My Dog Skip (2000)

Director:

Jay Russell

Writers (WGA):

Willie Morris (book)
Gail Gilchriest (screenplay)

Release Date:

3 March 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Sport

Tagline:

Every family needs an optimist.

Plot:

A shy boy grows up in 1940s Mississippi with the help of his beloved dog, Skip.

Plot Keywords:

Mississippi | Dog | Puppy | 1940s | Baseball Field

Awards:

5 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Frankie Muniz	...	Willie Morris
Diane Lane	...	Ellen Morris
Luke Wilson	...	Dink Jenkins
Kevin Bacon	...	Jack Morris
Bradley Coryell	...	Big Boy Wilkinson
Daylan Honeycutt	...	Henjie Henick
Cody Linley	...	Spit McGee
Caitlin Wachs	...	Rivers Applewhite
Peter Crombie	...	Junior Smalls
Clint Howard	...	Millard
Mark Beech	...	Army Buddy
Susan Carol Davis	...	Mrs. Jenkins
David Pickens	...	Mr. Jenkins
Lucile Doan Ewing	...	Aunt Maggie
Nathaniel Lee Jr.	...	Sammy (as Nathaniel Lee)
Polly Craig	...	Grandmother Mamie
John Stiritz	...	Grandfather Percy
John M. Sullivan II	...	Hunter #1 (as John Sullivan)
Elizabeth Rice	...	Rivers' Friend
Nate Bynum	...	Man on Street
Stacie Doublin	...	Woman on Street
William Butler	...	Barney (as Bill Butler)
Katherine Shoulders	...	Mrs. Applewhite
Joann Blackenship	...	Miss Abbott (as Joann Blankenship)
Hunter Hayes	...	Accordion Boy
Cannon Smith	...	Bible Boy
Courtney Brown	...	Snake girl
Brian Witt	...	Armpit Boy
Jerome Jerald	...	Waldo Grace
Jordan Williams	...	Lt. Hartman
Stuart Greenwell	...	Hunter
Harry Hood	...	Baseball Coach
Gordon Swaim	...	Umpire
Owen Boutwell	...	Spectator
Chaon Cross	...	Spectator
Jim Fraiser	...	Veterinarian
Graham Gordy	...	Pump Jockey
Michael Berkshire	...	Older Willie
Wayne Wimberly	...	Older Spit
Josh Yates	...	Older Henjie
James Thweat	...	Older Big Boy
Harry Connick Jr.	...	Narrator (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Enzo the Dog	...	Skip
Moose	...	Old Skip
Shayne Tingle	...	Major (uncredited)

Directed by
Jay Russell

Writing credits (WGA)
Willie Morris		(book)
Gail Gilchriest		(screenplay)

Produced by
Marty P. Ewing	....	executive producer
John Lee Hancock	....	producer
Broderick Johnson	....	producer
Mark Johnson	....	producer
Andrew A. Kosove	....	producer
Jay Russell	....	executive producer

Original Music by
William Ross

Cinematography by
James L. Carter

Film Editing by
Harvey Rosenstock
Gary Winter

Casting by
Mindy Marin
Marshall Peck

Production Design by
David J. Bomba

Set Decoration by
Tracey A. Doyle

Costume Design by
Edi Giguere

Makeup Department
Bridget Bergman	....	makeup artist: LA unit
Bryan Ewing	....	period hair consultant
Whitney Goss	....	assistant hair stylist
Debbie Newberry	....	assistant makeup artist (as Debra Newberry)
Maria Pappas	....	assistant makeup artist
K.G. Ramsey	....	key hair stylist
Pamela Roth	....	head makeup artist
Terri Ewton	....	hair stylist: press tour Austin (uncredited)
Terri Ewton	....	makeup artist: press tour Austin (uncredited)

Production Management
Brad Arensman	....	post-production supervisor
Marty P. Ewing	....	unit production manager
Sheridan Thayer	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Pamela Cederquist	....	second assistant director
Joan Cunningham	....	first assistant director: LA
Chris Stoia	....	first assistant director

