Thirteen Conversations About One Thing (2001)

Director:

Jill Sprecher

Writers:

Karen Sprecher (written by) &
Jill Sprecher (written by)

Release Date:

29 March 2002 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The lives of a lawyer, an actuary, a housecleaner, a professor, and the people around them intersect as they ponder order and happiness in the face of life's cold unpredictability.

Plot Keywords:

Happiness | Professor | Attorney | Drugs | Lawyer

Awards:

7 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Matthew McConaughey	...	Troy
David Connolly	...	Owen
Joseph Siravo	...	Bureau Chief
A.D. Miles	...	Co-Worker
Sig Libowitz	...	Assistant Attorney
James Yaegashi	...	Legal Assistant
Dion Graham	...	Defense Attorney
Fernando López	...	Defendant (as Fernando Lopez)
Brian Smiar	...	Judge
Paul Austin	...	Bartender
Allie Woods Jr.	...	Cab Driver (as Allie Woods)
John Turturro	...	Walker
Amy Irving	...	Patricia
Barbara Sukowa	...	Helen
Rob McElhenney	...	Chris Hammond, Aspiring Medical Student
Avery Glymph	...	Intelligent Student
Elizabeth Reaser	...	Young Woman in Class
Deirdre Lovejoy	...	Student Teacher
Barbara Andres	...	Neighbor
William Severs	...	Doctor
Joel Garland	...	Mover
Clea DuVall	...	Beatrice 'Bea'
Tia Texada	...	Dorrie
Peggy Gormley	...	Bea's Mother
Malcolm Gets	...	The Architect
Miles Thompson	...	Neighborhood Boy
Robertson Carricart	...	Pastor
Joe Chappel	...	Choir Member
Phyllis Curran	...	Choir Member
Richard Erickson	...	Choir Member (Cantor) (as Richard Erickson, Cantor)
Julia Erickson	...	Choir Member
Kent K.B. Hanson	...	Choir Member
William Lutz	...	Choir Member
Jos Milton	...	Choir Member
Beth Shane	...	Choir Member
Tobin Schmuck	...	Choir Member
Dorothy Scholz	...	Choir Member
Emma-Jane Stokely	...	Choir Member
Yoshisuke Yamada	...	Choir Member
Alan Arkin	...	Gene
Frankie Faison	...	Richard 'Dick' Lacey
William Wise	...	Wade Bowman
Shawn Elliott	...	Mickey Wheeler (as Shawn Elliot)
Alex Burns	...	Ronald James 'Ronnie' English
James Murtaugh	...	Lew Kincannon
Richard Council	...	Del Strickland (as Richard E. Council)
Walt MacPherson	...	Donald
Leo V. Finnie III	...	Pete
Daryl Edwards	...	Glenn
Charlie Schroeder	...	Young Finance Manager
Robert Colston	...	Sales Manager
Gammy Singer	...	Gene's Secretary
Melissa Maxwell	...	Del's Receptionist
Eliza Pryor Nagel	...	Ronnie's Roommate
Jeff Robins	...	Freeloader
Victor Truro	...	Gus, Coffee Shop Counterman
Paul Klementowicz	...	Public Defender
Phyllis Bash	...	Judge
Peter McCabe	...	Court Clerk
Christian Pabon	...	Teenager on Subway
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Cameron Stevens	...	Young Man in Courthouse (uncredited)

Directed by
Jill Sprecher

Writing credits
Karen Sprecher		(written by) &
Jill Sprecher		(written by)

Produced by
Beni Tadd Atoori	....	producer (as Beni Atoori)
Sabrina Atoori	....	co-producer
Colin Bates	....	co-producer
James C.E. Burke	....	executive producer (as James Burke)
Heidi Crane	....	executive producer
Andrew Fierberg	....	co-producer
Laurie Hansen	....	associate producer
Amy Hobby	....	co-producer
Doug Mankoff	....	executive producer
Stacy Plavoukos	....	line producer
Gina Resnick	....	producer
Andrew Spaulding	....	executive producer
Sandy Stern	....	executive producer
Michael Stipe	....	executive producer
Peter Wetherell	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Alex Wurman

