The Switch (2010/I)

Directors:

Josh Gordon
Will Speck

Writers (WGA):

Allan Loeb (screenplay)
Jeffrey Eugenides (short story "Baster")

Release Date:

20 August 2010 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The most unexpected comedy ever conceived.

Plot:

Seven years after the fact, a man comes to the realization that he was the sperm donor for his best friend's boy.

Plot Keywords:

Sperm | Sperm Donor | Best Friend | Artificial Insemination | Party

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jason Bateman	...	Wally Mars
Victor Pagan	...	Knit Hat Guy
Jennifer Aniston	...	Kassie Larson
Jeff Goldblum	...	Leonard
Juliette Lewis	...	Debbie
Todd Louiso	...	Artie
Scott Elrod	...	Declan
Patrick Wilson	...	Roland
Rebecca Naomi Jones	...	Party Guest
Kelli Barrett	...	Roland's Wife Jessica
Jeremy J. Mohler	...	Party Guest #2
Will Swenson	...	Actor on Stage
Edward James Hyland	...	Man in Theater
Caroline Dhavernas	...	Pauline
Brian Podnos	...	Waiter
Thomas Robinson	...	Sebastian
Carmen M. Herlihy	...	Woman on Bus
Lily Pilblad	...	Girl at Pizzeria
Jason Jones	...	Climbing Wall Guide
Bryce Robinson	...	Older Sebastian
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Amanda Barron	...	Roland's Sister (uncredited)
Bob Bencomo	...	Pirate Hat Guy (uncredited)
Michael Bennett	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Nick Diamantis	...	Lawyer (uncredited)
Stephanie Domini Ehlert	...	Kassie's friend (uncredited)
Stephen Hadeed Jr.	...	Theatre Patron (uncredited)
Gina Hernandez	...	Mexican Resturaunt Patron (uncredited)
Brooke Hoover	...	Pig Nose Woman (uncredited)
Chris von Hoffmann	...	Usher (uncredited)

Directed by
Josh Gordon
Will Speck

Writing credits (WGA)
Allan Loeb		(screenplay)
Jeffrey Eugenides		(short story "Baster")

Produced by
Jennifer Aniston	....	executive producer
Brian Bell	....	co-producer
Albert Berger	....	producer
Kristin Hahn	....	executive producer
Nathan Kahane	....	executive producer
Kelli Konop	....	co-producer
Mary Lee	....	co-producer
Allan Loeb	....	co-producer
Steven Pearl	....	co-producer
Ron Yerxa	....	producer

Original Music by
Alex Wurman

Cinematography by
Jess Hall

Film Editing by
John Axelrad

Casting by
Douglas Aibel

Production Design by
Adam Stockhausen

Art Direction by
Larry M. Gruber

Set Decoration by
Carol Silverman

Costume Design by
Kasia Walicka-Maimone

Makeup Department
Jerry DeCarlo	....	hair department head
Jorjee Douglas	....	makeup artist: Jennifer Aniston
Dallas Hartnett	....	hair stylist: second unit
Sherri Berman Laurence	....	makeup department head
Amy Spiegel	....	key makeup artist
Michelle Spooner	....	makeup artist: second unit
Oney Syers II	....	makeup artist
Lona Vigi	....	hair stylist: jennifer anniston
Louie Zakarian	....	special effects makeup artist