Art Department
David Adams	....	swing gang
John Bankson	....	property master
Terry Bryant	....	assistant greens
Lee Cunningham	....	set decorator: Los Angeles
Diane Duncan-Corey	....	lead painter
Lyn Duncan-Corey	....	property maker
Paul Gore	....	sign painter
Wylie Griffin	....	art department coordinator
Michael Hendrick	....	set dresser
Chris Kubin	....	general foreman
E.J. Levron Jr.	....	swing gang
Michael S. Martin	....	assistant props
Mel Newman	....	greensman
Jorin Ostroska	....	assistant props
Jody Pitts	....	set dresser
Kathleen Rosen	....	assistant set decorator
Rob Simons	....	draftsman
Noah Smith	....	mural artist
Jack Stevens	....	lead man
David Weathers	....	set dresser
David A. Weinman	....	construction coordinator
Lyn Williams	....	propmaker

Sound Department
Steve C. Aaron	....	sound mixer
David Bach	....	dialogue editor
Jeffrey B. Barnett	....	adr recordist
Jeffrey B. Barnett	....	foley recordist
Bruce Bell	....	adr mixer
Bruce Bell	....	foley mixer
Dale Brown	....	foley editor
David V. Butler	....	sound editor
Scott Clements	....	boom operator
Mark DeSimone	....	adr engineer
Steve Evans	....	boom operator (as R. Steven Evans)
Robert Fernandez	....	sound mixing engineer
Robert Fernandez	....	sound recording engineer
Stephen Hunter Flick	....	sound designer
Alexandra Gonzales	....	dialogue editor
Dana Gustafson	....	foley editor
Marc Hayes	....	adr recordist
William Jacobs	....	sound effects editor
Ryan Juggler	....	assistant sound editor
Samuel Lehmer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Charles Maynes	....	supervising sound editor
Sunny Meyer	....	sound mixer: Los Angeles
Jon Michaels	....	assistant sound editor
Ryan Murphy	....	sound recordist
Stewart Nelson	....	supervising adr editor
Jeffrey Perkins	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Tim Rakoczy	....	dialogue editor
David Schneider	....	boom operator: Los Angeles
Alexander Schwartz	....	foley artist
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Stephen Bourgeois	....	special photographic effects
Matthew Zeringue	....	special photographic effects

Stunts
Jeff Habberstad	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Gordon Ard	....	grip
Dana Baker	....	key grip
Kent Baker	....	best boy grip
Bill Brummond	....	Steadicam operator
Jeanne-Louise Bulliard	....	still photographer
Sal Camacho	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Gilly Charbonnet	....	grip
Cary Cook	....	director of photography: additional photography
Cougar Easley	....	electrician
Christopher Ekstrom	....	grip
Lavelle Higgins	....	electrician
Darryl Humber	....	dolly grip
Steve Hurson	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as Stephen D. Hurson)
Lonnie Kahoe	....	grip
Matthew Keatley	....	electrician
Vic Keatley	....	electrician
Martin J. Layton	....	camera operator
Jonathan Leary	....	best boy grip: Los Angeles
R. Scott Lebell	....	grip
Mike McLaughlin	....	electrician (as Michael McLaughlin)
Derek Miller	....	electrician
Sean Hunter Moe	....	second assistant camera
Paul Olinde	....	electrician
Mike 'Chewie' Pappas	....	electrician
Willis Pipkins Jr.	....	grip (as Will 'Pickle' Pipkins)
Bradley Richard	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Walter 'Bud' Scott	....	grip
Michael L. Smith	....	grip
Newton TerMeer	....	gaffer
Paul Toomey	....	second assistant camera: Los Angeles
Tom Vanesse	....	video operator
Diego Velasco	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Don W. Wegner	....	grip
Ron Wisnesky	....	assistant chief lighting technician
David Youel	....	assistant chief lighting technician: Los Angeles

