High School (2010)

Director:

John Stalberg

Writers (WGA):

Erik Linthorst (screenplay) and
John Stalberg (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 November 2012 (Spain)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Random drug tests? You just can't study for them.

Plot:

A high school valedictorian who gets baked with the local stoner finds himself the subject of a drug test. The situation causes him to concoct an ambitious plan to get his entire graduating class to face the same fate, and fail.

Cast

Adrien Brody	...	Psycho Ed
Sean Marquette	...	Travis Breaux
Matt Bush	...	Henry Burke
Colin Hanks	...	Brandon Ellis
Adhir Kalyan	...	Sebastian Saleem
Mykelti Williamson	...	Paranoid
Michael Chiklis	...	Dr. Leslie Gordon
Luis Chávez	...	Big Dave
Max Van Ville	...	Little Dave
Brett Kelly	...	Martin Gordon
Joseph Julian Soria	...	Rubin
George Back	...	Malcolm
Alicia Sixtos	...	Sharky Ovante
Andrew Wilson	...	Hippie Dude
Camille Mana	...	Dana
Erica Vittina Phillips	...	Tameka
Arcadiy Golubovich	...	Edwin Hunter
Julia Ling	...	Charlyne
Cody Longo	...	Chad
Mary Birdsong	...	Mrs. Gordon
Yeardley Smith	...	Computer Skills Teacher
Curtis Armstrong	...	Mr. Thompson
Alex Biats	...	Spelling Bee Rival
John Beard	...	Male News Desk Reporter
Barret Swatek	...	Female News Desk Reporter
Rhys Coiro	...	Vato
Wyatt Russell	...	Drug PSA Stoned Teenager
Mike Eshaq	...	Lead Terrorist (as Michael Eshaq)
Heather Elizabeth Regan	...	Cheerleader who collides with Henry (as Heather Regan)
Terri Lyn Rodriguez	...	Vivian
Robert Bailey Jr.	...	Jeffrey
Kelli Rasmus	...	Hippie Chick (as Kellie Rasmus)
Shirley Benyas	...	Older Female Donor
Wallace Bridges	...	African American Donor
Carl Harry Carlson	...	Donor #1 (as Harry Carlson)
Randy Godwin	...	Donor #2
Mike Evans	...	Donor #3
Linda Boston	...	Head Nurse
Nadine Crocker	...	Emily Tooms
Clarence Smith	...	Chess Opponent
Ron Ayers	...	Stunned Lawn Blower
Karl Murphy	...	Band Teacher
Rachel Quaintance	...	Angry Parent #1
Peter Tocco	...	Angry Parent #2
Mike Woods	...	Announcer
Kerry Birmingham	...	Female Reporter
Kevin Yon	...	Mr. Cavanaugh
Sammy A. Publes	...	Cook #1 (as Sammy Publes)
Rene Santana	...	Cook #2
Billye Thompson	...	Cop #1
David Herbst	...	School Security Guard
John O'Hurley	...	Drug PSA Voiceover (voice)
Heather Kleisner	...	Henry's Mom (voice)
John Stalberg	...	Grandpa Frodo - Ed's Frog (voice) (as John Stalberg Jr.)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dalibor Stolevski	...	News Producer
Nicole Blaszczyk	...	Student (uncredited)
Kyle Colton	...	High School Student (uncredited)
Josh Costell	...	Jock (uncredited)
John Bryant Davila	...	Security Guard (uncredited)
Adam DeFilippi	...	Little Dave's Friend (uncredited)
D.B. Dickerson	...	Stoned High School Student (uncredited)
Sabrina Dungan	...	High School Student (uncredited)
Penny Gibbs	...	School Admin (uncredited)
David Gibson	...	Patient in the Institute for the Morally Deviant (uncredited)
Dave Kilgore	...	Parent in Car (uncredited)
Adam Lorenz	...	Dwayne Reynolds (uncredited)
Bill Lumbert	...	Concerned Parent (uncredited)
Curtis Matzke	...	Customer (uncredited)
Misty Mills	...	Teacher (uncredited)
Kathi J. Moore	...	Librarian (uncredited)
Tiffany Osborne	...	High School Student (uncredited)
Jerry Reid	...	High School Student (uncredited)
Luke Richmond	...	Jock (uncredited)
Joe Sacksteder	...	News Cameraman (uncredited)
Morris Lee Sullivan	...	Teacher (uncredited)
Steven Sutherland	...	Academy Student (uncredited)
Emily Sutton-Smith	...	Mrs. Breaux (uncredited)
Joe Tinpan	...	Terrorist (uncredited)
Michael Vartan	...	Calculus Teacher (uncredited)
Amanda Wright	...	High School Student (uncredited)

Directed by
John Stalberg		(as John Stalberg Jr.)

