Bandslam (2009)

Director:

Todd Graff

Writers (WGA):

Josh A. Cagan (screenplay) and
Todd Graff (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

14 August 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Music | Romance

Tagline:

Band Together

Plot:

A new kid in town assembles a fledgling rock band -- together, they achieve their dreams and compete against the best in the biggest event of the year, a battle of the bands.

Plot Keywords:

School | Battle Of The Bands | High School | Teenager | New Jersey

Cast

Aly Michalka	...	Charlotte
Vanessa Hudgens	...	Sa5m
Gaelan Connell	...	Will
Scott Porter	...	Ben Wheatly
Ryan Donowho	...	Basher
Charlie Saxton	...	Bug
Lisa Kudrow	...	Karen
Tim Jo	...	Omar
Elvy Yost	...	Irene (Cello)
Lisa Chung	...	Kim Lee (Keyboards)
J.W. Wright	...	Dylan Dyer (Glory Dogs Guitar) (as J.W. Wright II)
Blair Bomar	...	Megan
Casey Williams	...	Ms. Wittenberg
Maggie Maye	...	Kyra 17-1
Jennifer Blair	...	Kyra's Friend
Zach Thatcher	...	Kid Talking About Miles
Derek Cox-Berg	...	Rapping Boy 1
Matt Hensarling	...	Rapping Boy 2
Cassidy Johnson	...	Slapping Girl
Landon Henninger	...	Rory
Michael Cuomo	...	Mr. Berry
Nathan McCray	...	Glue Boy
Kai Roach	...	Glory Dogs Bass
Chris Copeland	...	Glory Dogs Drummer
James Hairston	...	Glory Dogs Saxophone
Chance Morgan	...	The Burning Hotels Guitar / Vocals
Matt Moody	...	The Burning Hotels Guitar / Vocals
Marley Whistler	...	The Burning Hotels Bass / Vocals
Wyatt Adams	...	The Burning Hotels Drummer (as Wyatt Woodruff Adams)
Farah White	...	Sa5m's Mom
Nikka Graff Lanzarone	...	New Art Teacher
Bobby Bones	...	Bandslam MC
Jonathan Rice	...	Stage Manager
Ryan Ciardo	...	Bully at the Bus Stop
Will Johnson	...	Scott Donnelly
Bryan Chafin	...	1st Kid
Rebecca Petro	...	2nd Kid
David Bowie	...	David Bowie
Valin Zamarron	...	Hip Hop Group 'Zeale'
Candice Jackson	...	Hip Hop Group 'Candice'
Manjeri Krishna	...	Hip Hop Group 'DJ'
Benjamin Kessler	...	ICGO Saxophone (as Ben Kessler)
Andy Rector	...	ICGO Trombone
Juan Lopez	...	ICGO Trumpet
Evan Butts	...	The Daze Guitar / Vocals
Chris Ritchie	...	The Daze Bass
Aaron Lemke	...	The Daze Drummer
Krystal Morton	...	Art Class Girl
Todd Graff	...	Screaming Teacher
Julian Riano	...	Dewey Kid
Joey Olivares	...	Rock-N-Roller
Joshua Montoya	...	Screaming Fan
Nadia Sahari	...	Charlotte's Aunt
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Archer	...	High School Student (uncredited)
Justin Beaudry	...	High School Student (uncredited)
Michelle Brew	...	Cheerleader (uncredited)
Alyssa Bryer	...	(uncredited)
Gene Cervenka	...	High School Teacher (uncredited)
Kurt Cole	...	Student (uncredited)
Parker Danks	...	Concert Fan (uncredited)
Heather Danner	...	Extra (uncredited)
Alexa Doggett	...	High School Student (uncredited)
Bethany Esfandiari	...	Haiku Girl (uncredited)
Gazelle Garcia	...	Concert Fan (uncredited)
Loren Gold	...	Composer (uncredited)
Regina Gordon	...	High School Student (uncredited)
Torrie Hardcastle	...	Bandslam Attendee (uncredited)
Mark Holliway	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Breona Horne	...	Extra (uncredited)
Hope Jaymes	...	Student (uncredited)
Matt Joyner	...	Kissing Couple Guy (uncredited)
Paul Leblanc	...	Indie Rocker (uncredited)
Tyler Mann	...	Bandslam Attendee (uncredited)
Micaela Phillips	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Leandra Ryan	...	Concert Fan (uncredited)
Henry J. Smith III	...	High School Student (uncredited)
Gary Teague	...	Bandslam Attendee (uncredited)
William Throckmorton	...	Diner (uncredited)
Kimberly Westbrook	...	High School Student (uncredited)
Katie Young	...	Extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Todd Graff

