Driving Lessons (2006)

Director:

Jeremy Brock

Writer:

Jeremy Brock (written by)

Release Date:

13 October 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

All Ben wanted was a job. All Evie needed was a friend.

Plot:

A coming of age story about a shy teenage boy trying to escape from the influence of his domineering mother. His world changes when he begins to work for a retired actress. |

Plot Keywords:

Coming Of Age | Retired Actress | Teenage Boy | Actress | Grandmother Grandson Relationship

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Rupert Grint	...	Ben Marshall
Fay Cohen	...	Old Lady 1
Ruby Mortlock	...	Old Lady 2
Don Wetherhead	...	Old Man
Laura Linney	...	Laura Marshall
Oliver Milburn	...	Peter
Tamsin Egerton	...	Sarah
Nicholas Farrell	...	Robert Marshall
Jim Norton	...	Mr. Fincham
Julie Walters	...	Evie Walton
Chandra Ruegg	...	Chandra
Ricky Champ	...	Tough Looking Man
Rupert Holliday-Evans	...	Store Manager (as Rupert Holiday Evans)
Harriet Brock	...	Child at Campsite
James Brock	...	Child at Campsite
Stanley Brock	...	Child at Campsite
Michelle Duncan	...	Bryony
Jordan Young	...	Receptionist
John Yule	...	Hotel Manager
Jacques Kerr	...	Waiter
Rose Keegan	...	Emma Pagent
Iain McColl	...	Policeman
Annabelle Apsion	...	Trendy Mum
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rita Davies	...	Mrs. Robottom (uncredited)
Surinder Duhra	...	Driving Inspector (uncredited)

Directed by
Jeremy Brock

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jeremy Brock		written by

Produced by
Alessandro Camon	....	executive producer
Julia Chasman	....	producer
Alexandra Ferguson	....	co-producer
Robert Jones	....	executive producer
Edward R. Pressman	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Clive Carroll
John Renbourn

Cinematography by
David Katznelson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Trevor Waite

Casting by
Priscilla John

Production Design by
Amanda McArthur

Art Direction by
John Reid

Costume Design by
Robin Fraser-Paye

Makeup Department
Christina Baker	....	hair designer
Christina Baker	....	makeup designer
Mouse Christien	....	makeup trainee
Philippa Hall	....	additional makeup artist
Ashley Johnson	....	hair stylist
Ashley Johnson	....	makeup artist
Carla Sennett	....	makeup trainee
Karen Sherriff-Brown	....	additional makeup artist (as Karen Sheriff-Brown)
Rebecca Walker	....	additional makeup artist

Production Management
Tim Wellspring	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matt Carver	....	second assistant director
Heidi Gower	....	additional third assistant director
Konrad Jay	....	first assistant director
Bryn Lawrence	....	additional third assistant director
Andrew Mannion	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Mark Billingham	....	prop hand
Pete Blackall	....	assistant dressing props (as Peter Blackhall)
Alan Briant	....	assistant dressing props
Michael D. Cassidy Jr.	....	additional dressing props (as Michael Cassidy)
Nick Dent	....	prop hand
Nick Dent	....	prop hand
Owen Harrison	....	additional dressing props
Robert Haynes	....	stand-by art director
Springer Horrill	....	property master (as David 'Springer' Horrill)
Shay Leonard	....	stand-by props
Bridget Menzies	....	set dresser
Celia O'Sullivan	....	prop buyer
Pete Steward	....	stand-by carpenter (as Peter Steward)
Phil Wheeler	....	additional painter
Penny White	....	dressing props

Sound Department
Tom Davis	....	foley editor
Alex Hudd	....	sound consultant: dolby
Dean Humphreys	....	sound supervisor
Craig Irving	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dave Keene	....	additional sound recordist
Mark Lafbery	....	adr mixer
Darko Mocilnikar	....	additional sound maintenance
Paul Munro	....	sound maintenance engineer
Colin Nicolson	....	location sound mixer (as Colin Nicholson)
Grahame Peters	....	dialogue editor
Andy Walker	....	sound effects editor
Nigel Walker	....	additional special sound effects

Special Effects by
Perry Costello	....	rigging supplier
Barry Derbyshire	....	special effects director

Visual Effects by
Simon Allmark	....	visual effects editor
Tamsin Blanchard	....	visual effects producer
Tom Collier	....	visual effects compositor
Simon Frame	....	visual effects producer
Isaac Layish	....	visual effects compositor