Production Management
Brian Bell	....	unit production manager
Nancy Kirhoffer	....	post-production supervisor
David Price	....	production supervisor
Judy Richter	....	production supervisor
Jack Schuster	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Melody Beam	....	second second assistant director: additional photography
Timothy Bird	....	first assistant director
Thomas Coe	....	second assistant director: additional photography (as Thomas D. Coe)
Chris DeAngelis	....	second assistant director: splinter unit
Scott Foster	....	assistant director
Matthew Mason	....	second second assistant director
George Parra	....	first assistant director: additional photography
Christopher Swartout	....	first assistant director: splinter unit
Jennifer Truelove	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Stephanie Armstrong	....	props
Juan Bertrán	....	art department intern
David Cooney	....	storyboard artist
Pete Dancy	....	assistant property master
John Davis	....	storyboard artist (part one)
Lauren DiGiulio	....	art production assistant
Daniel DuPont	....	leadman: re-shoot
Michael Foster	....	set dressing foreman
Vanessa Frost	....	art department production assistant
Julia Garrison	....	standby camera scenic
Christina Georgandis	....	art department intern
Sean Haines	....	additional shopper
Alexander James	....	key scenic industrial
Michael Kall	....	construction foreman
Elizabeth Keenan	....	set decorator: additional photography
Paul Alexander Larkin	....	set dresser
Alicia Leatherbury-Lamberti	....	scenic artist
Robert Ludemann	....	graphic designer
Dave McAllister	....	key construction grip
Christine Montgomery	....	set dresser
Tom Nierenberg	....	set dresser
Rebecca Perrenod	....	scenic charge artist
Heather Prendergast	....	assistant set decorator
Pierre Rovira	....	construction coordinator
Duke Scoppa	....	property master
Alison Scowby	....	props
Nick Torelli	....	set dresser
William Valentin	....	scenic artist
Bryan Walsh	....	leadman
Holly Watson	....	graphic artist
Steve 'O' Watson	....	on-set dresser: re-shoot
Brianne Zulauf	....	additional art director
Brianne Zulauf	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
Anna Behlmer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Odin Benitez	....	sound effects editor
Courtney Bishop	....	adr recordist
James Bolt	....	sound mixer (as Jim Bolt)
John Dunn	....	foley editor
Julie Feiner	....	adr editor
Julie Feiner	....	dialogue editor
Nerses Gezalyan	....	sound mixer
Tim Gomillion	....	sound recordist
Richard Bryce Goodman	....	additional sound mixer
John-Thomas Graves	....	adr mixer
Gary A. Hecker	....	supervising foley artist
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Ronnie Morgan	....	first assistant sound editor
Adam Sanchez	....	boom operator
George Simpson	....	supervising sound editor
Jason Stasium	....	pro tools playback mixer
William Stein	....	re-recording engineer
Thomas Varga	....	production sound mixer
Christopher T. Welch	....	adr editor
Christopher T. Welch	....	dialogue editor
Christopher T. Welch	....	supervising sound editor
Ben Wilkins	....	sound effects editor
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Jon Dowdy	....	special effects technician
Drew Jiritano Jr.	....	special effects technician
Drew Jiritano	....	special effects coordinator
Drew Jiritano	....	special effects technician
Andrew Mortelliti	....	special effects foreman
Andrew Mortelliti	....	special effects technician
Mike Myers	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Benjamin H. Bernard	....	lead visual effects artist
James D. Etherington	....	digital compositor: The Mill (as James Etherington)
Joshua Grow	....	digital compositor: Howey Digital (as Josh Grow)
Jason Howey	....	visual effects supervisor
Nitant Karnik	....	digital compositor: The Mill (as Nitant Ashok Karnik)
Angus Kneale	....	visual effects supervisor: The Mill
Gavin Miljkovich	....	visual effects artist
Sean Rowe	....	digital film scanner
Jeff Stevens	....	visual effects designer: The Mill
Georgie Uppington	....	visual effects producer
Ruben Vanderbroek	....	visual effects
Boo Wong	....	visual effects producer: The Mill

Stunts
Bryce Burke	....	rock climbing supervisor
Jared Burke	....	co-stunt coordinator
Chris Cenatiempo	....	stunts
Isabella Cenatiempo	....	stunt performer
Sophia Cenatiempo	....	stunt performer
Blaise Corrigan	....	stunts
Douglas Crosby	....	stunt coordinator (as Doug Crosby)
Natalie Jean	....	stunts
Curtis Lyons	....	stunts
Jon Trosky	....	utility stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Joe Belschner	....	rigging grip
George Bianchini	....	steadicam operator
John Billeci	....	rigging best boy
Maceo Bishop	....	Steadicam operator
Vincent Camuto	....	video playback technician
Rashad Clinton	....	rigging grip
Luis Colon	....	grip
Howard Davidson	....	lighting grip
David M. Dunlap	....	director of photography: second unit
David M. Dunlap	....	director of photography: time lapse photography, splinter unit
David Dutkus	....	electrician
Jeffrey A. Eplett	....	rigging electric
James J. Ferris	....	electrician
David Flanigan	....	second assistant camera: 'a' camera
Ted Goodwin	....	electric
Darrall Graham	....	electrician
Eduard Grau	....	director of photography: time lapse photography, splinter unit
Craig Haagensen	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Rob Harlow	....	grip
Marty Hechinger	....	electrician
Jeremy Knaster	....	electrician
Robert Lau	....	first assistant camera
Scott Lipkowitz	....	second assistant camera: 'b' camera
Clay Liversidge	....	rigging gaffer
William Louthe	....	film lighting technician
William Louthe	....	rigging electrician
Tigre McMullan	....	electrician
John J. Moers	....	documentary cameraman
Jeff Panessa	....	best boy rigging grip
Michelle Pizanis	....	second assistant camera: LA reshoots
Macall B. Polay	....	still photographer
Brent Poleski	....	key rigging grip
Scott H. Ramsey	....	gaffer
Lance Rieck	....	scorpio head technician
Frank Rinato	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Ethan Rosenduft	....	additional grip
Darrin Smith	....	basecamp generator operator
Terry Stacey	....	director of photography: splinter unit
Craig Striano	....	techno crane operator
Kevin Walter	....	camera loader
Michael Woodside	....	electrician: re-shoots