Cinematography by
Dick Pope		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Stephen Mirrione

Casting by
Adrienne Stern

Production Design by
Mark Ricker

Set Decoration by
Carol Silverman

Costume Design by
Kasia Walicka-Maimone		(as Kasia Walicka Maimone)

Makeup Department
Marion Geist	....	key hair stylist
Gianna Sparacino	....	key hair stylist
Martel Thompson	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Cyndi Brenner	....	production supervisor
Beau J. Genot	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Karen Kane	....	second assistant director
Vince P. Maggio	....	first assistant director (as Vince Maggio)
Beverley Ellar	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Greg Canicio	....	set dresser
Emily Gaunt	....	charge scenic
Brent Godek	....	additional set dresser
Joanna Hartell	....	lead man
Timothy Hollis	....	art department production assistant
Akeo Ihara	....	prop master
Victor Littlejohn	....	assistant props
Celia Parker	....	camera scenic artist
Sandra Shepherd	....	additional set dresser
Debra Sugarman	....	on-set dresser
Pierre Rovira	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)
Rosalie Russino	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rusty Amodeo	....	sound transfer
Mark Coffey	....	sound transfer
Ezra Dweck	....	sound re-recording mixer
Aaron Glascock	....	supervising sound editor
John Gutierrez	....	boom operator (as John Guterrez)
Shawn Kennelly	....	foley mixer
Cliff Latimer	....	sound editor
Oscar Mitt	....	assistant sound editor
Andy Potvin	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Katherine Rose	....	foley artist (as Catherine Rose)
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
Reuben Simon	....	sound editor
Thomas Varga	....	production sound mixer (as Thomas Gregory Varga)
Marvin Walowitz	....	sound editor
Andrew Edelman	....	additional boom operator (uncredited)

Stunts
Roy Farfel	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Beattie	....	dolly grip (as Christopher Beattie)
Daniel Beeman	....	dolly grip (as Daniel Beaman)
Felix Binder	....	camera intern
Craig Burfeindt	....	camera loader
Geb Byers	....	first assistant camera
Peter Girolami	....	gaffer
Michael N. Green	....	third electrician
Pedro Hernández	....	best boy grip (as Pedro Hernandez)
Gary Martone	....	key grip
Thomas O'Connor	....	best boy electric (as Tom O'Connor)
Alfred Padilla	....	generator operator (as Al Padilla)
Daniel Rieser	....	third grip (as Dan Reiser)
Larry Riley	....	still photographer
Kory Salomone	....	second assistant camera
Susan Starr	....	camera operator
Sean Strong	....	second assistant camera
Walter Thomson	....	still photographer
Sam Chase	....	electrician (uncredited)
Chris Drechsler	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Eivor Johansson	....	extras casting
Eric Scott	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Natalya V. Aikens	....	assistant costume designer (as Natalya Aikens)
Cara Czekanski	....	co-costume supervisor
Lisa Hokans	....	costume production assistant (as Lisa K. Hokans)
Martin Lama Szymanski	....	costume production assistant

Editorial Department
Kenny Becker	....	color timer: DeLuxe
Erica Mireles Folsey	....	assistant film editor (as Erica Mireles-Acevido)
Alana Greenfield	....	negative cutter
Phyllis Hart	....	negative cutter
Vivian Hengsteler	....	negative cutter
Denise Marquez	....	editorial production assistant (as Patricia Denise Marquez)
Brian Ufberg	....	additional editor

Music Department
Tom Calderaro	....	orchestrator
Marsha Dickstein	....	musician: harp
Richard Erickson	....	music arranger: vocals
Ralph Grierson	....	musician: piano (as Ralph Grieson)
Bernie Kirsch	....	music recordist
Luyanda T. Kunene	....	assistant to composer (as The Remarkable Luyanda T. Kunene)
Samuel Lehmer	....	music mixer
Fred Selden	....	musician: flute
Joann Turovsky	....	musician: harp (as Joanne Turovsky)
Alex Wurman	....	musician: piano
Alex Wurman	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Jim Buckman	....	transportation captain
Timothy Hollis	....	driver: art department
George Holtzer	....	driver (as George Holzer)
Joe Stapleton	....	driver

