The Butterfly Circus (2009)

Director:

Joshua Weigel

Writers:

Joshua Weigel (writer)
Rebekah Weigel (writer)

Genre:

Short | Drama

Plot:

At the height of the Great Depression, the showman of a renowned circus leads his troupe through the devastated American landscape...

Awards:

5 wins

Cast

Eduardo Verástegui	...	Mr. Mendez
Nick Vujicic	...	Will
Doug Jones	...	Otto
Matt Allmen	...	George
Connor Rosen	...	Sammy
Lexi Pearl	...	Anna
Bob Yerkes	...	Poppy
Mark Atteberry	...	Announcer
Kirk Bovill	...	Jimmy - Painted Man
Christian Pikes	...	Inspired Boy
Dion Slider	...	Inspired Boy's Father
Eros Biox	...	Stilt Performer
Max Daniels	...	Clown
Natalie Foster	...	Inspired Mother
Holly M. Martin	...	Polio Boy's Mother (as Holly Persell)
Ezra Moore	...	Boy with Polio
Brady Ecklund	...	Polio Boy's Brother
Michelle Caudel	...	Fortune Teller
Brad Abrell	...	Drunk Man
Lisa Steinmetz	...	Bar Madame
Corey David Thomas	...	Puppeteer
Natalie Foster	...	Inspired Mother (as Natalie Burkholder)
Nathan Christopher Haase	...	Stage Hand
Daniella Lopez	...	Puppet
Elisabeth P. Carpenter	...	Acrobat (as Elizabeth Carpenter)
Jared Day	...	Magician
Jon Phelps	...	Inspired Gentlemen
Esther Phelps	...	Inspired Woman
Judah Weigel	...	Tomato Thrower
Sylas Weigel	...	Boy with Tomato
Madison Hargrove	...	Siamese Twin
Mallory Hargrove	...	Siamese Twin
Jackie Zane	...	Baby Lulu
Mahoganie LaFranks	...	Bearded Lady
Paul Maniaci	...	Barker
Sheri Pedigo	...	Woman in Bar
Melissa Disney	...	Shanty Town Mother
Noelle Baugh	...	Shanty Town Child
Rebekah Weigel	...	Shanty Town Mom
Sydney Weigel	...	Shanty Town Little Girl
B.J. Macias	...	Additional Stilt Performer (as BJ Macias)
Ted Shred	...	Fire Breather
Dan Amos	...	Impoverished Father
Elizabeth Pennington	...	Impoverished Mother (as Elizabeth Amos)
Gary Hargrove	...	Side Show Onlooker
Priscila Netto	...	Side Show Onlooker (as Priscilla Netto)
Joshua Weigel	...	Featured Fighter
Aaron Moore	...	Additional Fighter
Ken Ward	...	Additional Fighter
Justin Kent	...	Additonal Fighter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Abigail Hargrove	...	Sideshow Patron
Lisa Miosi	...	Brothel Woman
Jordan Willow Swenson	...	Impoverished Baby

Directed by
Joshua Weigel

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Joshua Weigel		writer
Rebekah Weigel		writer

Produced by
Angie Alvarez	....	producer
Jason Atkins	....	executive producer
Nathan Elliott	....	executive producer
Nathan Christopher Haase	....	executive producer
Brian Jerin	....	associate producer
Esther Phelps	....	executive producer
Jon Phelps	....	executive producer
Jonathan Shepard	....	supervising producer
Ed Vizenor	....	executive producer
Joshua Weigel	....	producer
Rebekah Weigel	....	producer
Bob Yerkes	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Tim Williams

