Gigantic (2008)

Director:

Matt Aselton

Writers:

Adam Nagata (written by) &
Matt Aselton (written by)

Release Date:

19 June 2009 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

When it comes to family and relationships, there are no small surprises

Plot:

A mattress salesman finds his plan to adopt a Chinese baby augmented by the arrival of a young woman, who comes into his workplace, falls asleep on one of the beds, and starts to affect his life upon waking up.

Plot Keywords:

Adoption | Baby | Store | Stalking | Bed

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Paul Dano	...	Brian Weathersby
Zooey Deschanel	...	Happy Lolly
John Goodman	...	Al Lolly
Edward Asner	...	Kirby Weathersby (as Ed Asner)
Jane Alexander	...	Barbara Weathersby
Ian Roberts	...	John Weathersby
Robert Stanton	...	James Weathersby
Clarke Peters	...	Roger Stovall
Daniel Stewart Sherman	...	Kevin Blue
Mary Page Keller	...	Marguerite Lolly
Zach Galifianakis	...	Homeless Man
Brian Avers	...	Larry Arbogast
Leven Rambin	...	Missy Thaxton
Susan Misner	...	Melanie Lolly
Matt Walton	...	Conner Williams
Ilana Levine	...	Ducky Saltinstall
Louis Ozawa Changchien	...	Matsubara
Kenji	...	Kanagae
Tatsuo Ichikawa	...	Nagata
Sean Dugan	...	Gary Wynkoop
Frank Harts	...	Kenyatta Folds
Rob Munk	...	Dr. Sarazine
Sharon Wilkins	...	Linda
Pierre Epstein	...	Jacques
Sara Lamm	...	Natasha Klukowski
Tara Greenway	...	Lucy (Mattress Customer)
Zachary Knower	...	Ted (Mattress Customer)
Mylinda Hull	...	Woman (Mattress Customer)
Jerry Richardson	...	Man (Mattress Customer)
Will McLaughlin	...	Receptionist
Adam Nagata	...	Attendant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Aryn Cole	...	John's Masseuse (uncredited)
Nekia Daste	...	Make Up Artist (uncredited)
Gina Gabrielli	...	Eastern European Masseuse (uncredited)
Cassidy Gard	...	Girl in Couple (uncredited)
RJ Konner	...	Commuter (uncredited)
Anna Kuchma	...	Eastern European Masseuse (uncredited)

Directed by
Matt Aselton

Writing credits
Adam Nagata		(written by) &
Matt Aselton		(written by)

Produced by
Paul Dano	....	executive producer
John Duffin	....	line producer: Los Angeles
Scott Ferguson	....	executive producer
Mindy Goldberg	....	producer
Jeff Preiss	....	executive producer
Charles Pugliese	....	co-producer
Jerry Soloman	....	executive producer (as Jerry Solomon)
Christine Vachon	....	producer
John Wells	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Roddy Bottum

Cinematography by
Peter Donahue		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Beatrice Sisul

Casting by
Mark Bennett

Production Design by
Rick Butler

Art Direction by
Leo Holder

Set Decoration by
Mila Khalevich

Costume Design by
Paola Weintraub		(as Paola Ruby Weintraub)

Makeup Department
Jorjee Douglas	....	assistant makeup artist (as Jorjee Douglass)
Thom Gonzales	....	head hair stylist
Sherri Berman Laurence	....	head makeup artist
Claus Lulla	....	head makeup artist
Claudia Orozco	....	makeup artist: Los Angeles (as Claudia Britt)
Anita Roganovic	....	assistant hair stylist (as Anita Lausevic)
Valerie Gladstone-Appel	....	assistant hair stylist (uncredited)
Michelle Kearns	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Sarit Klein	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Luca Borghese	....	post-production supervisor
Nikki Bottolene	....	assistant production supervisor: Los Angeles
Scott Ferguson	....	unit production manager
Thomas J. Whelan	....	assistant unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arianne Apicelli	....	second second assistant director
Chris DeAngelis	....	key second assistant director (as Christopher J. DeAngelis)
Tudor Jones	....	first assistant director

