Hard Core Logo (1996)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Bruce McDonald

Writers:

Noel S. Baker (screenwriter)
Michael Turner (book)

Release Date:

11 October 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

4 guys - 5 nights - 3000 miles - 764 gallons of gas - 987 bottles of beer - 3457 cigarettes - 1 last shot

Plot:

Bruce Macdonald follows punk bank Hard Core Logo on a harrowing last-gasp reunion tour throughout Western Canada...

Plot Keywords:

Road | Punk | Canada | Fake Documentary | Band

Awards:

4 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Hugh Dillon	...	Joe Dick
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Billy Tallent / Jenifur
John Pyper-Ferguson	...	John Oxenberger
Bernie Coulson	...	Pipefitter
Julian Richings	...	Bucky Haight
Benita Ha	...	Pipefitter's Girlfriend
Claudia Ferri	...	John Oxenberger's Girlfriend
Joey Ramone	...	Joey Ramone
Corrine Koslo	...	Laura Cromartie
Bruce McDonald	...	Documentary Filmmaker
Danny Nowak	...	Documentary Cameraman
Jochen A. Schliessler	...	Documentary Sound Recordist (as Jochen Schliessler)
Jeremy Bishop	...	Bongo Player
Tony Tucker	...	Bongo Player
Art Bergmann	...	Himself
Flash Bastard	...	Themselves
Lick The Pole	...	Themselves
Modernettes	...	Themselves
D.O.A.	...	Themselves
Dan Fazzio	...	Flash Bastard
Pete Mills	...	Flash Bastard
Terry David Mulligan	...	Mulligan
Nicole Parker	...	Journalist (as Nicole N. Parker)
Megan Leitch	...	Mary The Fan
Michael Kopsa	...	Mary's Husband (as Mike Kopsa)
Alexa Mardon	...	Little Billie (as Alexa Marden)
Xantha Radley	...	Joanne / Thelma
Jennifer Bishop	...	Tracy / Louise
Samaya Jardey	...	Naomi
Morgan Brayton	...	Victoria
Dean Paraskevopoulos	...	Terry the D.J. (as Dean Paras)
Daniel Salerno	...	Satan (as Danny Salerno)
Sarah Hickinbottom	...	Jenifur
Debbie Jow	...	Jenifur
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Natasha Duprey	...	Hard Core Logo Fan (uncredited)
Joe Keithley	...	D.O.A. (uncredited)
Molly Parker	...	Band Member - Jenifur (uncredited)
Rich Priske	...	Band Member - Art Bergmann & Lick The Pole (uncredited)
Trevor Roberts	...	Skinhead (uncredited)

Directed by
Bruce McDonald

Writing credits
Noel S. Baker		(screenwriter)
Michael Turner		(book)

Produced by
Brian Dennis	....	producer
Christine Haebler	....	producer
James Head	....	executive producer
Karen Powell	....	associate producer
Wolfram Tichy	....	co-executive producer

Original Music by
Schaun Tozer		(original music composed by)

Cinematography by
Danny Nowak		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Reginald Harkema

Production Design by
David Willson

Set Decoration by
Katterina Keith		(as Kat Keith)

Costume Design by
Debbie Jow

Makeup Department
Gina Hole	....	special effects makeup
Debbie Jow	....	hair stylist
Debbie Jow	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Hans Lucas	....	post-production supervisor
Anne M. Simonet	....	production manager (as Anne Simonet)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Barry	....	second assistant director
Kevin Fair	....	third assistant director
Rachel Leiterman	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Dale Anderson	....	set dresser
Ea Birkett	....	assistant property master
Bruno Coupe	....	assistant set decorator
Garth Fleming	....	assistant art director
Tiara Motem	....	assistant property master
David Perun	....	property master
Greg Venturi	....	graphic design: art department
Paolo G. Venturi	....	graphic design: art department (as Paolo Venturi)

