Orange County (2002)

Director:

Jake Kasdan

Writer (WGA):

Mike White (written by)

Release Date:

11 January 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

It's not just a place. It's a state of mind.

Plot:

A guidance counselor mistakenly sends out the wrong transcripts to Stanford University under the name of an over-achieving high schooler.

Plot Keywords:

Guidance Counselor | Writer | Transcript | Stanford University | Dysfunctional Family

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Colin Hanks	...	Shaun Brumder
Jack Black	...	Lance Brumder
Schuyler Fisk	...	Ashley
Bret Harrison	...	Lonny (as Brett Harrison)
Kyle Howard	...	Arlo
R.J. Knoll	...	Chad (as RJ Knoll)
Catherine O'Hara	...	Cindy Beugler
Mike White	...	Mr. Burke
John Lithgow	...	Bud Brumder
Lily Tomlin	...	Charlotte Cobb
George Murdock	...	Bob Beugler
Lillian Hurst	...	Lupe
Chevy Chase	...	Principal Harbert
Olivia Rosewood	...	Dana
Carly Pope	...	Tanya
Natasha Melnick	...	Katie
Manu Intiraymi	...	Male Student
Fran Kranz	...	Shane Brainard
Shawn Soong	...	Stoner
Grace Bustos	...	Cheerleader
Sarah Hagan	...	Sarah
Michael Aquino	...	Jake
Leslie Mann	...	Krista
Elsie Escobar	...	Rosa
Orlando García	...	Jorge
Daniel Farber	...	Lucas
Carolyn Wilson	...	Butch Female Janitor
Garry Marshall	...	Arthur Gantner
Dana Ivey	...	Vera Gantner
Jane Adams	...	Mona
Harold Ramis	...	Don Durkett
Brianna Shebby	...	Stephanie Durkett
Leslie Appleyard	...	Gina Durkett
Beth Gains	...	Mrs. Durkett
David Doty	...	Public Safety
Monica Keena	...	Gretchen
Sarah Loew	...	Party Girl
Lizzy Caplan	...	Party Girl
Nat Faxon	...	Kip
Sybil Azur	...	Dancer
Kimi Bateman	...	Dancer
Jennifer Chavarria	...	Dancer
Micki Duran	...	Dancer
Marisa Gilliam	...	Dancer
Bonnie-Jill Laflin	...	Dancer
Dani Lee	...	Dancer
Carolina Lancaster	...	Dancer
Melanie Lewis	...	Dancer
Brooke Long	...	Dancer
Blythe Matsui	...	Dancer
Sandra McCoy	...	Dancer
Jenny Seeger	...	Dancer
Joie Shettler	...	Dancer
Sarah Christine Smith	...	Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Luke Barnett	...	Bon-Fire Friend (uncredited)
Alexandra Breckenridge	...	Anna (uncredited)
Karen Elmore	...	Sorority Girl (uncredited)
Desmon Heck	...	Frat Partier (uncredited)
Sam Humeid	...	Frat Partier #2 (uncredited)
Tom Kenny	...	SpongeBob SquarePants / Gary (voice) (uncredited)
Kevin Kline	...	Marcus Skinner (uncredited)
Ben Stiller	...	The Firefighter (uncredited)

Directed by
Jake Kasdan

Writing credits (WGA)
Mike White		(written by)

Produced by
Scott Aversano	....	producer
Herb Gains	....	executive producer (as Herbert W. Gains)
David Gale	....	producer
Scott Rudin	....	producer
Adam Schroeder	....	executive producer
Van Toffler	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Andrews

Cinematography by
Greg Gardiner

Film Editing by
Tara Timpone

Casting by
Felicia Fasano
Anne McCarthy
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Gary Frutkoff

Set Decoration by
Chris L. Spellman

Costume Design by
Debra McGuire

Makeup Department
Laverne Caracuzzi	....	key makeup artist
Lisa Layman	....	makeup artist
Gloria Ponce	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Sara Flamm	....	production supervisor
Herb Gains	....	unit production manager (as Herbert W. Gains)
Nan Morales	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carey Dietrich	....	first assistant director
Seth Edelstein	....	second assistant director
Deborah Greaney	....	dga trainee
Stephanie Kime	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Deana Albers	....	property master
David Corral	....	greensman
Kristen Gassner	....	set decorating buyer
Sean Ginevan	....	set dresser
Wendy Jerde	....	scenic painter
Adam Khalid	....	art department coordinator
Brian Markey	....	construction coordinator
James P. Meehan	....	on-set dresser
Michael Mosley	....	art department assistant
Nashon Petrushkin	....	set dresser
Chris Scher	....	carpenter
Brad Shoemaker	....	gangboss
Ramsey Smith	....	construction foreman
Parker Swanson	....	assistant property master
Mark Weissenfluh	....	leadman