Casting Department
Stephanie Corsalini	....	additional casting
Xanthia Decaux	....	casting assistant
Sierra French-Myerson	....	casting assistant
Jennifer Madeloff	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Linda Gardar	....	set costumer
Linda Gardner	....	key costumer
Gail McCullen	....	costumer: Los Angeles
Ángela Núñez	....	costumer
Nomi Shichor	....	key costumer
Barbara Marko	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Richard Alderete	....	second assistant film editor
Laura Lee Bong	....	second assistant film editor
Matthew Cassel	....	first assistant film editor
Sandra Grubb	....	first assistant editor
Bob La Rossa	....	color timer
David Lurie	....	second assistant film editor
Judd H. Maslansky	....	second assistant film editor
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Laura Weiss	....	post-production assistant
Julian Lopez Jr.	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Deva Anderson	....	music supervisor
Matthew Della Polla	....	music scoring consultant
Vic Fraser	....	music preparation
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Jim Harrison	....	supervising music editor
Harry James	....	musician: trumpet, "I'm Beginning to See the Light"
Milton Nelson	....	orchestrator
Don Nemitz	....	orchestrator
Van Dyke Parks	....	composer: additional music
Delphine Robertson	....	music coordinator
William Ross	....	conductor
William Ross	....	orchestrator
Scott Stambler	....	music consultant
Sherry Whitfield	....	music editor
Johnny Caruso	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
William Henry Bell	....	driver
Dennis Bolton	....	driver
Andy Boyd	....	driver
Walter Chaney	....	driver
Jerry Drake	....	driver
Joshua Hancock	....	picture vehicle coordinator
Brian Kay	....	driver
Josie Kay	....	driver
Andrew McMillin	....	driver
Dennis Milliken	....	transportation coordinator
David Nance	....	driver
J.B. Nance	....	driver
Justin Nance	....	driver
Ralph W. Page	....	driver
Willie D. Partin	....	driver (as Willie David Parton)
Hall Prewitt	....	driver
Sam Seccomb	....	driver
Lee Stepp	....	driver
Marshall Taylor	....	transportation captain

Other crew
David Adams	....	consultant
Berkeley Akers Bagwell	....	studio teacher
Barbara Blough	....	deer wrangler
John Blough	....	deer wrangler
Scott Boecker	....	assistant: Mr. Hancock
Robert Boldt	....	chef
Kate Bourne	....	stand-in
Luddie Quinn Cain	....	production assistant
Matthew Campbell	....	production assistant
Candy Carstensen	....	post-production payroll
Will Cauthen	....	consultant
Cheryl Chavez	....	set medic: Los Angeles
Erica Cohen	....	unit publicist
Jennifer Corey	....	production coordinator
Kira Davis	....	production executive
Salvador R. DeAnda	....	assistant chef
Matilda de Cagny	....	animal trainer
Heather I. Denton	....	set production assistant
André Devantier	....	caterer
Jonathan Dickson	....	consultant
Cheryl Donaldson	....	assistant: Mark Johnson
Chris Ann Downes	....	assistant accountant
James L. Fant	....	craft service
Jay Floyd	....	clearance administrator
Alicia Goldstein	....	unit publicist
Nikki Gordon	....	production assistant
Marci Graber	....	post-production accountant
Henley Green	....	assistant production coordinator
William Shane Grisco	....	animal trainer
Derek Guiley	....	assistant: Mr. Kosove and Mr. B. Johnson
Brian Hilburn	....	assistant location manager
Jeff Honeycutt	....	stand-in
Brent Johnston	....	stand-in
Angela Kent	....	assistant accountant
Alexis Kosove	....	consultant
Robert Labrecque	....	production accountant
Ryan Lucas	....	production assistant
Drew Malone	....	consultant
Lance Mancuso	....	set medic: Los Angeles
Kelly G. McCann	....	production secretary
Erick M. Medina	....	production insurance
Anna Mewbourne	....	location manager (as Anna M. Elias)
Susan Mieras	....	assistant: Mr. Bacon
Tim Monich	....	dialect consultant
Christi Moore-Brantley	....	production controller
John Nisbet	....	set production assistant
Henry Lee Oscar Jr.	....	production assistant
Stacey M. Overstreet	....	production assistant
David E. Parker	....	stand-in
Justin Parrott	....	production assistant
Chris Peusch	....	consultant
Kenner Purvis	....	consultant
Mitchell Ray	....	dialect consultant: Ms. Lane
Mitch Ray	....	set medic
David Rings	....	consultant
Robin Robertson	....	location manager
Ray Rosamond	....	consultant
Kris Rosamont	....	consultant
Karel Ruffin	....	assistant: Mr. Russell
Ben Shoval	....	production assistant
Judi Townsend	....	script supervisor
Matthew Wann	....	production assistant
Kevin White	....	product placement
R.L. Williams	....	set production assistant
Josh Yates	....	production assistant
Matthew Della Polla	....	synthesizer programmer (uncredited)
Jerry Lousteau	....	animal wrangler (uncredited)