Writing credits (WGA)
Erik Linthorst		(screenplay) and
John Stalberg		(screenplay) (as John Stalberg Jr.) &
Stephen Susco		(screenplay)
John Stalberg		(story) (as John Stalberg Jr.) and
Erik Linthorst		(story)

Produced by
Arcadiy Golubovich	....	producer
Ryan Lewis	....	executive producer
Erik Linthorst	....	associate producer
Armen Mahdessian	....	associate producer
Raymond J. Markovich	....	producer
Olga Mirimskaya	....	executive producer
B.J. Rack	....	line producer
John Stalberg	....	executive producer (as John Stalberg Jr.)
Stephen Susco	....	executive producer
Warren Zide	....	producer

Original Music by
Harold Faltermeyer
Freescha
The Newton Brothers

Cinematography by
Mitchell Amundsen

Film Editing by
Gabriel Wrye

Casting by
Barbara Fiorentino
Rebecca Mangieri
Wendy Weidman

Production Design by
Seth Reed

Art Direction by
John B. Josselyn

Set Decoration by
Maggie Martin

Costume Design by
Marie France
Brenda Maben

Makeup Department
Sandy Bowman	....	assistant makeup artist
Emilie Cockels	....	key hair stylist
Lauri Cuppetilli	....	makeup artist
Louise Holoday	....	makeup artist
Scott Jenner	....	assistant hair stylist
Kimberly Jones	....	makeup department head
Mike Mekash	....	special makeup effects artist
Meshelle Melone	....	assistant hair stylist
Eleanor Sabaduquia	....	key makeup artist: Los Angeles
Bree Shea	....	makeup artist
John Tarro	....	hair department head
Vicki Vacca	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
J.M. Logan	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michelangelo Csaba Bolla	....	first assistant director
Greg Brautigan	....	second second assistant director
Mike Livanos	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Gary Arnett	....	graphic designer
John Arlo Benetti	....	set dresser
Jonathan Bowling	....	illustrator
Kieran Brown	....	paint gang boss
Matthew Cavaliero	....	property master
Denise Ciarcia	....	assistant property master
Sean Clouser	....	construction manager
Franco Esile	....	leadman
Chris Forster	....	construction coordinator: additional photography
Michael Grady	....	set dresser
Toby Harvard	....	storyboard artist
Toby Harvard	....	visual consultant
Douglas R. Johnson	....	set painter
Susanne King	....	property assistant
Jim Meyer	....	construction foreman
Keith Allan Miller	....	greensmen
Drew Pierce	....	painter
Aferdita Redmond	....	painter
Eric Reichardt	....	lead painter: Los Angeles
Bobby Rhodes	....	set dresser
Jessica Ripka	....	art coordinator
Kathleen A. Runey	....	painter
Mark Sanger	....	on-set dresser
Mindy Silberman	....	art department assistant
Reid Southen	....	matte painter
Tom Sparkman	....	painter
Alyssa Toft	....	property assistant
Tina Tottis	....	set decoration buyer
Marcus Vernon	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Ron Ayers	....	sound
Wade Barnett	....	adr recordist
Kyle Billingsley	....	foley mixer
Steve Blazewick	....	sound utility: Los Angeles
Gail Carroll-Coe	....	boom operator
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York
Brian Dunlop	....	foley editor
John Guentner	....	foley artist
Robert Jackson	....	adr supervisor
Tim Limer	....	sound recordist
Travis MacKay	....	adr mixer
Gabriel J. Serrano	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brian Slack	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andrew Smetek	....	adr mixer: Detroit
Callie Thurman	....	assistant sound editor
Lisa Varetakis	....	supervising adr editor
Beau Williams	....	sound mixer
Mandell Winter	....	dialogue editor

