Normal (2007)

Director:

Carl Bessai

Writer:

Travis McDonald (written by)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A deadly car accident brings together a group of previously unrelated people, each of whom is forced to deal with the emotional fallout.

Plot Keywords:

Car Accident | Sex With Collegiate | Ensemble Cast | Prodigal Son | Male Nudity

Awards:

6 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Carrie-Anne Moss	...	Catherine
Kevin Zegers	...	Jordie
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Walt
Andrew Airlie	...	Dale
Tygh Runyan	...	Dennis
Camille Sullivan	...	Elise
Lauren Lee Smith	...	Sherri
Michael Riley	...	Carl
Britt Irvin	...	Melissa
Allison Hossack	...	Abby
Cameron Bright	...	Brady
Tara Frederick	...	Sylvie
Benjamin Ratner	...	Tim (as Ben Ratner)
Zak Santiago	...	Bob the Social Worker
Hrothgar Mathews	...	Jerry
Gabrielle Rose	...	Connie
Dan Shea	...	Peter
Talia Notte	...	Young Catherine
Tal Notte	...	Young Nickie
Elyse Levesque	...	Marcy the Babysitter
Adam Dodds	...	Young Man
Bryan Mah	...	Store Worker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Denis Corbett	...	Shopper #2 (uncredited)
Yolanda Corbett	...	Shopper #1 (uncredited)

Directed by
Carl Bessai

Writing credits
Travis McDonald		(written by)

Produced by
Judi Babcock	....	associate producer
Carl Bessai	....	producer
Andrew Boutilier	....	producer
Stephen Hegyes	....	executive producer
Phil Hunt	....	executive producer
Drew Locke	....	line producer
Compton Ross	....	executive producer
Raj Uppal	....	co-producer (as Rajvinder Uppal)
Shawn Williamson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Clinton Shorter

Cinematography by
Carl Bessai		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Lisa Binkley

Casting by
Susan Taylor Brouse		(as Susan Brouse)

Production Design by
Nancy Mossop

Set Decoration by
Trevor Belcourt

Costume Design by
Michele Maillet		(as Michèle Maillet)

Makeup Department
Nicole Bivens	....	key hair stylist (as Nicole Wise Bivens)
Nicole Bivens	....	key makeup artist (as Nicole Wise Bivens)
Calla Syna Dreyer	....	key hair stylist
Calla Syna Dreyer	....	key makeup artist
Dana Hamel	....	co-department head hair stylist
Dana Hamel	....	co-makeup department head
Angela Nair	....	assistant hair stylist
Angela Nair	....	assistant makeup artist
Connie Parker	....	makeup: Carrie-Anne Moss
Sanna Seppanen	....	hair: Carrie-Anne Moss

Production Management
Judi Babcock	....	post-production supervisor
Krista Kelloway	....	director of production: Brightlight Pictures
Drew Locke	....	production manager
Brad Van Arragon	....	senior vice president of production: Brightlight Pictures

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ted Emerson	....	third assistant director
Allie Amy Goodfellow	....	second assistant director (as Allie Goodfellow)
Collin Leadlay	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Nigel Gurney	....	dresser
Steve Killi	....	assistant set decorator
Cody Larson	....	on-set dresser
Ethan Mallais	....	set dresser
Astrid Starke	....	assistant props
Leola Witt-McNie	....	dresser
Levi Woods	....	property master

Sound Department
Ken Biehl	....	backgrounds editor
Jeff Carter	....	sound mixer
Christopher Cleator	....	adr recording (as Chris Cleator)
Don Harrison	....	foley artist
Gord Hillier	....	dialogue editor
Gord Hillier	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeff Jackman	....	sound effects editor
Ian Mackie	....	foley artist
Jean-Luc Perron	....	boom operator
Rick Senechal	....	foley engineer
Greg Stewart	....	sound re-recording mixer
Greg Stewart	....	sound supervisor
Kevin Swartz	....	trailer sound designer

Special Effects by
Bill Mills	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Mark Benard	....	visual effects producer
Mark Benard	....	visual effects supervisor: Lost Boy Studios (as Mark Bénard)

Stunts
Dave Alexander	....	stunt coordinator
Dan Redford	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Harold Bernard	....	assistant camera
Carl Bessai	....	aerial cinematographer: second unit
J.B. Bivens	....	dolly grip (as John Bivens)
Andrew Boxwell	....	assistant camera
Carolynn Brocke	....	second second assistant camera
Geoff Brown	....	best boy grip (as Geoffrey Brown)
Peter Carty	....	first assistant camera
Greg Cornell	....	grip
Steven Deneault	....	camera operator
David Dolsen	....	key stills photographer
John G. Helme	....	gaffer (as John Helme)
Hamish Hollingsworth	....	best boy
Kelly Holst	....	grip
Julie Kim	....	aerial camera assistant: second unit
Jean-Paul Langlois	....	grip
Kevin McKee	....	dolly grip
Martin Nicholas	....	lamp operator
Cedar O'Rourke	....	lamp operator
Duane Prentice	....	stills photographer
Mark Roop	....	generator operator
Brian Smith	....	key grip
Chris Weiss	....	key second assistant camera (as Christopher Weiss)
Ed Willems	....	lead grip

