Special (2006)

Directors:

Hal Haberman
Jeremy Passmore

Writers:

Hal Haberman (written by) &
Jeremy Passmore (written by)

Release Date:

17 November 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

He's not your ordinary superhero.

Plot:

A lonely metermaid has a psychotic reaction to his medication and becomes convinced he's a superhero. A very select group of people in life are truly gifted. Special is a movie about everyone else.

Plot Keywords:

Superhero | Medication | Blood | Bloody Face | Antidote

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Michael Rapaport	...	Les
Paul Blackthorne	...	Jonas Exiler
Josh Peck	...	Joey
Robert Baker	...	Everett
Jack Kehler	...	Dr. Dobson
Alexandra Holden	...	Maggie
Ian Bohen	...	Ted Exiler
Christopher Darga	...	Steve
Michael Shamus Wiles	...	Cop #1
Erich Anderson	...	Newscaster
Karyn Bryant	...	Co-host
Trish Nelson	...	Pregnant Teen (as Patricia Ann Nelson)
Franc Ross	...	Crackhead
Marc Schaffer	...	Gorcery Store Mugger (as Marc Shaffer)
Amanda Carlin	...	Mugging Victim
Matthew Rugetti	...	Mugger (as Matt Rugetti)
Charlie Babcock	...	Comic Book Enthusiast
Challen Cates	...	Business Woman
Mike Saenz	...	Depressed Guy
Natalie Richter	...	Receptionist
Howard Ferguson	...	Homeless Man
Howard Ferguson-Woitzman	...	Homeless Man
Kenneth Park	...	Sleazy Husband
Erica Bourke	...	Pregnant Wife (as Erica M. Bourke)
Andre Fabrizio	...	Cop #2
Jennifer Emil	...	Comic Store Patron #1
Travis Eli Whited	...	Comic Store Patron #2 (as Travis Whited)
Paul Grimshaw	...	Comic Store Patron #3
Matthew Troyer	...	Grocery Store Patron #1 - Tall Guy (as Matt Troyer)
Banzai Vitale	...	Grocery Store Patron #2 (as Bonzai Vitale)
Deena Grassia	...	Grocery Store Patron #3
Denyse Kidd	...	Grocery Store Patron #4
Giacomi Knox	...	Grocery Store Patron #5
Louis Montgomery	...	Grocery Store Patron #6
Andrew Leeds	...	Grocery Store Patron #8 - Bitter Lonely Guy
Ian McConnel	...	Grocery Store Patron #9 - Sweet Lonely Guy
Cathy Babb	...	Grocery Store Patron #10
Brian Brotherston	...	Grocery Store Patron #11
Natalie Blalock	...	Grocery Store Patron #12
Kumiko Hatake	...	Japanese Tourist #1
Mariko Yamamoto	...	Japanese Tourist #2
Yuko Miyake	...	Japanese Tourist #3
Annie Bloom	...	Cyclist
Zachery Bagma	...	Dobson's Son
Barbara Peck	...	Dobson's Wife
Lawrence Fells	...	Bitch-Fighter
Oto Brezina	...	Person on Elevator #1
David Bear	...	Person on Elevator #2
Jason Bernstein	...	Person on Elevator #3
Karen Mingus	...	Person on Elevator #4
John Kepley	...	Person on Elevator #5
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Koyasu Park	...	Japanese tour guide leader (as Richard Park)

Directed by
Hal Haberman
Jeremy Passmore

Writing credits
Hal Haberman		(written by) &
Jeremy Passmore		(written by)

Produced by
Craig Anderson	....	associate producer
B.P. Cooper	....	associate producer
Andre Fabrizio	....	co-producer
Louis Hagney	....	associate producer
Frank Mele	....	producer
Edward Parks	....	producer

Original Music by
Manish Raval
Tom Wolfe

Cinematography by
Nelson Cragg

Film Editing by
Mike Saenz

Casting by
Eyde Belasco

Production Design by
Nathan Amondson

Art Direction by
Zach Bangma

Set Decoration by
Travis Eli Whited

Costume Design by
Annie Bloom
Dawn Weisberg

Makeup Department
Autumn Butler	....	makeup department head

Production Management
Katie Mustard	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Bear	....	second assistant director
H. Conrad Knapp	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Rachel Block	....	assistant graphics
Lee-Roy Lahey	....	illustrator (as Lee-Roy)
Lee-Roy Lahey	....	storyboard artist (as Lee-Roy)
Brahm Revel	....	illustrator
Travis Eli Whited	....	property master

