Made in America (1993)

Director:

Richard Benjamin

Writers (WGA):

Marcia Brandwynne (story) &
Nadine Schiff (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

28 May 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

At the sperm-bank she asked for a tall, intelligent, black man. One out of three ain't bad.

Plot:

A young black woman discovers that her father was a sperm donor, and if that weren't bad enough, he's white. |

Plot Keywords:

Sperm Donor | Car Salesman | Identity | Teenager | Surprise

Cast

Whoopi Goldberg	...	Sarah Mathews
Ted Danson	...	Halbert 'Hal' Jackson
Will Smith	...	Tea Cake Walters
Nia Long	...	Zora Mathews
Paul Rodriguez	...	Jose
Jennifer Tilly	...	Stacy
Peggy Rea	...	Alberta
Clyde Kusatsu	...	Bob Takashima
David Bowe	...	Teddy
Jeffrey Joseph	...	James
Rawley Valverde	...	Diego
Fred Mancuso	...	Bruce
Charlene Fernetz	...	Paula
Shawn Levy	...	Dwayne
Lu Leonard	...	Sperm Bank Nurse
Joe Lerer	...	Hospital Doctor
Janice Edwards	...	Hospital Nurse
Michael McFall	...	Hospital Intern
Phyllis Avery	...	White Woman #1
Frances Bergen	...	White Woman #2
O'Neal Compton	...	Rocky
Michael Halton	...	Stew
William John Murphy	...	P.A. #1
Ross Benjamin	...	P.A. #2
Mel Stewart	...	Principal Rockwell
David E. Kazanjian	...	Mr. Alden
James Cranna	...	Person at Car Lot
Shannon Orrock	...	Wife at Car Lot
Alexandra Joy Cuccia	...	Child at Car Lot
Chikako Felper	...	Japanese Woman #1
Patricia Jow	...	Japanese Woman #2
Raquel Osborne	...	Woman in Sushi Bar
James Anthony Cotton	...	Man with Beer
Miyuki Takei	...	Sushi Waitress
Akihide 'Bo' Fujiyama	...	Sushi Chef
Gregory Fields	...	Rapper
Meashell McCann	...	Rapper
Antoine Foote	...	Rapper
Jeffrey Russell	...	Rapper
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Norma Smith
Rico E. Anderson	...	Man in sushi bar (uncredited)
Judy Thompson	...	Bikini Model (uncredited)
A'da Alison Woolfolk	...	Sushi Bar Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Benjamin

Writing credits (WGA)
Marcia Brandwynne		(story) &
Nadine Schiff		(story) and
Holly Goldberg Sloan		(story)
Holly Goldberg Sloan		(screenplay)

Produced by
Rick Bieber	....	producer
Marcia Brandwynne	....	executive producer
Michael Douglas	....	producer
Arnon Milchan	....	producer
Patrick J. Palmer	....	co-producer
Steven Reuther	....	co-executive producer
Suzanne Rothbaum	....	associate producer
Nadine Schiff	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Mark Isham

Cinematography by
Ralf D. Bode

Film Editing by
Jacqueline Cambas

Casting by
Reuben Cannon

Production Design by
Evelyn Sakash

Set Decoration by
Hilton Rosemarin

Costume Design by
Elizabeth McBride

Makeup Department
Susan Germaine	....	hair stylist: Mr. Danson
Michael Germain	....	key makeup artist
Candace Neal	....	hair stylist
Daniel C. Striepeke	....	key makeup artist (as Daniel Striepeke)
Julia L. Walker	....	key hair stylist
Jake Garber	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Joe M. Aguilar	....	unit production manager
Carol Dantuono	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Newt Arnold	....	first assistant director (as Newton Arnold)
Richard Brodsky	....	second second assistant director
Bryan Denegal	....	second assistant director
David R. Ellis	....	second unit director
L. Dean Jones Jr.	....	first assistant director
Robert J. Mooney	....	second assistant director: second unit
Patrick J. Palmer	....	second unit director (as Patrick Palmer)

Art Department
Rodney Armanino	....	construction coordinator
Mark Bachman	....	signwriter
Dean Backer	....	assistant props
Kris Boxell	....	set dressing buyer
Robert A. Corso	....	second assistant props
Lisa Devlin	....	stand-by painter
Dale Haugo	....	scenic charge
Chris H. Kelly	....	construction coordinator
Sherman Labby	....	sketch artist
George F. Mauricio	....	set dresser
Don Miloyevich	....	property master
Ray Mondoux	....	construction foreman
Richard Reseigne	....	construction coordinator
Catherine Roehl	....	construction accountant
Kristen Ross	....	art department coordinator
Dawn Swiderski	....	assistant art director
Eugene M. Texeira	....	set dresser
Don Watson	....	lead man
Don Weinger	....	assistant art director
Kristin Argue	....	drapery (uncredited)

