Tickling Leo (2009)

Director:

Jeremy Davidson

Writer:

Jeremy Davidson (writer)

Release Date:

4 September 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Produced By Director | Written By Director | Two Word Title

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Lawrence Pressman	...	Warren Pikler
Daniel Sauli	...	Zak Pikler
Annie Parisse	...	Delphina Adams
Sarah Wikenczy	...	Young Mother
Sebastian Wikenczy Thomsen	...	Child
Jonathan Valuckas	...	Reuven Ben Amir
Ed Setrakian	...	Oscar Szoras
Gabor Szucs	...	Oscar's Grandson
Orsoja Simon	...	Woman in Bar
Alexander Grech III	...	Bartender
Jack	...	Yorrie
Grey Rabbit Puett	...	Young Warren
Ronald Guttman	...	Robert Pikler
Victoria Clark	...	Madeline Pikler
Lara Apponyi	...	Rivka Pikler
Evan Neumann	...	Young Emil Pikler
David Stein	...	Rudolph Kasztner
Michael Marinoff	...	Young Oscar
Bern Cohen	...	Yosef Gottlieb
Joshua Kocher	...	Baby Robert
Brooke Datys	...	Child on Train
Giulia Casalino	...	Oscar's Wife
Karin Partin	...	Girl Flying Kite
Gameela Wright	...	Nurse
Eli Wallach	...	Emil Pikler

Directed by
Jeremy Davidson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jeremy Davidson		writer

Produced by
Jeremy Davidson	....	producer
Ronald Guttman	....	producer: Highbrow Entertainment
Maria Elena Lopez-Frank	....	co-producer
Mary Stuart Masterson	....	producer
Peter Masterson	....	producer
Paul Schnee	....	producer
Steven Weisman	....	producer

Original Music by
Abel Korzeniowski

Cinematography by
Peter Masterson

Film Editing by
Kate Eales

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Paul Schnee

Production Design by
David Stein

Art Direction by
Dave Lieber
Jeremy Rosenstein

Costume Design by
Olivera Gajic

Makeup Department
Natalie Distefano	....	specialty makeup
Paola Orlando	....	hair stylist
Paola Orlando	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph Ciccarella	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Giulia Casalino	....	set dresser
Andrew Simek	....	art department production assistant

Sound Department
Sean Cunningham	....	boom operator
Lewis Goldstein	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lewis Goldstein	....	supervising sound editor
Nathan Lindsey	....	adr recordist
Cate Montana	....	dialogue editor
Cate Montana	....	supervising adr editor
Carmine Picarello	....	sound mixer
David Scott	....	sound effects editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Cindy S. Bishop	....	second assistant camera
Greg Morishige	....	grip
Gennaro A. Morrone	....	gaffer
Karin Partin	....	first assistant camera
Gary Powell	....	best boy electric
Paul Sharrett	....	grip

Casting Department
Amy Ferzoco	....	local casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alexandra Masterson	....	wardrobe assistant (as Lexie Masterson)
Anya Taraboulsy	....	assistant costume designer
Tricia Turczynski	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Pat Kelleher	....	additional hd editing
Scot Olive	....	color timer (as Scott Olive)

Music Department
Jim Black	....	music clearance
Abel Korzeniowski	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Ali Duveen	....	production coordinator
Ilyse Frisch	....	cast liaison
Joe Proietto	....	production coordinator
Casey Puccini	....	production assistant
Friday Savathphoune	....	script supervisor
Valerie Stodghill	....	craft service
Emily Webster	....	production assistant

Thanks
Joshua Bitton	....	thanks (as Joshua Biton)
Paul Feldsher	....	special thanks
Carlin Glynn	....	special thanks
Anil Kumar	....	thanks
Joe Landauer	....	special thanks
Trevor Long	....	thanks
Scott Macaulay	....	special thanks
Deborah Marinoff	....	special thanks
Peter Masterson	....	special thanks
George Sheanshang	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Barn Door Pictures
• Highbrow Entertainment (in association with)

Distributors

• Barn Door Pictures (2009) (USA) (all media)

Other Companies

• CSI Entertainment Insurance  insurance
• Goldcrest Post Production New York  audio post-production
• Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing  costumes
• NPI Entertainment Payroll  payroll service (as NPI Production Services)
• Postworks  post-production services

Runtime:

USA:91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Barryville, New York, USA

Company:

Barn Door Pictures

A family's Secret - un-folds, un-winds and touches . . .

An endearing and very engaging fictional family's ties and hidden history , linked to an actual historic event [ the Kasztner train rescue of beleaguered Hungarian Jews in 1943 ] .

The attendees and myself viewing this very dramatic movie , at The Stony Brook Film Festival this weekend , could not help but be drawn into the interwoven plot lines of a family's secret , and it's impact on individual family members. What unfolds before you is a story of past choices that not only impact and shape those involved in a life and death struggle to survive , but the psyches and values each fall back on as they navigate their own way through life .

Generations from family patriarch , Emil Pikler [ expertly played by actor Eli Wallach ] , his sons Warren and Robert , and grandson Issac - "Zak" interplay , as years of emotional knots and protective walls start to unwind and come down . The inherited genes are subtly displayed , linking family traits ( i.e. love of the "game" - baseball , stubbornness , etc. ) . Yet , it's the impact of seeing a traumatic event take place that sets the stage for the knots and walls to be formed , and hence , individual actions and reactions on one's own life path [ navigating through the cosmos ] .

Eli Wallach is indeed an American theatrical and dramatic institution . (93 years young and still giving us engaging performances. Mazel tov ! ) . Lawrence Pressman gives a fantastically warm performance as the beleaguered and scarred son , Warren . Look for Daniel Sauli , portraying the grandson Zak , ably backed up by his girl friend Delphina ( Annie Parisse ) , who slice us through the plot lines and family history . Kudos as well to Ronald Guttman , as the counter-point brother Robert , who brings shaded comic release and vivid stark reality to the varying situations .

This presentation could apply to a multitude of families whose members have survived WWII ( or other horrific family altering conflicts ) . It's the untold stories ( and secrets ) that may yet haunt and contort warm and strong family ties , causing sad separations . Perhaps , some secrets and histories are better kept hidden . Sadly , many are dying off with their holders , as generations pass away.

Gauging the audience's reaction , this entry should capture at a top prize at the festival , and do well as it's released to the public . Director and writer Jeremy Davidson has constructed a moving and emotional vehicle to be enjoyed with your own families (regardless of nationalities, religions, creeds , etc . ) . Meanwhile , here's to living ( on ) , and to Life ! L' Chaim !