Hesher (2010)

Director:

Spencer Susser

Writers:

Spencer Susser (written by) &
David Michôd (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

25 June 2011 (Japan)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Sometimes life gives you the finger and sometimes it gives you...

Plot:

A young boy has lost his mother and is losing touch with his father and the world around him. Then he meets Hesher who manages to make his life even more chaotic.

Plot Keywords:

Van | Tattoo | Fire | Bicycle Lock | Older Woman Younger Man Relationship

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Joseph Gordon-Levitt	...	Hesher
Devin Brochu	...	T.J.
Rainn Wilson	...	Paul
Piper Laurie	...	Grandma Madeleine Forney
Natalie Portman	...	Nicole
Brendan Hill	...	Dustin
John Carroll Lynch	...	Larry
Monica Staggs	...	Mom
Mary Elizabeth Barrett	...	Meryl
Audrey Wasilewski	...	Coleen
Lyle Kanouse	...	Jack
Frank Collison	...	Funeral Director
Van Epperson	...	Angry Driver
Helen Slayton-Hughes	...	Mrs. Rosowski
Paul Bates	...	Mr. Elsberry
Ralph P. Martin	...	Tow Truck Driver
Timothy Davis	...	Mechanic (as Tim Davis)
Allan Graf	...	Security Guard
Brian Lally	...	Sheriff Cuvin
Rafael J. Noble	...	Foreman
Milt Kogan	...	Doctor
Richard Susser	...	Booking Officer
Barry Sigismondi	...	Cop at House
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dajine Colon	...	Student (uncredited)
Nicolai Dorian	...	Kid 1 (uncredited)
Steve Fox	...	Mechanic (uncredited)
David Hill	...	Cowboy in Truck (uncredited)
Cole Hockenbury	...	Kid 2 (uncredited)
Cristian Nicolae	...	Emo Kid (uncredited)
Biff Yeager	...	Counselor (uncredited)

Directed by
Spencer Susser

Writing credits
Spencer Susser		(written by) &
David Michôd		(written by)
Brian Charles Frank		(story)

Produced by
Ari Ackerman	....	co-producer
Scot Armstrong	....	executive producer
Marc Bell	....	executive producer
Wayne Chang	....	executive producer
Lucy Cooper	....	producer
Jeff Davis	....	executive producer
Aaron Downing	....	co-producer
Jay Franks	....	co-producer
Ian Fruchtman	....	executive producer
Jerry Fruchtman	....	executive producer
Peter Fruchtman	....	executive producer
Barry Habib	....	co-producer
Toni Habib	....	co-producer
Aleen Keshishian	....	executive producer
Gina Kirkpatrick	....	co-producer
Scott Kluge	....	executive producer
Johnny Lin	....	producer
Chase Mishkin	....	associate producer (as Chase Misikin)
Ravi Nandan	....	executive producer
Robert Ortiz	....	co-producer
Tom Pellegrini	....	co-producer
Natalie Portman	....	producer
Scott Prisand	....	producer
Jay Rifkin	....	executive producer
Michael Roban	....	executive producer
Annette Savitch	....	executive producer
J.D. Seraphine	....	associate producer
Win Sheridan	....	producer
Spencer Susser	....	producer
Happy Walters	....	co-producer
Matt Weaver	....	producer (as Matthew Weaver)
Jonathan Weisgal	....	executive producer
Israel Wolfson	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Frank Tetaz		(as Francois Tetaz)

Cinematography by
Morgan Susser		(director of photography) (as Morgan Pierre Susser)

Film Editing by
Michael McCusker
Spencer Susser

Casting by
Justine Baddeley
Kim Davis-Wagner		(as Kim Davis)

Production Design by
Laura Fox

Art Direction by
Charles Varga

Set Decoration by
Jennifer Lukehart

Costume Design by
April Napier

Makeup Department
Luisa Abel	....	makeup department head
Mustaque M. Ashrafi	....	additional makeup artist (as Mustaq Asirafi)
Michael Germain	....	additional makeup artist (as Perry M. Germain)
Francisco X. Pérez	....	key makeup artist (as Francisco X. Perez)
Kim Santantonio	....	hair department head
Toni-Ann Walker	....	key hair stylist
Natasha Ladek	....	wig maker (uncredited)
Jose Zamora	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Gina Amador	....	post-production supervisor
Robert Ortiz	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen W. Moore	....	second second assistant director (as Stephen Moore)
Bill Purple	....	second assistant director (as William Purple)
Brian Relyea	....	second assistant director
Chip Signore	....	first assistant director (as Stephen 'Chip' Signore III)