Art Department
John T. Bobick	....	key construction grip
Chris Cannon	....	gang boss: Los Angeles
Henry Cespedes	....	set dresser
Pete Dancy	....	property master (as Peter Dancy)
Barbara A. Kastner	....	set dresser (as Barbara Kastner)
John Knoop	....	set dresser
Jen Lee	....	art department coordinator: Los Angeles
A.R. Brook Lynn	....	art department coordinator (as Alex Brook Lynn)
Noel McCarthy	....	visual consultant: Los Angeles
Melissa B. Miller	....	art department coordinator
Wayne Scott Miller	....	on-set dresser (as Wayne Miller)
Lyvan A. Munlyn	....	camera scenic artist (as Lyvan Munlyn)
Lyvan A. Munlyn	....	charge scenic artist (as Lyvan Munlyn)
Francis Panuccio	....	key construction grip
Kathi Prate	....	set dresser
Neolysa Ramos	....	industrial scenic artist (as Neolysia Ramos)
Kevin Roach	....	construction coordinator
Jeffrey Rollins	....	assistant property master (as Jeff Rollins)
Jim Sten	....	leadman
Susan Tatom	....	assistant property master
Gary Wattson	....	leadman
Williamina Ellis	....	art department production assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Boulton	....	adr engineer
Patricia Brolsma	....	boom operator
Crew Chamberlain	....	sound mixer: Los Angeles
Rachel Chancey	....	sound effects editor
Ryan Collison	....	foley engineer
Mik Cribben	....	sound utility
David Ellinwood	....	supervising dialogue editor (as Dave Ellinwood)
Brian Gallagher	....	adr recordist
Mike Howells	....	adr recordist
Bobby Johanson	....	adr engineer
Marydixie Kirkpatrick	....	boom operator: Los Angeles
Andrew Kris	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Andy Kris)
Eric McAllister	....	assistant sound editor
Jay Peck	....	foley artist (as Jay Pack)
Schavaria Reeves	....	boom operator
Billy Theriot	....	adr mixer
Eric Vierhaus	....	dolby consultant
Damian Volpe	....	supervising sound editor
Joe White	....	sound mixer (as Joseph M. White Jr.)
Matthew Haasch	....	foley editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Edward Drohan IV	....	special effects supervisor (as Edward A. Drohan IV)

Visual Effects by
Greg Anderson	....	compositing supervisor: Ring of Fire
Marvin Chua	....	digital artist: Ring of Fire
John Ciampa	....	compositor: Ring of Fire
Casey Conroy	....	visual effects producer: Ring of Fire
Shelly Dutcher	....	compositor: Ring of Fire
Brandy Handelman	....	junior compositor
Randy Little	....	compositor: Ring of Fire
John Myers	....	visual effects executive producer: Ring of Fire
Brian Shneider	....	compositor: Ring of Fire
Jerry Spivack	....	visual effects supervisor: Ring of Fire
Steve Tiseo	....	visual effects coordinator: Ring of Fire

Stunts
Bob Colletti	....	stunt double: Homeless Guy
Blaise Corrigan	....	stunt coordinator
William Cote	....	stunt double: Brian (as Will Cote)

Camera and Electrical Department
Rico Omega Alston	....	video assist operator (as Rico Alston)
Rico Omega Alston	....	video playback operator (as Rico Alston)
Hugo Bonilla	....	electrician
John Cardoni	....	gaffer
Tim Carr	....	key grip: Los Angeles
Jon Delgado	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Calvin Evans	....	playback operator: Los Angeles
Jay Feather	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Tim Ferraer	....	grip
Alex Hoyt	....	electrician
Shaun Joye	....	camera intern
Jenny Kane	....	electrician
Robert Kummert	....	dolly grip
Len Levine	....	gaffer: Los Angeles (as Lenny Levine)
Michael Lowrance	....	best boy electric: Los Angeles
Niran Martin	....	first assistant camera: Los Angeles
Russ Martin	....	grip: Los Angeles
Rich Porta	....	best boy electric
Robert Ragozzine	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Kyle Repka	....	loader
Edward A. Robinson Jr.	....	grip (as Edward A. Robinson)
Randy M. Salo	....	best boy grip (as Randy Salo)
Jeremy Schroeder	....	key grip
Danny Stephens	....	best boy grip: Los Angeles (as Dan Stephens)
Andrew Voegeli	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Andy Voegli)
Andrew Voegeli	....	steadicam operator (as Andy Voegli)
John Walker	....	second assistant camera: Los Angele
Kevin Walter	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
JoJo Whilden	....	still photographer
Ryan Williams	....	camera production assistant: Los Angeles
Zenfeek	....	electrician
Kevin L. Bright	....	grip (uncredited)
Rob Harlow	....	grip (uncredited)
Donald Russell	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
John Schwartz	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)