Other crew
Brian Bell	....	assistant to producers
Joshua A. Bell	....	first assistant accountant (as Josh Bell)
David Brotsky	....	location scout
Evan Casey	....	office production assistant
Evan Casey	....	product placement
Jared Cauliffe	....	set production assistant
Don Egan	....	set production assistant
Louise Fenton	....	product placement
Marc Fishman	....	customer satisfaction: DeLuxe
Cynthia A. Fujikawa	....	post-production accountant
Jennifer Halpern	....	assistant production coordinator
Tappan Heher	....	location scout (as Tappan Hehrer)
Jaime Hernandez	....	assistant: Mr. Atoori
Lara Jones	....	production secretary
Nancy J. Kaimowitz	....	script supervisor
Ronnie Kupferwasser	....	location manager
Simone Lageoles	....	script supervisor (as Simone M. Lageoles)
David Low	....	contractor
Richard Mancuso	....	production accountant (as Rich Mancuso)
Chris Marsh	....	location scout
Dan Messinger	....	set production assistant
Alina Mogollon	....	set production assistant
Stephen Molinaro	....	location assistant
Jason Mottley	....	craft service
Elmo Ortiz	....	intern
John Read	....	assistant location manager (as John Reed)
Michael Roban	....	legal consultant: Kaufman & Roban
Andre Robles	....	key set production assistant
Philip Schulz	....	location scout (as Philip L. Shulz)
Adam Scott	....	location scout
Andrew Slocum	....	location scout
Patty Stitson	....	office production assistant
Patty Stitson	....	product placement
Clayton Thomas	....	parking coordinator
Eric Ulrich	....	set production assistant
Gayle Vangrofsky	....	location manager
Stacey Wechsler	....	publicist
Cynthia Gates Fujikawa	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Russell Gibson	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Philip J. Strina	....	post-production legal services (uncredited)

Thanks
Bill Abranowicz	....	special thanks
Albertine Anderson	....	special thanks: New York City Transit Authority (as Alberteen Anderson)
Randy Atkins	....	special thanks
Craig Bernstein	....	special thanks
Susan H. Bodine	....	special thanks
Giulana Bruno	....	special thanks (as Giuliana Bruno)
John C. Chaney	....	special thanks (as John Chaney)
Cassian Elwes	....	special thanks
Craig A. Emanuel	....	special thanks (as Craig Emanuel)
Janine Giaime	....	special thanks
Paul Goldowitz	....	special thanks
Tom Gorai	....	special thanks
Gus Gustawes	....	special thanks
A. Kitman Ho	....	special thanks
Beth Holden-Garland	....	special thanks
Myrna Jacoby	....	special thanks
Robert C. Janiszewski	....	special thanks: Hudson County executive
Estelle Lasher	....	special thanks
Jeanne McCarthy	....	special thanks
Gaby Morgerman	....	special thanks
Kevin Morris	....	special thanks
Marvin Putman	....	special thanks
Adam Richman	....	special thanks
Tony Risabi	....	special thanks
Rena Ronson	....	special thanks
Michael Ruscio	....	special thanks
Daniel Saunders	....	special thanks
Dr. Brian Schwartz	....	special thanks
Jenny Schweitzer	....	special thanks
Denise Shaw	....	special thanks
Paul Alan Smith	....	special thanks
Jeffrey Sprecher	....	special thanks (as Jeff Sprecher)
Peter Sprecher	....	special thanks
Phyllis Sprecher	....	special thanks
Kathryn Taylor	....	special thanks
William Velardi	....	special thanks: New York City Transit Authority
Bart Walker	....	special thanks
Farley Ziegler	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Stonelock Pictures
• Single Cell Pictures
• double A Films
• Conversation Productions Inc.
• Echo Lake Productions (I)
• First Look International (uncredited)
• entitled entertainment

