The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry (2008)

Director:

Rich Christiano

Writers:

Rich Christiano (writer)
Dave Christiano (writer)

Release Date:

18 September 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

What he teaches you...will last forever.

Plot:

An wise old Christian man imparts Biblical truths to three boys during the summer of 1970.

Plot Keywords:

1970s | Boy | Christian | Old Man | Waitress

Cast

Gavin MacLeod	...	Jonathan Sperry
Jansen Panettiere	...	Dustin
Robert Guillaume	...	Mr. Barnes
Frankie Ryan Manriquez	...	Albert
Allen Isaacson	...	Mark
Taylor Boggan	...	Nick
Mary Jean McAdams	...	Mrs. Sharp
Bailey Garno	...	Tanya
Kristina Jewell	...	Sally
Cameron Bloomer	...	Roy
Tommy Pasko	...	Larry
Eva Mancarella	...	Girl in diner
Dina Corsetti	...	Waitress
Peter Doyle	...	Preacher
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hayley Lown	...	Girl in Restaurant
Kyle Prohaska	...	Diner Extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Rich Christiano

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Dave Christiano		writer
Rich Christiano		writer

Produced by
Rich Christiano	....	producer
Chad Gundersen	....	producer

Original Music by
Jasper Randall

Cinematography by
Philip Hurn

Film Editing by
Jeffrey Lee Hollis

Casting by
Beverly Holloway

Production Design by
James R. Cunningham

Costume Design by
Stephen M. Chudej

Makeup Department
Gina Ghiglieri	....	makeup department head

Production Management
Chad Gundersen	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Philip Leclerc	....	second second assistant director
Nathan Webster	....	second assistant director
Stewart Young	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Kyle Prohaska	....	graphic designer
Rob Wichman	....	art intern

Sound Department
Lance Hoffman	....	sound mixer
Thomas Hoffman	....	boom operator

Visual Effects by
William Mings	....	visual effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Timothy Brown	....	first assistant camera
Glenn Galbraith	....	swing grip
Zachary Gladwin	....	still photographer (as Zach Golemb)
Justin Kriss	....	best boy electric
Andrew Lindley	....	grip
Andy Lohrenz	....	dolly grip
Andy Lohrenz	....	key grip
Daniel McGarvey Jr.	....	gaffer
Shane McMullin	....	electrician
Symon Mink	....	additional first assistant camera
Amanda Mitchell	....	additional second assistant camera
Amanda Mitchell	....	loader
Tracy Moran	....	additional first assistant camera
Dawn Nakamura	....	first assistant camera
David Riley	....	best boy grip
Jared Rummel	....	camera intern
Jovan Sales	....	second assistant camera
Kyle Simmons	....	additional best boy grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Maria Garcia	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Eugene Mishustin	....	music preparation
Eugene Mishustin	....	orchestrator
Peter Rotter	....	scoring producer
Tom Strahle	....	additional source music
Tom Strahle	....	musician: guitar

Other crew
David Babcock	....	production assistant
Matthew Bernabei	....	location supervisor
Richard J. Bosner	....	production coordinator
Josh Ensink	....	production assistant
Maria Garcia	....	production assistant
Joshua Knoles	....	script supervisor
Christine Moinihan	....	studio teacher
Jonathan Terpstra	....	production assistant
Amy Warden	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Christiano Film Group

Distributors

• Christian Art Media (2010) (South Africa) (DVD)
• Five & Two Pictures (2008) (USA) (all media)
• Resurrection Pictures

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild thematic elements

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #45476)

Filming Locations:

Brockport, New York, USA

Company:

Christiano Film Group

Trivia:

Director Rich Christiano mentioned "Before we showed this movie in theaters, we first screened it in some Christian film festivals, and the first one we ever showed this movie at was in Boston ..." (at 36:13 in 'Behind the Secrets of Jonathan Sperry'). That was The Merrimack Valley Christian Film Festival in Lawerence, 29 miles north of Boston (3/16/2008-3/23/2008). Rich Christiano also refers to this screening at 25:07 in the DVD commentary, saying the film "wasn't even finished yet."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mr. Sperry challenges the boys to form a chain stretching from a tree to a $5 bill he places on a picnic table (at around 1h), shots from behind the boys show half the table in sunlight, while the reverse shots (which had to be shot on a different day) show the table completely in shadows.

Soundtrack:

Surfin' Zuma at Sunset

Life as it should be

When this movie was released, the radio ads I heard led me to believe it was a 19th century mystery with Christian overtones. In reality, it was like the picture of your favorite DJ, who looks nothing like you envisioned him. My wife and I watched the DVD last night. I found it to be a well-done, well-acted movie about sharing the Gospel. Mr. McLeod is superb as the lead, with Robert Guillaume complimenting the nicely chosen cast. The props and settings are accurate and nostalgic. It made me long for the innocence of that time. With Easter approaching, we should all reconsider the claims of Jesus on our lives. This movie will cause you to do that.