IMDb > 127 Hours (2010)
127 Hours
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany credits
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guidemessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsmemorable quotes
Did You Know?
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
box office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

127 Hours (2010) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (See all 109 | slideshow) Videos (see all 16)

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   274,493 votes »
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
Popularity: ?
Down 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Danny Boyle
Writers (WGA):
Danny Boyle (screenplay) &
Simon Beaufoy (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for 127 Hours on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
17 February 2011 (Germany) See more »
Genre:
Adventure | Biography | Drama | Thriller See more »
Tagline:
Every Second Counts See more »
Plot:
An adventurous mountain climber becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 31 wins & 132 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(39 articles)
Franco Wants To Work For The Colbert Report
 (From WENN. 6 April 2011, 6:36 PM, PDT)
Franco And Deyn Dating?
 (From WENN. 9 March 2011, 12:07 AM, PST)
James Franco in talks for Oz: The Great and Powerful
 (From TotalFilm. 5 February 2011, 5:13 AM, PST)
User Reviews:
Boyle and Franco turn a true survival story into a powerful statement about living See more (441 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)

James Franco ... Aron Ralston

Kate Mara ... Kristi

Amber Tamblyn ... Megan
Sean Bott ... Aron's Friend (as Sean A. Bott)
Koleman Stinger ... Aron Age 5

Treat Williams ... Aron's Dad
John Lawrence ... Brian

Kate Burton ... Aron's Mom

Bailee Michelle Johnson ... Sonja Age 10
Parker Hadley ... Aron Age 15

Clémence Poésy ... Rana

Fenton Quinn ... Blue John (as Fenton G. Quinn)

Lizzy Caplan ... Sonja
Peter Joshua Hull ... Boy on Sofa (as P.J. Hull)

Pieter Jan Brugge ... Eric Meijer

Rebecca C. Olson ... Monique Meijer (as Rebecca Olson)
Jeffrey Wood ... Andy Meijer

Norman Lehnert ... Dan
Xmas Lutu ... Helicopter Co-Pilot
Terry S. Mercer ... Helicopter Pilot

Darin Southam ... Zach
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Johnny Ahn ... Basketball Fan (uncredited)
Robert Bear ... Aron's Friend (uncredited)
Luke Drake ... Aron's Friend (uncredited)
Christopher K. Hagadone ... Basketball Fan (uncredited)

Elizabeth Hales ... Patron (uncredited)

Zachary Haycock ... Reporter (uncredited)
Kelly Higgins ... Fan (uncredited)

Brad Johnson ... Friend of Aaron (uncredited)

Lonzo Liggins ... Reporter (uncredited)

Samantha Marsden ... Media person / Basketball Game Fan (uncredited)

Kelsie Mathews ... Basketball Fan (uncredited)
Amber Mccoy ... Bridesmaid & Girl in jeep (uncredited)

Kyle Paul ... Best Man (uncredited)
Priscilla Poland ... Bridesmaid (uncredited)

Aron Ralston ... Himself (uncredited)
Jessica Ralston ... Herself (uncredited)
Amy Savannah ... Basketball Fan (uncredited)
Stacey Ann Turner ... Aron's Friend (uncredited)

Directed by
Danny Boyle 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Danny Boyle (screenplay) &
Simon Beaufoy (screenplay)

Aron Ralston (book "Between a Rock and a Hard Place")

Produced by
Bernard Bellew .... executive producer
Danny Boyle .... producer
Christian Colson .... producer
Lisa Maria Falcone .... executive producer
Tom Heller .... co-producer
François Ivernel .... executive producer
John J. Kelly .... executive producer
Michael Maker .... producer
Cameron McCracken .... executive producer
Diarmuid McKeown .... associate producer
Tessa Ross .... executive producer
Gareth Smith .... co-producer
John Smithson .... producer
 
Original Music by
A.R. Rahman 
 
Cinematography by
Enrique Chediak (director of photography)
Anthony Dod Mantle (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Jon Harris 
 
Casting by
Donna Isaacson 
 
Production Design by
Suttirat Anne Larlarb  (as Suttirat Larlarb)
 
Art Direction by
Christopher R. DeMuri  (as Chris DeMuri)
 
Set Decoration by
Les Boothe  (as Les M. Boothe)
Cynthia A. Neibaur (co-set decorator)
 
Costume Design by
Suttirat Anne Larlarb  (as Suttirat Larlarb)
 