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Classics (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alpha Media (2007) (China) (video) (VOD/IPTV)
• Be Best in DVD (BBI-DVD) (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Mikado
• Mongrel Media (Canada)
• Siren Visual Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Television International (TV)

Other Companies

• Axium Payroll Services  payroll services (as Axium Payments Corp.)
• Bostonian  special thanks
• Burberry  wardrobe: Matthew McConaughey
• Daven The Mad Hatter Studios  music recorded at (as Mad Hatter Studios)
• F-Stop Film & Video  titles and opticals
• Fossil  special thanks
• Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders  special thanks
• Jos. A. Banks  special thanks
• Kaufman & Roban Associates LLC  legal consulting
• Kiehl's Since 1851  special thanks (as Kiehl's)
• Laura Bohn Design Associates Inc.  special thanks (as Laura Bohn Design Associates Inc.: architect apartment interior)
• MPRM Public Relations  publicity (as mPRm Public Relations)
• Navarro-Bertoni Casting  extras casting (as Navarro-Bertoni Casting)
• New Jersey Film Commission  special thanks
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  special thanks (as New york City Mayor's Office of Film, Television & Broadcasting)
• New York City Transit Authority  special thanks
• New York Daily News  special thanks: used with permission (as The Daily News ©New York Daily News L.P.)
• New York Police Department (NYPD)  special thanks (as New York City Police Department: Movie Television Unit)
• Premiere Catering  catering
• Randa  special thanks
• Richard French Associates  special thanks
• Saflo  special thanks
• Shiseido  special thanks
• Sonart Productions  additional music recorded at
• Sonart Productions  music mixed at
• The City of Jersey City  special thanks
• The Star Ledger  special thanks: used with permission (as The Star Ledger ©2000 The Star-Ledger)
• Turin Film Festival  special thanks
• Van Heusen  special thanks
• Viv Kim Negative Cutting Service  negative cutting (as Viv-Kim Negative Cutting Services, Inc.)
• Weddington Productions  sound editing and mixing
• Worldwide Film Completion  completion guarantee provided by

Also Known As:

13 Conversations (USA) (short title)
13 Conversations About One Thing (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and brief drug use.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Australia:M | Canada:PG | Hong Kong:IIA | USA:R (certificate #38139) | Singapore:PG | UK:15 | Finland:K-11

Filming Locations:

Columbia University - Broadway & 116th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Stonelock Pictures

Trivia:

The films story is inspired by two different head injuries that director Jill Sprecher endured.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Walker writes the formula for acceleration incorrectly on the blackboard. It should be f/s2, where he writes (f/s)2. A physics teacher would never make that mistake.

Quotes:

Walker: it's perverse, isn't it? people spend years developing their minds and educating themselves, but in the end, they just want to shut them off.

Movie Connections:

References Magnolia (1999)

Soundtrack:

Wohl denen die da Wandeln

perhaps one of the best movies I have ever seen

13 Conversations is amazing. I don't say this lightly, but I would count it, perhaps, as one of the best movies I have ever seen. Concise, thoughtful, smart, perfectly woven. I have watched it a few times, and each time, it inspired me and made me think. The dialogue was economic; the shooting exact. The music was brilliant. Casting was terrific, and acting, excellent. The DP and gaffing work were masterful, as the film's colors were so clean and fresh, it made you think it wasn't New York City, but rather, any city -- allowing the story to breathe and blossom. That is a real achievement for a film set in NYC. In short, everything in the film was just as it should be -- fitting its own story perfectly, representing its thoughts, its characters, its themes with seemingly effortless grace and poetry. I am amazed that the Sprecher sisters aren't major household names with six picture studio deals -- they are talented filmmakers with a unique, creative voice. (It is frustrating today that the lowest common denominator of blockbuster fare seem often to be given more money and coverage than filmmakers like the Sprechers who make true gems.) 13 Conversations is intelligent, moving, and beautiful. Definitely a film to make sure to see.