Sound Department
Claudia Carle	....	sound recordist
Patrick Cyccone Jr.	....	sound re-recording mixer
Valerie Davidson	....	foley supervisor
Valerie Davidson	....	sound editor
Barbara Delpuech	....	first assistant sound editor
Gregg Frazier	....	boom operator
Robert Grieve	....	co-supervising sound editor
Michael Keller	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ai-Ling Lee	....	sound effects editor
Paul Vik Marshall	....	sound mixer
Benjamin Martin	....	foley editor
Vince Nicastro	....	foley artist
Randy Nielsen	....	sound
Vic Radulich	....	dialog editor
Timothy P. Salmon	....	boom operator
Joel Shryack	....	co-supervising sound editor
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer
Keith A. Wester	....	production sound mixer
Douglas J. Schulman	....	production sound mixer: second unit (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Joe Digaetano	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Matthew Adams	....	digital artist: Cinesite
Jonathan Alvord	....	Avid editor
Ted Andre	....	visual effects compositor
Lloyd Lee Barnett	....	digital compositor
Vijoy Gaddipati	....	software engineer
Brian Gardner	....	3D artist
Dennis Hoffman	....	vice president/head of production: Cinesite
Andrew Honacker	....	associate visual effects supervisor
Derek Ledbetter	....	visual effects
Tim Maloney	....	digital compositor
Michael J. McAlister	....	visual effects supervisor (as Micheal J. McAlister)
Michael Ramirez	....	digital artist
David Robinson	....	visual effects coordinator: Cinesite
Ramprasad Sampath	....	visual effects technical director
Andrew Soria	....	visual effects
Paul Taglianetti	....	visual effects producer: Cinesite
Bryan Taylor	....	visual effects artist
Dan Weston	....	software engineer
Bjorn Zipprich	....	digital artist
Bjorn Zipprich	....	visual effects
Jeffrey Edward Baksinski	....	motion tracking supervisor: Cinesite (uncredited)
Wally Chin	....	3D technical assistant (uncredited)
Robert Coquia Jr.	....	3D technical assistant (uncredited)
Fred Jimenez	....	2D technical assistant (uncredited)
Chad Owen	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Rick Avery	....	stunts
Janet Brady	....	stunts
Richard E. Butler	....	stunts (as Dick Butler)
Jacob Chambers	....	stunts
Gary Dionne	....	stunts
Jeannie Epper	....	stunts
Tanner Gill	....	stunts
Keii Johnston	....	stunt driver
Brock Little	....	stunts
Dustin Meier	....	stunts
Billy Morts	....	stunts (as William Morts)
Daniel T. O'Brien	....	stunt double
Harry O'Connor	....	stunts (as Harry O'Conner)
Matthew H. O'Connor	....	stunts
Matt O'Connor	....	stunts
Denney Pierce	....	stunts
Paul E. Short	....	stunts
Lee Smith	....	stunts
Gregg Smrz	....	stunt coordinator
Jim Stephen	....	stunts (as Jimmy Stephen)
Darlene Ava Williams	....	stunt double: Lily Tomlin
Al Goto	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sean Graham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lane Leavitt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Larry M. Shorts	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Troy Waters	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Alexonis	....	best boy grip
Steven Aquilino	....	second assistant camera
Bryan Ashford	....	dolly grip: "b" camera
Matthew Berner	....	assistant camera
John S. Campbell	....	grip
Betty Chow	....	film loader
Christopher Goss	....	camera operator
Michael Herron	....	video assist operator
Chris Johnson	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Gary Kelso	....	grip
Dan Kneece	....	additional camera operator
Gemma La Mana	....	still photographer
Noe Nava	....	set lighting technician
Stephen Martin Paull	....	lighting technician
Chris Pavlu	....	electrician
Aaron Pazanti	....	camera operator
Michael C. Price	....	key grip
Landon Ruddel	....	grip
Jack Serino	....	grip
Brent Studler	....	rigging electrician
Tommy Tieche	....	second assistant camera
Jon Yirak	....	first assistant camera
Tom Fendley	....	electrician (uncredited)
John Toll	....	cinematographer: end beach sequence (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jennifer Bender	....	extras casting
Mariann H.W. Lee	....	extras casting
Beanie Barnes	....	casting intern (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Stacy Caballero	....	costumer
Joseph T. Mastrolia	....	set costumer
Katrina Mastrolia	....	set costumer
Daniel G. North	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Alan Z. McCurdy	....	assistant editor
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Hugh Ross	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Bob Bornstein	....	music preparation
Tom Calderaro	....	conductor
Tom Calderaro	....	orchestrator
Tom Kramer	....	music editor
Manish Raval	....	music supervisor
Tom Wolfe	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Bruce Callahan	....	driver
Daniel Conte Sr.	....	driver
Dana Schisler	....	driver
William Smallwood	....	driver: production van