Casting Department
Henry Russell Bergstein	....	casting associate (as Henry Russell)
Joe Cappelletti	....	adr voice casting
Deborah Maxwell Dion	....	Casting Associate (Los Angeles )
Stephanie Forrest	....	extras casting assistant
David M. Waldron	....	extras casting director
Grant Wilfley	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Trenee Clayton	....	costumer
Trenton Dallas	....	additional costumer
Keri Lee Doris	....	costume assistant
Alexandra Eagle	....	costumer
Careen Fowles	....	key costumer
Susana Gilboe	....	assistant costume designer
Winsome G. McKoy	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
J. Cody Baker	....	digital intermediate assistant
John Bonta	....	colorist: dailies
Andrew Buckland	....	additional editor
Andrew Buckland	....	assistant editor
Sean Coleman	....	colorist
Dylan Correll	....	post-production assistant
Tom Cross	....	additional editor
Ryan Malanaphy	....	assistant editor
Erik Rogers	....	senior digital intermediate producer
Stefan Sonnenfeld	....	digital intermediate executive producer
Sean Valla	....	first assistant editor
Matthew W. Johnson	....	digital intermediate on-line editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Steven Baker	....	music supervisor
Tom Calderaro	....	conductor
Tom Calderaro	....	orchestrator
Jessica Dolinger	....	music licensing
Erik Flettrich	....	score recordist
Samuel Lehmer	....	score mixer (as Sam Lehmer)
Krista Montagna	....	additional music researcher
Stephen Perone	....	assistant to composer
Lee Scott	....	music editor
Ellen Segal	....	music editor
Braden Kimball	....	soundtrack engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Esteban Munoz	....	mechanic
Hardy Ophuls	....	transportation captain: additional photography

Other crew
Ramona Adair	....	production assistant
Stephanie Angel	....	additional script supervisor
Giuseppe Ardizzone	....	set production assistant: additional photography
Alexis Auditore	....	assistant: Ms. Konop
Michael Barnes	....	financial legal services
Alec Bates	....	location assistant
Sebastien Betsch	....	digital cinema supervisor
Rebecca Boyle	....	script supervisor: additional photography
Bambi Brook	....	animal trainer
Lisa Burrascano	....	production assistant
Hailey Cho	....	miscellaneous crew
Simon Clowes	....	title designer: Prologue
Sarah Crofts	....	location scout
Megan Foerster	....	assistant location manager
Joshua A. Friedman	....	production assistant: second unit
Ken Furer	....	assistant to producers
Laurie Gershon	....	product placement and clearances
Dave Ginsberg	....	location scout
Mary Gleich	....	animal trainer
Dan Gloeckner	....	set production assistant
Kyle Gorjanc	....	production assistant
Quincy Gow	....	production secretary
Trish Gray	....	location scout
Jake Gross	....	production assistant
Katie Groves	....	stand-in: Jennifer Aniston
Kenneth Guity	....	unit production assistant
Ben Hauck	....	stand-in: Jason Bateman
Omar Hernandez	....	office production assistant
Jean Hodges	....	food stylist
Aaron Hurvitz	....	location scout
Michelle Johnson	....	assistant: Ms Hahn
Jason Kadlec	....	location scout
Abby Kingston	....	production assistant
Ronnie Kupferwasser	....	location manager
Jesse Lasky	....	script coordinator
Mela Lee	....	adr voice replacement
Amy Leigh Johnson	....	unit publicist
Christopher LeStrange	....	location scout
Jessica Lichtner	....	script supervisor
Colin Louro	....	production assistant
Dan Majkut	....	production assistant
Keith Marlin	....	background production assistant
Ryan McDonald	....	assistant production office coordinator
Rob McEntegart	....	executive vice president, business affairs: Mandate Pictures
Mario Nila	....	production assistant
Nicole Real	....	production assistant: first team
Mark Romanelli	....	key set production assistant
Julian Ruhe	....	location scout
Geraldine Schubert	....	production assistant
William Sepulveda	....	key craft service
Tommy South	....	additional production assistant
Eugene Stamos	....	craft service assistant
Sean M. Sullivan	....	location assistant
Daniel Tresca	....	first assistant location manager
Heather Tyler	....	post production accountant
Eva Vedock	....	key craft service
Amy L. Weishaar	....	additional production assistant
John Whitley	....	payroll accountant
Meghan K. Wicker	....	production office coordinator
Stephanie Wu	....	second assistant accountant
Keith Young	....	choreographer
Eric Papa	....	location scout (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Mandate Pictures (presents)
• Bona Fide Productions (as Bona Fide)
• Echo Films

