Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

Director:

Colin Trevorrow

Writer:

Derek Connolly (written by)

Release Date:

18 October 2012 (Australia)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Three magazine employees head out on an assignment to interview a guy who placed a classified ad seeking a companion for time travel.

Plot Keywords:

Intern | Magazine | Time Travel | Interview | Writer

Awards:

5 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Aubrey Plaza	...	Darius
Lauren Carlos	...	Young Darius
Basil Harris	...	Restaurant Manager
Mary Lynn Rajskub	...	Bridget
Jake Johnson	...	Jeff
Karan Soni	...	Arnau
David Schultz	...	Coworker (as David Leo Schultz)
Jeff Garlin	...	Mr. Britt
Mark Duplass	...	Kenneth
William Hall Jr.	...	Shannon
Alice Hung	...	Shift Manager
Hassan Cristos Messiah	...	Boyfriend in car (as Hassan 'Cristos' Massiah)
Keli Schurman-Darby	...	Girlfriend in car
Jenica Bergere	...	Liz
Lynn Shelton	...	Uptight Mom
Peter Anthony Jacobs	...	Deputy Sheriff (as Peter Jacobs)
Eli Borozan	...	Kid in Diner
Tom Ricciardelli	...	Security Guard
Tony Doupe	...	Smith (as Tony Doupé)
Xola Malik	...	Jones
Grace Arends	...	Darcy
Kimberly Durham	...	Linsey
Scott Swan	...	Halloween
Kristen Bell	...	Belinda
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jason Aumann	...	Big Cat (uncredited)
Scott C. Brown	...	Man in Flannel (uncredited)
Madeline Elizabeth	...	Baby Faced Girlfriend (uncredited)
Brandon Landers	...	John (uncredited)
Mark Martin	...	Shirtless Guy (uncredited)
Brandon Murray	...	Yard Worker (uncredited)
Laurel Paxton	...	Extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Colin Trevorrow

Writing credits
Derek Connolly		(written by)

Produced by
Michael B. Clark	....	executive producer
Derek Connolly	....	producer
Jay Duplass	....	executive producer
Mark Duplass	....	executive producer
John Hodges	....	executive producer
Stephanie Langhoff	....	producer
Lacey Leavitt	....	co-producer
Peter Saraf	....	producer
Colin Trevorrow	....	producer
Marc Turtletaub	....	producer

Original Music by
Ryan Miller

Cinematography by
Benjamin Kasulke		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Joe Landauer
Franklin Peterson

Casting by
J.C. Cantu
Kat Ogden

Production Design by
Ben Blankenship

Art Direction by
Lisa B. Hammond

Costume Design by
Rebecca Luke

Makeup Department
Matthew W. Mungle	....	prosthetics
Jennifer Popochock	....	key hair stylist
Jennifer Popochock	....	key makeup artist
Anne Sellery	....	assistant makeup artist
Cara Aeschliman	....	wig maker (uncredited)
Shawn R. Shelton	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Dan Genetti	....	post-production supervisor
Lacey Leavitt	....	post-production supervisor
Mike Phillips	....	executive in charge of production: Big Beach

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mel Eslyn	....	first assistant director
Lacee Kloze	....	additional second second assistant director
Kat Ogden	....	second assistant director
Gretchen Oyster	....	additional second assistant director
Kristjan Palsson	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Indus Alelia	....	props production assistant
Miguel Edwards	....	art director: time machine
Kjell Hansen	....	art department production assistant
Tania Kupczak	....	art department production assistant
Ashley O'Neil	....	lead graphic artist
Paul Thibault	....	art department production assistant
Brett Thomson	....	property master
Justin Louie	....	props (uncredited)
Benjamin Marx	....	art department intern (uncredited)
Audrey Wimberly	....	art department intern (uncredited)

Sound Department
Peter Barnes	....	post-production sound supervisor
John Buroker	....	sound designer
Steve Ditto	....	foley assistant
Brendan J. Hogan	....	adr editor (as Brendan Hogan)
Brendan J. Hogan	....	foley artist (as Brendan Hogan)
Pete Horner	....	additional sound re-recording mixer: Skywalker Sound
Eric Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Johnson	....	sound supervisor
Carly Kienow	....	logistis producer
Al Nelson	....	sound designer: Skywalker Sound
Jared Slomoff	....	score mixer
Vinny Smith	....	sound mixer
Daniel Sperry	....	dolby sound consultant (as Dan Sperry)
Joshua J. Svare	....	dialogue editor (as Josh Svare)
Joshua J. Svare	....	foley artist (as Josh Svare)
Vince Werner	....	sound designer
Zach Martin	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Ben Whitver	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David Blackford	....	fabricator: time machine
William Boggs	....	special effects technician (as Bill Boggs)
Sherril Johnson	....	special effects coordinator
David 'Dumy' Kits	....	machinist: time machine
Compass Noce	....	fabricator: time machine
Paul Thibault	....	engine fabricator: time machine
Johnny Wooten	....	lead fabricator: time machine