Art Department
Luis F. Candanoza	....	set dresser (as Luis Candanoza)
Steven Fox	....	construction coordinator
Madison 'Maddy' Giessmann	....	prop maker (as Madison Geissmann)
Kami Laprade	....	assistant property master
Colin Devin Moore	....	artist: title art
Cynthia Nibler	....	property master
Tantai 'Tommy' Noochlaor	....	prop maker
Felice A. Pappas	....	on-set dresser (as Felice Pappas)
Douglas W. Randall	....	property master
Keith Smith	....	lead person
Spencer Susser	....	artist: title art
Paula Thompson	....	art department coordinator
Wyatt Vandergeest	....	lead scenic artist
Steven Vernet	....	art department production assistant
Michael Voelker	....	assistant property master
Jarid Boyce	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Timberly Matonic	....	props (uncredited)
Bret Ross	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Jefry Shebroe	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Gary Sullivan	....	swing (uncredited)

Sound Department
Tilo Alpermann	....	sound editor
Mike Anderson	....	sound utility (as Michael Anderson)
Wade Barnett	....	adr recordist
Lara Dale	....	foley artist
Chris David	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Esparza	....	supervising sound editor (as Dave Esparza)
Marshall Garlington	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeffrey A. Humphreys	....	boom operator
Travis MacKay	....	adr mixer
Lee Orloff	....	sound mixer
Sam Petty	....	sound designer
Will Riley	....	supervising sound editor
Gabriel J. Serrano	....	sound mix recordist (as Gabe Serrano)
Javier Bennassar	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Ryan Collins	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Brian Dunlop	....	foley editor (uncredited)
Ellen Heuer	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Scott Kramer	....	foley editor (uncredited)
Tim Limer	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
A. Josh Reinhardt	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Will Riley	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Callie Thurman	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Bret Barrett	....	special effects technician
John Frazier	....	special effects coordinator
Tyler Matson	....	special effects coordinator
Darin O'Neill	....	special effects technician
Edward T. Reiff Jr.	....	special effects technician
Michael A. Tice	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Andy Bate	....	flame artist: The Mill
Jamie Baxter	....	visual effects supervisor: Custom Film Effects
Genevieve Camilleri	....	digital artist: Complete Post Australia
Paul Carlin	....	smoke artist: Modern VideoFilm
David Carriker	....	visual effects supervisor: Modern VideoFilm
Marisa Clayton	....	visual effects producer: Modern VideoFilm
Bill Coffin	....	inferno artist: Modern VideoFilm
Gus Comegys	....	visual effects artist
Rod Dean	....	visual effects producer
Miles DeLong	....	visual effects producer: Modern VideoFilm
Diesel	....	visual effects producer: Complete Post Australia
Nathan Hurlburt	....	inferno artist: Modern VideoFilm
Broc Morales	....	inferno artist: Modern VideoFilm
Lee Pavey	....	visual effects producer: The Mill (as Lee Pavy)
Pamela Scott-Farr	....	visual effects production manager: FotoKem Digital Film Services
Ray Shantz	....	visual effects engineer: Modern VideoFilm
Roger Sheng	....	digital artist: Complete Post Australia
Trent Shumway	....	inferno artist: Modern VideoFilm
Rene Simen	....	visual effects artist