Distributors

• Acme Film (2010) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• Diamond Films (2010) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Forum Hungary (2010) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Pictures (2010) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Lionsgate (2010) (UK) (theatrical)
• Maple Pictures (2010) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2010) (France) (theatrical)
• Miramax Films (2010) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Paradiso (2010) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Spentzos Films (2010) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Vertice Cine (2010) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2011) (Argentina) (DVD)
• At Entertainment (2011) (Japan) (DVD)
• CatchPlay (2010) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Central Partnership (2010) (Russia) (all media)
• EcoFilmes (2010) (Portugal) (all media)
• FS Film Oy (2010) (Finland) (all media)
• Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Imagem Filmes (2010) (Brazil) (all media)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• RTL Entertainment (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL5)

Special Effects

• E3 Media Group (additional visual effects)
• Howey Digital (additional visual effects)
• The Mill (visual effects)
• Wunderfilm Design (additional visual effects) (as Wunderfilm Inc.)

Other Companies

• 20th Century Fox Studios  post-production facilities
• Bloomberg  special thanks
• Camera Service Center  cameras provided by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Company 3  digital intermediate (as Company 3 LA)
• Corbis  stock footage provided by
• DDA Public Relations (DDA)  international publicity consultants
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• Dawn Animal Agency  animals provided by
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Final Word, The  adr voice casting
• Gourmet To U  catering
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• L.A. Digital Post  Avids provided by
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Lotus Post  ADR recording
• Marshall/Plumb Research Associates  clearances
• Marshall/Plumb Research Associates  script research
• Momentous Insurance Brokerage  insurance
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Movie Movers  transportation
• PES Payroll  extras payroll
• Professional Sound Services  sound equipment provided by
• Prologue Films  main titles designed and produced by (as Prologue)
• Rhino Records  soundtrack
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  junxion box rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  walkie rentals
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Seven Letter Music Group  music preparation
• Sonart Productions  score mixed at
• Soundelux  post-production sound services
• Thought Equity  stock footage provided by (as Thought Equity Motion)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, sexual material including dialogue, some nudity, drug use and language

Runtime:

USA:101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #45846) | UK:12A | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Ireland:15A | Malaysia:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:Btl | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

2nd Ave & E 56th St, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Mandate Pictures

Trivia:

The play that Kassie and Wally attend is, of course, "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare (as one can tell from the dialogue, if not the costuming).

Goofs:

Continuity: On going to the drug store during the lice infestation they pick up black bin liners with yellow drawstrings. On returning home there is no sign of a yellow drawstring.

Quotes:

Knit Hat Guy:[about Wally] B-b-b-be-bb-bb-b-b-beady eyed - bbbeady eyed little man boy!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Hot Tub Time Machine/Chloe/How to Train Your Dragon (#2.12)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Instant Replay

Admiration of Comedic Timing in a Fine Cast

THE SWITCH is another story about artificial insemination and the impact it has on the participants. Yes, it has been done many times with varying results, but what makes this version of the story different and worthy of merit and attention is the sparkling screenplay by Allan Loeb adapted from the short story 'Baster' by gifted author Jeffrey Eugenides ('Middlesex', 'The Virgin Suicides', 'My Mistress's Sparrow is Dead', and short stories 'The Speed of Sperm', 'Air Mail', 'Ancient Myths', etc). It is a film that gives us the opportunity to remember the fine comic time of Jeff Goldblum, Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, and Juliet Lewis, courtesy of the fine direction by Josh Gordon and Will Speck..

Wally Mars (Jason Bateman) is an oddly neurotic character who has a very difficult time connecting to people, especially in the dating department. His best friend is Kassie Larson (Jennifer Aniston) a successful woman who abruptly decides her biologic clock is ticking down and decides to have a baby by paying a sperm donor. Wally is shocked, but Kassie's other best friend Debbie (Juliette Lewis, bubbling brilliantly) supports her conviction to take charge of her life and plans a party to celebrate Kassie's incipient 'donation'. Kassie selects a potential donor in Roland (Patrick Wilson) who is a square and married teacher but 'needs the money'. At the party when the 'donation' is to be deposited, Wally gets drunk and accidentally spills Roland's 'contribution', and in drunken desperation replaces it with his own - a secret he doesn't even share with Leonard (Jeff Goldblum) with whom he works and has a strong friendship. The inseminated Kassie moves back home, returning seven years later with her six-year old son Sebastian (Thomas Robinson, a very fine child actor). Kassie courts the now divorced Roland, a blow to Wally who in his 'babysitting' chores grows close to Sebastian who is very much like Wally. How the story ends is predictable but heartwarmingly humorous, especially watching the relationship between Wally and Sebastian develop.

In addition to the strong cast of leading actors there are cameos by Kelli Barrett and especially the significantly impressive Scott Elrod (watch this young actor's career blossom!). Largely due to the smart dialogue delivered by specialists in comedy, this film works well.

Grady Harp