Stunts
Marc Cass	....	stunt coordinator
Marc Cass	....	stunt performer
David Decio	....	driving double: Rupert Grint
Greg Dela Riva	....	utility stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Chas Bain	....	additional camera operator: second unit
Chris Bain	....	additional focus puller: second unit
Jeff Baynes	....	additional camera operator: special effects
Paddy Blake	....	focus puller
Luke Chisholm	....	grip
Nic Cupac	....	key grip
Per Danbo	....	gaffer
Per Danbo	....	lighting equipment
Aaron Douglas	....	crane operator
Camilla Drennan	....	camera trainee (as Camilla 'Millie' Drennan)
Laurence Edwards	....	crane operator
Mick Gianotti	....	generator operator (as Mick Giannotti)
Paul Hatchman	....	grip: second unit
Gerry Higgins	....	rigger
Alex Howe	....	focus puller: second unit
Eifion Hughes	....	additional generator operator (as Eifor 'Ave' Hughes)
Andreas Kragh-Jacobsen	....	best boy rigging grip
Jay Maidment	....	still photographer
Dennis O'Connell	....	rigging electrician
Chris Plevin	....	camera operator: second unit
John Rake	....	additional grip
Mike Rees	....	clapper loader
Carolina Schmidtholstein	....	best boy lighting
Paul Skipper	....	rigger
Ricky Stelling	....	rigger (as Ricky Stenning)
Richard Stoddard	....	Steadicam operator
Robin Stone	....	additional grip
Roger Tooley	....	Steadicam operator
Lawrence Winter	....	crane operator (as Laurence Winter)

Casting Department
Faith Allbeson	....	casting associate
Orla Maxwell	....	casting associate
Laura Sheppard	....	extras casting: The Casting Collective

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Katherine Burchill	....	additional wardrobe assistant
Alison Guy	....	additional wardrobe assistant
Heidi Miller	....	wardrobe supervisor
Victoria Taylor	....	stand-by wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Nina Bradley	....	assistant editor
Trevor Brown	....	colorist
Dan Crussell	....	telecine operator
Richard Lloyd	....	post-production consultant
Patty Papageorgiou	....	post-production assistant
Dave Rees	....	grader
Mark Wright	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Matt Biffa	....	music supervisor: Air-Edel
Clive Carroll	....	music preparation
Paul Clarvis	....	musician: percussion
Daniel Gareh	....	music programmer (as Dan Gareh)
Nick Geelen	....	assistant to score recording engineer
Niall Keegan	....	musician: flutes and pipes
Tony Lewis	....	music consultant
Tony Lewis	....	music editor
Nick Moss	....	musician: clarinet
Alistair Norbury	....	music legal
Tony Orchudesch	....	additional music clearance
Andy Pask	....	musician: bass
Anthony Pleeth	....	musician: cello
Philip Pope	....	composer: additional music
Graham Preskett	....	additional music arranger
Steven Price	....	additional music consultant (as Steve Price)
Nick Taylor	....	score recording engineer
Alison Wright	....	music supervisor: Air-Edel

Transportation Department
Bob Beaton	....	unit driver: Julie Walters (as Bob Beton)
Mike Beaven	....	unit driver: Laura Linney
Dean Birch	....	facilities driver
Luke Chisholm	....	driver: camera car
Craig Gilbert	....	facilities driver
Tim Harrison	....	facilities driver
Paul Padfield	....	technician: action vehicle (as Paul 'Taff' Padfield)
Brian Tame	....	driver: props
Kitchener Young	....	unit driver: Rupert Grint

Other crew
Reno Antoniades	....	legal services: Lee and Thompson
Caspar Aron	....	additional runner
Hannah Brown	....	runner
Dan Burnham	....	utility stand-in
Paul Cable	....	insurance broker: Media and Entertainment Insurance Services
Neil Calder	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Maria Calvin	....	legal services: Lee and Thompson
Sally Caplan	....	head of Premiere Fund: UK Film Council Premiere Fund
Martin Childs	....	title designer: main titles
Susan d'Arcy	....	unit publicist
Paul Dray	....	laboratory contact
Will Evans	....	head of business affairs: UK Film Council Premiere Fund
Kim Fenton	....	location assistant
Sandra Frieze	....	dialogue coach
Tom Greaves	....	production assistant
Ruth Halliday	....	negative checks and script clearances: The Clearing House
Ruth Hodgson	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Vince Holden	....	head of production finance: UK Film Council Premiere Fund
Mark Hopkins	....	additional runner
Steven Hora	....	assistant: Ed Pressman and Alessandro Camon
Elizabeth Hurley	....	production accountant
Nick Jay	....	additional runner (as Nicholas Jay)
Steve Joberns	....	auditor: AGN Shipleys
Karen Jones	....	additional script supervisor
Sally King	....	child supporting artist
Karen Knox	....	unit medic: Scotland
Ann Koska	....	child supporting artist
Pete Leech	....	additional medic
Ben MacGregor	....	location assistant
Zoe Margolis	....	additional runner
Miranda Marks	....	production coordinator
Gillian McArthur	....	additional medic
Sarah McKenna	....	chaperone: Rupert Gint
Fiona Morham	....	head of production: UK Film Council Premiere Fund
Boo Motjuoadi	....	assistant production coordinator (as Lebo 'Boo' Motjuoadi)
Stephen Murphy	....	legal services: Lee and Thompson
Brock Norman Brock	....	production executive: UK Film Council Premiere Fund
Nicki Parfitt	....	legal services: Lee and Thompson
Linda Pather	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Natasha Pilbrow	....	legal services: Lee and Thompson
Sarah Ramey	....	assistant: Edward R. Pressman
Emma Robinson	....	production assistant
Oli Saunders	....	IT support
Gerry Savage	....	unit medic
James Shirras	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Algy Sloane	....	location manager
Ed Smith	....	location assistant: Scotland
Hugo Smith-Bingham	....	location manager: second unit
Maxine Stanley	....	accountant: post-production
Cindy Thomson	....	location manager: Scotland
Lisa Vick	....	script supervisor
Helen Walker	....	accounts assistant

