An Invisible Sign (2010)

Director:

Marilyn Agrelo

Writers (WGA):

Pamela Falk (screenplay) &
Michael Ellis (screenplay) ...
(more)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Romance

Tagline:

count on the unexpected.

Plot:

Mona Gray is a 20-year-old loner who, as a child, turned to math for salvation after her father became ill. As an adult, Mona now teaches the subject and must help her students through their own crises. |

Plot Keywords:

Math Problem | Mathematical Problem | Father Daughter Relationship | Climbing Out A Window | Elementary School

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jessica Alba	...	Mona Gray
Chris Messina	...	Ben Smith
Sonia Braga	...	Mom
John Shea	...	Dad
J.K. Simmons	...	Mr. Jones
Sophie Nyweide	...	Lisa Venus
Bailee Madison	...	Young Mona
Marylouise Burke	...	Ms. Gelband
Ashlie Atkinson	...	Lisa's Aunt
Crystal Bock	...	Panida Saleswoman
Mackenzie Milone	...	Ann DiGanno
Ian Colletti	...	Danny O'Mazzi
Jake Richard Siciliano	...	Elmer Gravlaki (as Jake Siciliano)
Stephanie DeBolt	...	Ellen
Joanna Adler	...	Lisa's Mom
Donovan Fowler	...	Levan Beeze
Emerald-Angel Young	...	Rita Williams
Daniel Pearce	...	Danny's Dad
Sharon Washington	...	Levan's Mom
Daniel McDonald	...	Runny Nose Boy
Ian Blackman	...	Ann's Dad
Jill Abramovitz	...	Ann's Mom
Lori Hammel	...	Danny's Mom
Conor Carroll	...	5th Grader
Brandon Jeffers	...	Science Kid #1
Daniel Dugan	...	Attorney
Blythe Auffarth	...	Candy Striper
Marin Gazzaniga	...	Hostess
Bill Coelius	...	Movie Patron #1
Tom Nonnon	...	Doctor
Lilly Hartley	...	Female Runner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kevin Fung	...	Kevin (uncredited)

Directed by
Marilyn Agrelo

Writing credits (WGA)
Pamela Falk		(screenplay) &
Michael Ellis		(screenplay)
Aimee Bender		(book "An Invisible Sign of My Own")

Produced by
Justin Berfield	....	executive producer
Rachel Cohen	....	executive producer
Daniel Crown	....	executive producer
Jana Edelbaum	....	producer
Michael Ellis	....	producer
Pamela Falk	....	producer
Jason Felts	....	executive producer
Peter Graham	....	executive producer (as Peter M. Graham II)
Lilly Hartley	....	associate producer
Stephen Hays	....	executive producer
Todd Holland	....	associate producer
Lynette Howell	....	producer
Michael Lesser	....	executive producer
Rebecca Rivo	....	co-producer
Mitch Glick	....	associate producer (uncredited)
Katie Mustard	....	co-producer (uncredited)
Matthew Myers	....	line producer: additional photography (uncredited)

Original Music by
Andrew Hollander

Cinematography by
Lisa Rinzler		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Sabine Hoffmann

Casting by
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by
Susan Block

Art Direction by
Lucio Seixas

Set Decoration by
Susan Perlman
Diana Salzburg		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Sarah Beers

Makeup Department
Tanya Bodison	....	assistant hair stylist
Robin Day	....	assistant hair stylist
Cassandra Keating	....	assistant makeup artist
Evelyne Noraz	....	makeup department head
Gianna Sparacino	....	hair department head
Evelyne Noraz	....	makeup artist: Jessica Alba (uncredited)

Production Management
Jonathan Ferrantelli	....	post-production supervisor
Wendy Mooradian	....	production supervisor
Rebecca Rivo	....	unit production manager
Melissa Gelernter	....	production supervisor: additional photography (uncredited)
Sophia Lin	....	unit production manager (uncredited)
Matthew Myers	....	unit production manager: additional photography (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Neil Daly	....	additional second second assistant director
Angela Jensen	....	second assistant director
Charles Leslie	....	first assistant director
Melissa Mugavero	....	additional second second assistant director
Andrea O'Connor	....	second second assistant director
Christian Vendetti	....	second second assistant director (as Christian Silva Vendet)
Charlie Foster	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Jonathan Starch	....	first assistant director: additional photography (uncredited)

