Poor Boy's Game (2007)

Director:

Clement Virgo

Writers:

Chaz Thorne
Clement Virgo

Release Date:

14 March 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Divided by Hate. United by Violence. Driven by Honor.

Plot:

Donnie Rose went to prison for beating a young man so brutally it left him handicapped for life. Nine years later...

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Boxer | Beating | Racism | Fight

Awards:

4 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Rossif Sutherland	...	Donnie Rose
Danny Glover	...	George
Flex Alexander	...	Ossie Paris
Greg Bryk	...	Keith Rose
Laura Regan	...	Emma
Tonya Lee Williams	...	Ruth Carvery
Stephen McHattie	...	Uncle Joe
K.C. Collins	...	Charles Carvery
Hugh Thompson	...	Chris Webb
Dwain Murphy	...	Flipper
Wes Williams	...	Nathan
Jeremy Akerman	...	Mello
Carol Sinclair	...	Abigail
Lee J. Campbell	...	Cyril
Timothy Edmonds	...	Dillon
Rick MacDonald	...	Ossie-Donnie Referee
Garry James	...	Percy
Cory Bowles	...	Earl
Adrian Bowles	...	Kirk
Matthew Beasant-McKeown	...	Roland
Garnet Estabrooks	...	Dwayne
Lorne White	...	Reverend Clarke
Gillian Anderson	...	Tammy (as Gil Anderson)
Kathryn MacLellan	...	Wentzell
Jim Swansburg	...	Fred Redmond
Maxine Sparks	...	Ruth's Mother
Christopher Shore	...	Reporter #1
David Adekayode	...	Reporter #2
Doug Barron	...	TV Reporter
Colin Hunt	...	Elroy
Phillip Dunn	...	Inmate Referee
Renee Abbott	...	Waitress
Brian Downey	...	Boxing Official
Martha Irving	...	Female Voice (voice)
Mike Tyler	...	Boxing Announcer
Chris Gilbert	...	Mickey Ryan
Dior Arif	...	Donnie Sparring Partner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kevin Kinch	...	Bell Ringer
Don Bottomley	...	Ringside Heckler (uncredited)
Jason Hemsworth	...	Bouncer (uncredited)
Christina Parker	...	Party Girl (uncredited)
Tringa Rexhepi	...	BG (uncredited)
Jeremiah Sparks	...	Snow (uncredited)

Directed by
Clement Virgo

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Chaz Thorne
Clement Virgo

Produced by
Gilles Bélanger	....	line producer
Damon D'Oliveira	....	producer
Chaz Thorne	....	producer
Stephanie Treloar	....	associate producer
Clement Virgo	....	producer

Original Music by
Byron Wong		(as Byron Kent Wong)

Cinematography by
Luc Montpellier		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Susan Maggi

Casting by
John Buchan
Wendy O'Brien

Production Design by
William Fleming		(as Bill Fleming)

Art Direction by
Shelley Bibby

Set Decoration by
Darlene Lewis

Costume Design by
Jeanie Kimber

Makeup Department
Betty Belmore	....	key makeup artist
Gloria Digdon	....	assistant hair stylist
Mike Power	....	tattooist
Colleen Ryan	....	assistant makeup artist
Joanne Stamp	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Hartley Gorenstein	....	unit production manager: Ontario
Jennifer Macleod	....	post-production supervisor (as Jennifer MacLeod)
Robin Neinstein	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roy T. Anderson	....	second unit director
Luke Fisher	....	second second assistant director
Dylan Gray	....	first assistant director
Shandi Mitchell	....	second assistant director
Scott Richard	....	daily assistant director
Jason Shipley	....	first assistant director: second unit
Tara Lynn Taylor	....	trainee assistant director
Jennifer Zimmer	....	third assistant director (as Jen Zimmer)

Art Department
Jason Clarke	....	first assistant art director
Alan Deveau	....	on-set dresser
Sean Emmett	....	lead set dresser
Richard Fraser	....	construction coordinator
Patricia Gosse	....	scenic painter
André Lacroix	....	head carpenter (as Andre Lacroix)
Kelly I. McDonald	....	second props (as Kelly Macdonald)
Colin Paul	....	set decorator assistant
Michael Petit	....	third props
Gabriele Schnutgen	....	key scenic artist
Jason Shurko	....	property master
Irene Strang	....	first set dresser
Lawrence Willett	....	assistant props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jean Bot	....	second assistant sound editor
David Caporale	....	second assistant sound editor
Kathy Choi	....	first assistant sound editor
Kathy Choi	....	sound effects editor
Erik Culp	....	foley recording engineer (as Eric Culp)
John Dykstra	....	sound re-recording assistant
Steve Hammond	....	foley artist
Gerry Jackman	....	boom operator
David McCallum	....	supervising adr editor
Chris Moreau	....	daily cable puller
John Naslen	....	adr recording engineer
Daniel Pellerin	....	supervising sound re-recording mixer
Jane Porter	....	sound mixer
Adam Raley	....	sound re-recording assistant
Andrew Rillie	....	cable puller
David Rose	....	sound effects editor
Jan Rudy	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Strongman	....	post audio coordinator
Paul Talbot	....	assistant adr recordist
Jane Tattersall	....	supervising sound effects editor
John Elliot	....	foley assistant (uncredited)
Barry Gilmore	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Brian Power	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Gary Coates	....	key special effects