Sound Department
Peter C. Barbour	....	sound editor
Bruce Bell	....	foley mixer
Duke Brown	....	sound editor (as Duke L. Brown)
Scott Burrow	....	sound editor
Jeff Bushelman	....	supervising sound editor
Mike Dobie	....	supervising sound editor
Timothy C. Dobie	....	first assistant sound editor
Gary Dowling	....	boom operator
Dan Gleich	....	sound mixer: second unit (as Daniel D. Gleich)
Mark Gordon	....	sound editor
Paul Grenier	....	sound processor (as Paul B. Grenier)
Robin Harlan	....	foley artist
Doug Hemphill	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ellen Heuer	....	foley artist
Chris Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tony Jenkins	....	sound re-recordist
Rudy J. Lara	....	sound re-recordist (as Rudy Lara)
Richard Lightstone	....	sound mixer
Sarah Monat	....	foley artist
Philip Perkins	....	sound mixer: second unit
Debbie Peterson	....	assistant sound editor
Mark Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Christina Tucker	....	adr mixer
Christopher T. Welch	....	sound editor (as C.T. Welch)

Special Effects by
Tom Sindicich	....	special effects

Stunts
Kevin Bailey	....	stunts
LaFaye Baker	....	stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts (as Greg Barnett)
Dan Bell	....	stunts
Robin Lynn Bonaccorsi	....	stunts
Rocky Capella	....	stunts
Lisa Dempsey	....	stunts (as Lisa K. Dempsey)
Annie Ellis	....	stunts
David R. Ellis	....	stunt coordinator
Richard M. Ellis	....	stunts (as Richard Ellis)
Tommy J. Huff	....	stunts (as Tom Huff)
Keith Jones	....	stunts
Kevin Larson	....	stunts
Will Leong	....	stunts (as Willie Leong)
Mike Martinez	....	stunts
Johnny Martin	....	stunts
Steve Martin	....	stunts (as Steve E. Martin)
Tim Meredith	....	stunts (as Tim C. Meridith)
Jeff Mosley	....	stunts
David D. Renaud	....	stunts (as David Renaud)
R.A. Rondell	....	stunts
Kym Washington	....	stunts
Dick Ziker	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph Antczak	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Brian W. Armstrong	....	first assistant camera: second unit
William D. Barber	....	camera operator: second unit
Mike Benson	....	camera operator: second unit
Hans Bjerno	....	camera technician: Wescam, aerial unit
Paul Bode	....	second assistant camera
Curt Cabral	....	electrician
Steve Cardellini	....	dolly grip
Gregory M. Childers	....	electrician (as Greg Childers)
Ted Churchill	....	Steadicam operator
Charma Ferreira	....	second grip
Todd M. Gavin	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Gary Gill	....	best boy grip
Jeff Gilliam	....	rigging grip
Edward Gold	....	camera operator: second unit
Nathaniel Goodman	....	Steadicam assistant
Peter Gulla	....	first assistant camera
Jon Guterres	....	key grip
Andrea Kahn	....	electrician
Bruce Manning	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Paul Marbury	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Paul S. Marbury)
Jeff Mart	....	Steadicam operator
Stan McClain	....	director of photography: aerial unit
Harald Ortenburger	....	camera operator
Joe Carl Parsons	....	best boy electric
Patrick Riley	....	Steadicam assistant
Patrick Riley	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Wesley Riley	....	second grip
Tony Rivetti	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Zade Rosenthal	....	still photographer
Michael Santy	....	first assistant camera: second unit
John A. Small	....	second assistant camera
Michael St. Hilaire	....	camera operator: second unit
Frank Strzalkowski	....	gaffer
Lou Weinert	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Harry Zimmerman	....	second assistant camera: second unit

Casting Department
David Giella	....	casting associate
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Nancy Hayes	....	casting location
Raquel Osborne	....	extras location casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Becker	....	costumer
Amanda Chamberlin	....	costumer: Ms. Goldberg
Barbara Hartman-Jenichen	....	costumer
Mary Elizabeth Still	....	costumer
Eileen Sieff Stroup	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Eileen Mae Sieff)

Editorial Department
Margaret Adachi	....	assistant film editor
Kelly Barr	....	post-production assistant
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
William Fletcher	....	associate film editor
Paul Martinez	....	assistant film editor
Hillary Murray	....	color timer
Christina Palmer	....	post-production assistant (as Christina R. Palmer)

