Pumpkin (2002)

Directors:

Anthony Abrams
Adam Larson Broder

Writer (WGA):

Adam Larson Broder (written by)

Release Date:

12 March 2004 (Spain)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

A comedy for the romantically challenged.

Plot:

A sorority girl is drawn to a disabled man.

Plot Keywords:

Pumpkin | Sorority | Athlete | Love | Sorority Girl

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Christina Ricci	...	Carolyn McDuffy
Hank Harris	...	Pumpkin Romanoff
Brenda Blethyn	...	Judy Romanoff
Dominique Swain	...	Jeanine Kryszinsky
Marisa Coughlan	...	Julie Thurber
Samuel Ball	...	Kent Woodlands (as Sam Ball)
Harry Lennix	...	Robert Meary (Poetry teacher)
Nina Foch	...	Betsy Collander
Caroline Aaron	...	Claudia Prinsinger
Lisa Banes	...	Chippy McDuffy
Julio Oscar Mechoso	...	Dr. Frederico Cruz
Phil Reeves	...	Burt Wohlfert
Marisa Petroro	...	Courtney Burke (as Marisa Parker)
Tait Smith	...	Hansie Prinsinger
Michael Bacall	...	Casey Whitner
Erinn Bartlett	...	Corinne
Michelle Krusiec	...	Anne Chung
Melissa McCarthy	...	Cici Pinkus
Amy Adams	...	Alex
Ginny Schreiber	...	Diana
Shaun Weiss	...	Randy Suskind
Julia Vera	...	Ramona Ramirez
Shane Johnson	...	Jeremy
Elsie Escobar	...	Sascha Santiago
John Henry Binder	...	Newscaster
Margaret Travolta	...	Vera Whitner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Michael Bloodgood	...	Tennis Fan (uncredited)
Lawrence R. Coddens	...	Customer (uncredited)
David Gibbs	...	Todd Ridgeway (Kent's Opponent) (uncredited)
Karen Pellant	...	Merle Fensa (uncredited)

Directed by
Anthony Abrams
Adam Larson Broder

Writing credits (WGA)
Adam Larson Broder		(written by)

Produced by
Melanie Backer	....	co-producer
Karen Barber	....	producer
Willi Bär	....	executive producer
Albert Berger	....	producer
Francis Ford Coppola	....	executive producer
Betsy Danbury	....	line producer
Linda Reisman	....	executive producer
Christina Ricci	....	producer
Andrea Sperling	....	producer
Ron Yerxa	....	producer

Original Music by
John Ottman

Cinematography by
Tim Suhrstedt

Film Editing by
Richard Halsey
Sloane Klevin

Casting by
Felicia Fasano
Anne McCarthy
Rita VanderWaal
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Richard Sherman