Stunts
Kenny Alexander	....	stunts
Kelli Barksdale	....	stunt double
Emily Brobst	....	stunt double
Nash Edgerton	....	stunt coordinator
Nash Edgerton	....	stunt double: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Donna Evans	....	stunts
Luke Kearney	....	stunts
Mark McDaniels	....	stunts
Mark Rayner	....	additional stunt double: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Dana Reed	....	stunt double: Natalie Portman
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunts (as Jimmy Roberts)
Debby Rondell	....	stunts
R.A. Rondell	....	stunt driver
Tim Trella	....	stunts
Allan Graf	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Casey Alicino	....	dolly grip: "a" camera
Scott Ballew	....	additional electrician
Anthony Barattini	....	generator operator
Ben Bowling	....	chief rigging electrician
Sal Coniglio	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as Salvatore Coniglio)
Vincent Contarino	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Brian Crane	....	additional electrician (as Brian J. Crane)
Eric Davidian	....	additional electrician
Peter Davidian	....	additional electrician
Nino DeFranco	....	crane operator
Adam C. Eichhorst	....	grip (as Adam Eichhorst)
Ron Ervin	....	grip
Paul Fischer	....	grip
John P. Fleenor	....	additional electrician (as John Fleenor)
Jason Garcia	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Galen Green	....	second company grip
George Gregory	....	dolly grip: "a" camera
Gaylan Andrew Hussain	....	grip (as Gaylan A. Hissain)
Mark Johnson	....	grip
Nate Kalushner	....	digital utility
Nathan Levine-Heaney	....	digital utility
Tommy Lohmann	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Joey Maloney	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Nokoni Martinez	....	rigging grip
Stephen B. Martinez	....	rigging best boy
Manuel Mendez	....	grip
Merrick Morton	....	still photographer (as Merrick K. Morton)
Michael Ottevanger	....	24 frame playback operator
Kevin Blair Rogers	....	additional camera assistant (as K. Blair Rogers)
William Russell	....	gaffer (as Bill Russel)
Rigney Sackley	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Charles M. Smallwood	....	key grip
Jeff Stanman	....	additional electrician: Belgium (as Jeffrey Stanman)
Keith Talley	....	key rigging grip (as Keith A. Talley)
Chris Tango	....	lamp operator
Alexander Taylor	....	additional electrician
Maxwell Thorpe	....	grip
John Trunk	....	video assist
Torry Tukuafu	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Dana Arnold	....	rigging chief lighting technician (uncredited)
Evan Harbuck	....	digital loader (uncredited)
Martin J. Layton	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Jesse Olivares	....	digital video assist operator: additional footage (uncredited)
Gary Stark	....	set lighting electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Freya Krasnow	....	casting assistant
Rich King	....	extras casting (uncredited)
Shaunessy James Quinn	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael DeWinter	....	costume production assistant
Sharon Fauvel	....	ager/dyer
Sahar Halabi	....	costume production assistant
Jenna Kautzky	....	costume supervisor
Molly Keogh	....	costume production assistant
Jee Ok	....	key set costumer
Tricia Trippett	....	costume production assistant (as Patricia Trippett)
Leilah Weintraub	....	costume production assistant
Hana Rausalova	....	set costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Philip Beckner	....	digital intermediate editor (as Phil Beckner)
Robin Buday	....	digital intermediate conform assistant
Rod Dean	....	vfx editor
Luke Doolan	....	editorial consultant
Gregory Earls	....	post-production coordinator
Nash Edgerton	....	editorial consultant
Bob Fredrickson	....	digital intermediate editor
Zayaan Jappie	....	post-production assistant
Paul Lavoie	....	digital intermediate project manager
Dan Muscarella	....	color timer
Christopher Rucinski	....	key editorial production assistant (as Christopher R. Rucinski)
James M. Thomas	....	additional editor
Walter Volpatto	....	digital intermediate colorist
Mark Griffith	....	digital intermediate colorist (uncredited)
Daniel Sessoms	....	data operator (uncredited)
Daniel Yang	....	data operator (uncredited)

Music Department
Gina Amador	....	music clearances
Ted Caplan	....	temp music editor
Cameron Deyell	....	musician: guitar
Tim Harvey	....	musician: guitar
Luke Hodgson	....	musician: bass
Michael Iveson	....	musician: drums & percussion (as Mokhail Iveson)
Serge Perron	....	music editor: final mix
Sam Petty	....	composer: additional music
Damon Scina	....	music clearances
Tom Spender	....	musician: guitar
Frank Tetaz	....	musician: various instruments and vocals (as Francois Tetaz)
Scott Tinkler	....	musician: trumpet
Jessica Venables	....	musician: cello
Phil Wales	....	musician: guitar
Ronald J. Webb	....	temp music editor (as Ron Webb)
Michael Lira	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Christopher Rucinski	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
John Agnew	....	driver
Lyle Atkins	....	driver
Mike Belt	....	driver (as Michael Belt)
Joseph G. Bingenheimer	....	driver (as Joseph G. 'Jody' Bingemhelmer)
Michael R. Boyle	....	driver
Lyle Christensen	....	camera car driver
Angel Desanti	....	transportation co-captain (as Angel De Santi)
Wayne Flowers Jr.	....	driver (as Wayne Flowers)
Geno Hart	....	transportation consultant
Chris Haynes	....	driver
Lee Jennings	....	driver
Kyle Jetton	....	driver (as J. Kyle Jetton)
Christine Jones	....	driver
William Jones	....	driver
Hugh Kelly	....	driver
Steve Larson	....	driver
Marc Lipman	....	driver
Rafael Maldonado	....	driver
Hardy Ophuls	....	transportation office co-captain
Marty Osborne	....	picture car co-captain (as Martin Osborne)
John Pellegrino	....	driver
Adam Pinkstaff	....	transportation captain
Carlos M. Serrano	....	driver (as Carlos Serrano)
Chris Warren	....	driver
Steven Luke Weible	....	driver (as Steve Weible)