Special Effects by
Ken Gorrell	....	special effects foreman
Skylar Gorrell	....	special effects technician
Dean Tyrrell	....	special effects technician
Robert Tyrrell	....	special effects technician
Russell Tyrrell	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Mark Alamares	....	visual effects producer
Thomas Kuo	....	DI scanner
Daishi Takiishi	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Joey Anaya	....	stunt double: Adrian Brody
Eddie Braun	....	stunt driver
Jayson Dumenigo	....	stunt double: Matt Bush
Chris Grabher	....	stunts
Zac Henry	....	stunt double: Sean Marquette
Candace M. Laferle	....	stunt double
Dan Lemieux	....	stunt driver
Ed McDermott II	....	precision driver coordinator
Joe Ross	....	utility stunts
Trampas Thompson	....	utility stunts
Webster P. Whinery Jr.	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark David Adler	....	video assist
Brad Baker	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
John C. Barber	....	dolly grip
James Frank Brown	....	key video assist operator
Robin Browne	....	additional camera operator
Paolo Cascio	....	camera operator: additional photography
Michael J. Conner	....	additional grip
Justin Cragin	....	grip
Shawn Cragin	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Scott Eagle	....	electrician
Phaedra Eason	....	grip
Adam Engler	....	video assist: laborer
Daniel Ferrell	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Jack Fitzgerald	....	grip
Geoff George	....	camera production assistant
Nickolas Gilbert	....	camera loader
Mike Hampton	....	video playback operator
Tom Heigl	....	film loader
Andrew Hoehn Jr.	....	additional first assistant camera
Gregg Horvath	....	second assistant camera
Neil Jacobs	....	still photographer
Craig Jennette	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Brian Kelly	....	electrician
Michael Klimchak	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Ken Kondratko	....	grip
Kenny Kondratko	....	grip
William MacLeod	....	key grip (as Bill MacLeod)
Aaron Marquette	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Tim Miller	....	electrician
Tim O'Dea	....	gaffer
Doug Oh	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Miguel Pask	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Todd 'Chin' Piepenbrok	....	set electrician
Chris Ritter	....	electrician
Andy Ryan	....	gaffer
Todd Schlopy	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Tom Schnaidt	....	Steadicam operator: "a" camera
Tom Schnaidt	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Amy Snell	....	grip
John Wendling	....	best boy electric
Scott Zuckerberg	....	best boy grip

Casting Department
Danielle Aufiero	....	casting associate
Brittany Burke	....	casting assistant
Rose Gilpin	....	extras casting
Ryan Hill	....	extras casting
Kathy Mooney	....	casting: Michigan
Janet Pound	....	casting: Michigan
Kathy Remski	....	extras casting
Aisling Warren	....	extras casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Brie Harris	....	assistant costume designer
Kristi Hoffman	....	costumer
Michelle Hutchins	....	set costumer
Kimberly Leitz-McCauley	....	set costumer
Alma Magaña	....	additional set costumer: Los Angeles
DeAnna Park	....	costume production assistant
Johnna Thomas	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Michael Boggs	....	scanning producer
Des Carey	....	digital intermediate supervisor
Salvatore Catanzaro	....	on-line editor
Jim Eberle	....	digital intermediate on-line editor
Pat Mathews	....	senior film colorist
Rob Randall	....	colorist: dailies

Music Department
Vito A. Colapietro II	....	composer: additional music
Neely Dinkins Jr.	....	cues composer
Laura Katz	....	music clearance and licensing
Alex Lockhart	....	music licensing supervisor
The Newton Brothers	....	musician: guitar
Andy Ross	....	executive music producer
Paul Stewart	....	music supervisor
Tom Villano	....	music coordinator
Matthew J. Ward	....	score mixer
Gabriel Wrye	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Mike Bilkovic	....	transportation
Demond Dickerson	....	driver
Jennifer Gonzalez	....	driver: cast
Sue Grasso	....	driver: cast
Jonathon Isom	....	driver
Mike Jones	....	driver
Craig Kirchner	....	transportation captain
Doug Martin	....	driver
Reno S. Mifsud	....	driver: cast
Reno Misfud	....	driver
Billy Neckrock	....	driver
Rob Shaw	....	driver
Ray Shuboy	....	driver
Marty Trombley	....	driver
John 'Detroit' White	....	transportation coordinator
David Schmidt	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Cindy Anderson	....	assistant accountant
Kerry Andrews	....	production accountant: Los Angeles Unit
Joe Babic	....	travel coordinator
Michael Barnes	....	distribution legal services
Shayne Blakey	....	first assistant accountant
Benjamin Brennan	....	lead stand in
Jennifer L. Brooks	....	second assistant accountant
Michael Donald Bryant	....	production assistant
Pamela Chizema	....	second accountant
Adam DeFilippi	....	online ambassador
Ted Demski	....	location assistant
Russell DeVriendt	....	assistant location manager
C. Kyle Eckles	....	craft service
Josh Goldberg	....	production assistant
Michael Goldberg	....	payroll accountant (as Mike Goldberg)
Bill Hamway	....	production assistant
Timothy Hardin	....	accountant (as Tim Hardin)
Paul Isakson	....	production assistant
Ben Joffe	....	office production assistant
Michael S. Jones	....	assistant location manager
Julie Juran	....	production coordinator
Greg Lloyd	....	photo double
Alex Lockhart	....	contract administrator
Vikki M. Magdich	....	production assistant
Connie Mangilin	....	second assistant accountant
Bryan Meganck	....	craft service
Bryan Meganck	....	key craft service
Megan Meganck	....	craft services assistant
C.B. Rockwell	....	location team
Jodie Rosello	....	legal counsel
Dug Rotstein	....	script supervisor
Jared Rummel	....	production assistant
Louise Seppi	....	assistant production coordinator
Andrew C. Smith	....	assistant to director
Jeff Solano	....	key set production assistant
Constantine P. Stamos	....	construction: second unit
Brynn Alana Titone	....	production assistant
Geoff Wehner	....	production assistant
Constance Pierce Winters	....	production assistant
Jimi Woods	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Parallel Media (presents)
• Flipzide Studios (as Flipzide)
• Zero Hour Films (in association with)
• HS Film