Set Decoration by
Paul Roome

Costume Design by
Edi Giguere

Makeup Department
Trish Almeida	....	hair stylist
Laurel Kelly	....	additional hair stylist (as Laurel E. Kelly)
Renate Leuschner	....	wig maker
Darrell McIntyre	....	additional makeup artist
Thomas Opitz	....	additional hair stylist
Anna Sugano	....	makeup artist (as Sugano)
Kelvin R. Trahan	....	key hair stylist
Adam Brandy	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Stephen Cody	....	assistant production manager
Betsy Danbury	....	unit production manager
Nancy Kirhoffer	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Haze J.F. Bergeron III	....	first assistant director
Thomas Burke	....	first assistant director: second unit
Carolyn Sara Fine	....	second assistant director
Jonathan Hennessey	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
A. Charles Carnaggio	....	swing
James LaBarge	....	lead man
Maia Sarmanian	....	artist
Eric Troop	....	swing
Ken Vidrih	....	set dresser
Mark Worister	....	shopper
Kirsten Zauber	....	art department coordinator
Douglas W. Randall	....	property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
Christopher Alba	....	first assistant sound editor
Stephanie Brown	....	dialogue editor
Gloria Cooper	....	cable person
Eric J. Goldstein	....	boom operator (as Eric Goldstein)
Robert Guastini	....	dialogue editor
Shawn Holden	....	production sound mixer
Thanos Kazakos	....	sound editing intern
Eddie Kim	....	sound designer
Chet Leonard	....	cable person
Trillby Kim Lowe	....	dialogue editor (as Kimberly Lowe Voigt)
Jeff Porrello	....	boom operator
Eryne Prine	....	assistant sound editor
Christopher Sheldon	....	supervising sound editor
Brad Sherman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jon Taylor	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lana Warnock	....	assistant sound editor
Howard London	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Nick Neutra	....	foley mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Barry Beaulac	....	special effects assistant
Chris Nelson	....	special effects foreman
Ron Trost	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Shawn Crowder	....	stunts
Monica Staggs	....	stunts
Gary J. Wayton	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael D. Alvarez	....	camera loader
Steve Aredas	....	second assistant camera
Matt Bardocz	....	best boy electric
Clint Borden	....	grip
John Bratlien	....	electrician
J.P. Brennan	....	electrician
Trey Clinesmith	....	first assistant camera
Hector Corona	....	electrician (as Hector J. Corona)
Megan Forste	....	additional second assistant camera
Carlos M. Gallardo	....	dolly grip
Paul Goodstein	....	key grip
Jeffrey Greeley	....	camera operator
Chris Hathaway	....	electrician
Kurt Iswarienko	....	electrician
Rick Lawrence	....	grip
Eric Lee	....	still photographer
Paul McIlvaine	....	chief lighting technician (as Paul W. McIlvaine)
Iain O'Higgans	....	electrician
Chris J. Rossi	....	second company grip
Andy Shuttleworth	....	Steadicam operator
David Sirianni	....	grip
Robert A. Wood Jr.	....	rigging gaffer
Jason Patrick Wotherspoon	....	electrician
Dana Kilgore	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
BJ McDonnell	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Freddy Luis	....	casting associate
Raquel Osborne	....	extras casting
Jamie Underwood	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barbara Marko	....	costumer
Robin McMullan	....	on-set costumer
Ángela Núñez	....	assistant costume designer (as Angela Nuñez)
Sarah Pfeiffer	....	costume assistant
Eric H. Sandberg	....	costume supervisor
Gilda Texter	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Jamie Burris	....	post-production coordinator
Rick Downey	....	negative cutter
Janelle Ashley Nielson	....	first assistant editor
Dana Ross	....	color timer
Christopher Tumility	....	post-production assistant
Greg Babor	....	editorial intern (uncredited)
Roger La Prairie	....	colorist (uncredited)
Asim Matin	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Michael Matsumoto	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Eric Anderson	....	orchestra contractor
Amanda Goodpaster	....	supervising music editor
Damon Intrabartolo	....	conductor
Damon Intrabartolo	....	orchestrator
Michelle Kuznetsky	....	music supervisor
Jeff Lingle	....	music editor
Kevin McKie	....	music consultant
John Ottman	....	orchestrator
Stephen Perkins	....	music preparation
Keri Ports	....	music coordinator
Mary Ramos	....	music supervisor
Casey Stone	....	music scoring mixer
Deborah Vukovitz	....	musician: violinist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Andre Brandes	....	transportation co-captain (as Andre H. Brandes)
Derew Frutos	....	transportation captain
Michael Perrotti	....	transportation coordinator
Eric Moon	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Susan Abramson	....	assistant to producers
Mark Asaro	....	assistant production coordinator
Greg Babor	....	key set production assistant
Tim Ball	....	production assistant
Jan Blacher	....	research consultant
Jason Brey	....	production assistant
Jim Brockett	....	animal trainer
Becky Claassen	....	script supervisor
Stephanie Ehlers	....	production assistant
Marjorie Ergas	....	production coordinator
Russ Fega	....	location manager
Ryan Timothy Folse	....	animal trainer
Andrew Fox	....	assistant to producers
Miranda Garrison	....	choreographer
Jim Hanna	....	caterer
Eric Hatcher	....	tennis coach
Heath Howard	....	production assistant
Jerrold McKinley Ivery	....	accounting clerk
Dominique Jaramillo	....	first aid
Eric Jones	....	production assistant
Keith Jones	....	location production assistant
Shannon Lail	....	production executive: Zoetrope
Ket Lamb	....	photo double
Ket Lamb	....	stand-in
Margie Levers	....	assistant accountant
Kimberly Lynn	....	assistant location manager
George McDowell Agnew	....	location manager (as George M. Agnew)
Dave McFarland	....	assistant: Ms. Ricci
Tori Meek	....	accountant (as Victoria Meek)
Jessica Moss	....	production assistant
Hoppy Munz Jr.	....	craft service (as Hoppy Munz)
Danny Muscoplat	....	assistant to director
Danny Muscoplat	....	production assistant
Michael Orr	....	production assistant
Evan Peller	....	assistant location manager
Benjamin Reyes	....	catering assistant
Zach Schiff-Abrams	....	production associate
Adrienne Swan	....	assistant accountant
Andy Thomas	....	soccer coach
Angel Villatoro	....	catering assistant
Erin T. Whittaker	....	production assistant
Tim Wollaston	....	production intern (as Timothy Wollaston)
Susan Paley Abramson	....	assistant to producers (uncredited)
Derek Avila	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Elaine Curtis	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Dominique Jaramillo	....	production medic (uncredited)
Canyon Prince	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Joan Scheckel	....	acting coach (uncredited)