Sound Department
Kelly Cole	....	dialogue pre-mixer
Ian Ferguson	....	cableman
Ian Ferguson	....	playback
Shari Fieldhouse	....	foley assistant
Dean Giammarco	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sophie Hotte	....	backgrounds editor
Sean Kelly	....	sound effects editor
Randall Lee	....	foley pre-mixer
Christine Leman	....	foley assistant
Sheena Macrae	....	dialogue editor
Bill Mellow	....	adr recordist
Steve Munro	....	additional adr recordist
Sina Oroomchi	....	sound effects pre-mixer
Don Painchaud	....	foley recordist
John Pantages	....	boom operator
Iain Pattison	....	dubber
Iain Pattison	....	loader
Delphine Roussel	....	post-sound assistant (as Delphine Rossel)
Jochen A. Schliessler	....	sound mixer (as Jochen Schliessler)
Paul A. Sharpe	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Paul Sharpe)
Shane Shemko	....	foley artist
Bill Sheppard	....	sound designer (as Bill 'Otis' Sheppard)
Nadine Sheppard	....	sound effects recording assistant
Tony V. Stevens	....	consultant: Dolby
Susan Taylor	....	walla editor
Kerry Uchida	....	sound effects editor
Cam Wagner	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Nick Lawson	....	special effects assistant
Scott Stofer	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Mark Tureski	....	optical effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Bill Ferguson	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Greg Beaton	....	focus puller: "c" camera
Holly Gregory	....	first assistant camera
Liane Hentscher	....	still photographer
Francis Kramer	....	focus puller: "b" camera
John Krol	....	generator operator
Michel Lalonde	....	grip
Rick Laning	....	gaffer (as Rick Lanning)
Morgan Lewington	....	grip
Rod Mawson	....	second assistant camera
Klaus Melchior	....	video playback: 24 Fps
Ed Olson	....	photographer: Jenifur photo and facilities
Brian Pearson	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Christopher Tate	....	key grip
Gary Viola	....	camera operator: "c" camera

Casting Department
Alexis Hinde	....	extras casting
Gary MacDonald	....	extras casting
Wendy O'Brien	....	casting: Vancouver (as Wendy O'Brian Livingstone)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Maria Livingstone	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Robert Borics	....	colour timer
Larry Engelmann	....	final colorist
Janel Hassine	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Flash Bastard	....	music provider: live concert
Art Bergmann	....	music provider: live concert
Randall Bergs	....	musician: guitar
Mark Bosa	....	musician: guitar
Patric Caird	....	composer: additional music
Patric Caird	....	score musician: saxophone solos
Steve Cowal	....	singer
D.O.A.	....	music provider: live concert
John Ellis	....	score musician: electric guitar
Ted Hall	....	guitar coach
Billy Hicks	....	score musician: drums
Simon Less	....	engineer: original Hard Core Logo music, Beaconsfield Studios
Jim Mattachione	....	musician: drummer
Dennis Milne	....	score musician: double bass
Modernettes	....	music provider: live concert
Peter J. Moore	....	arranger: original Hard Core Logo music, MDI Productions
Peter J. Moore	....	producer: original Hard Core Logo music, MDI Productions
Anil Patadé	....	score musician: vocalist
Lick The Pole	....	music provider: live concert
Rick Sentence	....	musician: bass
Schaun Tozer	....	original music producer
Schaun Tozer	....	score musician: keyboards
Mark Vanderbyl	....	score musician: bass guitar
Janet York	....	source music supervisor: S.L. Feldman & Associates

Transportation Department
Dave Daniels	....	bus driver
John J.D. Dryden	....	driver (as John Dryden)
Rick Dube	....	driver
Shawn O'Hearn	....	transportation coordinator
Richard Tremble	....	captain

Other crew
Noel S. Baker	....	designer: tail credits
Patricia Baun	....	assistant coordinator
Susan Blanchard	....	location manager: Alberta
Lisa Bowmar	....	craft service
Lisa Bowmar	....	first aid
Christina Bulbrook	....	assistant production coordinator (as Christina Margellos)
Leora Carlsen	....	office production assistant
Robert DeVitt	....	production assistant (as Robert Devitt)
Hugh Dillon	....	creative consultant
Paul Dobson	....	walla group: The Background
Chili Dog	....	walla group: The Background
Ian Ferguson	....	walla group: The Background (as Ian Fergusen)
Gaylene Fisher	....	production assistant (as Gayleen Fisher)
Kuan-Neng Foo	....	production assistant
John Frizzell	....	story editor
Katya Gardner	....	walla group: The Background (as Catya Gardener)
Dave Griffith	....	story consultant
Steve Grise	....	production assistant (as Stephen Grise)
Jane Ireland	....	assistant chef
Tracy Ireland	....	chef
Sandy Kaplansky	....	assistant: Mr. McDonald
Wendy Ladret	....	accountant
Susan Lambie	....	script supervisor
Andrew Laurenson	....	walla group: The Background
Don MacNeil	....	security guard
Denis McWilliams	....	assistant location manager
Ian Mulgren	....	security guard
John Pantages	....	walla group: The Background (as John 'Pantyman' Pantages)
Anil Patadé	....	assistant accountant
Ward Perry	....	walla group: The Background
Callum Keith Rennie	....	creative consultant
Sarah Richardson	....	walla group: The Background (as Sarah Richards)
Andrew M. Robinson	....	assistant location manager (as Andrew Robinson)
Nadine Sheppard	....	walla group: The Background
Erin Smith	....	production coordinator
Kerry Uchida	....	walla group: The Background
Andrew Ward	....	location manager
Vern Wynn	....	walla group: The Background

