The Big Picture (1989)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Christopher Guest

Writers (WGA):

Michael Varhol (story) &
Christopher Guest (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

30 November 1990 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Hollywood Reel To Real

Plot:

Film school grad Nick Chapman thought his career was made after his award winning short film, but discovered Hollywood wasn't as easy as it seems.

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood | Directorial Debut | Film Studio | Friendship | Porsche

Cast

Kevin Bacon	...	Nick Chapman
Emily Longstreth	...	Susan Rawlings
J.T. Walsh	...	Allen Habel
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Lydia Johnson
Michael McKean	...	Emmet Sumner
Kim Miyori	...	Jenny Sumner
Teri Hatcher	...	Gretchen
Dan Schneider	...	Jonathan Tristan-Bennet
Jason Gould	...	Carl Manknik
Tracy Brooks Swope	...	Lori Pressman
Don Franklin	...	Todd Marvin
Gary Kroeger	...	Mark
Alice Hirson	...	Mrs. Chapman
Grant Owens	...	Mr. Chapman
Fran Drescher	...	Polo Habel
Suzy Cote	...	Mindy Habel (as Suzy Coté)
Eddie Albert	...	M.C. (as Eddie Albert Sr.)
June Lockhart	...	Janet Kingsley
Stephen Collins	...	Attorney
Roddy McDowall	...	Judge
Robert Bauer	...	Wounded Soldier
Vladimir Skomarovsky	...	Man in Nick's Movie
C.W. Hemingway	...	Joey
Holly Fields	...	Daughter
Yvonne Peattie	...	Mrs. Feldzar
Stan Ivar	...	Charlie
David Hayward	...	George
Caitlin Clarke	...	Sharon
Nancy Valen	...	Young Sharon
Wesley Pfenning	...	Woman in Cabin
John Cleese	...	Bartender
Richard Blake	...	Abe Lincoln
Walter Olkewicz	...	Babe Ruth
Scott Coffey	...	Waiter (as T. Scott Coffey)
Bruce Kirby	...	Businessman
Richard Belzer	...	Video Show Host
Tom Maier	...	Building Manager
Michael Jocum	...	PEZ® People
Tim Landers	...	PEZ® People
Martin Lund	...	PEZ® People
Mike Miller	...	PEZ® People
Novi Novog	...	PEZ® People
Valen Watson	...	Woman in Restaurant
Jennifer Karr	...	Woman in Restaurant
Sue-Ann Leeds	...	Woman in Restaurant
Buddy Garion	...	Man in Restaurant
Jim Pollack	...	Man in Restaurant
Scott Williamson	...	Restaurant Manager
Victor Steinbach	...	Andres Vargiak
Arlene Lorre	...	Cleopatra
George Rogan	...	Security Guard / Nazi
Perla Walter	...	Housekeeper
Pamela Morris	...	Cheryl
Lulie Newcomb	...	Receptionist
Patty Howeth	...	Woman with Fridge
Beth Chamberlin	...	Stewardess
Britta Wilson	...	Stewardess
Suzee Slater	...	Stewardess (as Suzanne M. Slater)
Brad Zutaut	...	Surfer
Matthew Eichler	...	Piano Player
Nadine Lenore Patterson	...	Twin
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Elliott Gould	...	Prosecutor - Trial of Janet Kingsley (uncredited)
Martin Short	...	Neil Sussman - Nick's Agent (uncredited)

Directed by
Christopher Guest

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael Varhol		(story) &
Christopher Guest		(story)
Michael Varhol		(screenplay) &
Christopher Guest		(screenplay) &
Michael McKean		(screenplay)

Produced by
Richard Gilbert Abramson	....	executive producer
William E. McEuen	....	executive producer
Richard Luke Rothschild	....	associate producer
Michael Varhol	....	producer
Valen Watson	....	associate producer