Cinematography by
Brian Baugh

Film Editing by
Chris Witt

Casting by
Maryclaire Sweeters

Production Design by
Yeva McCloskey

Art Direction by
Nathan Christopher Haase

Costume Design by
Kiyomi Hara

Makeup Department
Beatrice Alcorta	....	hair designer (as Beatrice Najera)
Beatrice Alcorta	....	makeup department head (as Beatrice Najera)
Beatrice Alcorta	....	makeup designer (as Beatrice Najera)
Jessica Alcorta	....	makeup designer
Jessica Alcorta	....	special makeup effects artist
Chris Gees	....	assistant makeup artist
Mahoganie LaFranks	....	assistant makeup artist
Savi Marshall	....	assistant makeup artist
Claudia Navarro	....	hair artist
Jeanette Virgen	....	assistant makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ryan MacKinney	....	additional second assistant director
Ariana Malik	....	additional first assistant director
Aaron Moore	....	first assistant director
Darius Siwek	....	first assistant director
Tracy Wu	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Mark Chidester	....	set dresser
Nasira Elias	....	set dresser
Aaron Ferenc	....	set dresser
Jaimi Garcia	....	set dresser (as Jamie Garcia)
Will Hill	....	graphic illustrator
Mohaganie LaFranks	....	set dresser
Jeff Nenthrop	....	graphic illustrator

Sound Department
Adam Douglas	....	additional production sound mixer
Paul Gonzales	....	boom operator
Brandon Griffith	....	sound designer
Martin Kittappa	....	production sound mixer
Dana Yamaki	....	assistant sound editor

Visual Effects by
D.J. Goller	....	visual effects artist

Stunts
Jiri Stanek	....	assistant stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Vong Chea	....	best boy electric
Joe Crowder	....	rigging grip
William B. Demeritt III	....	first assistant camera
Ryan Elliott	....	jib operator
Jared Isham	....	second assistant camera
Edwin Kim	....	electrician
Brandon Lippard	....	camera operator
Raymond Martin	....	electrician
Bill Parris	....	electrician
Cameron Riddles	....	first assistant camera
Johnny Segal	....	key grip
Kevin W. Skaggs	....	gaffer
Christopher S. Walters	....	electrician
Joe Webb	....	electrician
Mark Ybarra	....	electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Madoka Maeno	....	assistant costumer

Editorial Department
Timothy Duncan	....	colorist
D.J. Goller	....	on-line editor

Transportation Department
Raymond Martin	....	driver

Other crew
Brad Bettis	....	additional production assistant
Dane Bettis	....	additional production assistant
Caleb Brown	....	additional production assistant
Erin Bundra	....	production assistant
Ryan Elliot	....	additional production assistant
Ryan Elliott	....	production assistant
Angela Francis	....	production assistant
Angela Francis	....	miscellaneous crew
Angela Francis	....	production assistant
Jessica Keath	....	production coordinator
Johnny Byul Lee	....	additional production assistant (as Johnny Lee)
Daniella Lopez	....	production assistant
Gabriel Lopez	....	production assistant
Monica Lopez	....	additional production assistant
Kyle Lubeck	....	production assistant
Rickey Lumpkin II	....	additional production assistant
Eddie Martinez	....	additional production assistant
Jade Winter	....	additional production assistant
Justin Witt	....	production assistant
Shiran Witt	....	additional production assistant (as Shiran Chi)

Thanks
Alonso Alvarez	....	special thanks
Chester Cable	....	special thanks
Gabe Cox	....	special thanks
Gary Hall	....	special thanks
Will Hill	....	special thanks
Dana Luther	....	special thanks
Wini McKay	....	special thanks
Jeremy Swenson	....	special thanks
Gary Valuzat	....	special thanks
Gary Van Riessen	....	special thanks
Roxanne Van Riessen	....	special thanks

Distributors

• Doorpost Film Project, The (2009) (worldwide) (all media) (on line)

Special Effects

• ZOE Creative Services (visual effects)

Runtime:

USA:20 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (HDCAM)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Trivia:

Once posted online, the short film went viral and has received over 20 million views. It has also been translated independently by fans into 19 different languages, and a feature length version is now in development.

Quotes:

Mr. Mendez:The greater the struggle, the more glorious the triumph!

This is a phenomenal movie! Gorgeous, and with a loving spirit.

This is a phenomenal movie! Gorgeous, and with a loving spirit. The US Depression period is captured with sensitivity. The movie grabs you and takes you along on the Butterfly Circus's travels. It is very professionally done - color is great, scenes very effective. There is an economy of action, yet it feels like a full-length movie. The story is poignant but not maudlin. I loved the opening scene with the old cars traveling across the dusty plain. The actor Vujicic makes the story so hopeful. I hope it will be made into a full-length film and played in theaters everywhere. I wanted to see more of each character,learn their backgrounds and how they found the Butterfly Circus. Also, I'm interested in what motivated the ringmaster.