Other crew
Michael Altman	....	projectionist
Chung An	....	production assistant
Malcolm Auchincloss	....	assistant: Mr. Rubin
Serena Baker	....	key assistant location manager
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer
Lil Blue	....	security officer
Ashlee Burnette	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Cassandra Butcher	....	unit publicist
Joe Camp	....	animal wrangler
Curtis Collins	....	location manager
J. John Corbett	....	title designer
Patrick Corcoran	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Jennifer Corey	....	production coordinator
David W. Dale	....	production assistant
Pam Des Vigne	....	lead payroll accountant
Dan Duffy	....	gene operator
Anne Fletcher	....	choreographer
Jay Floyd	....	clearance administrator
Sean Garcia	....	production assistant
Sarah Hendler	....	assistant: Mr. Kasdan
Joshua C. Hersko	....	assistant: Scott Rudin
Lars Knudsen	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Melvin Mar	....	assistant: Mr. Aversano
Peter McKernan	....	aerial coordinator
Blair Mealing	....	assistant to cast
Leda Nornang	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Matthew H. O'Connor	....	marine coordinator
Charley Parlapanides	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Kate Powell	....	production assistant
Glen Richard	....	production accountant
Wells Rosales	....	stand-in
Will Rowbotham	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Dana Rubenstein	....	assistant: Mr. Gains
Ahmed Saker	....	key set medic
Benjamin Scissors	....	production assistant
Chad J. Shonk	....	staff production assistant
E.R. Silverbush	....	assistant: Mr. Gale
Sue Smith	....	production secretary
Emre Sonmez	....	key assistant location manager
Debbie Tieman	....	assistant accountant
Catherine H. Vlasuk	....	assistant production office coordinator (as Cathy Vlasuk)
Kevin J. Walsh	....	executive assistant: Mr. Rudin
Scott Brant	....	office production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (presents)
• MTV Films
• Scott Rudin Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• East West (2002) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (UK) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2002) (Japan) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Argentina) (all media)
• Argentina Video Home (2003) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2003) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Veronica (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)

Special Effects

• Cinesite (Hollywood) (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  remote camera systems
• Columbia Records  soundtrack published by
• Mary Nelson-Duerrstein & Associates  negative cutting
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  hair and make-up trailers
• Movie Movers  production trailers
• Sony Music Soundtrax  soundtrack published by
• Transportation Resources  transportation equipment

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for drug content, language and sexuality.

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:PG | Germany:12 | Netherlands:AL | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:12A | UK:12 (video rating) | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

California Institute of Technology - 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Notable directors that appear as actors: Garry Marshall, Harold Ramis and Ben Stiller (who also appeared as supporting lead in Kasdan's earlier film, Zero Effect (1998)).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Bud leaves the house to discuss getting a divorce with Krista, there is only one car parked at the house, a Nissan Pathfinder (Shaun's car). There is no car belonging to Bud parked in or around the house. Bud mentions he drives past the house on his way home from work. But where is the car, and how did he get there?

Quotes:

Bud Brumder: What is that smell? What am I sitting in?
Cindy: Relax. It's just urine.
Bud Brumder: Oh.

Movie Connections:

Features "SpongeBob SquarePants: Help Wanted/Reef Blower/Tea at the Treedome (#1.1)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Lose You

A likeable, well-acted comedy

Orange County is not as funny as American Pie, but that's all right. The movie has its share of ridiculous, over-the-top gags (A dean of admissions high on ecstasy, for example), but it's far more interested in its characters than its jokes, a refreshing change of pace for this type of movie. The material's supported by some very good performances, especially from leads Colin Hanks and Jack Black.

Hanks plays Shaun, a high school senior who desperately wants to escape his horrible upper middle class life in Orange County for literary pursuits under his favorite writer, Marcus Skinner, who is a professor at Stanford University. But his guidance counselor (Lily Tomlin) botches his application, leaving Shaun relying on the assistance of his stoner brother Lance (Black) and his selfish father (John Lithgow).

You have no doubt heard that Colin Hanks is the son of famous acting father Tom. Even if connections got him the job, you cannot deny that he puts in a strong lead performance (Even if it does have some echoes of his dad's likeable everyman persona). Comedy stars like Catherine O'Hara, Chevy Chase, Garry Marshall, all put it nice small pieces, but it is Jack Black who owns most of the funniest moments in the film. His mere presence in a scene can make it funny; often he brings out laughs with a look or a eyebrow twitch.

The film gets a little sappy and formulaic as it heads toward its conclusion; Shaun's reaction when he meets his hero is spot-on, but their conversation about his story feels wrong; and the inevitable ending is what you pretty much expect as soon as that initial rejection letter arrives at Shaun's door. Professor Skinner put it best; "My one complaint - You need an ending."

Orange County needed a stronger, more unusual ending to compliment the offbeat, but very enjoyable vibe the rest of the of the movie gives off. Still, I found myself completely entertained until the end, and left really appreciating the fine writing and acting, and even wishing the movie was a little longer. And that doesn't happen too often.