Music Department
John Brown	....	music coordinator: Third Stone
Carole Childs	....	music supervisor: Elektra Records
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor
David Fanshawe	....	music recordist: "Ngoma Ra Mrongo"
Bonnie Greenberg	....	music business affairs
Jabali Hicks	....	music coordinator: Third Stone
Karen Kloack	....	music coordinator: Third Stone
Stephen Krause	....	score engineer (as Steve Krause)
Jill Meyers	....	music business affairs
Lebo M.	....	music arranger: African music
Amos Newman	....	music supervisor: Elektra Records
Junior Regisford	....	music coordinator: Third Stone
Betty Rosen	....	music coordinator: Third Stone
Dick Rudolph	....	music supervisor
Kim Scharnberg	....	orchestra and arrangements
Richard Whitfield	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Alan Collis	....	transportation coordinator
Vic Cuccia	....	driver: Ms. Goldberg
Saul Jurkunas	....	driver
John R. Lopez	....	driver: Mr. Danson
Michael Sean Ryan	....	driver: Mr. Benjamin
Bubba Thrift	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Katherine Agard	....	assistant: Mr. Reuther
Pamela Alch	....	script supervisor
Mary Arnold	....	assistant: Mr. Reuther
Shauna Beal	....	first assistant: Mr. Milchan
Oscar Briones	....	production assistant
Candace Crump	....	stand-in: 'Sarah'
Peter DePalma	....	assistant: Mr. Douglas
Christopher Desmond	....	medic
Chick Elwell	....	teamster captain
Robert A. Eppley	....	orthopedic surgical consultant
Joe Everett	....	unit publicist
Renee Featherstone	....	assistant: Mr. Douglas
Erin Fiedler	....	production secretary
Ada Gabovan	....	assistant: Mr. Palmer
George Gee	....	projectionist
Nathan Gendzier	....	location manager
Debra A. Girard	....	location manager (as Debra Girard)
Alan Greenwald	....	orthopedic surgical consultant
Janet Hayen	....	copyist
Ida Lee Henderson	....	production accountant
Brian Hofstetter	....	production assistant
Ron Holder	....	assistant: Ms. Goldberg
Brian Jay	....	production assistant
Annamarie Maricle Jennaway	....	assistant: Mr. Benjamin
Gary Johnson	....	elephant trainer
Kari Johnson	....	elephant trainer
Catherine M. Jones	....	assistant production accountant (as Catherine Jones)
Keith Jones	....	animal trainer
Saul Jurkunas	....	cook
Carol Lille	....	chimp trainer
Greg Lille	....	chimp trainer
Donna Martin	....	animal trainer
Steve Martin	....	animal supplier
Steve Martin	....	animal trainer (as Steve E. Martin)
Natalia Matthews	....	production assistant
Jim McCarthy	....	post-production accountant
Seven McDonald	....	production assistant
Heidi McGuire	....	assistant production coordinator
Rob McWilliams	....	video consultant
Charles Miller	....	location manager
Richard D. Montoya	....	assistant choreographer
John Murphy	....	production assistant: Los Angeles
Pamela Murphy	....	assistant: Ms. Schiff
Patty Reid	....	assistant: Mr. Milchan
Jay Roberts	....	assistant production accountant
Rick Rozzini	....	assistant choreographer
David M. Rudder	....	promotions
Joseph A. Ruzecki	....	production assistant
Charlie Sammut	....	animal trainer
Kathy Sarreal	....	production coordinator
Michael Sax	....	stand-in: 'Hal'
Diane Seniw	....	assistant production accountant
Ed Sienkaniec	....	caterer (as Ed 'Bubka' Sienkaniec)
Norma Smith	....	financial representative: New Regency
Peter Stelzer	....	assistant: Mr. Danson
Gerry Therrien	....	animal trainer (as Jerry Therrien)
Kevin F. Walsh	....	production assistant
Addis Wechsler	....	management: Mr. Danson and Ms. Goldberg
James J. Wilhelm	....	craft service
Lester Wilson	....	choreographer
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc	....	helicopter pilot: aerial unit
Curran G. Engel	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Barbara Farrar	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Francesca Prada	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
William Alluns Jr.	....	thanks
Dick Cepek	....	thanks
Marin Dodge	....	thanks
Betty Gadling	....	thanks
Wayman Henry	....	thanks
Jeannie Rucker	....	thanks
Reverend Anthony Williams	....	thanks
Lester Wilson	....	in loving memory

Production Companies

• Alcor Films
• Canal+
• Kalola Productions
• Regency Enterprises
• Stonebridge Entertainment

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1993) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1993) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1993) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1993) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1993) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1993) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1995) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Home Video (1993) (Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1994) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (1994) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Elektra Records  soundtrack

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual situations and language.

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | Germany:6 (f) | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Peru:14 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Albany, California, USA

Company:

Alcor Films

Trivia:

The African Craft Shop is in the same street as a cinema advertising "A Paula Prentiss Retrospective". Prentiss is the wife of director 'Benjamin, Richard'.

Goofs:

Continuity: Zora's seatbelt when she drives with Hal for the first time.

Quotes:

Zora: You're white.
Hal Jackson: Well, that's true, darling. But when we're alone in the dark, what difference is that gonna make?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Bob Saget/TLC (#20.19)" (1995)

Soundtrack:

I Know I Don't Walk On Water

A must see

This was so funny. It was fabulous. You laugh straight through, except for the part in every movie when the going gets tough. Really, Whoopi is a crazy-in-traffic mother with an attitude. After her husbands death she went to a sperm bank. But oh, how could this happen, they mix it up. She asked for a tall, intelligent black man. Now she's clashed together with "Hal" ('s your pal), the actual sperm donor. But he's not black and he's a car salesman. He is tall, and we withhold judgment on the intelligence scale. The only match is their traffic skills (or lack thereof, depending on how you look at it) and their sensible daughter. Her pal, T-cake (Will Smith), is a gem. You should watch the movie just to see him swing his butt pretending to be an angry girl.