The Deal (2008/I)

Director:

Steven Schachter

Writers (WGA):

William H. Macy (screenplay) &
Steven Schachter (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

20 November 2008 (Russia)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Cut To The Scam.

Plot:

A down-and-out film producer agrees to make his nephew's film about 19th century English statesman Benjamin Disraeli...

Plot Keywords:

Actor | Private Jet | Joke | Nudity | Garter

Cast

William H. Macy	...	Charlie Berns
Meg Ryan	...	Deidre Hearn
LL Cool J	...	Bobby Mason
Elliott Gould	...	Rabbi Seth Gutterman
Jason Ritter	...	Lionel Travitz
Fiona Glascott	...	Fiona Hicks
Sharon Raginiano	...	Levi Rosenwald (as Sharon Reginiano)
John Carson	...	Nigel Bland
David Hunt	...	Grier Clark
Jeremy Crutchley	...	Ian Chadwick
Natasha Rees-Davies	...	Maya
Aiden Lithgow	...	Skip Miller (as Aidan Lithgow)
Kate Blumberg	...	Linda
Tere Morris	...	Catherine Oxenmoor
Sean Higgs	...	Hans Bleimer (as Sean Aidan Higgs)
Adrian Galley	...	Andrei
Nina Shepherd	...	Melanie Lewis
Jeanne Neilson	...	Claire Johnson
Todd Weeks	...	Brad Emprin
George Jackos	...	Howard Draper
Neil McCarthy	...	Glenn
Jose Domingos	...	Mark Rovner (as José Domingos)
Kenneth Fok	...	Wing
Brett Granstaff	...	Peter the Writer
Fred Abrahamse	...	Colin
Darron Meyer	...	KGM Agent
Jaymie Carter	...	KGM Agent
Shawn Tanaka	...	Brad's Assistant
Anton Voster	...	Deidre's Limo Driver
Bernard Fisher	...	Airport Cop
Nikki Jackman	...	Entertainment Reporter
Christine Adzich	...	Entertainment Reporter
Jean Wingis	...	Premiere Handler
Olivia Blumberg	...	Girl with Camera
Keren Setton	...	Girl with Camera
Vuyisile Pandle	...	Driver
Thomas Gumede	...	George
George Worthmore	...	Danny Turner
Natalie Becker	...	Gabriella
Sydney Hall	...	Bobby's Assistant
Christopher Clark Gates	...	American Ambassador
Leslie Mongezi	...	Embassy Assistant
Tyrel Meyer	...	Fiona 'Stunt' Double
John Van Zyl	...	Bobby's Trainer
Tyrone Keogh	...	Bagel PA
Susan Lloyd-Roberts	...	TV Reporter
Mmatjatji Ramaphala	...	Camera Assistant
Mudi Mudau	...	South African Airways Rep
Nik Rabinowitz	...	Lead Carpenter
Matthew Dylan Roberts	...	Vladimir
Julia Anastasopoulos	...	Camera Assistant
Peter Vavruch	...	AD
William Richard Nasson	...	House Speaker
Dawie Ackermann	...	Man on Plane

Directed by
Steven Schachter

Writing credits (WGA)
William H. Macy		(screenplay) &
Steven Schachter		(screenplay)
Peter Lefcourt		(novel)

Produced by
Christine Adzich	....	associate producer
Jason Berk	....	executive producer
Patricia Cox	....	associate producer
Genevieve Hofmeyr	....	supervising producer: South Africa
Gary Howsam	....	executive producer
Jody Kielbasa	....	co-producer
Matt Lane	....	executive producer
Irene Litinsky	....	producer
Keri Nakamoto	....	producer
Betty Palik	....	behind the scenes producer
Gerd Petrik	....	associate producer
Michael Prupas	....	producer
Mary Solomon	....	associate producer
Lewin Webb	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Jeff Beal

Cinematography by
Paul Sarossy

Film Editing by
Matt Friedman
Susan Maggi

Casting by
Susan Edelman
Anna Feyder
Daniel Hubbard
Jeremy Zimmermann		(as Jeremy Zimmerman)

Production Design by
Guy Lalande

Art Direction by
Birrie Le Roux

Set Decoration by
Emilia Roux

Costume Design by
Diana Cilliers		(as Dianna Cilliers)

Makeup Department
Talia Barak	....	makeup artist
Tina Earnshaw	....	makeup artist: Ms. Ryan
Maria Gouveia	....	hair stylist
Barbara Olvera	....	hair stylist: Ms. Ryan
Megan Tanner	....	key makeup artist (as Meg Tanner)
Leon von Solms	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Sandrine Gros d'Aillon	....	supervising production manager
Blessing Gurure	....	unit manager
Thérèsa Ryan	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jon-Luke Lourens	....	second assistant director
Shamiel Soni	....	third assistant director
Christo van Schalkwyk	....	assistant director: splinter unit
Michael Williams	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Lucille Doman	....	graphic designer
Storm Dyssell	....	standby props
Brian Glaser	....	assistant construction manager
Patrick O'Connor	....	set designer
Gary Smith	....	property master
Brendan Smithers	....	construction coordinator
Lisa Van Der Merwe	....	art department coordinator
Mark Walker	....	set dressing leadman

