A Little Help (2010)

Director:

Michael J. Weithorn

Writer:

Michael J. Weithorn (screenplay)

Release Date:

22 July 2011 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Ever have one of those lives?

Plot:

A woman gets entangled in a series of bizarre lies in order to take care of herself and her 12 year old son. |

Plot Keywords:

New York City | Widow | Sister Sister Relationship | Lie | Brother In Law Sister In Law Relationship

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Jenna Fischer	...	Laura Pehlke
Jay Klaitz	...	Patient
Daniel Yelsky	...	Dennis Pehlke
Brooke Smith	...	Kathy Helms
Chris O'Donnell	...	Bob Pehlke
Rob Benedict	...	Paul Helms
Zach Page	...	Kyle Helms
Ron Leibman	...	Warren Dunning
Lesley Ann Warren	...	Joan Dunning
Sara Kapner	...	Wendy Helms
James Rebhorn	...	Dr. Bronstein
Michelle Hurst	...	Eileen
Matt Oberg	...	Minister
Douglas Lipman	...	Doug
Carla Briscoe	...	Kristen
Elaine Kussack	...	Sara
Sam McMurray	...	Big Bad Dan
Kim Coates	...	Mel Kaminsky
Brandon Perler	...	Noah
Miles Williams	...	Christopher
Arden Myrin	...	Ms. Gallagher
Nadia Dajani	...	Angela Behar
Gracie Lawrence	...	Gracie (as Gracie Bea Lawrence)
Dion DiMucci	...	Dion
Jim Florentine	...	Brian Markland
Joy Suprano	...	Julie Cantoni
Kristen Boulé	...	Waitress
Sarah Wilson	...	Amanda
Lynn Cohen	...	Mrs. Cosolito
Shari Albert	...	Rhonda
Aida Turturro	...	Nancy Feldman
Jacob Levine	...	Seth Feldman
Millie Trachtenberg	...	Scornful Parent
Eddie Frierson	...	Parrot (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Markus Goldberg	...	Birthday Party Guest (uncredited)
Mark Vincent	...	Garage Mechanic (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael J. Weithorn

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael J. Weithorn		screenplay

Produced by
Sirad Balducci	....	line producer
Joe Gressis	....	producer
Dena Hysell	....	producer
Glen Trotiner	....	associate producer
Michael J. Weithorn	....	producer

Original Music by
Austin Wintory

Cinematography by
Tom Harting		(as Thomas M. Harting)

Film Editing by
Joe Gressis

Casting by
Russell Boast
Richard Pagano

Production Design by
Kelly McGehee

Set Decoration by
Kelley Burney

Costume Design by
Jenny Gering

Makeup Department
John Jack Curtin	....	key hair stylist
Dierdre Harris	....	additional hairstylist
Mark Schmidt	....	hair department head
Ande Yung	....	makeup department head

Production Management
Michael Reichman	....	unit production manager
Thomas J. Whelan	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matthew McLoota	....	assistant director: second unit
Matthew McLoota	....	second assistant director
Eddie Micallef	....	second assistant director
X. Sydney Ng	....	dga trainee
Gary S. Rake	....	first assistant director: second unit
Manny Siverio	....	second unit director
Glen Trotiner	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Michael Cory	....	property master
Eddie DeCurtis	....	on-set dresser
Sean Haines	....	on-set dresser
Matthew W. Herschel	....	assistant production designer
Alicia Leatherbury-Lamberti	....	scenic charge
Marina Parker	....	props production assistant
Maia Rose	....	set dresser
Michelle Schluter-Ford	....	set dec buyer
Nicole Scoppa	....	assistant property master
Maria Sylvania	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Antonio L. Arroyo	....	sound mixer
Kevin W. Buchholz	....	foley recordist
Steven Cahill	....	supervising sound editor
Richard B. Larimore	....	foley artist
Richard B. Larimore	....	sound designer
Samuel Lehmer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Anton Verenitch	....	foley editor
Anton Verenitch	....	foley recordist
Anton Verenitch	....	sound editor

Stunts
Damian Achilles	....	stunts
Mike Burke	....	stunt driver
Chris Colombo	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Joanne Lamstein	....	stunt double: Jenna Fischer
Manny Siverio	....	stunt coordinator
Aaron Vexler	....	stunt double: Chris O'Donnell

Camera and Electrical Department
Doug Brantner	....	lighting technician
Oliver Cary	....	b-camera operator
Caswell Cooke	....	key grip
Dylan Crawshay-Williams	....	grip
Darren Frohlich	....	rigging gaffer
David Ganczewski	....	key grip
Ted Goodwin	....	electric
Travis Hottinger	....	electrician
Travis Hottinger	....	lighting technician
Matthew Jacobs	....	dolly grip
Quenell Jones	....	additional camera operator
Keitt	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Kate Larose	....	first assistant camera
Rachael Levine	....	camera operator
Larry Lewinn	....	best boy electric
Frank Love	....	second assistant camera
Toby Miller	....	electrician
Ryan Minelli	....	electrician
William Newell	....	gaffer
Nate Slevin	....	additional red camera technician
Brian Smith	....	best boy grip
Daniel Stilling	....	director of photography: second unit
Daniel Stilling	....	steadicam operator
Daniel Wallenstein	....	key grip: additional
Jacob Wasserman	....	camera production assistant