Visual Effects by
Shannan Burkley	....	matte painter: DIVE
Matthew Burres	....	digital artist: DIVE
Kevin Fanning	....	digital artist: DIVE
Jeremy Fernsler	....	3d supervisor: DIVE
Mark O. Forker	....	visual effects consultant: DIVE
Mark Longchamps	....	digital artist: DIVE
Bob Lowery	....	visual effects executive producer: DIVE
Ed Mendez	....	vi supervisor: DIVE
Colton Miller	....	digital artist: DIVE
Tom Quinn	....	visual effects producer: DIVE
Ben Updegrove	....	visual effects editorial assistant: DIVE
Andy Williams	....	visual effects production supervisor: DIVE
Felicia Faden	....	matte painter (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ryan Adams	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Shaun Bowlby	....	best boy grip
Mark Bueing	....	best boy electric
Garrett Cantrell	....	key grip
Kevin Cook	....	electrician
Alex Daboub	....	second unit director of photography
Kyle Daley	....	grip
Marc Dewey	....	grip
Coty James	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Niall James	....	electrician
Benjamin Kasulke	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Jason Knoll	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Jeremy Mackie	....	gaffer
Ryan Middleton	....	additional gaffer
Arthur Reynolds	....	electrician (as Art Reynolds)
Jacob Rosen	....	additional first assistant camera: pick-ups
Marcus Simpson	....	electrician
Norman Tumolva	....	grip (as Norm Tumolva)
Alisa Tyrrill	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Niall James	....	best boy electric: alternate (uncredited)
Niall James	....	best boy grip: alternate (uncredited)
Niall James	....	grip (uncredited)
Regan MacStravic	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Marco Scaringi	....	grip and electric swing: intern (uncredited)

Casting Department
Denise Gibbs	....	background casting
Kat Ogden	....	casting
Brandon Hemmerling	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sica Schmitz	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Marc Brown	....	colorist
Alex Daboub	....	assistant editor
Jannat Gargi	....	digital imaging producer
Gordon Holmes	....	assistant editor
Nacime Khemis	....	assistant editor
Kristen Molina	....	digital imaging producer
Bill Scott	....	color timer
Lance Spindler	....	color timer
Alex Turtletaub	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Patrick Brice	....	assistant to music supervisor (as Patrick Kack-Brice)
Marguerite Phillips	....	music supervisor
Ilyse Wolfe Tretter	....	music licensing consultant

Other crew
Jason Aumann	....	set production assistant
Molly Breeskin	....	assistant: Big Beach
Matt Bunker	....	office production assistant
Jimmy Canavan	....	location assistant
Justin Cantrell	....	set production assistant: Morocco
Cheryl Cowan	....	script supervisor
Sarah Crowe	....	set production assistant
Dave Drummond	....	location manager
Allison Eckert	....	office production assistant
Jacqueline Eckhouse	....	legal services: Sloss Evkhouse LawCo
Amanda England	....	office production assistant
Kathy England	....	insurance: Taylor & Taylor
Bethany Haynes	....	legal services: Sloss Evkhouse LawCo
Elizabeth Heile	....	production accountant
Alison Kelly	....	craft service
Lee Luna	....	location production assistant
David Morgan	....	production coordinator
Greg Ryan	....	key set production assistant
John Silveira	....	time travel consultant
William Trowbridge	....	assistant: Mr. Trevorrow
Jeff Vigil	....	office production assistant
Sean Walsh	....	set production assistant
Angela H. Young	....	office production assistant (as Angela Young)
David Falcon Ayala	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Beth Dewey	....	main title producer (uncredited)
Sebastian Falkowski	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Gleb Kaminer	....	dubbing voice (uncredited)
Daniele Tate Melia	....	production executive (uncredited)

