Gridiron Gang (2006)

Director:

Phil Joanou

Writers (WGA):

Jeff Maguire (written by)
Jac Flanders (film "Gridiron Gang")

Release Date:

15 September 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

One goal. A second chance.

Plot:

Teenagers at a juvenile detention center, under the leadership of their counselor, gain self-esteem by playing football together.

Plot Keywords:

Abusive Boyfriend | Remake | Murder | Loss Of Mother | Sports Team

Cast

Dwayne Johnson	...	Sean Porter (as Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson)
Xzibit	...	Malcolm Moore
L. Scott Caldwell	...	Bobbi Porter
Leon Rippy	...	Paul Higa
Kevin Dunn	...	Ted Dexter
Jade Yorker	...	Willie Weathers
David V. Thomas	...	Kelvin Owens (as David Thomas)
Setu Taase	...	Junior Palaita
Mo McRae	...	Leon Hayes (as Mo)
James Earl	...	Donald Madlock (as James Earl III)
Trever O'Brien	...	Kenny Bates
Brandon Smith	...	Bug Wendal (as Brandon Mychal Smith)
Jurnee Smollett-Bell	...	Danyelle Rollins (as Jurnee Smollett)
Michael J. Pagan	...	Roger Weathers
Jamal Mixon	...	Jamal Evans
Danny Martinez	...	Miguel Perez
Artie Baxter	...	John Stevens
Joe Seo	...	Choi (as Joseph Seo)
Joseph Raymond Lucero	...	Chavez (as Joseph Lucero)
Robert Zepeda	...	Peavy
Omari Hardwick	...	Free
Six Reasons	...	C-Co
Omari Hughes	...	Little Dove
Adam Clark	...	Marvin
Dan Martin	...	Terrell Rollins
Michael Jace	...	Mr. Jones
Brett Cullen	...	Frank Torrance
Garrett M. Brown	...	Coach Finley
Mary Mara	...	Kenny Bates' Mom
Nafeesa Monroe	...	Young Mother
Marcia Jeffries	...	Roger's Mother
Charles Walker	...	Old Man
Emil Pinnock	...	Anthony
Kelli Dawn Hancock	...	Market Woman
Anna Maria Horsford	...	Sharon Weathers
Stevie Wash Jr.	...	Dewayne (as Stevie Walsh Jr.)
Scott Thomas Cameron	...	Hall Guard
Bruce Katzman	...	Principal
Asenati Satele	...	Junior's Girlfriend
Shane Woolaston	...	Junior's Son
Sonya Eddy	...	Bug's Mother
Gregory Farr	...	BHS QB
Melissa-Anne Davenport	...	Cheerleader
Ambrit Millhouse	...	Cherise
Phil Reeves	...	CIF Official
Danny Mora	...	Mr. Medina
Walter A. Saunders III	...	Van Staff (as Walter Saunders III)
Robert C. Cawley	...	Van Staff (as Robert Cawley Jr.)
Michael C. Mahon	...	Field Coach
Brian Oblak	...	Gym Coach
Jamie McShane	...	Referee
Allan Graf	...	Referee
Daniel Murphy	...	Referee
Roberto Montesinos	...	Staff
Lamont Holmes	...	Staff
Catherine McCord	...	Car Girl
Barry Tolli	...	BHS Player
Jay Bingham	...	Finley's Asst.
Daniel Abikasis	...	BHS LB
John P. Husky	...	Announcer (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dominiqua Alexis	...	Mustang Cheerleader (uncredited)
Rocky Brito	...	Juvenile Delinquent / Mustang Football Player (uncredited)
Ronn Burner	...	Prom King (uncredited)
Alex Darke	...	BHS Player #2 (uncredited)
Charles W. Davidson	...	Mustang Football Player (uncredited)
Barron Edwards	...	Mustang Football Player (uncredited)
Sean Hampton	...	Free's Crew (uncredited)
Jason E. Kelley	...	Uniformed Cop (uncredited)
Michael Francis Kelly	...	Affluent Coach (uncredited)
Benjamin Kim	...	New Inmate (uncredited)
Jeran Pascascio	...	Mustang Football Player #2 (uncredited)
Raul Perez	...	Barnes (uncredited)
Jay Rodriguez	...	Camp Ward (uncredited)
Sean Scarborough	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Bethany Wallin	...	Homecoming Queen (uncredited)
Kelle Whitehurst	...	Family Visitor (uncredited)

