Childstar (2004)

An experimental filmmaker takes a job as a driver for a foul-mouthed child actor and his ambitious stage mother.

Director:

Don McKellar

Writers:

Don McKellar, Michael Goldbach

Stars:

Don McKellar, Peter Paige, Gil Bellows

6 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Don McKellar	...	Rick Shiller - the driver
Peter Paige	...	Tim
Gil Bellows	...	Isaac
Victoria Fodor	...	Enthusiastic Agent
Patrick Garrow	...	P.R. Agent
Alan Thicke	...	J.R.
Mark Rendall	...	Taylor Brandon Burns
Pamela Redfern	...	Stewardess (as Pam Redfern)
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Suzanne
Danielle Miller	...	Fangirl
Michael Murphy	...	Reed Harrison
Brendan Fehr	...	Chip Metzger
Noam Jenkins	...	Sydney Mehta
Jeanie Calleja	...	Jane - 3rd A.D.
Dave Foley	...	Philip Templeman

Storyline

Taylor Brandon Burns, a conflicted twelve-year-old TV star from the U.S., runs away from the set - and his problems - while shooting a big-budget film in Canada. His reluctant limo-driver, Rick Schiller, a down-on-his-luck indie filmmaker, is enlisted to find Taylor before the childstar destroys himself.

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Plot Keywords:

underage sex | child losing virginity | sex with a minor | underage drinking | teenage boy | 

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Taglines:

When you're only famous for fifteen minutes, every second counts.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual content

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in 19 days.

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Goofs

When Fresno and his band are rehearsing, we hear a vibraphone in the background. Assuming the keyboard player is using a synthesizer, playing that sound (which is unlikely since the keyboard looks more like a Fender Rhodes electric piano, which produces quite a different sound), his hand and finger movements don't match the vibraphone notes that we hear.

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Quotes

[Natalie and Taylor have snuck onto the White House set to have sex]
Taylor Brandon Burns: So where do you want to do it? The Oval Office, The Greenroom, the Lincoln Bedroom ?
Natalie: It's your fantasy; I'm Canadian.

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Crazy Credits

The audio from the film (called "The First Son") that they are making within this movie plays over the end credits.

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Connections

Spoofs Diff'rent Strokes (1978)

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Soundtracks

Hockey Game Organ Music
Performance by Jimmy Holmstrom

User Reviews

Don Mckellar scores in this charmingly comic take on the life of celebrities and those that rely on them.

Don Mckellar is a comic genius, as long as dry wit with an accent is your kind of laugh-a-thon. It is mine, so I loved this movie.

Mckellar plays an endearing character who has just divorced the love of his life, for whom he has shot an independent film which has no backing as his on film love letter equates romantic love to ADHD images erratically juxtaposed against the nature. Since he has to put peanut butter on his bread, he begins working as a driver for a film being shot in his hometown. Thus, Mckellar's character meets 12 year old Taylor Bradford Burns, a teenage star whose fame is hanging on his ability to maintain "adorableness as a child" and thus, his film company and agents are pushing him to do another film whether it's worth doing or not (which is certainly debatable) before his "voice changes".

Jennifer Jason Leigh is exquisite as always in her cooler than ever way, as the mother of the child. She's just looking to "take care of Taylor" the best way she knows how - which includes getting him the largest salary possible, living in the poshest house the studio will foot the bill for, and ensuring that he has "a male role model" by turning her responsibilities over to the first available and passably attractive guy she runs into --- who is of course, our newbie driver.

It's a fun movie. Taylor Bradford Burns is played by a young man who is straddling the line between youth and a teenager with more experience than anyone under 18 should have. Worth renting. Enjoy it with popcorn.

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 June 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Copilul minune

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD5,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rhombus Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 100 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1