A Plumm Summer (2007)

Director:

Caroline Zelder

Writers:

T.J. Lynch (screenplay) and
Frank Antonelli ...
(more)

Genre:

Adventure | Family

Tagline:

When the most popular frog on TV goes missing, two brothers go on the adventure of a lifetime to find him.

Plot:

Based on a true-story - A Plumm Summer tells the remarkable tale of two young brothers, Elliott and Rocky Plumm, who go head-to-head with the FBI in order to crack the "frog-napping" case and get their beloved TV puppet, Froggy Doo back on the air, all the while become local heroes and best friends. |

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Jeff Daniels	...	Narrator
William Baldwin	...	Mick Plumm
Henry Winkler	...	Happy Herb
Lisa Guerrero	...	Roxie Plumm
Chris Massoglia	...	Elliott Plumm (as Chris J. Kelly)
Owen Pearce	...	Rocky Plumm
Morgan Flynn	...	Haley Dubois
Brenda Strong	...	Viv
Tim Quill	...	Wayne Dubois
Peter Scolari	...	Agent Hardigan
Rick Overton	...	Agent Brinkman
Richard Riehle	...	Art Bublin
Clint Howard	...	Binky the Clown
Gavin Black	...	Wally
Ben Trotter	...	Orin
John Hosking	...	Dick Spreen
Gregg Bello	...	Cookie
Steve Altman	...	Dirty Pat
Quinn Knox	...	Dave
Ian Lacy	...	Billy the Bully
Brian Schweitzer	...	Sheriff Strunk
Noa Benperlas	...	Clovie
Rusty Hendrickson	...	Aldo
Fuschia Sumner	...	Marsha
Jessica John	...	Channel 8 Newscaster
Annie Semler	...	Martie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Benjamin Dawley-Anderson	...	Ice Cream Man
Devan Leder	...	Kidnapper #1

Directed by
Caroline Zelder

Writing credits
T.J. Lynch		screenplay and
Frank Antonelli		&
Caroline Zelder

Produced by
Jonelle S. Anderson	....	associate producer
Frank Antonelli	....	producer
Lorraine Berglund	....	associate producer
Scott Erickson	....	executive producer
Lisa Guerrero	....	executive producer
Doug Metzger	....	co-producer
Douglas Kahelemauna Nam	....	associate producer
Caroline Zelder	....	producer

Original Music by
Tom Hiel

Cinematography by
Mark Vargo

Film Editing by
Jonathan Lucas

Casting by
Tina Buckingham
Jory Weitz

Production Design by
Alan E. Muraoka

Set Decoration by
Wanda 'Beau' Peterson

Costume Design by
Nola Roller

Makeup Department
Melissa Ferreira	....	hair stylist
Melissa Ferreira	....	makeup artist
Yvonne Reddy	....	makeup artist
Holly Remington	....	hair stylist
Lisa Taylor Roberts	....	makeup department head

Production Management
Steve Beswick	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Zach Hunt	....	second second assistant director
David Mendoza	....	first assistant director: second unit
David Mendoza	....	second assistant director
Doug Metzger	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Chad Branham	....	property master
Aaron Garnas	....	set dresser
Sherman Hall	....	assistant property master
J.D. Jacoby	....	assistant set decorator
Erik P. Resel	....	set dresser
Sarah Wolfe	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
John Benson	....	supervising sound editor
Kenneth R. Burton	....	sound re-recording mixer
Scott Cannizzaro	....	adr engineer
Heidi DuBose	....	boom operator
Troy William Dunn	....	sound mixer
Steve Kinsey	....	sound mixing technician
Jason Krane	....	adr editor
Jason Krane	....	dialogue editor
Andre Perreault	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Bobby Brooks	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Erin L. Nelson	....	digital restoration

Stunts
Jonelle S. Anderson	....	stunt double
Lee T. Mills	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Tony Ballew	....	best boy grip
Brian Branton	....	key grip
Stu Brumbaugh	....	electrician
Brett B. Bunner	....	video assist operator
Brett B. Bunner	....	videographer
Jeff Cronin	....	electrician
J.P. Gabriel	....	gaffer
Audrey Hall	....	still photographer
April Kelley	....	second assistant camera
J. Steven Matzinger	....	camera operator
Jason McKnight	....	best boy electric
Jamie Stephens	....	first assistant camera
Andrew Thie	....	electrician