Makeup Department
Ginger Anglin-Cervantes .... special makeup effects artist
Roland Blancaflor .... special effects makeup technician
Tony Gardner .... special makeup designer
Jonathan Gording .... contact lens: special
Gina Homan .... co-department head makeup artist
Timothy Huizing .... special makeup effects artist
Octaviano de Jesus Cesar Junior .... makeup artist
Sean Kenney .... contact lens technician
Jenna Kilgrow .... department head hair
Lora Laing .... assistant hair stylist
Christianna Mower .... makeup artist
Stephanie Scott .... co-department head makeup artist
 
Production Management
Craig Ayers .... production supervisor: second unit
Bernard Bellew .... unit production manager
Jeanette Haley .... post production supervisor
Martin Heriot .... Production Management
John J. Kelly .... unit production manager
Duff Rich .... production supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jason Allred .... second second assistant director
Cody Harbaugh .... second assistant director (as Cody J. Harbaugh)
J. Scott Smiley .... first assistant director
David Ticotin .... first assistant director (as David A. Ticotin)
Heather Toone .... second assistant director (as Heather Toone Johnson)
Roman Ilies .... trainee assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Scott Arneman .... property master
Brent Astrope .... construction coordinator
Tyler Astrope .... head scenic
Burke Bowthorpe .... additional propsman
Sam Demke .... sculptor
Dillon Ellefson .... set constructor
Russell Evans .... carpenter
Wray Featherstone .... assistant property master
Jason Haase .... art department
Matt Harris .... assistant property master
Michael T. Higgins .... leadman
Rosemary Hillyerd .... assistant property master (as Rosemary Hillyard)
Scott Hinckley .... set dresser
Brendan Houghton .... storyboard artist
Hollie Howton .... art department coordinator
Stephen Ison .... on-set carpenter
Gabriel Jessop .... set dresser
Janet Kusnick .... storyboard artist
Cynthia A. Neibaur .... buyer
L.S. Prickett .... on-set dresser
Layne Robinson .... construction foreman
Dustin Rouillard .... scenic
Scott Ruley .... greensman
Jonas Sappington .... on-set dresser
Linden Snyder .... draftsman
Eric Strain .... assistant greensman
Cordell Taylor .... carpenter
Elisabeth Vastola .... assistant to production designer (as Liz Vastola)
William Hawa .... props (uncredited)
Derek Hunter .... graphics (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Hugo Adams .... effects field recordist
Niv Adiri .... sound design editor
Niv Adiri .... sound re-recording mixer: pre-mix
Ben Barker .... sound design editor
Nicolas Becker .... foley artist
Nicolas Becker .... foley editor
David Betancourt .... adr mixer: Los Angeles
Jason Brady .... boom operator
Pierre Brouard .... dialogue editor
Andrew Caller .... assistant re-recording mixer
Alfonso Calvo .... dubbing re-recording mixer
Douglas Cameron .... sound mixer
Simone Corelli .... sound re-recording mixer: foreign language versions
Gillian Dodders .... supervising dialogue adr editor
Noel Espinosa .... boom operator
Glenn Freemantle .... sound designer
Glenn Freemantle .... supervising sound editor
Joseph L. Garrard .... boom operator (as Joseph Garrard)
Glen Gathard .... assistant foley editor
Peter Gleaves .... adr mixer: London
Andy Hagon .... sound mix technician
Marisa Kelley .... boom operator
Steven C. Laneri .... sound mixer
Adam Mendez .... foley recordist
Emilie O'Connor .... assistant sound editor
Emilie O'Connor .... dialogue editor
Jordan O'Neill .... datasat sound mastering engineer
Jon Olive .... foley editor
Palmer Pattison .... adr mixer: London
Richard Pryke .... sound re-recording mixer
Charleen Richards .... adr mixer: Los Angeles (as Charleen Steeves)
James Shannon .... dolby sound consultant
Andy Stallabrass .... adr recordist
Ian Tapp .... sound re-recording mixer
Lee Herrick .... dialogue editor (uncredited)
Mark Heslop .... sound editor (uncredited)
Paul Jousselin .... assistant foley artist (uncredited)
Rick Santizo .... commentary mixer (uncredited)
John Soukup .... sound transfer (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
William Aldridge .... special effects coordinator
Blair Foord .... special effects supervisor
Alan McFarland .... special lighting effects
Michael Roundy .... special effects technician
Ryan Roundy .... special effects technician
 
