	mix technician
Robert Shoup	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Silvers	....	supervising sound editor
Mac Smith	....	assistant supervising sound editor
Dennie Thorpe	....	foley artist
Jana Vance	....	foley artist
Markus Wade	....	boom operator
Marshall Winn	....	dialogue editor
Chris Barron	....	digital sound transferer (uncredited)
John Countryman	....	digital sound transferer (uncredited)
Edwin Dunkley	....	video services (uncredited)
Sean England	....	digital archivist (uncredited)
Sean England	....	foley recordist (uncredited)
Jonathan Greber	....	digital sound transferer (uncredited)
John Torrijos	....	video services (uncredited)

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

Visual Effects by
Jason Anderson	....	interactive compositing coordinator: SPI
Nikki Bell	....	editorial coordinator: SPI
Christopher Blasko	....	visual effects production assistant: SPI
Christian Boudman	....	interactive compositing artist: SPI
Mark Burns	....	compositor: SPI
Nicolle Cornute	....	roto artist: SPI
Lisa Deaner	....	interactive compositing artist: SPI
Debbie Denise	....	visual effects executive producer: SPI
Mitch Dobrowner	....	technical production manager: SPI
Sheena Duggal	....	visual effects supervisor
Nathan Eriksen	....	production services manager: SPI
Mark Felt	....	interactive compositing artist: SPI
Andrew Foote	....	film scanning technician: SPI
Doug Forrest	....	interactive compositing artist: SPI
Jenny Fulle	....	senior staff: SPI
Joshua Geisler-Amhowitz	....	matte painter: SPI
Nathalie Gonthier	....	roto artist: SPI
Jason Greenblum	....	dustbuster: SPI
Dawn Guinta	....	interactive compositing manager: SPI
Leah Hardstark	....	visual effects research: SPI
Leah Hardstark	....	visual effects still photos: SPI
Christian Hejnal	....	digital production manager: SPI
Chris Herbert	....	visual effects research: SPI
Chris Herbert	....	visual effects still photos: SPI
Ivo Horvat	....	matte painting lead: SPI
Kevin Hudson	....	modeler: SPI
Bernardo Jauregui	....	visual effects production coordinator: SPI (as Bernardo Jaurequi)
Jennifer Juen	....	production accountant: SPI
Keith Kellogg	....	animator: SPI
David Keslick	....	film recording technician: SPI
Martin A. Kline	....	visual effects art director: SPI (as Marty Kline)
Daniel Kuehn	....	visual effects set producer: SPI
Rene Limberger	....	pipeline technical director: SPI
Lauren A. Littleton	....	animation production manager: SPI (as Lauren Ann Littleton)
Nick Loy	....	production services technician: SPI
Kevin Scott Mack	....	additional visual effects set supervision: SPI (as Kevin Mack)
Andrea Maxwell	....	visual effects editor: SPI
Paul McGhee	....	digital color timer: SPI
Jake Morrison	....	computer graphics supervisor: SPI
Kishore Mulchandani	....	software engineering: SPI
Gregory Nic Nicholson	....	match move artist: SPI (as Nic Nicholson)
Rachel Nicoll	....	match move artist: SPI
Jessica Noll	....	production services technician: SPI
Kerry Nordquist	....	texture painter: SPI
Jean-François Panisset	....	systems research and development: SPI
Eric Peterson	....	match move artist: SPI
George Richman	....	dustbuster: SPI
John Sanders	....	resource administration: SPI
Tim Sarnoff	....	senior staff: SPI
Deepak Sharma	....	software engineering: SPI
Michael Song	....	software engineering: SPI
Craig Sost	....	visual effects producer: SPI
Jeremy Squires	....	effects animator: SPI
Boyd Steer	....	negative handling: SPI
Mathew Thomas	....	lead production services technician: SPI
James Valentine	....	roto artist: SPI
Dana Vanhove	....	digital production management: SPI
Dennis Webb	....	film input/outout supervisor: SPI
Len White	....	3D lead: SPI
David Worman	....	match move artist: SPI
Aimee Campbell	....	senior matchmover: roto/paint, SPI (uncredited)
Stephen Kowalski	....	senior systems architect (uncredited)
Paul Maples	....	motion control operator (uncredited)
Ray McMillan	....	motion control supervisor (uncredited)
Jeff Olm	....	flame artist: SPI (uncredited)
Shyam V. Yadav	....	plate coordinator (uncredited)
Mitch Zeitlin	....	video editorial coordinator: SPI (uncredited)