Casting Department
Kerry Barden	....	additional casting
Billy Hopkins	....	additional casting
Annie Klein	....	extras casting
Suzanne Smith	....	additional casting
Graham Wickstrom	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Katharine Lemmon	....	truck costumer
Micah Pridham	....	set supervisor
Karen Thomas	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
David Armstrong	....	film color timer (as Dave Armstrong)
James Cowan	....	digital intermediate supervisor
Michelle Grady	....	general manager: Technicolor Creative Services Vancouver
Vincent McGregor	....	assistant editor
Catherine McQuaid	....	project supervisor
Stephanie Meyerink	....	project supervisor
David Robinson	....	on-line editor
Gary Shaw	....	digital intermediate colorist
Bruce Whidden	....	colorist: dailies
Spencer Whitney	....	telecine assistant

Music Department
Laura Doyle	....	vocals
Sarah Webster	....	music supervisor
Jane Ashworth	....	assistant music supervisor: S.L. Feldman & Associates (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Ron Bartrom	....	driver (as Ron 'Blue' Bartrom)
Sean Bredo	....	driver
Ron Burrows	....	driver
Curtis Campbell	....	driver
Terence Cochlan	....	additional driver
Frank Guadagno	....	driver: cast
Gerald Hooper	....	additional driver
Gary Hostad	....	transportation coordinator
William McMahon	....	captain
Robert McMillan	....	additional driver
Jose Campos Oneeglio	....	driver
John Riddle	....	driver: cast (as John 'JR' Riddle)
Bryan Rind	....	additional driver
Ray Waechter	....	additional driver

Other crew
Carolann Baker	....	security
Derryl Baker	....	additional security
Diane Berezay	....	craft service
Diane Berezay	....	first aid
Denise Bonney	....	assistant: Ms. Edwards, Brightlight Pictures
Bonnie Brekelmans	....	additional production assistant
Richard Bruce	....	production assistant
Georgina Brunette	....	paralegal: Brightlight Pictures
Ketih Cameron	....	additional security (as Keith Cameron)
Carla Carlson	....	location scout
Neal Clarance	....	chartered accountant: Ernst & Young (as Neal Clarence)
Kimberly Clarke	....	stand-in (as Kimberly Clark)
Fiona Crossley	....	location manager
Bienvenido Cruz	....	publicity design
Jane Davidson	....	assistant production accountant
Leri Davies	....	unit publicity
A. Michael Dennison	....	production assistant
Karyn Edwards	....	vice president of legal and business affairs: Brightlight Pictures
Jesse Friest	....	additional production assistant (as Jessie Friest)
John Genzel	....	banking: The Royal Bank of Canada
Steve Gibson	....	security
Ciaran Gilmore	....	assistant production coordinator (as Ciarán Gilmore)
Steve Gray	....	helicopter pilot: second unit
Kirsten Hansen	....	assistant: Mr. Hegyes, Brightlight Pictures
Sarah Harris	....	production coordinator
Frank Hollmann	....	production assistant: assistant director
Carol Horn	....	legal counsel: Heenan Blaikie LLP
Krista Johnston	....	clearance
Krista Johnston	....	rights and clearances
Melven Jones	....	security
Tina Korki	....	production assistant
Marilyn Liu	....	vice president of finance: Brightlight Pictures
Margo MacPherson	....	assistant: Mr. Williamson, Brightlight Pictures
Angelo Mazzuocco	....	security coordinator
Jessie McAllan	....	director of operations: Brightlight Pictures
Ryan McCondach	....	additional production assistant
Kelley Mirchoff	....	extras wrangler
Patrick Mokrane	....	post-production accountant
Patrick Mokrane	....	production accountant
Talia Notte	....	stand-in
Kathryn Perkins	....	publicist
Alison Rasberry	....	additional production assistant (as Alison Low)
Steve Sangster	....	assistant location manager (as Stephen Sangster)
Joecy Shepherd	....	script supervisor
Riley Slinn	....	additional production assistant
Ernest Tomlinson	....	location scout
Shane Travis	....	key production assistant
Russell Tyler	....	second assistant production coordinator
Sarah F.E. Washbrook	....	production assistant (as Sarah Washbrook)
Robert C. Yu	....	acquisitions executive