Visual Effects by
Matthew Baker .... digital restoration
Tim Caplan .... visual effects producer
Steve Casa .... 3d scan technician
Amy Cuthbertson .... matchmove artist: Union VFX
Jesus Garrido .... digital compositor
Adam Gascoyne .... visual effects supervisor
Charlotte Gray .... digital restoration artist
Will Hudson .... digital restoration
Emma Hulme .... digital restoration
Kaveh Montazer .... digital compositor
Mervyn New .... digital compositor
Valerio Oss .... digital compositor
Aymeric Perceval .... digital compositor: Union vfx
Victor Perez .... digital compositor & compositing TD
Caroline Pires .... digital compositor
Kim Ranzani .... digital compositor
Jason Rose .... digital effects
David Sanger .... visual effects producer
Jean-Clement Soret .... digital colourist
Noga Alon Stein .... visual effects production assistant
James Winnifrith .... visual effects editor
Brandon Harr .... lidar supervisor: LiDAR VFX (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Stanton Barrett .... stunt double: James Franco
Chad Biddle .... stunts
Luke Cudney .... stunts
Jeff Danoff .... stunts
Ryan Happy .... stunts
Nicola C. Hindshaw .... stunts (as Nicola Hindshaw)
David Hugghins .... stunts
Anna Mercedes Morris .... stunts
Patrick J. Statham .... stunt coordinator
Brett Sutteer .... safety coordinator
Tyson Swasey .... stunts
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Justin Andrews .... gaffer
Nathan Armstrong .... second assistant camera
Yelena Baykova .... video assist
Kurtis Burr .... second assistant camera
Michael B. Call .... camera operator: "c" camera (as Mike Call)
Chris Cavanaugh .... DIT
Zep Christensen .... first assistant camera (as Joe 'Zep' Christensen)
Carlos Cibils .... spacecam tech
Stefan Ciupek .... DIT
Daniel Courtright .... key grip
Brandon Ellsworth .... company grip
David Erickson .... second assistant camera (as David Ericksen)
Goldbergs .... dolly grip
Jeff Gustafson .... video assist
Andrew Hicks .... grip
Judd Hillman .... electrician
Gary Johnson .... first assistant camera
Tracy Keele .... grip
Josh Lee .... electrician
Babak Mansouri .... camera operator
Michael Mansouri .... DIT
Simon Miya .... second assistant camera
Dominic Napolitano .... first assistant camera
Gaylen Nebeker .... video assist
Jeremy Neish .... data manager
Thomas Neivelt .... gaffer
Nino Neuboeck .... first assistant camera: "a" camera
David B. Nowell .... aerial director of photography
Tracy Nystrom .... film loader
Tracy Nystrom .... second assistant camera
Linus Platt .... company grip
Glade Quinn .... best boy grip
John Raymer .... electrician
Joel Remke .... second assistant camera
Adam Smith .... best boy electric
Alan E. Stoddard .... key grip
David Stoddard .... best boy electric
Craig Sullivan .... grip
Paul McKay Taylor .... key film loader
Paul McKay Taylor .... second assistant camera
Cameron Thorburn .... crane operator
Charles Unice .... electrician
Christina Voros .... set videographer
Jason Walser .... best boy grip
Peter Weiland .... lighting technician
David White .... assistant camera
David White .... second assistant camera
Chuck Zlotnick .... still photographer
Peter Zuccarini .... underwater camera operator
Simon Miya .... additional camera operator (uncredited)
Robert Sterling Owen .... assistant: video assist (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Rie Attridge .... local casting
Katie Jensen .... extras casting
Katy Jensen .... extras casting
Jason Montgomery .... casting associate
Tori Silvera Bush .... location casting
Yun .... extras casting assistant (as Yong Yun)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michelle l Boucher .... set costumer
Jacqueline Newell .... costume supervisor
Emma Potter .... assistant costume designer
Elisabeth Vastola .... assistant to costume designer (as Liz Vastola)
 