Thanks
Rod Hall	....	dedicatee

Production Companies

• ContentFilm (present)
• Rubber Tree Plant (as A Rubber Tree Plant production)
• UK Film Council (present)

Distributors

• Cathay-Keris Films (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• ContentFilm (2005) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing Canada (2006) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing Canada (2007) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Tartan Films (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• ContentFilm International (2005) (worldwide) (all media) (sales agency)
• DNC Entertainment (2006) (Italy) (all media)
• Gateno Films (2006) (Peru) (all media)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Sunfilm Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Men From Mars (visual effects created by) (as Men-From-Mars)

Other Companies

• A Team, The  location security
• AGN Shipleys  audit
• ARRI Media  cranes
• Air-Edel Recording Studios  music recorded and mixed at (as Air-Edel)
• Air-Edel Recording Studios  music supervision (as Air-Edel)
• Anglia Catering Services  catering (as Anglia Catering)
• Argyll Catering  catering: Scotland
• Arion Facilities  dailies telecine transfers
• Arte Media  crowd voices
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies/mobiles (as Audiolink)
• Blitz Rigging  rigging
• Bonded Services  film storage
• Casting Collective  extras casting (as The Casting Collective)
• Compuhire  TV playback and graphics
• Crossfade  sound post-production
• Cutting Edge  negative cutting
• Dynamic  international courier (as Dynamic International)
• Expressions Dance Studio  salsa coordination
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Hare In The Gate  rushes transport
• Heritage Chauffeur Company  car service
• Karrimor  camping clothes
• King Facilities  facilities: Scotland
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• Lavender Green  flowers
• Lee & Thompson  legal services
• Lofty's Lab  stills processing
• Media & Entertainment Insurance Services  insurance broker (as Media and Entertainment Insurance Services)
• Midnight Transfer  cutting rooms and edit equipment
• Nine Nine Cars Ltd.  action and tracking vehicles (as Nine Nine Cars)
• On Set Location Services  facilities
• P-J Wellspring  production database design
• Primus  camping lights
• Pringle of Scotland  selected clothes (as Pringle)
• Production Profiles  Toyota supplied by
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script
• Sapex Scripts  post-production services
• Silver Screen  facilities: Scotland
• Soundtrack  adr studio: New York
• Take 2 Film Services  camera equipment provided by
• Thames Recruitment  swing drivers
• The Clearing House Ltd.  negative checks and script clearances (as The Clearing House)
• Thomson and Thomson  title search
• Travel Company, The  flight booking
• Twickenham Studios  sound re-recorded at (as Twickenham Film Studios)
• Universal Aerial Platforms Ltd.  cherry pickers (as Universal Platforms)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language, sexual content and some thematic material

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:15A | USA:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | UK:12 (edited version) | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

ContentFilm

Trivia:

During the making of this film Rupert Grint had not yet passed his driving test and so a driving double had to be used for scenes filmed on public roads. Rupert commented that he failed his test during a maneuver as he forgot to look over his shoulder during the turn in the road.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the initial Edinburgh scenes, the background changes from raining to cloudy to almost clear, to rainy, all basically within the same shot.

Quotes:

Bryony:Hello. I made you some tea. Do you take sugar?
Ben:No.
Bryony:It's okay. I'm not gonna eat you. I don't have to be anywhere until after lunch. How about you? Do you fancy staying in a bit?
[Ben starts dressing]
Bryony:I take it that's a no then.
Ben:It's eleven thirty.
Bryony:So?
Ben:I promised Evie I'd be there by eleven.

Movie Connections:

References One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Soundtrack:

Nocturne No 1 in Bb minor, op 9

Bubblegum Harold and Maude

A British twist on Harold and Maude, Driving Lessons features a reined-in Rupert Grint and an over-the-top Julie Walters. While it is true that Grint is stone-faced like a redheaded Benjamin Braddock for the first half of the movie, it does not deter from the quirky family film--there are things going on that are out of his character's experience that would create a shell-shocked reaction. The chemistry between Walters and Grint carries the film, though Laura Linney's hard work to make her written stereotype human is also notable. These performances combined with a fun poppy soundtrack with artists like Sufjan Stevens, John Renbourn and Salsa Celtica make this kids popcorn flick worth a Saturday afternoon.