Production Companies

• American Zoetrope
• Bona Fide Productions
• Pumpkin Productions LLC
• United Artists

Distributors

• United Artists (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• CW Television Network (2009) (USA) (TV)
• Capitol Films (non-USA)
• MGM Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Distribution Company

Other Companies

• Bravo Security  security
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Citadel Records  soundtrack
• Danetracks  sound design and editing
• Film Auditors  post-production accounting
• Law Offices of George Sheanshang  legal consulting

MPAA:

Rated R for language and a scene of sexuality.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Canada:14A | USA:R | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Azusa, California, USA

Company:

American Zoetrope

Trivia:

The shot of Kent's car flying off the cliff and exploding is actually taken from Hudson Hawk (1991) - you can even see the dummy, that represented the bad guy, on the hood.

Goofs:

Continuity: As Carolyn is leaving town towards the end of the movie, she sees Kent and waves to him. As she does this the same building goes by in the background twice.

Quotes:

Robert Meary: I can't teach people to write poetry. It has to come from your experience... from your insides. Listen babe, I could show you great poems which you will begin by imitating. If you have some talent, you might write a decent poem by the end of the semester.
Cici Pinkus: What do you do if everything inside you is ugly?
Robert Meary: Your life may be ugly, kid, but a successful poem about it will not be ugly because the poem will illuminate and communicate the horror of your life to other people.
Carolyn McDuffy: What do you mean, the horror of our lives? Why should anything be horrible or ugly? Why can't everything be beautiful and perfect?

Movie Connections:

References The Stepford Wives (1975)

Soundtrack:

Fraternity Men's Choir

life imitating art imitating life

"Your relationship is...inappropriate," one of Carolyn's sadly superficial sorority sisters says to her in the course of "Pumpkin", and that statement sums up this superbly uncategorizable exercise to perfection. Nothing about "Pumpkin" is appropriate, from the soundtrack choices (the music in the fight scene between Pumpkin and Kent in particular), the casting (it was a near-shock to see Dominique Swain with her clothes on through the ENTIRE FILM for openers), the story itself and the shamelessly ambiguous manner in which it's presented. It works, though, thanks to a supremely conflicted and tender performance from Christina Ricci and the simplicity, sensitivity and sincerity of Hank Harris' interpretation of the title character. Life isn't just one thing, it's all things all at one time sometimes. Just like this movie.