Editorial Department
Matthew Benns .... data management
Matthew Bristowe .... digital intermediate producer
Mike Clark-Hall .... second assistant editor
David Cummins .... digital media supervisor
James Cundill .... on-line editor
Richard Etchells .... digital intermediate editor
Mark Gillins .... digital lab tech
Edward Hobson .... senior digital cinema compressionist
Tamsin Jeffrey .... first assistant editor
Todd Kleparski .... digital intermediate producer
Russ Lasson .... digital media engineer (as Russell Lasson)
Tim Maxwell .... digital transfer
Mike Morrison .... post production coordinator
Q. Bryce Randle .... digital lab tech
Nolan Southerland .... lead digital lab tech
Dominic Thomson .... on-line editor
Dan Dolan .... digital intermediate scanner and recorder (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Ranjit Barot .... musician: drums (as Ranjith Barot)
Fiona Cruickshank .... assistant recording engineer
Sanjay Divecha .... musician: guitars
Matt Dunkley .... conductor
Matt Dunkley .... orchestrator
Matt Fletcher .... producer: additional music
Isobel Griffiths .... orchestra contractor
Jake Jackson .... score engineer
Harshdeep Kaur .... vocalist
R. Nitish Kumar .... music engineer
Pete Lockett .... musician: percussion
Ian Neil .... music supervisor
Karl Peters .... musician: bass
A.R. Rahman .... musician
Shadab Rayeen .... music engineer
Andy Richards .... original score mixer
Andy Richards .... score mixed by
Mark Robinette .... piano teacher
Joel Shearer .... musician: guitars
K.J. Singh .... song mix engineer
John Warhurst .... music editor
Puneet Samtani .... recording engineer (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Britani Alexander .... transportation coordinator
Julie Fife .... driver
Tj Fitzgerald .... driver
Bob Hoversten .... honeywagon driver
Jason Kelly .... driver: cast
Ryan McDowell .... driver
Brett Miller .... transportation captain
Thad Paget .... driver
Teri Lish Parkinson .... transportation office captain
Rick Spidell .... picture cars
 
Other crew
Devin Allen .... stand-in (as Devin Chase Allen)
Craig Ayers .... production coordinator
Julie Bernards .... payroll accountant
John Bigler .... data manager
Erich Cannon .... production assistant
Stefan Ciupek .... post production consultant
Cody Cross .... medical/safety coordinator
Cody Cross .... security provided by
Matt Curtis .... title design
Ronda Dennis .... background actress
Linda DeVilliers .... studio teacher
Gaia Elkington .... executive assistant: Christian Colson & Danny Boyle
Jake Filmore .... production assistant
Cliff Fleming .... pilot: aerial photography
Ignacio Garcia .... production assistant
Ariadne Getty .... development funds provided by
Krystle Grandy .... production assistant
Jack W. Haddox .... production auditor
Victor A. Haddox .... assistant production accountant
Dominique Haidar .... represented by: Pathé
Meg Halsey .... production secretary
Heather Henderson .... assistant: Danny Boyle & Christian Colson
Kipling Hicks .... assistant production coordinator
Sean Kavanagh .... archive researcher
Sherlan N. Koloi .... assistant location manager
Brandon Lavery .... production assistant to location department
Dennis Light .... location manager
Kristin Ludwin .... script supervisor
Krystal Mathiesen .... first assistant accountant
Alex McCullough .... production assistant
Katie McMinn .... photo double
Tracey Merkle .... script supervisor
Jennifer 'Iffer' Mitchell .... key craft service (as Jennifer Mitchell)
Rachel Moceri .... set production assistant
Marshall D. Moore .... film commissioner
Mike Morrison .... post production co-ordinator
Loren Nebeker .... remote head technician
Ryan Pederson .... production assistant
Kate Penlington .... clearances
Fenton Quinn .... head animal wrangler (as Fenton G. Quinn)
Irwin M. Rappaport .... production legal
Adam Razvi .... assistant to head of physical production: Pathé
Mark Robinette .... piano teacher
Jordan Romano .... production assistant
Rebecca R. Ryan .... accounting clerk
Peter Silberstein .... set production assistant
Derek Townshend .... insurance broker
Noelle Volpintesta .... assistant: head of physical production: Pathé
Mickelle Weber .... production assistant
Jeremy Westerman .... animal wrangler
Tyler Atkinson .... digital distribution (uncredited)
William Dahlin .... production intern (uncredited)
Rob Hill .... titles (uncredited)
 
Thanks
Miles Levy .... special thanks
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies

Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
MPAA:
Rated R for language and some disturbing violent content/bloody images
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
94 min
Country:
USA | UK
Language:
English | Italian
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS
Certification:
Argentina:16 | Australia:MA15+ | Austria:16 | Brazil:16 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | France:U (with warning) | Germany:12 | Ireland:15A | Italy:VM14 | Japan:G | Malaysia:18 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 (original rating) | New Zealand:RP16 (re-rating on appeal) | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:12 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #46305)
Filming Locations:
Moab, Utah, USASee more »
Company:
PathéSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Lake Bell was considered to play a role.See more »
Goofs:
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: In the initial scene where Aron tries to move the boulder it can be seen to wobble slightly. However, it's described in his book Between a Rock and a Hard Place that when Aron tries to first move the boulder it does wobble slightly, trapping his hand further. He then proceeds to move the boulder back to release the added pressure he caused by moving it.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Aron Ralston:Hey. Aron here. Leave a message.
Sonja Ralston:Hey Aron. Sonja here, again. I know that you're probably gonna be away this weekend. But listen, just think about we we're gonna play. Please. 'Cause we have to decide, and we really... We need to practice, okay? Anyway, it will be fun. I promise. And oh, please call mom. Please. 'Cause she worries, which you know already. Okay. Later, A., goodbye.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "New Girl: Cece Crashes (#1.5)" (2011)See more »
Soundtrack:
If I RiseSee more »