Sound Department
Mitch Clyman	....	adr recordist: Jerusalem
Benoît Coaillier	....	sound re-recording mixer
Scott Donald	....	supervising dialogue editor
Keith Elliott	....	sound re-recording mixer
Philippe Espantoso	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Gertsman	....	sound editor
Steven Gurman	....	supervising sound editor
Nick Kray	....	adr recordist
Peter Lopata	....	sound effects editor
Bruce Nyznik	....	adr stage supervisor
Carlos Sotolongo	....	adr mixer

Special Effects by
Kevin Bitters	....	special effects
Max Poolman	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Eve Brunet	....	visual effects producer
Daniel Gaudreau	....	digital compositor
Hugo Léveillé	....	digital compositor: Vision Globale
Frederic Milot	....	digital compositor
Benoit Touchette	....	visual effects production manager

Stunts
Francois Grobbelaar	....	stunt performer
Leander Lacy	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Anthony Mo Marais	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Eric Anderson	....	director of photography: second unit
Trevor Michael Brown	....	a camera operator
Lesley Manuel	....	electrician
Guy Micheletti	....	key grip
Wayne Shields	....	gaffer (2006)
Charlie Sperring	....	stills photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jacomina Jankowitz	....	costume stand-by
Michelle Karavoussanos	....	head costume buyer
Rita Rago	....	wardrobe: Ms. Ryan
Leonie Roberts	....	costume supervisor
Mandy Smit	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Mathieu Berube	....	assistant editor
Marie-Hélène Bourget	....	digital intermediate technician
Robert Doyle	....	first assistant editor
Richard Glazerman	....	additional editor
Elissa Lewis	....	post-production coordinator
Arthur Montreuil	....	film timer
Julien Tremblay	....	digital intermediate technician
Evan Tussman	....	director of post-production

Music Department
Murray Anderson	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Florian Stiege	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Natasha Arora	....	assistant: Mr. Prupas
Loïc Bernard	....	assistant: Ms. Litinsky
Claude Forest	....	insurance broker
Joanne Goldstone	....	production accountant
Nadia Hammadi	....	assistant: Mr. Prupas
Jocelyn Hayes	....	assistant: Mr. Macy
Alexander Sandy Jesion	....	chief financial officer
Nutan Khanna	....	clearance/product placement coordinator
Jozua Malherbe	....	assistant: Mr. Schachter
Jason Martin	....	marine supervisor
Sean Cameron Michael	....	photo double & stand in for William H. Macy
Jill O'Hagan	....	assistant: Ms. Ryan
Lance Peters	....	key armorer
Sheena Peters	....	assistant armourer
Donovan Roberts-Baxter	....	production coordinator
Heather Santoro	....	assistant: Ms. Ryan
Marvin Saven	....	legal and financial director
Shawn Tanaka	....	assistant: Mr. Macy
Nigel Tompkins	....	assistant: Mr. Schachter
Nigel Tompkins	....	director assistant
J.D. van Brakel	....	production assistant
Regard Voges	....	assistant: Ms. Litinsky
Laura Wilcox	....	construction coordinator
Annie Jeeves	....	publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Peace Arch Entertainment Group (presents)
• Muse Entertainment Enterprises (production)
• Dog Pond Productions (in association with)
• Sydnyk Works (in association with)
• Berk/Lane Entertainment (in association with)
• Moonlighting Films
• SODEC (with the participation of)
• Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC) (with the participation of)
• The Department of Trade and Industry of South Africa (with the assistance of)

Distributors

• Moonlight Films (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Peace Arch Releasing (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Film1 (2009) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2009) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Taiwan) (all media)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Thailand) (all media)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Vietnam) (all media)
• Luxor Entertainment (2008) (Russia) (all media)
• One Movie (2010) (Italy) (all media)
• Peace Arch Films
• Peace Arch Home Entertainment (2009) (Canada) (DVD)
• Peace Arch Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Vision Globale (digital visual effects) (as Citelab/Global Vision)

Other Companies

• Arpix Media  music supervision
• Brand-in Entertainment  product integration
• CIBC  interim financing provided by
• Film Finances Canada  completion guarantor
• Premium Sound  post-production sound services
• Runway  post-production
• Stunt Network  stunts
• Tattersall Sound  picture editing facilities
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content and language

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

Canada | USA | South Africa

Language:

English | Hebrew | Czech

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #43848) | Finland:K-11 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Germany:6 | Sweden:11 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Company:

Peace Arch Entertainment Group

Trivia:

In addition to playing the role of Charlie Berns in the film, William H. Macy also reads the audio book upon which the film is based.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Deidre and Charlie start arguing in the Czech studio, Lionel and the girl get up and leave - twice.

Soundtrack:

Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing

The Deal is Real!

I recently saw this film, and once again, William H. Macy does not disappoint. He portrays these saddened characters so well (among his other great portrayals), and this film is no exception. I'm a huge fan of films within films/Hollywood satires, so The Deal fit right in. The film portrays a struggling, suicidal screenwriter who wants to go out with a bang, but during his final project, he finds new hope and strength to continue. LL Cool J is just hilarious as the main action star/method actor. His scenes stand out the most. But the film's dialogue is great, as well as the movie within a movie, a film based on Benjamin Disraeli but with a twist. I won't spoil anything else, except to say it's well worth the viewing if you love movies, William H. Macy, or more movies.