Original Music by
David Nichtern

Cinematography by
Jeff Jur

Film Editing by
Martin Nicholson

Casting by
Nina Axelrod

Production Design by
Joseph T. Garrity

Art Direction by
Pat Tagliaferro		(as Patrick Tagliaferro)

Set Decoration by
Jerie Kelter

Costume Design by
Karen Patch

Makeup Department
Gina Monaci	....	key hair stylist
Lizbeth Williamson	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Richard Luke Rothschild	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Deason	....	first assistant director
Keri L. McIntyre	....	second second assistant director
Michael Varhol	....	second unit director
Kelly Wimberly	....	second assistant director

Art Department
G. Roger Abell	....	set dresser
Todd Badalato	....	swing gang
Ken Deubel III	....	construction coordinator
Andrea Dietrich	....	storyboard artist (as Andrea Diedrich)
Richard A. Frisch	....	set dresser
Rick Galbraith	....	construction coordinator (as Richard Galbraith)
Robert Lucas	....	leadman
Noel A. Middleton	....	swing gang
Michael George Miller	....	set dresser
Philip Steuer	....	property master
Benjamin Thompson	....	carpenter
Bill Zullo	....	assistant property master (as William Zullo)
Tal Wallace	....	mason (uncredited)
Tal Wallace	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Randall D. Wilkins	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Beth Bergeron	....	adr editor
Forrest Brakeman	....	boom operator
Greg Curda	....	foley mixer
Lily Diamond	....	assistant sound editor
Dody Dorn	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Dressel	....	foley editor
John P. Fasal	....	sound effects recordist (as John Paul Fasal)
David Fechtor	....	foley editor
David Gertz	....	sound recordist
Sarah Goldsmith	....	sound editor (as Sarah Rothenberg)
Kimberly Harris	....	sound editor
Cynthia E. Hill	....	sound assistant
John Hoeren	....	sound editor
Jon Huck	....	production sound mixer
David J. Hudson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Doc Kane	....	adr mixer
Jonathan Klein	....	apprentice sound editor
Blake Leyh	....	supervising sound editor
Stephanie Lowry	....	assistant sound editor (as Stephanie Ng)
Mel Metcalfe	....	sound re-recording mixer
Terry Porter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joan Rowe	....	foley walker
Janelle Showalter	....	assistant sound editor
Frank Smathers	....	sound editor
Kelly Tartan	....	sound editor
Jerry Trent	....	foley walker

Special Effects by
Gary D'Amico	....	special effects coordinator (as Gary P. D'Amico)
David A. Poole	....	special effects assistant
Ken Speed	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Mark Sullivan	....	visual effects

Stunts
Richard Lundin	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Ismael Araujo Jr.	....	grip
J. Patrick Daily	....	key grip
Duane DellAmico	....	lighting technician (as Duane Dell'Amico)
Don Devine	....	camera operator
John Doherty	....	rigging gaffer (as John J. Doherty)
George Gary	....	lighting technician
Paul Hughen	....	first assistant camera
Dwight Joseph Lavers	....	dolly grip (as Dwight Lavers)
Kelly Elder McGowen	....	second assistant camera (as Kelly McGowen)
Charlie McIntyre	....	lighting technician (as Charles H. McIntyre III)
Kevin Myers	....	rigging gaffer
Deana Newcomb	....	still photographer
Charles 'Chaz' Norcross	....	grip
Ronald J. Pure Jr.	....	lighting technician
John 'Fest' Sandau	....	best boy electric
Suzanne Tenner	....	still photographer
Woogi Thomas	....	lighting technician (as 'Woogie' Thomas)
James R. Tynes	....	gaffer
Tom West	....	best boy grip
Eric Whitehead	....	grip

Casting Department
Joel A. Blumenau	....	casting assistant
Bess Gilbert	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kim Carleton	....	wardrobe
Shari Griffin	....	wardrobe
Ellen Robinson	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Lillian C. Best	....	negative cutter: 16 mm
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter: 35 mm
Tony Kadell	....	first assistant editor
Frederick Peterson	....	second assistant editor
Diane Witter	....	editorial trainee