Writing credits (WGA)
Josh A. Cagan		(screenplay) and
Todd Graff		(screenplay)
Josh A. Cagan		(story)

Produced by
Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas	....	producer
K.C. Hodenfield	....	co-producer
Jared Mass	....	associate producer
Ron Schmidt	....	executive producer
Marisa Yeres	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Eric Steelberg

Film Editing by
John Gilbert

Casting by
Nancy Nayor		(as Nancy Nayor Battino)

Production Design by
Jeff Knipp

Art Direction by
John Frick

Set Decoration by
Carla Curry

Costume Design by
Ernesto Martinez

Makeup Department
Catherine Conrad	....	assistant hair stylist
Becki Drake	....	key makeup artist
Roxie Hodenfield	....	department head hair
Meredith Johns	....	assistant makeup artist
Ermahn Ospina	....	makeup department head
Leola Perez	....	assistant makeup artist (as Leola L. Pérez)
Charmaine Richards	....	key hair stylist
Charles Yusko	....	assistant hair stylist

Production Management
Michael Bederman	....	production manager: New York
Richard E. Chapla Jr.	....	production manager
Douglas Jones	....	executive in charge of production
Kimberly Rach	....	executive in charge of production
Christopher Russell	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kayse Goodell	....	additional second second assistant director
K.C. Hodenfield	....	first assistant director
Angela Jensen	....	second second assistant director: New York
Jeff Okabayashi	....	second assistant director
Shawn Pipkin	....	second second assistant director
Peter Soldo	....	first assistant director: New York
Aurora Warfield	....	second assistant director: New York

Art Department
Richard Beltran	....	set dresser
Mark Lambert Bristol	....	storyboard artist
Tim Dingle	....	scenic/signwriter
Travis Eisenberg	....	propmaker
Melanie Ferguson	....	on-set dresser
Juliet Guimont	....	scenic artist
Mark Hanks	....	set dresser
John Blood	....	set designer
Leslie Kolter	....	props
Ellen Lampl	....	art director: graphics
Rick Perry	....	carpenter
Adele Plauche	....	set designer
Scott A. Reeder	....	property master
Jeremy Reeves	....	set dresser
Jonathan Shaffer	....	assistant property master
Phil Shirey	....	leadman
Michael Smothers	....	toolman/utility
Pierre Vial	....	set dresser
Tom Ward	....	construction coordinator
Carrin Welch	....	art department coordinator
Gary Wimmer	....	charge scenic
Robert R. Wonson	....	set dresser
Koen Wooten	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Ethan Andrus	....	sound mixer
Benjamin Cheah	....	supervising sound editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Mike Howells	....	adr recordist
Bobby Johanson	....	adr mixer
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer
Tim LeBlanc	....	sound re-recording mixer
Beauxregard Neylon	....	adr mixer
Tom Sturgis	....	boom operator
Gregg Swiatlowski	....	assistant sound editor
Damian Volpe	....	sound effects editor
Katy Wood	....	co-supervising sound editor

Special Effects by
Everett Byrom III	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Dylan Hart	....	stunt performer
Fred Parker Jr.	....	utility stunts
Jeff Schwan	....	stunt coordinator (as Jeffrey Schwan)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ryan Abrams	....	film loader
Roger Basquette	....	digital video assist operator
Tony Bendt	....	dolly grip
Kelly Bogdan	....	second assistant camera
Wes Dixon	....	company electrician
John Eschberger	....	electrician
Matt Fliehler	....	electrician
Adam Flores	....	rigging grip
Neil Fraser	....	dolly grip
Matt Harshbarger	....	camera production assistant
Chip Huntington	....	grip
Edison Jackson	....	best boy electric
Tom Kerwick	....	key grip: New York
Jon H. Lewis	....	gaffer
Jimmy Lindsey	....	camera operator
Jimmy Lindsey	....	director of photography: second unit
Scott Magruder	....	best boy rigging electric
Sean Maxwell	....	additional camera operator
Jim McConkey	....	camera operator
Matthew McGinn	....	second assistant camera
P.K. Munson	....	first assistant camera
Van Redin	....	still photographer
Phillip Renke	....	best boy rigging grip
Froylan Reyes Jr.	....	electrician
Lance Rieck	....	scorpio head technician
Ferrell A. Shinnick	....	key grip
Louis Smith	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Pete Stockton	....	key rigging grip
Paul Turner	....	concert lighting designer
Steve Urban	....	grip
Sebastian Vega	....	first assistant camera
Ezra Venetos	....	grip
Aaron Atom Vyvial	....	grip
Jesse Wolter	....	grip