Art Department
Sarah Berney	....	charge scenic artist
Sarah Bricker	....	on-set dresser
Peter Bundrick	....	construction foreman (as Pete Bundrick)
Patrick Campbell	....	storyboard artist
Frank DeCurtis	....	set dresser
Martin Eisler	....	assistant property master
Richard Hebrank	....	construction coordinator
Bradley Klipp	....	leadman (as Brad Klipp)
Jesse Klipp	....	set dresser
Clinton McClung	....	art department production assistant
Yvonne Mojica	....	graphic designer
Mandiraa Nevatia	....	art department production assistant (as Mandira Nevatia)
Michael Riolo	....	construction production assistant (as Mike Riolo)
Amy Safhay	....	greens person
Courtney Schmidt	....	property master
Richard Sepulveda	....	on-set dresser
John Sullivan	....	set dresser
Meg Vinson	....	additional props (as Meg Vinsen)
Danielle Webb	....	prop fabricator
Bobbi Jo Gonzales	....	property master: reshoots (uncredited)
Alicia Leatherbury-Lamberti	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Gray Madder	....	on set dresser: reshoots (uncredited)
Dennis Tillberg	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Leslie Bloom	....	foley artist
Vince Reid Camut	....	boom operator
Damian Canelos	....	sound mixer (as Damian E. Canelos)
Martin Czembor	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dan Fulton	....	assistant sound editor
Mariusz Glabinski	....	foley editor
Marlena Grzaslewicz	....	adr editor
Marlena Grzaslewicz	....	dialogue editor
Ira Spiegel	....	supervising sound editor
Seth Tallman	....	sound mixer: "b" unit
John Werner	....	additional special sound effects editor
Isabella Palmieri	....	additional adr (uncredited)
Phil Rosati	....	additional boom operator (uncredited)
Seth Tallman	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Chris White	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Drew Jiritano	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Sophia Avgousti	....	compositor: Click 3X
John J. Budion	....	lead compositor: Click 3X (as John Budion)
John J. Budion	....	visual effects supervisor: Click 3X (as John Budion)
John Ciampa	....	compositor: Click 3X
Tom Matheu	....	compositor: Click 3X
Justin Wolfson	....	visual effects designer: Click 3X
Jared Yeater	....	visual effects producer: Click 3X

Stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Bobby Calahandro	....	company grip
Bob Calandro	....	grip
John Clifford	....	still photographer
Stephen Consentino	....	steadicam operator (as Steve Consentino)
Divine Cox	....	key grip
James P. Dolan	....	gaffer (as Jim Dolan)
Jennifer Evans	....	dolly grip
Keron Gammon	....	company grip
Abbot Genser	....	still photographer (as Abbott Genser)
Andrew B. Hansen	....	gaffer: second unit
Alec Jarnagin	....	steadicam operator
Bruce Jordan	....	best boy grip
Aaron Kirby	....	loader
David Kissinger	....	best boy electric
Kate Larose	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Sebastian Lervolino	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Frank Love	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
John Mitchell	....	electrician
William Moore	....	generator operator (as Bill Moore)
John Pirozzi	....	director of photography: second unit
Rossana Rizzo	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
I. Nate Scaglione	....	electrician (as Nate Scaglione)
Tristan G. Sheridan	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Tristan Sheridan)
Julian de la Pena	....	electrician (uncredited)
Sebastian Iervolino	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)
Christopher D. Jones	....	grip: additional photography (uncredited)
Robert Lau	....	first assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Jason Velez	....	gaffer: additional photography (uncredited)
Daniel Wallenstein	....	grip (uncredited)

Animation Department
Eric G. Thivierge	....	character technical director: animation segment (uncredited)

Casting Department
Lois J. Drabkin	....	casting associate (as Lois Drabkin)
Lee Genick	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rebecca Blazak	....	costume production assistant
Rachel Greene	....	wardrobe supervisor
Maggie Miles	....	costume shopper (as Maggie Lee-Burdorff)
Amy J. Smith	....	set costumer
Any J. Smith	....	set costumer
Lisa Thoreson	....	key set costumer (as Lisa Jean Thoreson)
Michael Anzalone	....	wardrobe supervisor: reshoots (uncredited)
Mary Wuliger	....	wardrobe intern (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Kate Abernathy	....	assistant editor
Joe Beirne	....	technical supervisor
George Bunce	....	digital intermediate conform editor
John Crowley	....	digital intermediate colorist
Shannon K. Hall	....	digital intermediate producer
Jeff Huston	....	digital film recordist
Anne McCabe	....	additional editor
Russ Senzatimore	....	assistant editor
Jason Spencer	....	assistant editor (as Jason Thomas Spencer)
Jimmy Mann	....	colorist: dailies (uncredited)
Paloma Mele	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Mike Trinker	....	digital intermediate editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Stephanie Diaz-Matos	....	music supervisor
Andrew Hollander	....	score producer
Leigh Hurwitz	....	music recording coordinator
Sonny Kompanek	....	orchestrator
Rick Kwan	....	assistant score engineer
Lawrence Manchester	....	score mixer
Lawrence Manchester	....	score recordist
Eric Pfeifer	....	music editor
Michael Craig Cohen	....	assistant scoring engineer (uncredited)
Andy Mendelson	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
George Campbell	....	driver
Sam Cardarelli Jr.	....	driver
Robert Deluca	....	driver (as Bobby Deluca)
Reno Devivo	....	driver
Kevin Flynn	....	transportation captain
Peter Krienbihl	....	transportation co-captain (as Peter Kreinebihl)
Scott Leiberz	....	driver
Austen Martinez	....	driver
John Palumbo	....	driver
Vince Pecora	....	driver (as Vincent Pecora)

