Paranoid Park (2007)

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Writers (WGA):

Gus Van Sant (screenplay)
Blake Nelson (novel)

Release Date:

24 October 2007 (Belgium)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

A teenage skateboarder's life begins to fray after he is involved in the accidental death of a security guard.

Plot Keywords:

Death | Security Guard | Skateboarder | Train | Teenager

Awards:

5 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Gabe Nevins	...	Alex
Daniel Liu	...	Detective Richard Lu (as Dan Liu)
Jake Miller	...	Jared
Taylor Momsen	...	Jennifer
Lauren McKinney	...	Macy
Scott Patrick Green	...	Scratch (as Scott Green)
John Michael Burrowes	...	Security Guard (as John 'Mike' Burrowes)
Grace Carter	...	Alex's Mom
Jay 'Smay' Williamson	...	Alex's Dad
Christopher Doyle	...	Uncle Tommy
Dillon Hines	...	Henry
Emma Nevins	...	Paisley
Brad Peterson	...	Jolt
Winfield Jackson	...	Christian (as Winfield Henry Jackson)
Joe Schweitzer	...	Paul
Oliver Garnier	...	Cal
Mubarak Ra'oof	...	Ryan / Skateboarder
Eric Anderson	...	Other Kid #1
Jeremy Anderson	...	Other Kid #2
Addison Owen	...	Another Kid #1
Richard Miller	...	Detective #2
Emily Galash	...	Rachel
Esther Vaca	...	Elizabeth Goulet
Jordy Weimer	...	Elizabeth's Friend
Andres Alcala	...	Police Officer (as Andrés Alcalá)
Paul Dolbey	...	Police Officer #2
Susan Ploetz	...	Ms. Adams
M. Blash	...	Math Teacher (as M Blash)
John Pearson-Denning	...	Science Teacher
Chester Stallings	...	Skate Shop Employee
Nick Culbertson	...	Cafeteria Kid
Ken Boddie	...	News Anchor
Amanda Winkler	...	Café Girl
Ben Burrowes	...	Waiter
Chrissy Conant	...	Phone Operator (voice)
Sage Bolyard	...	Skateboarder
Chuck Willis	...	Skateboarder
Danny Minnick	...	Skateboarder
Francisco Pedrasa	...	Skateboarder (as Francisco Kico Pedrasa)
Tanner Kewley	...	Skateboarder
Adam Kiedrowski	...	Skateboarder
Bodhi Briggs	...	Skateboarder
Tristan Brillanceau-Lewis	...	Skateboarder
Kyle Davis	...	Skateboarder
Michael Davis	...	Skateboarder
Spencer Crimin	...	Skateboarder
LeShaun Williams	...	Skateboarder
Spencer Brillanceau-Lewis	...	Skateboarder
Diya Ra'oof	...	Skateboarder
Elbert Garner	...	Skateboarder
Kevin Nickoloff	...	Skateboarder
Rick Charnoski	...	Skateboarder
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gus Van Sant	...	Guy reading newspaper (uncredited) (unconfirmed)

Directed by
Gus Van Sant

Writing credits (WGA)
Gus Van Sant		(screenplay)
Blake Nelson		(novel)

Produced by
David Allen Cress	....	producer (as David Cress)
Neil Kopp	....	producer

Cinematography by
Christopher Doyle
Rain Li		(as Rain Kathy Li)

Film Editing by
Gus Van Sant

Casting by
Lana Veenker

Art Direction by
John Pearson-Denning

Set Decoration by
Sean Fong

Costume Design by
Chapin Simpson

Makeup Department
David Atherton	....	special makeup effects artist
Kristenlee Morton	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Brett Cranford	....	unit production manager
Claire Dornoy	....	administrative production manager
Rahma Goubar	....	post-production supervisor
Mark Pedante	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kyle LeMire	....	second assistant director
Jonas Spaccarotelli	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jenelle Giordano	....	set dresser
Adam Johnson	....	art department
Drew Pinniger	....	property master
Dan Schaefer	....	storyboard artist: previsualizations for special effects