Thanks
Rik DeLisle	....	special thanks
Suzanne Freider	....	special thanks
Jaaron Miller	....	special thanks
Marco Scaringi	....	special thanks
Lanie Siegel	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Big Beach Films
• Duplass Brothers Productions

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2013) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alliance Films (2012) (Canada) (theatrical)
• FilmDistrict (2012) (USA) (theatrical)
• Albatros Film (2013) (Japan) (DVD)
• Rialto Distribution (2012) (Australia) (all media)
• Rialto Distribution (2012) (New Zealand) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• DIVE (visual effects) (as Dive Visual)

Other Companies

• ABKCO Music and Records  soundtrack
• Alpha Cine Service  digital intermediate (as Alpha Cine)
• CAP  screening facility
• Clatter and Din  post sound services provided by (as Clatter & Din)
• Egan Media  original score mixed and recorded at
• Just Food Catering  catering
• Monkeyland Audio  adr mixing
• Skywalker Sound  additional post-production sound services
• Sloss Eckhouse LawCo  production legal services provided by
• Sonicpool  main and end titles designed by
• Tank, The  original score mixed and recorded at
• Taylor & Taylor  production insurance provided by

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language including some sexual references

Runtime:

USA:86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | Datasat

Certification:

USA:R | Canada:14A (Ontario) | UK:15 | Singapore:PG13

Filming Locations:

Ocean Shores, Washington, USA

Company:

Big Beach Films

Trivia:

The part of Darius was written for Aubrey Plaza, because writer Derek Connolly wanted to work with her. Jake Johnson was likewise director Colin Trevorrow's first choice for the part of Jeff.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Kenneth and Darius are at the camp and Darius asks what kind of musical instrument Kenneth has, he responds that the instrument is a zither. The instrument they are using is a mountain, or Appalachian, dulcimer. Mountain dulcimers do fall into the general zither category, but typically when people refer to zithers they mean instruments that have shorter scale lengths and many more strings, or courses, than mountain dulcimers. Calling a dulcimer a zither is like calling a viola or cello a violin simply because they fall into the general "violin family" category.

Quotes:

Darius:Why do you have flames on your laptop?
Arnau:It's a gaming laptop. It's really fast.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Safety Not Guaranteed: The Ad Behind the Movie (2012) (V)

Soundtrack:

Architects and Engineers

Not perfect, but quite interesting

Travel in time is definitely my favorite sub-genus of science fiction, and even though I equally adore the creativity of the Back to the Future trilogy, the historical humor of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and the apocalyptic solemnity of The Terminator, I also appreciate the independent films which deal the subject with more sobriety and philosophy. Films like Primer and Suspension have compensated their low budget and visual simplicity with provocative ideas which leave the mechanics of travel aside in order to focus on the melodrama created by the characters, proving that there's no need of flying cars or phone booths when there's an ingenious narrative inhabited by realistic and interesting human beings. Even though I didn't like it as much as Primer or Suspension, the film Safety Not Guaranteed fits into that group, even though it doesn't necessarily include too much time travel. Or maybe it does. I'm not sure...but that uncertainty is one of the best elements from this film.

Safety Not Guaranteed isn't a traditional sci-fi film. There may be time travel, there may be not...but the point of the screenplay isn't finding temporal paradoxes nor playing with historical chronology, but gradually discovering the nature and interaction between interesting characters, each one of them focused into their own "adventure". Screenwriter Derek Connolly built a complex but accessible narrative tapestry, free of unnecessary filler and with ingenious parallels which aren't always apparent, but eventually lead us to a satisfactory ending.

Connolly shows an efficient control over the multiple sub-plots, and they all share subjects in common. And then, we have the perfect performances from the whole cast. Mark Duplass brings a simultaneously likable and mysterious personality to his character, something which is very appropriate. Jake Johnson is very funny in his role; his performance is similar to the one he brings in the sitcom New Girl, even though it feels more emotive and sincere in here. Karan Soni is credible in his character, and supports the other actors very well. However, the revelation of Safety Not Guaranteed is definitely Aubrey Plaza, who is able to express multiple emotional levels with the grim face and cynical attitude of her character.

On the negative side of Safety Not Guaranteed, I can't deny that there are a few pretentious and auto-indulgent scenes. And even though Ryan Miller's score generally complements the scenes well, it occasionally feels a bit affected. Nevertheless, I think Safety Not Guaranteed is a very good movie, and I can recommend it mainly because of its screenplay and its performances.