Other crew
Tara Andrus	....	production accountant
Carrie Arnold	....	production coordinator
Diana Ascher	....	post-production accountant: Trevanna Post
Steven Beckingham	....	set production assistant
Zoran Blazevic	....	location scout
Matt Braunsdorf	....	assistant: Ms. Edelbaum and Ms. Cohen (as Matthew Braunsdorf)
Matt Braunsdorf	....	set production assistant
Veronica Britez	....	stand-in: Ms. Alba
Nicole Bukowski	....	assistant accountant
Carrie Bush	....	set production assistant
David Chambers	....	location manager
Ivana Chubbuck	....	acting coach: Ms. Alba
Tiffany Chung	....	office production assistant
Alison S. Cohen	....	business and legal affairs: Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz (as Alison Cohen)
Ryan Coleman	....	unit production assistant
Neil Coltun	....	production intern
Carol A. Compton	....	script clearance research: IndieClear (as Carol Compton)
Gregory Cuozzo	....	chef: Gourmet To U
Jesse Davidson	....	location assistant
Jason Dean	....	assistant production coordinator
David Basil Demase	....	craft service assistant (as David DeMase)
Grace Doherty	....	location assistant
Jodi Domanic-Riccio	....	script supervisor
Maureen Duffy	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Molly Egan	....	production secretary
Dena Ghieth	....	location scout
Casey Goldman	....	production intern
Jorge Gonzales	....	chef: Henry's International Cuisine
Seth Hauer	....	office production assistant
Peter Hutchison	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Shane Jacobson	....	stand-in: Mr. Messina
Paul Kostick	....	location scout
Harry Lacoste	....	set production assistant
Mia Lee	....	assistant production coordinator
Pat Lombardo	....	assistant: Ms. Edelbaum and Ms. Cohen
Guillermo Lozano	....	security: Ms. Alba
Gabriella Ludlow	....	business and legal affairs: Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz
Sonia Malfa	....	assistant: Md. Agrelo
K.C. McMahon	....	set production assistant (as KC McMahon)
Maria Messina	....	set tutor
Blair Moon	....	assistant: Ms. Alba
Dana Morgan	....	utility stand-in
Dave Phillips	....	parking coordinator
Chrystal Powell	....	assistant: Mrs. Howell
Mark Romanelli	....	set production assistant
Paula Schmit	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Geraldine Schubert	....	production assistant
Tom Selz	....	business and legal affairs: Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz
Alison Sherry	....	set tutor
Cooper Sukaly	....	set production assistant (as Cooper Thomas)
Jacque Thompson	....	set tutor
Jessica Thorne	....	payroll accountant
Edmund Tomaselli	....	set medic (as Edmund J. Tomaselli)
Anthony Torres	....	chef: Gourmet To U (as Anthony Tores)
Rob van de Laar	....	craft service
Mary Wuliger	....	production intern
Louis Zuppardi	....	assistant location manager
Deborah J. Atuk	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Nikolaus Braatz	....	title designer (uncredited)
Matthew Crnich	....	title designer (uncredited)
Tara Dean	....	production legal counsel (uncredited)
Charlie Dibe	....	production coordinator (uncredited)
Jackie Eaton	....	location scout (uncredited)
Dann Fink	....	adr loop group director (uncredited)
Russ Klein	....	key production assistant: reshoots (uncredited)
Joseph Lombardi	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Gary Martyn	....	assistant production coordinator: reshoots (uncredited)
Jake Mathew	....	title designer (uncredited)
Gene Park	....	title designer (uncredited)
Linda Peckel	....	location scout (uncredited)
Rob Pellecchia	....	production counsel (uncredited)
Hilton Clay Peres	....	location scout (uncredited)
James Post	....	production assistant (uncredited)
John Puccinelli	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Mike Reiersen	....	additional production assistant (uncredited)
Vanessa Lee Rodd	....	location scout (uncredited)
Erin Sarofsky	....	title designer (uncredited)
Gene Michael Smith	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Scarlett Sperduto	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
Nicole Teeny	....	office production assistant (uncredited)
Justin Tierney	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• J2 Pictures (in association with)
• Silverwood Films (produced by)
• iDeal Partners Film Fund (financed by)