Sound Department
Felix Andrew	....	sound mixer
Yannick Boulot	....	sound mix technician
Pascal Chauvin	....	foley artist
Vincent Cosson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Noah Davis	....	additional adr recordist
Philippe Dongé	....	sound mix technician
Eric Ferret	....	foley mixer
Johann Nallet	....	sound recordist
Francis Perrard	....	sound consultant: Dolby (as Francis Pereard)
Neil Riha	....	second sound mixer
Benjamin Rosier	....	assistant sound editor
Leslie Shatz	....	sound designer
Franck Tassel	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Solomon Burbridge	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
Shirak Agresta	....	digital compositor
Ray DiCarlo	....	visual effects executive producer (as Ray Di Carlo)
Tarn Fox	....	digital compositor
Jalal Jemison	....	digital effects artist
Brian Kinkley	....	digital compositor
Zach Lewis	....	visual effects coordinator
Tsui Ling Toomer	....	visual effects producer
Peter Vickery	....	digital compositor
Jon Weigand	....	visual effects editor
Chel White	....	visual effects supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Matt Barbee	....	first assistant camera
Christopher Blauvelt	....	first assistant camera (as Chris Blauvelt)
Tyson Carpenter	....	additional electrician
Kyril Cvetkov	....	assistant camera
Paul Fanning	....	electrician
T.G. Firestone	....	assistant camera
Bruce 'Sarge' Fleskes	....	gaffer
Andrew Gallegos	....	electrician
Nate Goodman	....	camera loader
Scott Patrick Green	....	still photographer
Mike Hanauska	....	additional electrician (as Michael Hanauska)
Steve Hubert	....	additional electrician
Brent Lawson	....	best boy grip
Brian C. Lawson	....	grip
Bruce Lawson	....	key grip
Stephen MacDougall	....	second assistant camera
Matthew May	....	additional electrician
David McMurry	....	additional electrician
Eliza Plumlee	....	camera production assistant
Greg Schmitt	....	Steadicam operator
Joe Vitellaro	....	grip
Scott Walters	....	best boy electric

Casting Department
James Buehring	....	open casting call staff
Sally Gates	....	extras casting
Eryn Goodman	....	casting assistant
Heather Harlow	....	open casting call coordinator
Lori Lewis	....	casting associate
Simon Max Hill	....	additional casting
Elias McConnel	....	open casting call staff
Brandon Medford	....	open casting call staff
Danny Stoltz	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amanda Needham	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Jake Buff	....	colorist: dailies
Dicky Dahl	....	editorial assistant
Eric Hill	....	assistant editor
Mato	....	film color timer

Music Department
Rachel Fox	....	music clearances

Transportation Department
Victoria Mischa Austreng	....	driver
Steve Evans	....	driver
David Norris	....	transportation coordinator
Jason Ruffolo	....	driver

Other crew
George Adams	....	production assistant
Caroline Baurez	....	production accountant
Cora Benesh	....	office production assistant
Colin McDougall Brown	....	lead office production assistant
Sara Burton	....	location manager
Kari A. Coleman	....	assistant: Mr. Van Sant (as Kari Coleman)
Brett Cranford	....	production accountant
Morgan Currie	....	assistant to producers
Shayna Goldstein	....	set teacher
Amber Harrison	....	production assistant
Nicole Hawkins	....	extras coordinator
Andrea Hofer	....	craft service assistant
Devan Linforth	....	additional production assistant
Rachel Lipsey	....	craft service
Chip Mefford	....	technical/safety advisor
Tyler J. Peterson	....	product placement
Davis Priestley	....	production coordinator
Yona Prost	....	production assistant
Eric Rae	....	assistant accountant
Brandon Ritter	....	production assistant
Lance Rosen	....	legal representative
Joe Rynearson	....	key set production assistant
Patrick Sandefur	....	production assistant
Jonathan 'Brad' Shinpaugh	....	set medic
Brian Shotzbarger	....	production assistant
Amy Teitter	....	production assistant
Derek Wilson	....	production assistant

Thanks
Sage Bolyard	....	special thanks
Edouard Dubois	....	thanks
Danny Elfman	....	special thanks
Kevin Fletcher	....	special thanks
Richard Francis	....	special thanks
Didier Kunstlinger	....	special thanks
Maud Leclair	....	special thanks
Mark Scott	....	special thanks
Chuck Willis	....	special thanks
Hal Willner	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• MK2 Productions
• Meno Films
• Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC) (participation)

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (2008) (Czech Republic) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Atalanta Filmes (2007) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Cinéart (2007) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Cinéart (2007) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• FSK Kino & Peripher Filmverleih GmbH (2008) (Germany) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• IFC Films (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• IFC First Take (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Kino Swiat (2007) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Lucky Red (2007) (Italy) (theatrical)
• MK2 Diffusion (2007) (France) (theatrical)
• Madman Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Monopole (2007) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• NonStop Entertainment (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Palador Pictures (2007) (India) (theatrical)
• PiX (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Premium Film (2007) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Skouras Films (2007) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Sponge (2007) (South Korea) (theatrical)
• Tartan Films (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• Tokyo Theaters Company (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Tour de Force (2008) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Vértigo Films (2007) (Spain) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Barbar Film (2007) (Turkey) (all media)
• MK2 Productions
• Orlando Films (2007) (Israel) (all media)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Bent Image Lab (visual effects)
• T&T Optical Effects Company (digital film recording) (as T+T Optical Effects Company)