Casting Department
Megin T. Boyles	....	cast assistant
Robb Fitzgerald	....	extras casting assistant
Tiffany Moon	....	extras casting director
Aimée Musil	....	casting assistant
J. Mitchell White	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Arlynn Abseck	....	wardrobe supervisor
Havi Elkaim	....	costume assistant
Mary Gierczak	....	set costumer
Jennifer Schilling	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Cristina Esteras-Ortiz	....	digital intermediate producer
Michael Smollin	....	digital intermediate colorist

Music Department
Celeigh Chapman	....	musician: vocals
Greg Ellis	....	musician: drums
Liz Gallacher	....	music supervisor
Darrell Hall	....	music editor
Alexandra Hill	....	music supervision executive
Steve Juliani	....	music preparation
Steve Kempster	....	music scoring mixer
Trevon Kezios	....	music consultant
Larry Mah	....	digital score recordist
Roger Manning	....	musician: piano
Alexis Marsh	....	assistant to composer
Justin Meldal-Johnsen	....	musician: electric and upright bass
Tom Strahle	....	musician: guitars
Billy White Acre	....	musician: electric guitars
Austin Wintory	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Kristen Boulé	....	assistant: Michael Weithorn
Lindsay Brayton	....	script clearance
Myo Campbell	....	production assistant
Jamie Chan	....	production office intern
Betty Chin	....	production coordinator
Aaron Clayton	....	location assistant
Carol A. Compton	....	script clearance
Lloyd D'Souza	....	assistant to producers
Danielle Davis	....	craft service
Mary DeBellis	....	stand-in
Debra Delibro	....	production office intern
Myke Dixon	....	end titles
Jodi Domanic-Riccio	....	script supervisor
Joshua A. Friedman	....	production assistant: second unit
Alexandra Hill	....	music supervision executive
Crystal Jenney	....	set production assistant
Brendan Kehoe	....	location scout
Russ Klein	....	additional key production assistant
Russ Klein	....	staff production assistant
Sara Lane	....	production accountant
Anthony Lote	....	production assistant
Jenny Lovin	....	assistant accountant/payroll
Mike McGuirk	....	production assistant
Cecile Meguere	....	production assistant
Jim Pellegrinelli	....	assistant production coordinator
Dan Rafeld	....	staff set production assistant
David C. Sales	....	production assistant
Carey Seward	....	location scout
Collin Smith	....	location manager
Greg Staley	....	key production assistant
Ian M. Stratford	....	production counsel
Lygia Day Szelwach	....	on-set teacher
Maura Trail	....	office production assistant
Dennis Voskov	....	assistant location manager
Henry Winnik	....	unit production assistant

Production Companies

• Secret Handshake Entertainment

Distributors

• Freestyle Releasing
• Television (2010) (Romania) (all media)

Other Companies

• All-Star Animals  animal trainers
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Cutting Edge Group  music services
• Gray Krauss Des Rochers  legal services
• IndieClear  script clearance
• Jet Stream Sound  post-production sound services
• Jet Stream Sound  sound post-production
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  make-up/wardrobe truck
• Lit Post  end titles
• Lotus Post  temp mix

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexual content and drug use

Runtime:

USA:109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #46638)

Filming Locations:

Port Washington, Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

Secret Handshake Entertainment

Quotes:

[first lines]
Parrot:Rinse please!

Movie Connections:

References "Columbo" (1971)

Soundtrack:

Hot Nuts

A wonderful movie about a mother & son bonding after the death of the father. An absolute must see movie. Very good. I say A

"What's a cooler way to die, 9/11 or a arrhythmia thing?" Laura (Fischer) and Bob (O'Donnell) have a strained marriage. Bob works all the time and Laura drinks a lot. Their 12 year old son is stuck in the middle but prefers the dad. After an argument leads to Bob's death, Laura is left to figure out how to raise her son and support her family. This is a movie that is very different from the preview. The preview makes it look like a comedy, while there are some funny parts this is more of a drama. That said this is one fantastic movie. Watching each character deal with the situation is great to watch. There are parts that you laugh at that you feel like you shouldn't. This is also one of the best mother-son bonding movies I have ever seen, and there are scenes with her family that will make you mad. The fact that you have these feeling marks the sign of a good movie. This is one of the biggest surprise movies of the year. You expect one thing, it's another, but an absolutely fantastic movie to watch. Overall, an extremely entertaining and enjoyable movie to watch that won't disappoint. I give it an A.