Flying By (2009)

Director:

Jim Amatulli

Writers:

Jim Amatulli (writer)
Oscar Jarnicki (story)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Music

Tagline:

It's about the music

Plot:

A real estate developer goes to his 25th high school reunion without his wife, and finds his old teenage band playing...

Cast

Ahnaise Christmas	...	Rachel
Mo Collins	...	Kate
Billy Ray Cyrus	...	George Barron
Arabella Field	...	Beth
Sidney Franklin	...	Young Willy
Robert Gossett	...	Michael
David Haack	...	Alan
Judith Hoag	...	Vicki
Ted Hutton	...	Freddy
Steven B. Jarnicki	...	T.V. Commentator
Eric Allan Kramer	...	Steve
Katie Leclerc	...	Ally
Heather Locklear	...	Pamela
Kevin Montgomery	...	Young George Barron
Patricia Neal	...	Margie
Cheryl Noe	...	Mira
Gene Rathswohl	...	Rick
Olesya Rulin	...	Ellie
Stephen Michael Shearer	...	Doctor
Mona Jo Trowbridge	...	Linda
Myk Watford	...	Willy
David Zayas	...	Tony
Shalon Delgado	...	Bar Lady (uncredited)

Directed by
Jim Amatulli

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jim Amatulli		writer
Oscar Jarnicki		story

Produced by
Eric Abrahamson	....	producer
Jim Amatulli	....	producer
Steven C. Beer	....	consulting producer
Jack E. Brown	....	executive producer
Sanford Hampton	....	co-producer
Sanford Hampton	....	line producer
Ted Hutton	....	consulting producer
Oscar Jarnicki	....	executive producer
Jonathan McHugh	....	producer

Original Music by
Geoff Levin

Cinematography by
Chris Chomyn

Film Editing by
Howard Heard

Casting by
Christine Sheaks

Production Design by
Richard N. McGuire

Art Direction by
Sharon Davis		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Charlie Brownell

Costume Design by
Sherrie Jordan

Makeup Department
Lisa Ashley	....	makeup artist: Heather Locklear
Katie Kilkenny	....	makeup department head
Breanne McNally	....	hair department head
Breanne McNally	....	makeup artist
Gabby Suarez	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Sanford Hampton	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Epstein	....	second second assistant director
Johnny Haddad	....	first assistant director
Patrick Richmond	....	second assistant director

Art Department
William Anthony Duncan	....	scenic artist
Juliana Flores	....	art department coordinator
Catherine A. Frazier	....	property master
Kevin Gustavson	....	construction foreman
Lisa Ann Johnson	....	props
Matt Kindelan	....	props
Rod Leota	....	leadman
John Serbian	....	on-set dresser
Robert A. Sturtevant	....	construction coordinator
Gabriel Torres	....	laborer

Sound Department
David Barber	....	dialogue editor
David Barber	....	sound re-recording mixer
Melissa Bylsma	....	sound coordinator
John J. Churchman	....	boom operator
Michael Dillenberger	....	adr engineer (as Mike Dillenberger)
Trevor Dowswell	....	sound coordinator
Gonzalo Espinoza	....	adr mixer
Gonzalo Espinoza	....	adr supervisor
Sean Gray	....	sound effects editor
Jeff Gross	....	foley artist
Jeff Gross	....	foley mixer
David Kitchens	....	sound supervisor
Mike Pipgras	....	foley editor
Ryan Purcell	....	adr engineer
Rocky Reilly	....	boom operator
Olivier Virmont	....	sound recordist
Ben Zarai	....	sound supervisor

Stunts
Ben Scott	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Yogi Allen	....	electrician
Miles Anderson	....	gaffer
Ramon Ciokon	....	grip
Hawke Clothier	....	dolly grip
Spencer Combs	....	steadicam operator
Richard Crow	....	steadicam operator
Brad Elsey	....	grip
Joe Ernst	....	grip
Justin Fisher	....	best boy grip (as Justin Deck)
Houman Forough	....	camera operator
Jack Garrett	....	camera operator
Kevin Guild	....	key grip
Ken Jacques	....	still photographer
Nick Kirkwood	....	electrician (2009)
Aaron Marquette	....	camera loader
Tim McCarthy	....	second assistant camera
Maynard Mendoza	....	grip
Diego Sanchez	....	grip
Peter Schmidt	....	first assistant camera: 'b' camera
Bernie Smith	....	first assistant camera
Keith Sorrell	....	rigging electrician
David Neal Stewart	....	grip
Edwin Ventura	....	grip