Animation Department
Trevor Smith	....	animator: title

Casting Department
Sara Conte	....	extras casting: Central Casting
Slaine Jenkins	....	casting assistant
Luis Sanchez-Cañete	....	extras casting: Central Casting (as Luis Sanchez-Canete)
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sonja Cizmazia	....	wardrobe supervisor
Pamela Kezal	....	key set costumer
Meredith Markworth-Pollack	....	assistant costume designer
Casey Storm	....	wardrobe stylist: Los Angeles
Chrissy Stewart	....	costume assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Emery Anderson	....	digital intermediate chief engineer
Molle DeBartolo	....	digital intermediate coordinator
Mitchell Ferm	....	digital intermediate producer
Joe Gawler	....	digital intermediate colorist
Agnes Grandits	....	assistant editor (as Agnes Challe-Grandits)
Brooks Larsen	....	additional assistant editor
Jack Lewars	....	digital intermediate assistant colorist
Jack Lewars	....	digital intermediate editor
Chris MacKenzie	....	digital intermediate opticals
David Matusek	....	assistant editor (as Dave Matusek)
Tom Mayclim	....	digital intermediate scanner and recorder
Tim Mullen	....	digital intermediate senior engineer
Nick Paulozza	....	digital intermediate scanner and recorder
Crystal Pei	....	colorist: dailies
Joe Violante	....	print dailies supervisor (as Joey Violante)
John Potter	....	mastering colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Roddy Bottum	....	music mixer
Roddy Bottum	....	music recordist
Joe Rudge	....	music supervisor
Jamie Lowry	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Johnny Batista	....	driver: hair/makeup/wardrobe trailer
Morgan Bennett	....	driver intern
Nick Careccia	....	driver: honeywagon
You-Sup Chang	....	additional driver assistant
Michael Colombo	....	driver assistant
Quincy Gow	....	driver assistant
Jason Grey	....	driver assistant
George Holtzer	....	transportation captain
James Kelly	....	driver: electric truck
Leonard Luizzi	....	driver: grip truck (as Lenny Luizzi)
Jacob Mathis	....	driver assistant
Ronnie Mendez	....	driver: Moho, Los Angeles
Darin J. Patterson	....	driver assistant (as Darin Patterson)
Alison Scowby	....	driver assistant
Laura Tomaselli	....	driver intern
Wayne Walker	....	additional driver assistant
Paul Weiner	....	driver: electric truck

Other crew
Chad 'Frenchie' Alburtis	....	production assistant: Los Angeles (as Chad Alburtis)
Tara Averill	....	representative: Epoch Films
Tina Bianchini	....	representative: Epoch Films
Matt Brown	....	adr loop group
Christopher Calcagno	....	assistant chef
Blanca Camacho	....	adr loop group
Margaret Capossela	....	production controller
Alvaro Castillo	....	chef
Yee Yeo Chang	....	assistant: Ms. Vachon
Charlie Cocuzza	....	representative: Epoch Films
Bill Coelius	....	adr loop group
Nekia Daste	....	set production assistant
Monica Delgado	....	first assistant accountant
Kristyn DiPane	....	dailies project manager
Gjustina Dushku	....	set production assistant
Lily Ellis	....	product placement
Maura Fields	....	representative: Epoch Films
Casey Fletcher	....	production assistant: Los Angeles
R.M. Fretz	....	representative: Epoch Films
Doug Halbert	....	representative: Epoch Films
Melanie Hamlett	....	craft service
Bridget Hickey	....	insurance agent: Taylor & Taylor Associates
Stephanie Hodge	....	representative: Epoch Films
Diane Hounsell	....	script supervisor
Lou Howe	....	assistant: Ms. Vachon
Eric Jackson	....	location manager: Los Angeles
Jon M. Johnson	....	parking coordinator (as John M. Johnson)
Emily Kowalczyk	....	assistant: Mr. Goldberg
David Kramer	....	adr loop group
Harry Lapham	....	set production assistant
Joseph Lombardi	....	production accountant
Joe Lombardo	....	production assistant: Los Angeles
Casey Madigan	....	key set production assistant
Lindsey Magee	....	assistant location manager
Greg McDonald	....	production assistant: Los Angeles
Marie Morgan	....	post-production accountant
Megan Murphree	....	representative: Epoch Films
JR Myers	....	location assistant (as J.R. Myers)
Anne Nevin	....	production coordinator
Matt Olson	....	production assistant: Los Angeles
Joaquin Diego Prange	....	location manager
Drew Schofer	....	location production assistant
Drew Schofer	....	unit production assistant
Amanda Scott	....	adr loop group
Clint Scott	....	assistant production coordinator
Stephanie Shannon	....	representative: Epoch Films
Sarah Shriber	....	production office assistant
David Traver	....	representative: Epoch Films
Kim Tricardo	....	representative: Epoch Films
Mal Ward	....	representative: Epoch Films
Danielle Wilson	....	craft service
Chris Cloud	....	location scout (uncredited)
Scott Ferlisi	....	location scout (uncredited)
Casey Fletcher	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Duck Grossberg	....	data manager (uncredited)
Rich Koski	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Tim Stacker	....	location scout (uncredited)
Lauren Vanderschuur	....	craft service (uncredited)
Imran Yusufzai	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Louis Zuppardi	....	location scout (uncredited)