Casting Department
Natalie Ballesteros	....	casting associate
Letty Chavarria	....	extras casting coordinator
Kera Dacy	....	extras casting assistant
Meredith Jacobson	....	location extras casting
Nora Jobling	....	casting intern
Ty Kamerman	....	casting intern (as Tyler Kamerman)
Trixze Smith	....	casting assistant
Adam Vincentz	....	location extras casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Heidi Howell	....	set costumer
Kathy Kiatta	....	costume supervisor
Keely Kuykendall	....	costume production assistant
Kortney Lawlor	....	costumer
Misti Moreaux	....	costume production assistant
Kevin Ritter	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Zoe Bower	....	post-production coordinator
Michael T. Forrest	....	on-line editor
Matt Hull	....	assistant digital intermediate producer
Gary Jackemuk	....	digital intermediate supervisor (as Garrison Jackemuk)
Natasha Leonnet	....	digital intermediate colorist
Harry Muller	....	color timer
Elizabeth Ross	....	first assistant editor
David Sooc	....	apprentice editor
Bradley Scott Sullivan	....	editorial production assistant

Music Department
Kelsey Aloise	....	assistant music supervisor
Christine Bergren	....	music legal
Linda Cohen	....	music supervisor
Lindsay Fellows	....	music supervisor
Loren Gold	....	composer: theme music
Loren Gold	....	musician: additional piano
Lon Hoyt	....	music coordinator
Lon Hoyt	....	orchestrator
Phil Hurley	....	guitar teacher
Junkie XL	....	composer: additional music
Paul Katz	....	music consultant
Adam Lasus	....	music producer
Stephen Lotwis	....	music editor
Joseph Magee	....	supervising music mixer
Larry Mah	....	digital score recordist
Jason Mozersky	....	musician: additional guitar
John Rodd	....	orchestral recording
John Rodd	....	orchestral scoring mixer
Peter Rotter	....	music contractor

Transportation Department
Mark Crosby	....	hair/make-up driver
Russell E. Scott	....	picture cars

Other crew
Victoria Acosta	....	travel and housing coordinator
John Arszyla	....	medic
Toni Atterbury	....	unit publicist
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances
Dustin Baxley	....	co-second assistant accountant
Tyler Benton	....	production assistant
Laura Noel Borland	....	additional set production assistant
Loren Brock	....	assistant to production executive (ms. rach )
Loren Brock	....	assistant to production executive: Ms. Rach
Unjoo Lee Byars	....	main title producer
Chris Cantu-Salazar	....	assistant location manager
Joe Cecchini	....	assistant: Mr. Graff
Peggy Chen	....	second assistant accountant
Rick Clark	....	head animal trainer
Michael Clossin	....	production assistant
Bobbi Colorado	....	animal coordinator
Logan Cooper	....	assistant location manager
Sara Denson	....	production assistant
Erik Feig	....	production executive
Tiffany Fraser	....	post-production accountant
Robbie Friedmann	....	location manager
Allison Furgal	....	production coordinator: New York
Brian Gannon	....	assistant: Ms. Goldsmith-Thomas
Dan Gloeckner	....	key set production assistant: New York
Ryan Gomez	....	post production assistant accountant
Gina Grande	....	script supervisor
Glenn F. Haines	....	acting coach
Juan Pablo Hernandez	....	production assistant
Chris M. Jackson	....	computer playback designer
Alexandra Jorgensen	....	production assistant
Meghan Lechette	....	production assistant: New York
Kandis Longan	....	assistant: Mr. Schmidt
J. Christopher Lopez	....	title designer
David Lussier	....	writing contributions
Shane Mallory	....	production assistant
Jennifer S. Milliman	....	assistant: cast
Meredith Milton	....	production executive
Neely Moore	....	office production assistant: New York
Karen Ramirez	....	assistant production office coordinator
Demian Resnick	....	location manager: New York
James A. Rota	....	production IT supervisor
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances
Lora Sorrentino	....	production assistant: New York
Elizabeth Speckman	....	first assistant accountant
Mark Spencer	....	production assistant
Lauren Swearingen	....	production coordinator
Adam Vavrek	....	production assistant
Karen Wacker	....	production coordinator
Monica Walters	....	location scout
Ryan James Yezak	....	production assistant
Michelle Brew	....	stand-in: Charlotte Banks (uncredited)
Michelle Brew	....	stand-in: Karen Burton (uncredited)