FAQ

Does the entire film take place in the canyon?
What happened to his arm?
How accurate is this movie?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
82 out of 124 people found the following review useful.
Boyle and Franco turn a true survival story into a powerful statement about living, 29 November 2010
Author: Movie_Muse_Reviews from IL, USA

As demonstrated by his ability to earn acclaim in everything from zombie films ("28 Days Later") to foreign coming-of-age love stories ("Slumdog Millionaire"), Danny Boyle has an extraordinary gift as a filmmaker and in "127 Hours," he channels it into an extraordinary story of human willpower. This could have easily been a compelling but plain and ordinary documentary on the Discovery Channel or National Geographic about a man pinned under a boulder who miraculously survives. Boyle, however, transforms it into a powerful statement about the will to live and where that motivation truly comes from.

"127 Hours" does not simply prove the point that humans will do whatever it takes to survive in dire circumstances. In fact, I might argue 9 of 10 people wouldn't do what Aron Ralston (James Franco) does in this film. Anyway, Boyle makes it his mission to use Ralston's incredible true story -- one that told at face value would probably just elicit gasps -- to alter our perspective on living.

What's obvious is that none of the impact of "127 Hours" is possible without Franco. A film about a man trapped in a crevice for more than five days needs a heck of a lead actor and Franco, despite few dramatic credits to this point, proves beyond capable. Although boredom might set in for some during this film given its plot, the believability of Franco's performance remains constant and irrefutable. He possesses the fun-loving and care-free charisma of Ralston then slowly breaks that shell and shows his human fragility.

Yet remarkably, Boyle leaves a substantial thumbprint on the film, much of which he shares with co-writer Simon Beaufoy, also of "Slumdog." Because the story is so straightforward, Boyle recognizes imagery and perception provide his only means of creativity. He shows us inside the tube of Ralston's water backpack, water bottle and other close-ups, all of which seem unnecessary, but they establish images which we will come to think about with a different perspective as the film wears on, such as when Aron drinks his own settled urine out of the water pouch. Boyle uses the same process shot, but suddenly we don't see it the way we did earlier and they become more meaningful than tedious.

This subtly effective technique can also be found in the beginning and ending shots of the film. It seems completely random that Boyle would open with crowded streets of people as if he's tricked us and really made "Slumdog 2," but the image gains significance after experiencing Ralston's journey.

"127 Hours" will not be kind to people who don't take lightly to seeing blood outside of the "shoot 'em up" genre. Many of these people will leave the film thinking all they got was shock value, but of course there's much more to it. Despite the "how will he survive?" plot, a substantial amount of time is placed on flashes to memories Aron thinks of regarding his family, fantasies and of course, regrets. Boyle beautifully shows us that although survival seems an inherently selfish thing, much of that motivation and will to live comes from other people, even total strangers. Aron thinks a lot of the girls (Kata Mara and Amber Tamblyn) he hiked with just hours before the accident though otherwise he'd have likely forgotten them.

The build-up and catharsis of Aron's story might not be the most powerful and uplifting based-on-true-story you've witnessed, but "127 Hours" clearly surpasses expectation in terms of the message it sends and the impact it leaves. With it, Boyle solidifies his place as one of those filmmakers you must always have an eye on and Franco emerges as a relatable everyman with above-everyman-grade talent.

~Steven C

Visit my site http://moviemusereviews.com

Was the above review useful to you?
See more (441 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for 127 Hours (2010)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
One of the worst movies ever... consciousness
How did Franco not win best actor for this? Lucas_Stroud
Stupid 'turn-on' scene Anton_Kolk
Alternate Titles For 127 Hours MierdaDeToro
Other survival movies? Justin C
Why did he have bloodshot eyes? Etxpeme
See more »

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Into the Wild As Far as My Feet Will Carry Me All Good Things Touching the Void Open Water
IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Adventure section IMDb USA section

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Edit page' button will take you through a step-by-step process.