Thanks
Warren Zavala	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• First Independent Pictures (presents)
• Epoch Films
• Killer Films (in association with)
• John Wells Productions
• Gigantic Movie
• Networxx - Film Management (in association with)

Distributors

• European Film Partners (EFP) (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• First Independent Pictures (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• La Fabrique de Films (2010) (France) (theatrical)
• Maximum Film Distribution (2008) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Cinemax (2010) (Hungary) (TV)
• Cinetic Rights Management (2008) (USA) (all media) (digital)
• Donau-Film (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Falcon Films (2009) (Lebanon) (all media) (Middle East)
• Film1 (2010) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Ring of Fire Studios (visual effects)

Other Companies

• ARRI  cameras and lenses
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Cinetic Media  producers rep
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• David Kramer's Looping Group  loop group
• Deborah Ross Film Design  title design
• Deluxe New York  digital intermediate
• DitlevFilms  end crawl
• Eat Catering  craft service
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• Premiere Caterers  catering
• Sloss Eckhouse Brennan Law  legal services (as Sloss Eckhouse Brennan Lawco)
• Sound One  sound services
• Surpin, Mayersohn & Edelstone  legal
• Svenski Beds  mattresses provided by
• Taylor & Taylor Associates  insurance services

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexual content and violence

Runtime:

Argentina:98 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente) | USA:98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Argentina:16 | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

First Independent Pictures

Quotes:

Larry Arbogast:Hey, you gotta swim if you wanna bang at home. That's reality. Remember that.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Observe & Report/Gigantic/Hannah Montana: The Movie (#1.7)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Fatman

'Brian, there's a goose loose in the caboose'

I'm surprised at the so many negative reviews that Matt Aselton's 'Gigantic' received, as I found it to be quite a charming, funny, absorbing and well-made little film. I suppose not everyone appreciates subtle storytelling and that much of 'Gigantic' is open to interpretation (for example the homeless man, whom I interpreted as Brian's alter-ego).

The quirky premise may appear a little awkward on the surface. I can see why some people interpret it as 'a cry for attention' but the film does not dwell on that. It's very story oriented and focuses on issues such as family relationships and growing up. The characters are quirky but easy to identify with. The sharp dialogues are wonderful and funny.

'Gigantic' is a well made film. The soundtrack and cinematography are a good fit. Soundtrack itself is worth a buy. The art direction is toned down. Aselton tones down the colour to give it a cold look as the warmth is expressed in the interactions of the characters. The lighting is used efficiently.

The cast has done a commendable job. Even though many have disliked Paul Dano's performance (most of them commenting that he wasn't quirky enough), I felt quite the contrary. He downplays the part very well. Zooey Deschanel is nothing short of excellent. Even though she has played similar characters before, her approach to playing Happy is very different. John Goodman, Ed Asner and Jane Alexander and Zack Galifianakis are great.

Aselton's debut is a fun and absorbing watch and it lingers in mind long after the end credits have rolled....though perhaps it's not for everyone given the negativity, but so what. For me it was worth the chance.