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 (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark Beauchamp	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Yvonne Collins	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
François Daignault	....	Steadicam operator (as Francois Daignault)
François Daignault	....	camera operator: "a" camera (as Francois Daignault)
Heather Donald	....	camera loader
Howard Galbraith	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Howie Galbraith)
Michael Galbraith	....	chief lighting technician
Michael Gibson	....	still photographer
Bob Hannah	....	electrician (as Robert Hannah)
Eric Holmes	....	electrician
James Kohne	....	grip
Bernie Lalonde	....	key rigging grip
Joseph Micomonaco	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Beth Nobes	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Douglas Novis	....	rigging electric best boy
Derek Parkes	....	grip
Herb Reischl Sr.	....	electrician (as Herbert Reischl Sr.)
Ron Renzetti	....	dolly grip
Robert Rice	....	best boy grip
Don Rose	....	rigging best boy grip
Tracy Shaw	....	grip
Tom Starnes	....	key rigging gaffer
Samuel Turturici	....	grip
Mark Willis	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Ron Yolevsky	....	key grip
Ian S. Casas	....	key grip: additional photography (uncredited)
Tim Davis	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
Bill Hong	....	operator: camera car/insert car (uncredited)
Clyde Miller	....	aerial camera operator (uncredited)
Clyde Miller	....	camera operator: Wescam camera (uncredited)
Jeff Petro	....	assistant camera: Wescam camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jane Alderman	....	casting: Chicago
Michael Betts	....	casting assistant
Tina Gerussi	....	casting: Toronto
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Zameret Kleiman	....	extras casting
Roberta Romano	....	casting assistant: Toronto
Will Stewart	....	casting assistant (as Will Smith)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jill Aslin	....	assistant costume designer: Toronto
Heather Blurton	....	dresser: Ms. Moore
Virginia Burton	....	costume supervisor
Tricia Cruikshank	....	costumer
Maureen J. Curtin	....	wardrobe assistant on-set supervisor (as Maureen Curtin)
Sara Daubney	....	cutter/fitter (as Sara Daubney-Kinney)
Isabel De Biasio	....	wardrobe on-set supervisor
Maria Duplaga	....	assistant costume designer: Toronto (as Marya Duplaga)
Loreen Lightfoot	....	head cutter
Trelawnie Mead	....	dresser: Mr. Harrelson
Laurie Munday	....	costume supervisor: Toronto
Marina Ray	....	assistant costume designer
Bethany Bernhard	....	costumer (uncredited)
Courtney Ormond	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Daniel Boccoli	....	second assistant editor
Diane Brunjes	....	second assistant editor: Toronto
Chad Glastonbury	....	second assistant editor: Toronto
Claudia Guerrero-Zalokar	....	assistant editor
Joe Hatton	....	post-production assistant
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Ursula Mazurkiewicz	....	editorial trainee: Toronto
Dana Mulligan	....	first assistant editor
David Orr	....	color timer
Justine Gerenstein	....	editor: main title sequence (uncredited)
Steve Porter	....	final colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearance
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor (as Sandy De Crescent)
Ross DeRoche	....	supervising music copyist
Steve Durkee	....	additional score mixer
Steve Durkee	....	additional score recording
John Frizzell	....	music conductor
John Frizzell	....	orchestrator
Lisa Jaime	....	music editor
Andrew Kinney	....	orchestrator
Brian Kirk	....	music supervisor
Gabriel Mann	....	orchestrator (as Gabriel Rutman)
Bobbi Page	....	vocal contractor
Rail Rogut	....	scoring recordist
Peter Rotter	....	music contractor
Sarah Watkins	....	musician: featured fiddle soloist, appearing courtesy of Sugar Hill Records
Sean Watkins	....	musician: featured guitar soloist, appearing courtesy of Sugar Hill Records
Frederik Wiedmann	....	scoring coordinator
Rick Winquest	....	score recording & mixing
Hyesu Yang	....	orchestrator
Gabriel Mann	....	music arranger (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Wilfred Bell	....	transportation captain (as Wilfred C. Bell)
Bill Boyd	....	picture vehicle coordinator (as William Boyd)
Bill Jackson	....	transportation co-captain
Carl Severin	....	transportation co-captain
Marco Sousa	....	picture car captain
Mark Van Alstyne	....	transportation coordinator
Gord Bettles	....	picture car mechanic (uncredited)
Jennifer Mccormack	....	driver: second honeywagon (uncredited)