Other Companies

• DTC Grip & Electric  grip and lighting equipment
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Post Production Services  negative cutting
• Soundtrack  trailer

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some disturbing images, language and sexual content

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A | USA:R | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | South Korea:15 | Taiwan:R-12 (original rating) | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Sweden:15 | Netherlands:12 | Japan:PG-12 | Norway:11 | Brazil:12 | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-13 | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Austria:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Czech Republic:12 | Peru:14 | Norway:15 (DVD rating) | Singapore:NC-16 | Germany:16 (TV rating) | Italy:T

Filming Locations:

Burnside Skatepark, Portland, Oregon, USA

Company:

MK2 Productions

Trivia:

Chosen by "Les Cahiers du cinéma" (France) as one of the 10 best pictures of 2007 (#01)

Goofs:

Continuity: When Alex walks home after writing "Paranoid Park" in his notebook, the notebook disappears (in the shot from behind) and then reappears.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Alex:Oh. Hey Uncle Tommy.
Uncle Tommy:Hey.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert: Episode dated 15 March 2008" (2008)

Soundtrack:

The White Lady Loves You More

Paranoid Park Cast and Crew Screening 7-17-07

I was fortunate enough to attend a cast and crew screening of Gus Van Sant's latest film, Paranoid Park. Having missed Last Days, Gerry, and seeing only bits and pieces of Elephant, I didn't really know what to expect as he sheepishly greeted the crowd, said his thank you's, and let the film roll. With all the criticism, both for and against these recent films, I prepared myself for meaningless long shots of people walking, eating, and various other moments that would quickly find their way to most editor's cutting room floors. Would I be held hostage by a director too much in love with his own shots, or witness the work of a director who could, at this point in his career, easily coast -- yet continues to redefine himself? Thankfully, it was the latter.

Paranoid Park is easily one of my favorite films of the year, second only to First Snow. Both share the same kind of slow, dreamy reverie I think mainstream audiences are put off by. Both are threaded by haunting scores that are inseparable from the film as a whole. The film feels like music on its own.

Park's story is about the death of a security guard in Portland's industrial district, very close to an infamous skate park named Paranoid Park. The film was shot entirely in Portland Oregon. Much like Van Sant's, Drug Store Cowboy, the director treats the various locales in Portland as a second character, showcasing the unique flavor of the city without coming across as a film commissioned by the Oregon tourist board.

The young lead in the film, Gabe Nevins, in what is perhaps his debut film role, has the uneasy task of carrying the film. He plays Alex, a shy skater type who has little interest in his parents, school, or his pretty girlfriend. His performance is commendable. In a role that could have come across as the typical Skater Boy we've all seen 100 times before, he comes off naturally, as a nervous boy who's uncomfortable in his own skin; A boy gripped by an internal struggle too personal to share with anyone. The film is ultimately about this struggle. His narration might strike many viewers as stoic and forced. I would have to disagree. I saw it as the voice of a boy nervously scribbling away at his journal — mistakes and all. The entire film has that raw type of quality.

While pleased with Nevins' performance, I can't say the same for two of the young female actresses in the film. Taylor Momsen, who plays Alex's girlfriend is awful. In contrast to Nevins' natural performance, Momsen comes off like a pretty teenager who's nervous about being watched. I've seen better acting at middle school dance recitals. In a long scene shared by the two, we hear nothing but music, this seemed less like an artistic decision and more like a creative way to tune out her distracting acting. Lauren McKinney, as Alex's friend, shows us an equally wooden performance.

The most impressive quality of Paranoid Park is the gorgeous cinematography by Christopher Doyle and Kathy Li. There is a rich, warm — almost vintage quality to the film. Mixing what looked like various stocks of Super 8, digital video, and 35 MM film, each location is bathed in its own outward charm. In a scene where Alex sits on the beach, the aperture flicks forward and backwards, letting light jerk around the lens. It fits the mood of the scene perfectly, like orchestral scratches on an old LP.

Overall, Paranoid Park is like a gorgeous and melancholy folk song. With my head still swirling from summer block busters like Transformers and Harry Potter, it was refreshing to watch a film with breathing room. Whether the many dreamlike shots are the result of a director (who edits his own film) unwilling to cut away from his favorite shots, or of an orchestrated effort to thread the film like a song and let the narrative drift in and out, I am in love with his effort and look forward to dreaming with him more.

Yours in Service, Robert Plastorm