Casting Department
Tina Buckingham	....	casting: Montana
Jessica Johnson Tavenner	....	casting assistant (as Jessica Johnson)
Jory Weitz	....	casting: Los Angeles

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ela Jo Erwin	....	assistant costume designer
Courtney Hess	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Jaclyn Lelea	....	post-production coordinator
Staci Pontius	....	first assistant editor
Jason Fabbro	....	additional digital intermediate colorist (uncredited)
Mark Sahagun	....	digital intermediate editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Frank Antonelli	....	music supervisor
Kyle Kenneth Batter	....	orchestrator
Onnalee Blank	....	music editor
Julianne Freund	....	assistant to composer (as Julie Freund)
Dave Holden	....	technical score advisor (as Dave Holden)
Jan Holzner	....	music recording engineer/orchestra music
Clinton Rusich	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Bill C. Dawson	....	driver
D'Aldo Fazzone	....	driver
Christine Schuman	....	transportation captain
Phil Schuman	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Magi Berciano	....	contract administrator
Stu Brumbaugh	....	condor operator
Briana Burke	....	location manager
Pamela Garrett	....	first assistant accountant
Royce Gorsuch	....	production assistant
David Grauberger	....	assistant to director
Rena Hanover	....	production assistant
Kathy Hayner	....	accounting clerk
Jhett Johnson	....	stand in/photo double
Suzanne Lehfeldt	....	production coordinator
Kelly Matheson	....	assistant location manager
Molly Murray	....	key production accountant
Phillip L. Rosen	....	production legal
Zena Dell Schroeder	....	production assistant
Betty Vargo	....	animal trainer
Allison Whitmer	....	production office coordinator
Jo Young	....	production assistant
Eva Zelder	....	script supervisor
Chris Stiles	....	production coordinator (uncredited)

Thanks
Sten Iversen	....	special thanks
Penny Ronning	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Fairplay Pictures
• Home Team Productions

Distributors

• Freestyle Releasing (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Minerva (2011) (Italy) (all media)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Montana Film Office  special thanks
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements and some mild rude language

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Bozeman, Montana, USA

Company:

Fairplay Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: After Elliott yelled at his father in prison he had tears on his cheeks. When he walked away, 3 seconds later, the tears where gone.

Movie Connections:

References "Leave It to Beaver" (1957)

Soundtrack:

Summer Of Our Life

A bucketful of charm and hidden depth...

Viewed as a 'European Premiere' at the Belfast Cinemagic Children's Film Festival, this light-hearted family adventure film must surely win over all but the most hard-bitten cynics. Based on a real incident from the late 60s and set in deepest Montana, it centres on the theft of a children's TV star marionette named 'Froggy Doo' whose antics thrilled the under-8s in the area.

In particular, he was the idol of young Rocky Plumm, younger son of failed boxer Mick Plumm, and younger brother of teenager Elliott. This is a film that could have been monumentally awful, but in the first half wins by the charm and audacity of its somewhat naive plot, and the way that its actors fit so seamlessly into the initially predictable characters.

But, like many fine films, as it progresses, it undermines the assumptions that we have made about it. The idyllic family life is not so idyllic, the teenage love story gets muzzed by hormonal outbursts, and the love of cinema of the filmmakers shines through in endearing references to great films of the era in which it is set (plus or minus a decade).

So, it's a comic family drama; it's a thriller; it's a reflection on the relationship between father and son, and it's a kookie, almost unclassifiable folk tale.

It's not perfect, and there are a few cringe-making scenes where the elements of pastiche fall flat on their face, but it enjoyably reminds me of another massively under-valued film - Spaced Invaders. True cinephiles will also see elements of masterpieces of the era as diverse as 'El Dorado' and 'Blow-up'. And the real reason it is so good (of its type) is that it wears the filmmakers' love of cinema on its sleeve. And as a first film by director Caroline Zelder, it is full of great promise...

Go and see this and give yourself a treat!