Thanks
Joe Bamford	....	special thanks
Keith Michael Bates	....	inspiration (as Keith Bates)
Benny Bruni	....	special thanks (as Benni Bruni)
Colin Brunton	....	this film is dedicated to
Judas Bullhorn	....	special thanks (as Blair Dobson)
Drew Burns	....	special thanks: The Commodore Ballroom (as Drew)
Kevan Buss	....	this film is dedicated to
Weave Cleveland	....	special thanks
Rebecca Diva Deluxe	....	special thanks
David Dunn	....	special thanks: volunteer, grip/electrics
Tom Felcan	....	special thanks: Felcan Enterprises
Moscow Fish	....	special thanks
Les Ford	....	special thanks
John Genzel	....	very special thanks: The Royal Bank of Canada, Vancouver
Ted Hall	....	special thanks: volunteer, props
Headstones	....	special thanks
Galen Hutcheson	....	special thanks: volunteer, grip/electrics
Armand Leo	....	very special thanks
Gordon Mark	....	special thanks (as Gord Mark)
Joe McClean	....	special thanks: The Town Pump
Travis McDonald	....	special thanks
Don McKellar	....	this film is dedicated to (as Don Mckellar)
Ernie McNally	....	special thanks (as Earnie McNally)
Peter Mettler	....	this film is dedicated to
Jayme Pfahl	....	special thanks
Barb Pike	....	special thanks: volunteer, set decorating
Keith Porteous	....	acknowledgment: spiritual guide
Peter Powers	....	special thanks: volunteer, grip/electrics
John Pulos	....	special thanks
Barry Reid	....	special thanks: Northern Lights
Trevor Roberts	....	special thanks
A. Neon Rome	....	inspiration
Bill Sheppard	....	special thanks: volunteer, sound department (as Bill 'Fuckhead That He Is' Sheppard)
David Silverman	....	special thanks
Bruce Smith	....	special thanks
Lynn Swain	....	special thanks: Gralyne Prod. Ltd.
Mike Taylor	....	special thanks
Harold Tichenor	....	special thanks
Jerry Wasserman	....	special thanks
Dean Richards Wiancko	....	special thanks (as Dean Richards)
Katya Zanrossa	....	special thanks: volunteer, craft service
Allan Magee	....	this film is dedicated to (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Terminal City Pictures (presents)
• Shadow Shows (presents)
• Ed Festus Productions (producer)
• Téléfilm Canada (produced with the participation of) (as Telefilm Canada)
• British Columbia Film (produced in association with)
• TiMe Medienvertriebs GmbH (in association with)
• CITY-TV (in association with) (as City T.V.)

Distributors

• Cineplex Odeon Films (1996) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Cineplex-Odeon Home Video (1997) (Canada) (video)
• MCA (1997) (Canada) (VHS) (as MCA Home Video Canada)
• Miramax Films
• Rolling Thunder (1998) (USA)

Special Effects

• Film Effects (digital film effects)