Distributors

• Anchor Bay Films (2012) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Lighthouse Home Entertainment (2013) (Germany) (DVD)
• Pinnacle Films (2012) (Australia) (DVD)
• Starz / Anchor Bay (2012) (USA) (all media)

Special Effects

• Tinsley Studio (prosthetic make-up effect tattoos: Adrien Brody)
• Tyrrell FX & Rentals

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Company 3  digital intermediate
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Film Production Capital  tax credit financing
• Filmtools  expendables
• Gallagher Entertainment  insurance
• Grace & Wild Studios Inc.  equipment rental
• Grace & Wild Studios Inc.  processing and telecine by
• Grace & Wild Studios Inc.  production offices
• High Times  thanks
• Hollywood Rentals Productions Services  grip and lighting equipment
• Mobeon  on-line marketing
• MovieScore Media  soundtrack
• Panavision  cameras
• Rockbottom Rentals  walkie rentals
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• Stubz Enterprises  police car and ambulance rentals
• Wildfire Studios  ADR Recording Facility

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive drugs and language, crude and sexual content, some nudity - all involving teens

Runtime:

USA:99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #47147) | Australia:MA15+ | New Zealand:R18 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Company:

Parallel Media

Trivia:

John Stalberg Jr., the Writer/Director, provides the voice of Psycho Ed's Frog.

Goofs:

Continuity: Henry's black-eye changes shades inconsistently throughout the film.

Quotes:

Older Female Donor:That sounded like a wet fart.

Movie Connections:

Features Evil Dead II (1987)

Excellent addition to the stoner canon

Smoking makes most everything funny, and many will have a go-to selection of movies that pair especially well with pot. It's surprising, then, that movies about weed don't automatically fit into that category. If you've ever been sober in a room full of smokers you know that watching other people get stoned just ain't that funny, and it's even more difficult for a movie to impart a contact high.

Fortunately, High School straddles the divide between "stoner movie" and "movie to watch while stoned", because it's very, very funny. The plot is a lean, generic high school story - Henry (Matt Bush) is the straight-A valedictorian, tempted astray just before graduation by stoner and one-time friend Travis (Sean Marquette) after a chance accident lands them in detention. Henry tries pot for the first time, just as Principal Gordon (Michael Chiklis) is about to call for a school-wide drug test after a spelling bee incident embarrasses his school's good name. Henry and Travis plan to foil the drug test by getting the whole school high on drug savant Psycho Ed's (Adrian Brody) ultra-potent supply.

The setup is goofy but handled lightly and with a relatively straight face, which already distinguishes the movie from pure stoner material like How High or Cheech and Chong. The laughs come early and often, not relying too much on stoner tropes (although they're around if you want 'em) or character mugging, but on good, old-fashioned gags. The pace is a little uneven, perhaps because the script runs very tight around the speedy storyline, but the comedy is not.

Brody is given plenty of space to go wild; by the end his influence on the film is much bigger than his screen time. The same could be said on a lesser scale for Colin Hanks as vice-principal Brandon and Yeardley Smith as a teacher, who do typically fine jobs. Bush and Marquette, the two young leads, hold up their end of the bargain very well.

This is a movie that deserves to find wide distribution. If Pineapple Express, a perfectly entertaining movie in its own way, can find a decent audience, then for this to be left on the shelf is criminal. If you get the chance and you're even remotely curious, see it. Once again: it's very, very funny.