Distributors

• Kimmel International (2009) (non-USA) (all media) (International Sales)
• IFC Films (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• MEED Films (2011) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• MPI Media Group (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Aurum Distribution (2011) (Estonia) (all media)
• Aurum Distribution (2011) (Latvia) (all media)
• CatchPlay (2009) (Taiwan) (all media)
• EDKO Film (2009) (Hong Kong) (all media)
• HBO Hungary (2012) (Hungary) (TV)
• Ledafilms (2011) (Mexico) (TV)
• Mediafilm (2009) (Italy) (all media)
• Pinema (2009) (Turkey) (all media)

Special Effects

• Click 3X (visual effects and closing animation)

Other Companies

• Blink Entertainment  marketing and promotion
• D.R. Reiff & Associates  insurance services
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Film Finances  completion guaranty
• Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz  business and legal affairs
• Gourmet To U  catering
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• Henry's International Cuisine  catering
• IndieClear  script clearance
• Indiepay  payroll provided by
• Indiepay  payroll services
• Mob Scene at Goldcrest  post-production (creative advertising)
• Panavision  panaflex camera
• PostWorks  mix, foley and adr facility
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services
• Sugarbox Studios  score recording facility
• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  background casting
• Trevanna Post  post-production accounting

Also Known As:

"An 1nvisible Si6n" - USA (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material and some disturbing images

Runtime:

USA:96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company:

J2 Pictures

Trivia:

America Ferrera was originally cast as Mona Gray, but dropped out and Jessica Alba replaced her.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Alba was in class and put a child in a corner by the door she wrote two large numbers on the black board and wanted the children to tell her what sign (greater or less than) to put between them. When the child made a sound to get her attention you could see the less than sign already written on the board, but it was missing after the child from the corner gave the correct answer and the teacher wrote it on the board.

Quotes:

Levan Beeze:Ann's in a bad mood because her parents are getting divorced, my mom is her moms attorney.
Ann DiGanno:They're not getting divorced, they're getting legally separated.
Mona Gray:Levan, client attorney confidentiality is confidential, so, shh.

If only it were Invisible ...

An Invisible Sign is one of those films you kind of wish you had never seen. There are plenty of movies worse than this one; but this one tries so very hard to be both loved and cherished that it leaves one feeling used.

First-time feature-film director, Marilyn Agrelo (she had earlier directed the documentary Mad Hot Ballroom), uses so much saccharine in trying to sweeten Sign's audience into loving and liking and feeling for and/or sorry for this odd assortment of characters that one begins to wish strychnine had been used instead. In real-life, NONE of these eccentric characters would come across as likable and so one has to force himself/herself into finishing this film.

Jessica Alba (Fantastic Four, Sin City, Never Been Kissed) plays Mona Gray, an odd-duck of a character who is kicked-out of her house by her parents years after her genius mathematician father has suffered a nervous breakdown (she is kicked-out for no real reason other than she is 20 and her mom isn't likable). Lucky Mona, though (!), as her mother has helped get her daughter a job as the math teacher at the local elementary school ... Mona having no degree isn't a problem (Mom lied saying she had one) as the school never looks into her past (I'm not kidding).

It is at school/work surrounded by kids with greater problems than her own that Mona begins to wake-up to life and find purpose and meaning beyond a search for numbers. Mona also meets a fellow teacher played by Chris Messina (Julie & Julia, Monogamy, Vicky Cristina Barcelona) who becomes interested in her odd manners and seeks out her friendship. Just as these last few sentences suggest, An Invisible Sign IS oddly disjointed and filled with scenarios and situations that don't really go together. It is as if the film were pieced together because of "cute, little moments" ... instead of giving us a cohesive and plausible story.

There is little-to-no charm here and the entire thing feels tried and odd to me. I believe Messina's character was written/created for the sole purpose of having a sane individual in the film (yes ... groan). Alba has tried drama in the past and has come across marginally successful at times; but An Invisible Sign doesn't help her resume. It is almost too bad this one wasn't invisible.