Ellie Parker (2005)

A hilarious comic portrait of a young woman's struggle for integrity, happiness and a Hollywood acting career.

Director:

Scott Coffey

Writer:

Scott Coffey

Stars:

Naomi Watts, Jennifer Syme, Greg Freitas

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Naomi Watts	...	Ellie Parker
Jennifer Syme	...	Casting Chick
Greg Freitas	...	Rick Saul (as Gregory Frietas)
Gaye Pope	...	Leslie Towne
Blair Mastbaum	...	Smash Jackson
Jessica Vogl	...	Trixie
Rebecca Rigg	...	Sam
Mark Pellegrino	...	Justin
Kim Fay	...	Therapist
Scott Coffey	...	Chris
Todd Coffey	...	Upstairs Neighbor
David Baer	...	Acting Teacher
Marcel Sarmiento	...	Acting Student
Robbi Chong	...	Acting Student (as Robby Chong)
Jessicka	...	Acting Class Student

Storyline

Slice of life look at a young woman trying to make it as an actress in Hollywood. Ellie Parker, from Australia, works hard: she's gifted with accents, hustles to auditions, changes clothes and makeup as she drives across L.A., goes to acting classes and therapy, maintains a friendship with another Aussie searching for the same roles, meets a cinematographer when he bangs into her car at a stop sign, and faces a failing relationship with her slacker thinks-he's-a-musician boyfriend. All this brings on an identity crisis - who am I, and should I keep trying to be an actress? Ellie's balancing act and her inquiry into self carry the story.

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Plot Keywords:

woman in bathtub | young woman | acting | nipples visible through clothing | female rear nudity | 

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Taglines:

What happens when you become the person you pretend to be?

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some sexuality and drug use

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Ellie (Naomi Watts) walks through the hallway to Dennis' office, she passes the movie poster of Mulholland Drive (2001), which features both Naomi Watts and Scott Coffey.

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Goofs

Near the end of the movie as Ellie enters the hotel for an audition, the cameraman is reflected in the glass door.

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Quotes

Ellie Parker: I don't hate myself enough to love you.

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Connections

References Mulholland Drive (2001)

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Soundtracks

Nobody Cares
Written and Performed by Sarabeth Tucek

User Reviews

L.A. Blues

I've always suspected that some movies make Sundance mainly because a famous Hollywood personality is involved. If said star chooses to make a low-budget non-commercial film, it warrants a free pass to the big dance based on risk-taking and "independent spirit." So it is with Ellie Parker, a movie produced by and starring Naomi Watts (and directed by actor Scott Coffey) about the travails of a young actress searching for her identity in L.A.'s shallow and artificial cultural wasteland. It is clear that it was made for industry insiders, who saw in it a painful mirror to their world. The rest of us enjoyed a few funny moments in a movie that had no apparent beginning, middle or end, no discernible plot, plenty of conflict but no resolution. I'm sure there was a point in all that depressing futility. To make it worse, it was shot on a Sony HD cam, so the quality was maybe a tad better than my home movies.

Ellie Parker would be useful if one were trying to thin the herd of aspiring actresses. Maybe they should show it in high schools, kind of like Reefer Madness 50 years ago.

By the way, Chevy Chase has a small and rather cryptic role as an agent. (The audience wasn't sure if he was trying to be serious or comedic.) I love Chevy Chase, but unlike his old SNL partner Dan Akroyd, he should stick to comedies. He gives a really dreadful performance. But he was refreshingly funny at the Sundance Q&A.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 July 2006 (UK)

Also Known As:

Ele Parker

Filming Locations:

Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,299, 13 November 2005

Gross USA:

$34,410

Company Credits

Production Co:

Strand Releasing, Kailua Productions

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1