Visual Effects by
Derek Bonin	....	visual effects compositor
Rob Gyorgy	....	visual effects compositor (as Rev. Rob Gyorgy)
Sam Komaromi	....	visual effects coordinator
Eric Myles	....	digital film supervisor
Andrew Pascoe	....	digital film technician
Brian Reid	....	manager of digital imaging

Stunts
Nick Alachiotis	....	stunt double: boxing, Donnie
Roy T. Anderson	....	stunt coordinator
John Awoods	....	stunts: Bouncer #2 (as John Woods)
Marcello Bezina	....	stunts: Boxing Spectator #4
Rene Bishop	....	stunt safety assistant
Rene Bishop	....	stunts: Boxing Spectator #2
Andy Bradshaw	....	stunts: Boxing Spectator #1
Errol Gee	....	stunts: Nathan Friend #1
Tony Ince	....	stunts: Security Guard #2
Myles Johnston	....	stunts: Thug
Warren Scott	....	stunts: Black Inmate
Warren Scott	....	stunts: Nathan Friend #2
Ian Tench	....	stunt performer
John Walsh	....	stunts: Security Guard #1
John Awoods	....	stunts: prison guard (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jason Andrews	....	daily electrician
Louis Boudreau	....	third gaffer
Keith Dimmer	....	generator operator
Tara Dixit	....	second assistant camera: Ontario
Gerald Gillis	....	electrician
Rick Gillis	....	rigging grip
Stephen Gillis	....	best boy grip (as Steve Gillis)
Albert Hennen	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Sean Jensen	....	Steadicam operator
Sean Jensen	....	camera operator: Ontario
Forbes MacDonald	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Ryan MacDonald	....	second assistant camera
Scott MacDonald	....	dolly grip
Marvin Moore	....	still photographer: daily
Robert Mountjoy	....	first assistant camera: Ontario (as Rob Mountjoy)
Flora Planchat	....	best boy
Christopher Porter	....	gaffer
Christopher Reardon	....	still photographer (as Chris Reardon)
David Reilly IV	....	daily electrician (as Dave Reilly)
James Ritchie	....	first assistant camera
Gary Sandover	....	key grip
Mike Snyder	....	camera trainee
Todd Voogt	....	third grip
Lee Whetstone	....	grip (as Lee Whetsone)
Renny Williams	....	grip
Eddy McInnis	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Tara Doyle	....	background casting
Sheila Lane	....	casting: Halifax, Filmworks
Wanda Taylor	....	background casting
Jason Knight	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Denise Barrett	....	assistant costume designer
Roberta Palmer	....	seamstress
Victoria Rockwell	....	costume extras coordinator
Jo-Ann Smith	....	set costumer
James A. Worthen	....	on-set costume supervisor (as James Worthen)
Bethana Briffett	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Pierre Cadieux	....	telecine manager: Technicolor
Louis Casado	....	color timer
Roderick Deogrades	....	assembly editor
Robert Doyle	....	first assistant editor (as Bob Doyle)
Rob Gyorgy	....	digital intermediate editor (as Rev. Rob Gyorgy)
Kathleen Harris	....	project coordinator: Technicolor
Mark Kueper	....	digital intermediate colorist
Ashley Tolhurst	....	assistant colorist: dailies
Trevor White	....	colorist: dailies
Chris Mayo	....	conforming editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Lindsey Hilliard	....	musician: violin
Elena Kapeleris	....	musicial: bass clarinet
Matt Matteer	....	assistant: Byron Wong
Michael Olsen	....	musician: cello
Urban Drum Squad	....	musicians: percussion
Byron Wong	....	music supervisor
Byron Wong	....	musician: piano and harp (as Byron Kent Wong)
Byron Wong	....	score engineer
Byron Wong	....	score producer

Transportation Department
Eric Cadegan	....	driver: cast
Fred Campbell	....	driver: cast
Bruce Dixon	....	unit driver
Keith Flynn	....	unit driver
Mervin Geddes	....	unit driver (as Melvin Geddes)
Bob Meade	....	picture vehicles
Gib Russell	....	transportation captain
Bruce Stewart	....	head driver
Michael Sullivan	....	transportation coordinator
Nye Sullivan	....	driver: cast
Alston Symonds	....	driver: cast (as Alston 'Yogi' Symonds)
Lorne Taylor	....	picture vehicles