Thanks
Hussain Amarsshi	....	special thanks
Diane Boehme	....	special thanks
Lesley Brady	....	special thanks
Lucas Comstock	....	special thanks
Andrew Currie	....	special thanks
John Dippong	....	special thanks
Jeff Flowers	....	special thanks
Shelley Gillen	....	special thanks
David Hauka	....	special thanks: VFS
Julie Hemmerling	....	special thanks
Elizabeth Hodgson	....	special thanks
Dina Holmes	....	special thanks
Ken Lawson	....	special thanks
Rob Merilees	....	special thanks
Grizz Salzl	....	special thanks
Paul Sarossy	....	special thanks
Jim Seibel	....	special thanks
Lynne Stopkewich	....	special thanks
Allisa Swanson	....	special thanks
Lucy Willcox	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Head Gear Films (executive producer)
• Normal Film Company, The
• Raven West Films Ltd.
• Submission Films

Distributors

• Bankside Films (2007) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• Gravitas Ventures (2008) (USA) (video) (VOD)
• Mongrel Media (2006) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2008) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Accent Film Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (DVD)
• Film1 Sundance Channel (2013) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2007) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Laptv (2008) (Argentina) (TV)
• Porchlight Home Entertainment

Special Effects

• Lost Boys Studios (visual effects by)

Other Companies

• Axium Entertainment Services Canada  payroll service (as Axium Entertainment)
• Blackcomb Helicopters  special thanks to
• British Columbia Film  developed with the participation of
• Camosun College  special thanks to
• City of Victoria, British Columbia  special thanks to (as City Of Victoria)
• Corus  developed in association with
• Crunch Recording Group  additional adr recording: Toronto
• DJ Audio  optical track (as DJ Audio Inc., Studio City)
• District of Oak Bay  special thanks to
• Ernst & Young  chartered accountants
• Film Finances Canada  completion guarantee supplied by
• Fintage House  collection account management by
• Gamut Productions  epk
• Head Art Gallery  special thanks to
• Heenan Blaikie Lawyers  legal counsel provided by (as Heenan Blaikie LLP)
• Jones Brown Insurance  insurance provided by (as Jones Brown Insurance Brokers)
• Kodak Canada  film stock provided by
• Line 21 Media Services Ltd.  closed captioning services by (as Line 21 Media Services, Inc.)
• Line 21 Media Services Ltd.  combined dialogue, continuity & spotting list (uncredited)
• Lost Boys Studios  title animation
• Matrix Video  special thanks to (as Matrix Video Systems)
• Mondo Catering  catering provided by
• NovaStar Digital  additional adr recording: Los Angeles (as Novastar Digital Sound Services)
• PS Production Services  grip/electric gear provided by
• Panavision  cameras provided by (as Panavision Canada)
• Post Modern Sound  audio post production by (as Post Modern Sound, Vancouver)
• Royal Bank of Canada  bank facilities (as The Royal Bank of Canada)
• S.L. Feldman & Associates  music supervision
• Technicolor Creative Services  digital negative (as Technicolor Creative Services, Vancouver)
• Téléfilm Canada  developed in association with (as Telefilm Canada)
• Union Pacific Coffee Company  special thanks to
• Vancouver Film School  special thanks to (as VFS)
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and language

Runtime:

Canada:100 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Canada:18A | Australia:MA | USA:R | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Head Gear Films

Trivia:

Carrie-Anne Moss shot her role in six days.

A disjointed story of sad, angry, insulting miserable humans

Beware, don't watch this if you're depressed or wanting some entertainment! We're introduced to an interesting gallery in the start of the movie, and the actors are doing their job. Great cast, but that's about all. It's sort of annoying that we don't clay understand if the main event in the film, the loss of a teenager, already has happened or not. Carrie Anne Moss, which is great as always, finally makes us think it's happened.

And that sums up my main problem with this movie. I think you really need to get the whole story to get to feel the tragedy. When we finally understand, after 13 minutes, it's almost too late. How is a loss that long time ago able to be so profound on so many? The mother is feeling she didn't know her lost son that well, And then the other son still living is as unloved as can be!!!

It's also told in a for me a bit too depressive way. There's nothing positive to too see for the first half an hour. Tragic human lives, and I both Moss and Kevin Zegers difficult to like. And the people keep insulting each other on a too large scale for me to believe in. Even the persons on you think you'll like ends up beeping unlikeable. And if that's not enough, people here which don't like each other ends up having sex. Is it the times? That also makes it more difficult to identify with the main characters.

And then when you expect the film to take off, nothing simply happens. It feels like a kind of a disjointed story. The actors are not to blame, and not so much the instruction either, I think. They all do a good job. The manuscript is probably the main problem.

Sorry to see such a good cast go to waste in a film like this. The persons are not only insulting each other, the filmmakers are insulting us viewers. Go rather see the great film "The dead girl" by Karen Moncrieff, which is also based on a similar idea, but much more gripping told and well done.