Directed by
Phil Joanou

Writing credits (WGA)
Jeff Maguire		(written by)
Jac Flanders		(film "Gridiron Gang")

Produced by
Ryan Kavanaugh	....	executive producer
Amanda Lewis	....	co-producer (as Amanda Cohen)
Adam Milano	....	studio executive: development
Neal H. Moritz	....	producer
Michael I. Rachmil	....	executive producer (as Michael Rachmil)
Lynwood Spinks	....	executive producer
Lee Stanley	....	producer
Shane Stanley	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Trevor Rabin

Cinematography by
Jeff Cutter		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Joel Negron

Casting by
Sarah Finn
Randi Hiller
Randi Lynne

Production Design by
Floyd Albee

Set Decoration by
Erin Morache

Costume Design by
Sanja Milkovic Hays

Makeup Department
Scott Cameron	....	hair department head (as Scott T. Cameron)
Jeff Dawn	....	makeup department head
Louis Lazzara	....	key makeup artist
Monica Sabedra	....	key hair stylist (as Monica Lisa Sabedra)
Rachel Solow	....	hair department head
Angie Wells	....	key makeup artist (as Angela S. Wells)

Production Management
Richard J. Gelfand	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
J. Stephen Buck	....	first assistant director
E. Langston Craig	....	second second assistant director
Stephen W. Moore	....	dga trainee (as Steve Moore)
Jennifer Reiss	....	second assistant director
Ellen Rosentreter	....	day player second assistant director
Brian 'Coach' Rosett	....	additional second assistant director
Paul Schmitz	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Mike Carrillo	....	assistant property master
Aric Cheng	....	set designer
Don 'Tex' Clark	....	set dresser
Jack Cornelius	....	set dresser
Raymond Dumas	....	storyboard artist (as Rusty Dumas)
Jim Early	....	construction foreman
Carmine Goglia	....	stand-by painter
Ethan Goodwin	....	art department coordinator
Robert Lucas	....	leadman
Douglas T. Madison	....	property master (as Doug Madison Jr.)
Matthew McKee	....	art department assistant
Martin Milligan	....	on-set dresser
Reese St. Amant	....	painter (as Charisse St. Amant)
Michael P. Sweeney	....	props
Naomi Treuherz	....	signwriter
John Tyrrell	....	paint foreman
Ely Vegh	....	set dresser
Gary Warshaw	....	assistant art director
Victor Anderson	....	construction foreman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bill W. Benton	....	sound mixer
Bill W. Benton	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gloria D'Alessandro	....	dialogue editor
Valerie Davidson	....	dialogue editor
Valerie Davidson	....	sound editor
Chris Diamond	....	cable utility
Joe Dorn	....	dialogue editor
Joe Dorn	....	sound editor
Susan Dudeck	....	supervising adr editor
Kevin Globerman	....	digital recordist
Vincent Guisetti	....	foley artist
Jeffrey J. Haboush	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jamie Hardt	....	assistant sound editor
P.K. Hooker	....	assistant sound editor
Scott Jacobs	....	boom operator
Pamela Kahn	....	foley artist
Ka'ramuu Kush	....	adr foley
Skip Lievsay	....	supervising sound editor
Howard London	....	adr mixer
Ken McLaughlin	....	production sound mixer
James Morioka	....	dialogue editor
Bob Newlan	....	sound editor
Bob Newlan	....	sound effects editor
Rob Nokes	....	additional sound recordist
Jeremy Peirson	....	sound designer
Jeremy Peirson	....	sound effects editor
Kyle Rochlin	....	foley mixer
Jerry Ross	....	supervising sound editor
Kevin Shannon	....	sound
John Joseph Thomas	....	supervising foley editor

