Chalk (2006)

An improvisational take on the high school experience, told from the educators' point-of-view.

Director:

Mike Akel

Writers:

Chris Mass, Mike Akel

Stars:

Troy Schremmer, Janelle Schremmer, Shannon Haragan

5 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Troy Schremmer	...	Mr. Lowrey
Janelle Schremmer	...	Coach Webb
Shannon Haragan	...	Mrs. Reddell
Chris Mass	...	Mr. Stroope
Jeff Guerrero	...	Mr. Guerrero
Jerry Jarmon	...	Mr. Jarmon
Kaytea Brock	...	Miss Brock (as Katie Brock)
Dan Eggleston	...	Mr. Eggleston
Glen Lewis	...	Coach Lewis
Wendy Campbell	...	Mrs. Campbell
Jacqueline Seaborn	...	Mrs. Townsend
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carlye Bonner	...	Teacher
Jeffrey Travis	...	Math Teacher
Greg Wise	...	Carlos Hernandez

Storyline

Life in the trenches of that most honorable and frustrating profession...teaching. It's the start of a memorable new year at Harrison High. The self-conscious Mr. Stroope is convinced that his time has come - this year he will be furnished with the golden title of "Teacher of the Year," if only his smarter students would stop using words that he can't understand. Peek into Mr. Lowrey's History class and you'll see that he's struggling to even call himself a teacher. Woefully inept due to a complete lack of experience and social skills, he earnestly stutters his way through class. The only interaction his students offer him is when they steal his chalk. Men aren't much interested in the spunky and officious Coach Webb, but "not all P.E. teachers are gay" and she pines for some romantic company. Her once best friend, the newly appointed assistant principal, Mrs. Reddell, doesn't seem to have time for her either, as her new power post is all-consuming; battling egos, enduring teacher ...

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Plot Keywords:

teacher | high school | mockumentary | 

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Taglines:

Real Teaching Leaves a Mark

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 2007 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,913, 13 May 2007

Gross USA:

$302,845

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$302,845

Company Credits

Production Co:

SomeDaySoon Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References 55 Days at Peking (1963)

User Reviews

True to life?

I rented the DVD because I come from a family of teachers, and one of them recommended that I watch the film in order to gain a better understanding of their jobs. I found it to be entertaining, but I obviously didn't appreciate it as much as teachers seem to, just as they probably don't appreciate all of the humor I find in "Office Space".

The teachers who call this "true to life" must mean this in the same sense that a Korean War veteran once told me that M*A*S*H was true to life-- as a good caricature of some of the more extreme people and situations, intermixed with some reminders of what daily life was like, not as anything close to a realistic snapshot.

I don't want to believe that there are really very many high school teachers like that. I wouldn't expect students to feel much respect for any of them.

Time for me to get back to my TPS reports.