Other crew
Frank George Agzarian	....	production accountant
Gina Amador	....	post production accountant
William Batsel	....	production assistant
Daniel Beals	....	production assistant
Lorri Bearbower	....	studio teacher
Teodoro Benitez	....	first assistant chef
Robert Bezanilla	....	set medic
Cody Birdwell	....	production assistant
Daphine Viola Boelsma	....	studio teacher
Kris Bunting	....	assistant location manager
Sarah Carleton	....	assistant to executive producer
Cesar Castillo	....	office production assistant
Jan Citron	....	studio teacher
Dominick Clark	....	location scout
Nate Cohen	....	production office coordinator
Robert Contreras	....	second assistant chef
Divi Crockett	....	production supervisor
Kathy Cyrus	....	welfare worker: teacher (as Kathryn Cyrus)
Tova Dann	....	assistant: Mr. Susser
Sabina Della-Puerta	....	intern
Andrew Demarest	....	production assistant
Nathan Dimercurio	....	production assistant
David Gleb	....	epk
Bernadette Gonzales	....	production secretary
Joseph B. Hall	....	second assistant accountant
Hernan Hernandez	....	craft service (as Hernana Hernandez)
Leigh Huser	....	assistant: Mr. Weaver and Mr. Prisand
Adam Jette	....	production assistant
Parisa Kawiani	....	intern
Jamie Kohn	....	assistant: Mr. Susser & Mr. Cooper
Alexandra Loulias	....	office production assistant
Jonathan Lynch	....	location manager
Gail Marks	....	first assistant accountant
Matthew McArdle	....	production assistant
Jorge Menjivar	....	craft service assistant
Grit Menzzer	....	assistant: Ms. Portman
Matt V. Messina	....	key assistant location manager (as Matthew V. Messina)
Luis Montenegro	....	head chef
Erin Moraga	....	set medic
Caleb Negassa	....	intern
Christopher Neil	....	acting coach
Brad Neumann	....	assistant: Ms. Portman (as Brad Neuman)
Howard Nourmand	....	title layout
Tim Ogletree	....	office production assistant (as Timothy R. Ogletree)
Ernesto Palacios	....	production assistant
Peter Popp	....	craft service assistant
Nancy Pyne-Hapke	....	studio teacher
Lynn Raines	....	studio teacher (as Lynn R. Raines)
Jesse H. Rivard	....	key assistant location manager
Crystal Rivers	....	stand-in
Christopher Michael Rose	....	stand-in: Brendan Hill
Jordan Schmidt	....	assistant location manager
Jessica Kumai Scott	....	assistant: Ms. Savitch (as Jessica Kumai-Scott)
Natasha Shumny	....	post facilities coordinator
Kristen Renee Smith	....	production secretary (as Kristen R. Smith)
Spencer Susser	....	title designer
Martin Trees	....	stand-in
Marion Tumen	....	script supervisor
Richard W. Welch	....	production assistant (as Richard Welch)
Jac Woods	....	assistant: Mr. Susser & Mr. Cooper (as Jacquelyn Woods)
Zoe Bower	....	post-production facilities manager (uncredited)
Teressa Diaz-Hennessey	....	assistant: director (uncredited)
Marc C. Geschwind	....	extras coordinator (uncredited)
Nikhil Jassawalla	....	consultant (uncredited)
Eloy Lara	....	set medic (uncredited)
Paul Lavoie	....	digital production manager (uncredited)
Eric Rae	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Bob Riley	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Mitch Spacone	....	system support: FotoKem (uncredited)

Thanks
Kirsty McGregor	....	thanks
Johanna Rosie	....	thanks
Rick Schwartz	....	special thanks
Jake Sumner	....	thanks
London Susser	....	dedicatee
Graham Taylor	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Last Picture Company, The
• American Work
• CatchPlay
• Corner Store Entertainment
• DRO Entertainment (in association with)
• Dreamagine Entertainment
• Filmula
• Handsomecharlie Films