Special Effects by
Anthony Delacruz	....	special effects technician (as Anthony DeLaCruz)
Kelly Kerby	....	special effects coordinator
Al Marangoni	....	special effects crew

Visual Effects by
Tim Bird	....	visual effects supervisor
Justin Blaustein	....	digital compositor
Justin Blaustein	....	flame artist
Simon Brewster	....	digital compositor
Andrea Caretta	....	digital artist
Ron Cosentino	....	visual effects producer
Brian Hanable	....	digital effects compositor: Pacific Title
Shih-hao Jason Huang	....	3D artist: Pacific Title and Art Studio
James Pastorius	....	lead digital compositor
Gerald Ragland	....	digital intermediate support colorist
Bob Wiatr	....	digital effects compositor: Pacific Title

Stunts
Daniel Abikasis	....	stunt double
Dean Baldwin	....	stunt double
Kevin Cater	....	stunts: football double
John Dixon	....	stunt double
Mickey Giacomazzi	....	utility stunts
Allan Graf	....	stunt coordinator
Derek Graf	....	stunts
Gary Guercio	....	stunt driver: camera bike
Mike Gunther	....	stunt performer
Daniel Hernandez	....	stunts
Oliver Keller	....	stunt driver
Malosi Leonard	....	stunt performer
Matt Leonard	....	stunts
Michael Li	....	stunt performer
Dan B. Norris	....	stunts
Kai Nuuhiwa	....	stunts
LaDell Preston	....	stunt double
Tanoai Reed	....	stunt double: The Rock
Kevin Reid	....	stunt double
Justin Riemer	....	stunts
Mazio Royster	....	stunt double
Mike Rufino	....	stunts
Tim Sabatino	....	stunt driver
Marcus Salgado	....	stunt double
Anthony G. Schmidt	....	stunts
Brad M. Sorenson	....	stunt performer
Buddy Sosthand	....	stunt driver
Greg Anthony	....	stunt performer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Raynee Borchardt	....	grip
John Bramley	....	still photographer
Kelly Cummins	....	camera loader
Andrew Degnan	....	additional second assistant camera
William DiCenso	....	rf technician
David Ghegan	....	best boy electric (as David Scott Ghegan)
Bill Greenberg	....	rigging electrician
Rob J. Greenlea	....	grip
Daniel Hanych	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Michael Kelly	....	electrician
Ryan Kirk	....	second video assist operator
Karen Korn	....	additional second assistant camera
Seth Kotok	....	second assistant camera
Thomas E. Lee	....	grip
Bob Leitelt	....	key grip
Josh Levy	....	video assist operator
Michael L. Lewin	....	rigging grip
Chris Lombardi	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Gregory Lundsgaard	....	camera operator
T. Michael McLean	....	first assistant camera: football unit
David Mun	....	assistant camera
Ignacio Musich	....	additional first assistant camera
Frédéric North	....	pilot: camera helicopter
Thom Owens	....	additional camera operator
Robert J. Reilly	....	dolly grip
Nicolas Restrepo	....	first assistant camera
Timothy Roarke	....	camera operator
Joel A. Ruiz	....	electrician
Bob Scott	....	camera operator
Cliff Shaffer	....	grip
Riley Sidore	....	set lighting technician
Charles Smith	....	best boy grip
Scott Sprague	....	lighting technician
Hong Suwadji	....	camera trainee
Andrew Taylor	....	dolly grip
James 'Biff' Thomsen	....	electrician
Jarred Waldron	....	gaffer
Michael J. Walker	....	additional camera operator
Michael J. Walker	....	camera operator
Steven J. Winslow	....	aerial camera technician: Wescam camera
Christopher A. Zwirner	....	rigging best boy

Casting Department
Clint Alexander	....	casting assistant: New York
Scott Blasko	....	extras casting assistant
Michael Damico	....	extras casting coordinator
Nina Henninger	....	location casting
Nina Henninger	....	search casting
Tamara Hunter	....	casting associate
Tina Kerr	....	extras casting
Marisa Christine Medina	....	casting assistant
Terence Rosemore	....	extras casting assistant
Aaron Simnowitz	....	casting assistant
Jacque Lawson	....	extras coordinator: on set (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Camille Argus	....	costume supervisor
Demetricus Holloway	....	set costumer
Sabine Huber	....	costumer
Robert Mata	....	costumer: Mr. Johnson
Michael A. Russell	....	set costumer
Irena Stepic	....	key costumer