Sound Department
James Berry	....	sound editor
Joe Dzuban	....	sound re-recording mixer
Adam Parrish King	....	sound editor
H. Conrad Knapp	....	foley artist
Jeff Knudsen	....	sound mixer
Wes Kobernick	....	sound editor
Peter D. Lago	....	sound designer
Sean O'Malley	....	sound mixer

Visual Effects by
Adam Balentine	....	digital compositor
Raoul Bolognini	....	visual effects producer
Lane Jolly	....	digital compositor
Michael D. Leone	....	visual effects supervisor
Nathan Overstrom	....	digital compositor
Zachariah Zaubi	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Deena Grassia	....	stunt performer
Brian Hite	....	stunt coordinator
Matthew Rugetti	....	stunt performer
Marc Schaffer	....	stunt performer
Banzai Vitale	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian M. Fisher	....	electrician
Corey Giann Antonio	....	grip
Chris Hughes	....	gaffer
Christopher A. Johnson	....	assistant camera
Matthew Kistenmacher	....	best boy electric
Cameron Lee Michael	....	key grip
Noah Peter	....	key grip
Kristina M. Schulte-Eversum	....	camera utility
James Takata	....	first assistant camera
David White	....	additional first assistant camera

Editorial Department
Jon Dudkowski	....	associate editor

Music Department
Brad Haehnel	....	music mixer
Manish Raval	....	music editor
Manish Raval	....	music supervisor
Tom Wolfe	....	music editor
Tom Wolfe	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Jennifer Emil	....	personal assistant: Michael Rapaport
Conrad Knapp	....	key set production assistant
Tricia Lee	....	production assistant
Elena Rogovsky	....	script supervisor
Shauna Schurman	....	production assistant

Thanks
Hope Omen Ferdowsi	....	special thanks
Jamieson Fry	....	special thanks
Robert Hall	....	special thanks
Yang-won Park	....	special thanks
Rachel Ward	....	special thanks
Felix Werner	....	special thanks
Kathrin Werner	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Rival Pictures

Distributors

• Magnet Releasing (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Boll World Sales (2008) (non-USA) (all media)
• Fabrication Films (2006-2008) (worldwide) (all media)
• Magnolia Pictures
• Mongrel Media (2010) (Canada) (DVD)
• Notro Films (2007) (Spain) (all media)
• Revolver Entertainment (2006) (UK) (all media)
• Videoville Showtime (2007) (Canada) (all media)
• Village Films (2010) (Greece) (all media)

Special Effects

• Zoic Studios

Other Companies

• Circus Road Films  producer's representative

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some violence and brief drug use

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:R

Company:

Rival Pictures

Quotes:

Les:[narration] Most people never stop to think about the problems associated with being a superhero. Instead they tend to focus on the more glamorous aspects of our lives. They focus on the powers we have, the things we can do that no one else can. But the unfortunate truth is that, while being different from everyone else can be exciting at first, ultimately it can get a little lonely.

Movie Connections:

References When Animals Attack! (1996) (TV)

Open your eyes

Go out and see this great movie if you can. If this movie is in your neck of the woods, and your searching for something to do on a cheap matinée Monday night, this is your ticket. Your week will be better because of it. Actually, pay full price for this movie because its worth it. And because the directors and actors deserve the extra $5.00 or what have you.

I got the privilege of seeing this film at its opening night in the Zurich Film Festival. A little treat followed after the movie with a Q & A with writer and co-director Jeremy Passmore. This USC grad and his home-e came up on a whim with the idea of this movie, and within 18 months ( 18 days of shooting) made this feature. The movie itself: great storyline with phenomenal acting by one of my favorites M. Rapp. He was undeniably crucial in making this movie seem 'real'. So fabulous was this 'low' budget superhero movie. Fabulous. The characters, the foundation, the storyline, imagination ... the believability and emotional recognition for the characters ... it all was there. Made me want to laugh, made me want to cry and made me want to change the world. Awesome. That is what movies are supposed to make you feel. Hats off to these two directors and their crew with their first film ( which they were going to put on CCards before they got backing from agencies ... among other things) From what Jeremy was saying, everyone was supremely underpaid and overworked, but in the end, all knew that the finished product was worth more than anything. One of my top 10 for 2006.