Other Companies

• BMG Canada  tribute album available on (as BMG Music Canada Inc.)
• Background, The  walla group
• Banff National Park  special thanks to
• Beaconsfield Studios  original Hard Core Logo music engineered at
• Buz Cigarettes  special thanks to
• CBC Television  special interview footage by (as Zero Ave, C.B.C. Television)
• California Camera Cars  insert car (as California Camera Cars Vancouver, B.C.)
• City of Vancouver, The  special thanks to
• Coast Music  special thanks to
• Comet Post Production  post production facilities provided by
• Commodore Ballroom, The  special thanks to
• Crescent Entertainment  special thanks to
• DGC  acknowledgment (as The Directors Guild of Canada - British Columbia District Council)
• Deirdre Bowen Casting  casting: Toronto
• Dolphin World Travel  special thanks to (as Jennifer from Dolphin World Travel)
• Electroscope Studios  web site design
• Felcan Enterprises  special thanks to
• Film Effects  film opticals
• Film Effects  titles
• Fostex Ind.  special thanks to (as Fostex Multitrack)
• Francont Film  negative cutting (as Francont Films)
• Gastown Film Labs  dailies
• Helios Design Laboratories  graphic design (as Helios Graphic Design Inc.)
• MDI Productions  original Hard Core Logo music produced and arranged by
• Mannah Studios  music recorded at: original film score (as Mannah Studios, Vancouver, B.C. Canada)
• MapArt Publishing  maps: © S.G.A.
• Molson Breweries  special thanks to
• Mr. Tubesteak  special thanks to
• Otari  special thanks to
• P.S. Northern Lights  special thanks to (as Northern Lights)
• PPI Camera Corporation  special thanks to (as PPI)
• Pearl  special thanks to (as Pearl Drums)
• Penthouse, The  special thanks to
• Pepsi Canada  special thanks to (as Pepsi-Cola)
• Polaroid  special thanks to
• Powertip Drumsticks  special thanks to
• Province of Alberta  special thanks to
• Reel Appetites  caterer
• Royal Bank of Canada  very special thanks
• S.L. Feldman & Associates  music supervision: source music
• Samick Music Corp.  special thanks to (as Samick Guitars)
• Samick Music Corp.  special thanks to (as Vantage Guitars)
• Sharpe Sound Studios  post sound facility
• Starfish Room, The  special thanks to
• The Ontario Film Development Corporation  developed with the assistance of
• Tom Lee Music  special thanks to
• Town Pump, The  special thanks to
• Union of B.C. Performers  acknowledgment
• Zulu Records  special thanks to

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language, substance abuse, some violence and sexuality.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White | Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 | Canada:14A (Ontario) (Canadian Home Video rating) | Australia:MA | USA:R | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Terminal City Pictures

Trivia:

Billy Tallent (Callum Keith Rennie) wears a ring depicting the logo of Canadian rock band Headstones. Hugh Dillon (who plays Joe Dick) is Headstones' lead singer.

Quotes:

[His answering machine announcement]
Billy Tallent: I can't come to the phone right now, I'm eating corn chips and masturbating. Please leave a message.

Movie Connections:

References "Jeopardy!" (1984)

Soundtrack:

Wild Wild Women

Just wonderful, intelligent film making

To try and comment on this film without mentioning Spinal Tap would be hard considering not only all the comments that have gone before but also the synopsis provided on this site. And the fact that not even real Rockumentary's can be reviewed without mentioning it hints at the brilliance of that film. Hard Core Logo, is not, however, Spinal Tap......and it's none the worse for it.

Hard Core Logo is an intelligent drama (with the occasional comic moment) about the intense love between two friends and their mutually destructive force on each other when their paths once again entwine together years after the dissolution of their band.

The copy I watched was pretty pore so I can't really comment on the cinematography but I can imagine, from the fuzzy version I did see, that its strikingly beautiful in it's own slightly decrepit way. The plot line is almost non-existent leaving the main focus on the four members of the band, mainly founding members Joe Dick and Billy Talent.

So without good actors this film would sink. As it is the director has pulled fantastic, three dimensional, heart rending performances from both Hugh Dillon and Callum Keith-Rennie. Hugh Dillon's Joe Dick is a self destructive black hole that pulls in those around him. His love for Billy can never be doubted but he can't stand to think he's been left behind and will do almost anything to bring Billy back into his life. Dillon's energy and screen presence is quite extraordinary.

Billy on the other hand is trying to get out, not just for money reasons but because he sees it as a way of salvaging his life from his group of self destructing band mates. Keith-Rennie's performance is all in the close ups of his face or his performance in the background of a scene while watching those around him. Billy talks crap but his face never lies.

well, at least that was my take on this film...and that really is where Hard Core Logo comes into it's own. With so much of what the characters actually mean not being said (they chose, instead, to spout the generally expected views of a rock band) it really does depend on the viewer what film they watch. Bruce McDonald is a director that knows the beauty of well acted silence. They don't need to say anything for us to know exactly what these characters are feeling. Truly spectacular.

But I'm rambling, seriously, watch it, don't watch it, but if you don;t you're genuinely missing out!!