Editorial Department
Michel Aller	....	first assistant editor
Dylan Carter	....	on-line editor
Meagan Costello	....	apprentice editor
Nick Monton	....	digital intermediate producer
Missy Papageorge	....	digital intermediate producer
Marc Pattavina	....	assistant editor
Gavina Reitnauer	....	on-line editor
Stefan Sonnenfeld	....	digital colorist
Lawrence Howard Williams	....	post digital media operator
Salvatore Catanzaro	....	assistant on-line editor (uncredited)
Jim Passon	....	color timer (uncredited)
Jimmy Tom	....	assistant colorist (uncredited)
Ian Turpen	....	digital intermediate scanner: Company 3 (uncredited)

Music Department
Mark Estes	....	music preparation
Josh Evans	....	assistant score engineer
Amanda Goodpaster	....	music editor
Katie Greathouse	....	assistant music editor
Greg Hayes	....	score recordist
Steve Kempster	....	score mixer
Kory Kruckenberg	....	scoring assistant engineer
Paul Linford	....	composer: additional music
Paul Linford	....	score mixer
Paul Linford	....	score producer
Pilar McCurry	....	music supervisor
Robert Puff	....	music preparation
Jeanette Surga	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Steve Bonner	....	driver
Michael W. Broomer	....	driver
Daniel Canamar	....	transportation dispatcher
Chris Gorden	....	talent driver
Benson Jones	....	driver
Michael Menapace	....	transportation coordinator
George A. Miki	....	driver
Theresa M. Roehner	....	teamster driver
Brenda Ryan	....	driver
Eddie Santana	....	driver
John F. Teeple	....	driver

Other crew
Kevin Cater	....	football player
Valeria Migliassi Collins	....	script supervisor
Jaime Daly	....	key assistant location manager
Karly Davis	....	production assistant
Josh Elwell	....	production assistant
Flax Glor	....	publicist
Sean Gowrie	....	assistant production coordinator
Allan Graf	....	football coordinator
Nicole Graf	....	production assistant
Christopher Griffie	....	key set production assistant
Stephen Gurley	....	accounting clerk
Richelle Hassell	....	assistant: Mr. Joanou
Jacob Head	....	looping voices
Damiana Kamishin	....	production coordinator
Iden Kamishin	....	production assistant
Dave Kasubowski	....	craft service
Nikki King	....	assistant: Mr. Moritz
Steven S. Lee	....	location scout
David Linck	....	unit publicist
Jadi McCurdy	....	production assistant
Isaac Mejía	....	set production assistant
Eddie Merino	....	key assistant location manager
Patrick Mignano	....	location manager
Kathryn Mindala	....	production accountant
Shara Moradi	....	production intern
Guy Morrison	....	location scout
Jeni Mulein	....	assistant: Ms. Cohen
Jason Neudecker	....	production assistant
Ivanna Palance	....	assistant: Mr. Rachmil
Paul Pawlowski	....	post-production accountant
Peggy Pere	....	helicopter coordinator
Justin Riemer	....	assistant football coordinator
Benjamin Rigaud	....	assistant: The Rock
Chris Romberg	....	first assistant accountant
Roric Ruegsegger	....	technical advisor
Jason Salzman	....	production secretary
Todd SanSone	....	wireless imaging technician
Lee J. Santillan	....	second assistant accountant
Stephen Sprague	....	production assistant
Sheri St Lawrence	....	key second assistant accountant
Jeremiah Stafford	....	production assistant
Lloyd Thomas	....	caterer
Lora Umphress	....	payroll accountant
Jay Veltri	....	stand-in: Dwayne Johnson
Benton Ward	....	technical production assistant
Oorala Yamada	....	additional set production assistant

Thanks
Bert Boeckmann	....	special thanks
Jane Boeckmann	....	special thanks
Paul Higa	....	in memory of