Distributors

• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Face to Face (2011) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Newmarket Films (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Pony Canyon (2011) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Wrekin Hill Entertainment (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• CInema Hotel Corporation (CHC) (2010) (Russia) (all media)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Feelgood Entertainment (2012) (Greece) (DVD)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2013) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Koch Media (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2012) (UK) (DVD)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Metropolitan Film & Video (2012) (France) (DVD)
• Metropolitan Film & Video (2012) (France) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Pictures (2011) (Australia) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Custom Film Effects (visual effects)
• Complete Post Australia (visual effects)
• Modern VideoFilm (visual effects)
• The Mill (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Act One Script Clearance  script clearance
• Alex Gourmet Catering  catering (as Alex's Gourmet Catering)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Clairmont Camera  lenses
• Cold Fusion Media Group  funding
• Eisner, Frank & Kahan  legal services (as Eisner Frank and Kahan)
• FotoKem Digital Film Services  digital intermediate
• HD Camera Rentals.com  camera
• Pivotal Post  Avid HD editing equipment provided by
• Post Haste Sound  commentary recording engineering
• Radiant Images  camera
• Reel Security  production security
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals
• Wildfire Studios  post-production sound services (as Wildfire Post)

Also Known As:

"Metalhead" - Japan (English title) (imdb display title)

MPAA:

Rated R for disturbing violent behavior, sexual content including graphic dialogue, pervasive language, and drug content - some in the presence of a child

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #46197) | Australia:MA (2011) | Japan:R15+ | Netherlands:12 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Last Picture Company, The

Trivia:

In the scene where Hesher criticizes T.J. for not taking walks with his grandmother, the man who he refers to that rapes old women was actually serial killer Albert DeSalvo, more commonly known as the "Boston Strangler."

Goofs:

Continuity: TJ's cast in the opening scene switches between his left and right arm between shots.

Quotes:

Hesher:You lost your wife. And you lost your mom. I lost my nut.

Movie Connections:

References "The Muppet Show" (1976)

Soundtrack:

Fight Fire With Fire

Review From Film Crewmember

I admit, it is a taboo for crewmen on a film to make a comment about it... sometimes you can be sued and can often breed bad mojo. However, I extend my neck on the chopping block for this film because not only because a few months of my life were spent on 14+ hours days with this cast/ crew/ and director but it was a... unique... project.

This was an unusual film to work on. Start with a Writer/Director who's fervently passionate about his work (...okay, I've seen that before) but with a twist. Add an almost impossible idealism in a man of school boy enthusiasm whose facial expression varied between, "I won the girl of my dreams," "Yeah, that's it... but do it again(and again)" to watching that hopeful idealism melt away as though you just told the persevering child that ha-ha you won't be an astronaut but rather a feeble emasculated yes man to a control freak wife. To say the Director was passionate about making his story real, real meaning matching that fully developed story that had vividly existed in the inner invaginations of his brain for years, doesn't begin to convey the sheer depth of it.

Firstly, the cast was phenomenal. Mr. Wilson especially was an amazing actor to watch perform. It is a subtle character of nominal lines but without a word he was able to convey an impressive character. The production could not have hoped for a better casting in this part.

Mr. Levitt was, as I believe most already know, a pro. His professionalism and seemingly innate ability to portray his character, to bring his character to life, was amazing to watch and a pleasure to work with.

Now we come to Devin as T.J. The lengths this gentleman was put to was intense. Yet never a complaint. Brushed himself off, caught his breath, and did it again. My compliments to Devin for his amazing dedication to his character and this film. I've never seen a new actor his age work so hard, diligently, and without complaint.

Now to the film. The script is not easy to read, painful in fact as the dialog slaps you in the face at least every other line. I confess I had my apprehensions at first... it seemed just too much.

However, these apprehensions faded as the type of the script was performed to the mind's eye of the Director and Cast. This film is very much about the not said, but the movements/ actions/ expressions. The subtle, and the beneath the surface story that is so much closer to truth and reality and than the superficial first glance.

Look at the typeface only, and the superficial facade of the characters will be all you see and doing so will fall nicely in line with the design of the characters' protective layers. Scratch deeper, or simply pay attention to what the characters are really portraying... The moorings and underpinnings in these characterizations, and how they combine into the plot, gives a profound yet simplistic look at human behavior and how people cope with identity, loss, and the need to be loved.

My hat off to this amazing cast, it's crew, and Mr. Susser.