Thanks
Paul Thomas Anderson	....	special thanks
John August	....	thanks
Jerry Graff	....	dedicatee
Shawn Hoover	....	special thanks
Joe Roth	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Summit Entertainment (presents)
• Walden Media (presents)
• Goldsmith-Thomas Productions

Distributors

• Aurum Producciones (2009) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Belga Films (2009) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Cinestar (2009) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Concorde Filmverleih (2009) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Contender Entertainment Group (2009) (UK) (theatrical)
• Eagle Pictures (2009) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Golden Screen (2009) (Malaysia) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (2009) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (2009) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
• Independent Films (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Mongkol Film Company (2009) (Thailand) (theatrical)
• SND (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• Seville Pictures (2009) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Summit Entertainment (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Belga Home Vidéo (2009) (Belgium) (DVD)
• CatchPlay (2009) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Deltamac Entertainment (2009) (Hong Kong) (all media)
• E1 Entertainment (2009) (UK) (DVD)
• E1 Entertainment (2009) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Film1 (2010) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Net5 (2012) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Paris Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paris Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (all media)
• Summit Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Summit Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Mi Casa Multimedia  DVD audio mix & mastering 5.1
• BBC Motion Gallery  thanks
• Background, The  walla group
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera car
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Cleared Content  graphics
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Eye2Ear Music  music consultant
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack
• Orbit Digital  non-linear editing systems
• Walden Post Production Services  digital intermediate
• Warner Brothers Post-Production Services  re-recorded at

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for some thematic elements and mild language

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (FotoKem)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #44174) | Ireland:PG | UK:PG | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | South Korea:12 | Netherlands:AL | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Singapore:PG | Mexico:A | Australia:PG | Hong Kong:I | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Austin Studios - 1901 E. 51st Street, Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Summit Entertainment

Trivia:

A classical bassist, Tim Jo (Omar) originally auditioned for the part of Bug (the bassist in the band).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Will first meets Sa5m in the high school cafeteria, Sa5m writes her name on a notebook of lined paper. A close up shows plain paper. The next frame is again showing lined paper.

Quotes:

Will Burton:So, how big is this whole bandslam thing around here?
Sa5m:Texas high school football big.

Movie Connections:

References Evil Dead II (1987)

Soundtrack:

Star

Surprise of the summer!!!!

Look at my surprise as I went to see the awful looking Bandslam for a sneak peak of the highly anticipated New Moon. And I came out disappointed at the New Moon angle. Yeah the footage was great but hardly enough to merit buying a ticket to see it. So I got over my disappointment I mean what am I gonna do. And crossed my fingers hoping the 87 percent of positive reviews for this film wouldn't make me regret my ticket price. The film is written and directed by Todd Graff, so i wasn't expecting much because that film got great reviews to. Well I'm the first to admit I'm wrong. And I was wrong. Majorly wrong. Shocked? I am too. Bandslam is such a genuinely endearing, funny, clever great teen flick that has just been so wrongly advertised. The talented Gaelan Connell stars as Will Burton a young man whom moves from Cincinatti to New Jersey. His mom gets a new job and he's glad to leave his loner lifestyle behind because of a shady past and hopefully make a new start. Once there he meets a shy, emotionless girl named Sa5m the five is silent which is kinda dumb. And Charlotte Banks played by Aly Michalka whose looking for a band manager. the whole plot line is centered around this competition Bandslam. Kind of like a battle of the bands where the winner gets a record contract. This film is so unpredictable and feels so genuine. It has the feel of a film by the late great John Hughes. It's a very cool movie about very cool misunderstood kids. Ignore the Disney casting session the film has depth. The performances aren't all perfect but they feel real and the great bits outnumber the awkward ones by far. Connell is so endearing as Will Burton. He's a real dork at first. And just a movie dork. He's a little odd looking, a loner and not in a cool way and is way bad with being social. But by the end you will love him and think he's a very cool guy. His love of music alone is enough to set him apart. the film sports surprising knowledge of the Velvet Underground, the birth of punk at CBGBs, The Ramones and even an cameo by David Bowie himself. Lisa Kudrow is surprisingly great as Will's mother. She shows a great range of depth, emotion and comedic timing. Hudgens is less successful as Sa5m but has some truly endearing moments and has great chemistry with Connell and Michalka is even less successful as Charlotte but when her characters storyline takes a surprising turn so does her performance. The film is just really great much along the lines of last years surprise Nick and Norah's infinite playlist. the film is smart, funny and genuine. A new classic for this generation. Too bad not many will see it just as no one really showed up for Charlie Bartlett, Nick and Nora or the girl next door. The film is really solid the surprise of the summer you should definitely check it out.