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Industries
• Original Film
• Visual Arts Entertainment
• Stanhaven Productions
• Relativity Media

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2007) (Argentina) (all media)
• LK-TEL (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2007) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Pacific Title (opticals)
• A52 (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Executive Assurance  security
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Company 3  digital intermediate
• Digital Jungle  DVD commentary
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Filmtools  expendables
• Inflatable Crowd Company, The  inflatable mannequins
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Otto Nemenz International  cameras (as Otto Nemenz)
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Reel Team, The  loop group
• Riverside Community College Marching Band  special thanks
• Sony Pictures Studios  post services
• US Computamatch  negative cutting (as US Computer Match)
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some startling scenes of violence, mature thematic material and language

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41479) | Singapore:PG | Malaysia:U | Germany:12 | Ireland:15A | Australia:M | Finland:K-13 | Argentina:Atp | South Korea:15 | Denmark:11 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Singapore:PG13 (re-rating)

Filming Locations:

Agoura High School - 28545 W. Driver Avenue, Agoura Hills, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Industries

Trivia:

With this film, Sony became the first studio to release ten films that opened at #1 at the box office in a single year. The previous record of nine was also set by Sony in 2003, with the release of Something's Gotta Give (2003).

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Mustangs are playing the playoff game, #55 of the Panthers is seen in one scene with long sleeves, then moments later he has no sleeves.

Quotes:

Sean Porter:Most sixteen/seventeen year old kids, they make a bad choice. Something gets broken, they screw up in class, hurt somebody's feelings, show up at the prom drunk. They get sent to the Principal office, have their car keys taken away or get grounded. Then there's kids that make a bad choice, somebody ends up shot dead in a parking lot. Those kids get sent here.

Movie Connections:

References Madden NFL 94 (1993) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Celebration

Ignore the cold-hearted critics

Prepare to hear whining and complaining from movie critics who fall outside the boundaries of this movie's target demographic by a good 15 - 20 years: "This is so predictable!" "What a bunch of clichés!" "We've seen it all before!"

You know what? I'm not going to argue with those points. I don't deny that this is a by-the-numbers sports drama. "You can do it" speeches fill the air, inspirational music soars high, and anybody well-versed in this genre can easily call the shots. Come on, did you really doubt that there'd be a jerk opposing player that we'd be forced to hate? Are you naive enough to wonder if he'll get his comeuppance by the movie's end?

Gridiron Gang is a movie that understands who its audience is, and it plays them like a fiddle. But you know what else? I don't care. The audience absolutely loved it. Biggest crowd reaction of any movie I've seen so far this year. They cheered when the gang got a touchdown, they grimaced at every painful tackle, and they chanted for Johnny Betts to take his shirt off. Hey, I thought it was a little out of place as well. But who am I to deny my fans?

Now I'm not saying this is a movie of the year contender, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm not ashamed of that, and I'm not going to apologize for it. I'll even go so far as to admit that there were a couple of scenes during which I got a little choked up - the only time it's happened this year.

Yeah, I said it. You got a problem with it? My biker boots (size 11) and I would be more than happy to discuss the issue. If you can turn an indifferent eye to the scene near the end involving Rock's mother then you, my friend, are a cold, cold man. Or woman.

What can I say? I'm a sucker for inspirational sports movies, especially when they star an actor I like - and I really like The Rock. His charisma and natural screen presence are undeniable, and he even displays some impressive acting chops here. The man gives us real tears - from BOTH eyes. Take that, Ashley Judd!

Not every film has to be a deep, insightful masterpiece of epic proportions with layers and layers of social commentary and "vertiginous fluidity." Some movies are simply made to entertain. What's wrong with giving the audience something to cheer? You know, there are still a few moviegoers out there who want to go home happy and inspired.

If you fit into that category then you won't have any problem ignoring the familiarity of Gridiron Gang. The wonderful mixture of humor and drama will suck you in and have you rooting for these kids to overcome the odds.

If you've got a "Mr. Potter heart" then do us and George Bailey a favor and stay home. The theater will be more pleasant without your curmudgeonly ways.