Casting Department
Rebecca Gushin	....	casting
D. Candis Paule	....	local casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tony Crawford	....	costume supervisor
Sandra M. Jordan	....	set costumer (as Sandra Jordan)
Shalima Lyons	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Kelly Reese	....	telecine colorist
John Sterneman	....	colorist
Andrea Zondler	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Bruce Chianese	....	scoring mixer
Sean Gray	....	music editor
Mark Linett	....	music engineer
Mark Linett	....	music mixer
Yvonne McDonald	....	music clearance
Yvonne McDonald	....	music coordinator
Jonathan McHugh	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Janice La Joie	....	driver: cast
Mark La Joie	....	transportation coordinator
John Rowe	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Laura Brown	....	production coordinator
Susan Buliavac	....	script supervisor
Glenn Camaclang	....	production assistant
Noah Henry	....	production assistant
Joanne Laranang	....	assistant production office coordinator
Vincent Lopez	....	location manager
Maxwell Meltzer	....	production accountant
Christopher Tanks	....	office production assistant

Thanks
Aaron Lindquist	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• ARTE
• Encore Partners

Distributors

• Lifetime Movie Network (2009) (USA) (TV)
• Mti Home Video
• Sky Cinema (2010) (Germany) (TV)

Other Companies

• Dragonslayer Post  post-production facilities
• Juniper Post  sound post-production
• Keslow Cameras  camera equipment provided by

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some language

Runtime:

90 min

Certification:

USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

San Diego, California, USA

Company:

ARTE

Flatulating By

Haha the movie isn't as bad as my title implies, but I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to make a lame wordplay.

"Flying By" is a soft drama about a family struggling through a midlife crisis. Although it centers around music, the real theme is about a couple's dreams diverging as they enter the post-children phase of marriage. There aren't a lot of flashy plot elements or passionate scenes; instead it's a somber, quiet depiction of a family conflict, probably closer to reality than most other movies touching on the subject.

That also means, like real life, it's somewhat uneventful. The main reason to watch this film would be to see if you find hints of yourself in the story (are you dissatisfied with your marriage, career, purpose in life?). Other than that, if you're just looking for rock & roll entertainment, it might not live up to your expectations.

Acting is good, but I can't help feeling that the characters weren't fleshed out enough for them to have an impact. For example, Heather Locklear's character was well played but came across as a two-dimensional villain, always judging & criticizing Billy Ray's character. Billy Ray's character was simple, quiet good guy; we never really got into his head (or maybe that's the point, that there's not much in his head and instead he's just "flying by"). To me, the most interesting character, the brooding, self-destructive guitarist excellently played by Myk Watford, could have been a main focus but instead took a back seat to the family drama.

The music is a big plus, Billy Ray sings well, the actors look convincing enough on their instruments. Even though I was never a Billy Ray Cyrus fan I enjoyed the songs which are a blend of country, classic rock and blues with sad/nostalgic lyrics. No complaints there.

Unfortunately, when held up against other ex-musician-comeback films, "Flying By" doesn't really get far off the ground. It's worth watching, but as a rock & roll movie it doesn't have the grit of "The Perfect Age of Rock & Roll", nor the intensity of "Sympathy for Delicious", nor the goofiness of "The Rocker", nor the sentimentality of "Looking for an Echo" nor the sheer awesomeness of my favorite r&r film "Eddie & the Cruisers".

These are all great films about aging musicians coming to terms with their obsolescence. If you're looking for something like that, then be sure to check them out. Also add to the list the excellent (and unintentionally hilarious) documentary "Anvil! The story of Anvil"