Other crew
Nick Alachiotis	....	boxing coordinator
Roy T. Anderson	....	boxing choreographer
Bernie Arsenault	....	assistant craft service
Robert Aske	....	legal counsel (as Rob Aske)
Lisa Barry	....	caterer: Action Catering
Shauna Barry	....	chef: Action Catering
Debra Beck	....	assistant production accountant (as Debra J. Beck)
Andre Bezanson	....	assistant chef: Action Catering
Breck Campbell	....	title designer
Nicole Close	....	production assistant
Lisa Courtney	....	nurse
Catherine Currie	....	post-production accountant: KATMADHU
Colin Davis	....	vice president film operations
Tony Duarte	....	legal counsel
Greg Dunfield	....	operations manager
Jesse Fawthrop	....	production assistant
Cory Gero	....	daily craft service
Doug Gordon	....	daily nurse
Jeff Hannaford	....	client service: lab
Shauna Hatt	....	production coordinator
Ivy Ho	....	publicist
Reed Jones	....	location production assistant
Colin Kaiser	....	assistant chef: Action Catering
Elizabeth Kavanagh	....	production accountant
Shawn Kerr	....	assistant production accountant
Jeff Kulbak	....	auditor: Soberman LLP
Allan Magee	....	story editor (as Al Magee)
Micah Martin	....	assistant location manager
Andrea McAllister	....	athletic therapist
Andrew McInnes	....	location manager
Stewart McKelvey	....	legal counsel
Kyle O'Connor	....	location manager: Ontario
Winston Phillips	....	client service: Lab
Marguerite Pigott	....	marketing consultant
Marguerite Pigott	....	story editor
Cory Pioveson	....	location production assistant
Gabriel Routhier	....	craft service assistant
Tom Savage	....	office runner
Fay Sullivan	....	assistant production coordinator
Maggie Thomas	....	script supervisor
Stephanie Treloar	....	publicist
Madeleine Wazana	....	post-production accountant: KATMADHU
Tim Webber	....	daily craft service
Brian White	....	client services manager
Igor Zambeli	....	assistant location manager: Ontario (as Igor Zambelli)
Mary Louise McCloskey	....	additional script supervisor (uncredited)

Thanks
Donald Sutherland	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Astral Media
• Canadian Television Fund
• Conquering Lion Pictures
• Decker Films
• Harold Greenberg Fund, The
• Movie Central Network
• Movie Network, The (TMN)
• Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation
• Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC)
• Standing 8 Productions
• Téléfilm Canada

Distributors

• THINKFilm (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• All Interactive Distribution (2007) (Australia) (DVD)
• Pan Vision Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• TLA Releasing (2008) (UK) (all media)
• Teleview International (2007) (Lebanon) (all media) (Middle East)

Special Effects

• Special Effects Atlantic

Other Companies

• Action Catering  catering
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Entertainment Partners Canada  payroll services (as Entertainment Partners)
• Filmworks  casting: Halifax
• Katmadhu Productions  post-production accountant (as Katmadhu)
• Panavision  camera equipment (as Panavision)
• Prime Insurance Agency  insurance
• Random Medfia Core  music recording facility
• Royal Bank of Canada  banking (as RBC Royal Bank)
• Soberman  auditor
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• Tattersall Sound  picture editing facilities (as Tattersall Sound & Picture)
• Tattersall Sound  sound post-production (as Tattersall Sound & Picture)
• Technicolor Creative Services  post-production
• Technicolor  sound re-recording facility
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language, strong sexual content and some violent images

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA (2007) | Canada:14A | USA:R | Finland:K-15 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Company:

Astral Media

Trivia:

Rossif Sutherland's first lead role.

Quotes:

Donnie Rose:[Sees Dylan playing outside] Isn't it past his bedtime?
Emma:Somebody was in his room.
[Referring to Donnie's meeting with the hooker]
Donnie Rose:Sorry.

Very good drama about forgiveness and redemption

After seeing this film at the Pan African Film Festival, I was struck not just by the importance of its message but the universal appeal of the film as a whole. This is a story that truly crosses racial boundaries. Danny Glover is excellent as usual, but the entire cast is talented, and the lead actor, Rossif Sutherland, is definitely one to watch. The story begins with a vicious attack by an almost unreedemable lead character. His journey through the prison system to the boxing ring forces him to confront his inner demons, and to ask forgiveness from those he has harmed. Definitely worth seeing at a film festival or anywhere you can find it!