Other crew
Lyssa Aruda	....	adr group
Erica Beck	....	adr group
Cameron Bowen	....	adr group
Laurel Bresnahan	....	studio teacher
Katherine Brook	....	assistant: Mr. Rapke
James Campbell	....	location assistant
Stephen Clark	....	stand-in
Bobby Coleman	....	adr group
Jane Conway	....	animal wrangler
Vicki Davis	....	adr group
John DeMita	....	adr group (as John Demita)
Stacey Dunlop	....	stand-in (as Stacie Dunlop)
Greg Eby	....	first assistant accountant
Sonia Farrell	....	assistant: Mr. Harrelson
Jeff Fischer	....	adr group (as Jeffrey Todd Fischer)
Becky Flood	....	adr group
Colin Ford	....	adr group
James Fraser	....	production coordinator (as James B. Fraser)
James A. Frith	....	production assistant
Jen Gillespie	....	clearance coordinator
Doug Hale	....	adr group
Christian Hamilton	....	assistant production coordinator
Dustin Hughes	....	assistant: Ms. Anderson
Erica Jones	....	adr group
Nicky Jones	....	adr group
Carlyle King	....	adr group
Daamen J. Krall	....	adr group (as Daamen Krall)
Eli Russell Linnetz	....	adr group (as Eli Linnetz)
Janet Lonsdale	....	production accountant
Susan Marucci	....	script supervisor
Andi Matheny	....	adr group
Jeremy Maxwell	....	adr group
Dan McCann	....	assistant: Ms. Moore
Kyla McFeat	....	accounting clerk
Sarah McIntosh	....	payroll accountant
Joe Melton	....	location assistant
Tracy Metro	....	adr group
Sean Michaels	....	adr group
Justin Nichols	....	adr group
Mary Linda Phillips	....	adr group
Karen Pidgurski	....	unit publicist
Andrew Pritchard	....	production assistant
David Randolph	....	adr group
Zoë Raye	....	adr group (as Zoe Raye)
Noreen Reardon	....	adr group
Deborah Ricketts	....	stock footage researcher
Fiona Robinson	....	production assistant
Vernon Scott	....	adr group
Alyssa Shafer	....	adr group (as Alyssa Schafer)
Margaret Sigel	....	assistant: Mr. Rapke
Geoffrey Smither	....	location manager
Ian Smith	....	assistant location manager
Sue Sparling	....	payroll accountant
John Thomas	....	production secretary
Anthony Valenti	....	assistant accountant
Amy Wright	....	choreographer
Arthur Clarke	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Karin Fong	....	title designer (uncredited)
Dan Gosse	....	daily production assistant (uncredited)
Nadia Guglieri	....	second script supervisor (uncredited)
Nathan Hayashigawa	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Rachel Leko	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Sean Longley	....	key craft service (uncredited)
Nick Paquet	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Monique Perez	....	assistant to executive producer (uncredited)
Judd Rubin	....	production assistant: re-shoots (uncredited)
Dave Tommasini	....	pilot: Wescam helicopter (uncredited)
Nadia Venesse	....	dialect coach (uncredited)
Andrew Wolinsky	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Greg Wood	....	on-set nurse (uncredited)

Thanks
Evelyn Ryan	....	dedicatee: for
Jeremiah Shane Ryan	....	in memory of: 1982-2004

Production Companies

• Revolution Erie Productions Ltd.
• ImageMovers

Distributors

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

Special Effects

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

Other Companies

• Catering By Davids  catering (as By David's Catering)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes & dollies
• City of Oshawa, The  special thanks
• City of Toronto, Ontario  special thanks (as The City of Toronto)
• Clairmont  camera systems by
• County of Brant, The  special thanks
• Deroche Music  music preparation
• Directors Guild of Canada  acknowledgement
• Dr. Pepper Museum  special thanks
• Imaginary Forces  main titles designed and produced by
• International Film Guarantors  completion guarantee provided by
• Miss America Organization, The  special thanks: Miss America footage courtesy of
• O'Henry Sound Studios  music recorded and mixed at (as O'Henry Recording Studios)
• Ontario Heritage Foundation  special thanks
• Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC)  special thanks
• Orbit Digital  avids and technical support
• Parkwoods Foundation Oshawa, The  special thanks
• Pictorvision  aerial camera system
• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services provided by (A Lucasfilm Ltd. company)
• Sylvia's Country Portraits  special thanks: Dortha Schaefer photograph courtesy of
• Toronto Film and Television Office, The  special thanks
• Town of Paris, The  special thanks
• Town of Richmond Hill, The  special thanks

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 (certificate #41773)

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:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: On two occasions, characters mention the distance between Defiance, Ohio and Payne, Ohio. It's clear they actually said the distance was 45 miles, but the words "85 miles" were dubbed in later.

Quotes:

Detective Feeney: If you were stranded on an island and could take only one beverage with you, which beverage would you take?
Evelyn Ryan: Orange juice.
Detective Feeney: Orange juice?
Evelyn Ryan: Yes, orange juice... to prevent scurvy.
[pauses]
Evelyn Ryan: But my beverage of choice is Dr. Pepper.
Detective Feeney: [laughs]

Movie Connections:

Features "Queen for a Day" (1956)

Soundtrack:

Bye Bye Blues

Inspirational

Julianne Moore was excellent in her role of Evelyn Ryan. The movie is inspirational and thought provoking for women everywhere. A great family story. Woody Harrelson was perfectly cast as her alcoholic husband. He portrayed his character Kelly Ryan with just enough intensity and a touch of humor to not take the spotlight away from Julianne's character. The movie was taken from the book by the same name. It was written by Terry Ryan the daughter of Evelyn Ryan. You can sense the genuine connection between each character. Definitely see this one you will not regret it. There is none of that over the top Hollywood glitz and effects just a great story and excellent acting.