Thanks
Sid Davis	....	thanks
Ward Ewing	....	thanks
Joanne Gordon	....	thanks
Willie Morris	....	thanks
Isis Mussenden	....	thanks
Joanne Pritchard	....	thanks
Eleanor Ramsey	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Alcon Entertainment
• MDS Productions LLC

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• WB Television Network, The (2002) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Bros. (2000) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2000) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. (2001) (Argentina) (all media)
• Warner Bros. (France)
• Warner Bros.

Other Companies

• Abbey Road Studios  score recording
• Alex Craft Service Co.  craft service
• All Star Motion Picture Catering  catering
• Ardent Studios  additional adr recording
• Behind the Scenes Freight  shipping by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Hoffman Travel  travel services
• International Film Guarantors  completion guaranty
• International Recordings  post-production services
• Kleinberg Lopez Lange Brisbin and Cuddy  legal
• L.A. Mad Dogs  loop group
• Magno Studios  additional adr recording
• Near North Insurance Brokerage  insurance services
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles and opticals
• Signet Sound Studio  score mixed at
• Sony Music Studios  additional adr recording
• T.H.E. Tools  Avid editing facilities
• UCLA Film and Television Archive  archive footage
• Universal Studios  archive footage

MPAA:

Rated PG for some violent content and mild language.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS | Dolby SR

Certification:

Ireland:PG | South Korea:All | Sweden:Btl (TV rating) | Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | UK:U | USA:PG | Philippines:G | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Canton, Mississippi, USA

Company:

Alcon Entertainment

Trivia:

One of Willie's friends in the movie is named Spit McGee. This was also the name of one of Willie's cats as an adult, and his life is featured in the book "My Cat Spit McGee".

Goofs:

Continuity: During the "opening day" baseball game, a close-up of the scoreboard shows the visiting team with 2 runs in the 3rd inning. When the scene switches to a longer view, the scoreboard shows the visiting team with only 1 run in the 3rd inning.

Quotes:

Willie Morris: You want to know how to throw a curve?
[Sammy nods]
Willie Morris: Dink's gonna show me how when he gets home.
Sammy: Who's Dink?
Willie Morris: Where are you from? Mars?
Sammy: Nope. Right across town over there.
Willie Morris: And you haven't heard of Dink Jenkins?
[Sammy shooks his head]
Willie Morris: He's only the best ballplayer anywhere around here. Ever.
Sammy: Well you haven't seen Waldo Grace.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#25.7)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Chasing Shadows

Fantastic!

Based on author Willie Morris' memoir of growing up in 1940's Mississippi, when his treasured canine companion Skip helped see him through all of his coming-of-age moments.

I'll admit to a bit of a bias from the start - I love movies about dogs (although even I would be hard-pressed to defend movies like "See Spot Run") and I'm something of a soft touch. So I was completely affected by this movie. It just seems to make all the right moves, and it got me emotionally involved with the characters. The cast is great, although it goes without saying that the dog (played by two dogs, 'Enzo' and 'Moose') is especially endearing.

I think it would work well for adults as well as children because it's not stupid, either. There is one objectionable scene but it takes place mostly off-camera.

Is the 'Moose' in this movie the same one that plays 'Eddie' on TV's 'Frasier'?

One word of warning: if you are a soft touch, be sure to have plenty of tissue paper ready!

Since I would be hard-pressed to find flaws in this movie, I'll happily give it ten out of ten.