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

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 June 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Copilul minune

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 5,000,000 (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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in 19 days.

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Goofs

When Rick is taking Taylor out on the town in Toronto to help him gain experience with women, initially they are driving northbound on Yonge Street, a few blocks north of Eglinton (as evidenced by the HMV location next to Toys 'R' Us; these two stores are part of the Yonge-Eglinton Centre). Shortly afterward, they are at a cafe called Il Gatto Nero, which is at College and Crawford, a few blocks east of Ossington - and several kilometres to the SOUTHwest of the Yonge and Eglinton area.

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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 Family Matters (1989)

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Soundtracks

O Mio Babbino Caro
(Giacomo Puccini (as Puccini))
Performed by Classical Trio

User Reviews

embarrassing

I loved McKeller's other film "Last Night". Unfortunately, this lame effort is uninspired. We've seen it all before and better. The film doesn't know what it wants to be - is it a comedy, a morality play about fame and the young, is it about parents living through their children, is it about manipulation? The result is a film that doesn't know what it wants to be and in turn, cannot find an audience. Like so many Canadian films, it's just not audience friendly and there is nothing in this film to get anyone but McKeller fans out to watch it. The film just unraveled (badly) and never went anywhere and then needed a long speech at the end to explain a plot we all stop caring about a long way back. The cinematography was excellent but it was wasted in this effort. McKeller can do better and has. Hopefully he can put this failure behind him.