Music Department
Sally Boldt	....	music editor
Laura Livingston	....	music recording engineer
Dennis S. Sands	....	music scoring mixer (as Dennis Sands)

Transportation Department
Sheridan Ross Batson	....	driver (as Sheridan Batson)
Howard Brady Davidson	....	driver (as Howard Davidson)
Gary Hellerstein	....	transportation coordinator
Marlo Hellerstein	....	transportation captain
Steve Humphrey	....	driver
Greg Landis	....	driver
Gary Paulsen	....	driver
Jim Sullivan	....	driver
Tom Winchester	....	driver (as Thomas Winchester)

Other crew
Debra Baumann	....	assistant: Christopher Guest
Patricia Billings	....	assistant: Michael Varhol
Suzi Bond	....	craft service
Jennifer Zolten Freed	....	production accountant (as Jennifer Eden Zolten)
Damian Ganczewski	....	assistant production coordinator
Barry Gremillion	....	location manager
Dea E. Hickox	....	assistant accountant
Steven E. Housewright	....	set production assistant
Richard Lundin	....	horse wrangler
Burke Mattsson	....	title designer
Karl Lewis Miller	....	dog trainer (as Karl Miller)
Marshall Peck	....	production assistant
Kevin B. Piatt	....	first aid
Barbara Pieters	....	post-production accountant
Martha Pilcher	....	assistant location manager (as Martha C. Pilcher)
Judith Saunders	....	script supervisor
Nancy Rae Stone	....	production coordinator
Joan Thompson	....	welfare worker
Diane Witter	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Aspen Film Society

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCA (video)

Other Companies

• Arrangment, The  catering
• Cenex Casting  extras casting (as Cenex)
• Friday Night Videos  special thanks
• Group IV Recording  music mixed at
• Hal Roach Studios  excerpts from "It's a Wonderful Life" courtesy of
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• Keylight Production Services  production services and equipment
• Lion Share Recording Studios  music recorded at
• No Sleep Productions  special thanks
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Sonic Kitchen  sound editing services
• Synclavier Digital Audio System  music created on (as Synclavier® Digital Audio System)
• Unique Movie Cars  picture cars

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (No. 29330) | UK:15 | Finland:S | Germany:12 | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Ballroom, Park Plaza Hotel - 607 S. Park View Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Aspen Film Society

Trivia:

Also the last cinema film acting role of Eddie Albert.

Goofs:

Continuity: In Lydia's apartment she begins to raise her beer to her mouth in one shot, but in the next shot it's back by her side.

Quotes:

Nick Chapman: What is it?
Emmet Sumner: It's this stupid movie. It's called "Coffins from Hell."
Nick Chapman: What is it about?
Emmet Sumner: Coffins from hell.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

The Christmas Song

Nick Chapman - an indie-film pioneer?

THE BIG PICTURE is a breezy satire of the movie business from the mind of writer/director Christopher Guest (BEST IN SHOW, A MIGHTY WIND). It tells the story of Nick Chapman (Kevin Bacon), a young film director who gets put through the Hollywood wringer. Studio executives, agents, and starlets all prey on Nick's naivete and he eventually sells out, neglecting his girlfriend and best friend in the process.

What's interesting about THE BIG PICTURE is its grassroots portrayal of how Nick finally launches his Hollywood career - by starting small, doing his own thing, and involving his friends. Those are basically the tenets of independent film, which boomed in the decade following THE BIG PICTURE.

Nowadays, many of those indie directors - among them Steven Soderbergh, Robert Rodriguez, and Christopher Nolan - are getting hired to do big-budget studio pictures. In fact, Soderbergh's "sex, lies, and videotape" was released the same year as this movie.

Was Nick Chapman's "Pez People" video responsible for the indie film movement? Not likely, but THE BIG PICTURE was certainly an advocate of its principles.