A Mighty Wind (2003)

Director:

Christopher Guest

Writers (WGA):

Christopher Guest (written by) &
Eugene Levy (written by)

Release Date:

9 May 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Tagline:

Back together for the first time, again.

Plot:

Mockumentary captures the reunion of 1960s folk trio the Folksmen as they prepare for a show at The Town Hall to memorialize a recently deceased concert promoter.

Plot Keywords:

The Folksmen | Concert | Singer | 1960s | Reunion

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 11 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Jim Moret	...	Newscaster
Stuart Luce	...	Irving Steinbloom
Mary Gross	...	Ma Klapper
Marty Belafsky	...	Ramblin' Sandy Pitnik
Michael Baser	...	Pa Klapper
Jared Nelson Smith	...	Young Chuck Wiseman
Ryan Raddatz	...	Bill Weyburn
Todd Lieberman	...	Fred Knox
Matthew Joy	...	Boy Klapper
Laura Harris	...	Girl Klapper
Brian Riley	...	Young George Menschell
Harry Shearer	...	Mark Shubb
Michael McKean	...	Jerry Palter
Christopher Guest	...	Alan Barrows
Eugene Levy	...	Mitch Cohen
Catherine O'Hara	...	Mickey Crabbe
Bob Balaban	...	Jonathan Steinbloom
Rachael Harris	...	Steinbloom's Assistant
Tyler Forsberg	...	Young Jonathan Steinbloom
Paul Dooley	...	George Menschell
Jim Ortlieb	...	David Kantor
Andrew Dickler	...	1971 Dell Wiseman
Thomas Lowry	...	1971 Howard Wiseman (as Thom Lowry)
Keva Rosenfeld	...	1971 Chuck Wiseman
Brian Allen	...	1960s Mitch & Mickey Bass
Danny Merritt	...	1960s Mitch & Mickey Guitar
Paul Benedict	...	Martin Berg
Floyd Van Buskirk	...	Steve Lang (as Floyd Vanbuskirk)
Jane Lynch	...	Laurie Bohner
John Michael Higgins	...	Terry Bohner
Parker Posey	...	Sissy Knox
Christopher Moynihan	...	Sean Halloran
David Blasucci	...	Tony Pollono
Patrick Sauber	...	Jerald Smithers
Steve Pandis	...	Johnny Athenakis
Mark Nonisa	...	Mike Maryama
Cameron Sprague	...	Young Terry Bohner
LeShay N. Tomlinson	...	Steinbloom's Secretary (as Leshay Tomlinson)
Mina Kolb	...	Dr. Mildred Wickes
Jim Piddock	...	Leonard Crabbe
Don Lake	...	Elliott Steinbloom
Deborah Theaker	...	Naomi Steinbloom
Fred Willard	...	Mike LaFontaine
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Lars Olfen
Wendel Meldrum	...	Witch #1
Diane Delano	...	Witch #2
Jim Jennewein	...	Witch #3 (as James Jennewein)
Richard Hicks	...	Witch #4
Michael Hitchcock	...	Lawrence E. Turpin
Larry Miller	...	Wally Fenton
Jennifer Coolidge	...	Amber Cole
Michael Mantell	...	Deputy Mayor
Bill Cobbs	...	Blues Musician
Freda Foh Shen	...	Melinda Barrows
Darlene Kardon	...	Shirley Steinbloom
Scott Williamson	...	PBN TV Director
Joe Godfrey	...	Mitch & Mickey Bass
Bruce Gaitsch	...	Mitch & Mickey Guitar
Diane Baker	...	Supreme Folk Defense Lawyer

Directed by
Christopher Guest

Writing credits (WGA)
Christopher Guest		(written by) &
Eugene Levy		(written by)

Produced by
Donna E. Bloom	....	line producer
Karen Murphy	....	producer

Cinematography by
Arlene Nelson		(as Arlene Donnelly Nelson)

Film Editing by
Robert Leighton

Casting by
Richard Hicks

Production Design by
Joseph T. Garrity

Art Direction by
Pat Tagliaferro

Set Decoration by
Dena Roth

Costume Design by
Durinda Wood

Makeup Department
Judi Cooper-Sealy	....	hair designer
Ann Masterson	....	key makeup artist
Kate Shorter	....	key makeup artist
Terri Ewton	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Terri Ewton	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Donna E. Bloom	....	unit production manager
Pamela Louise Griner	....	post-production supervisor
Montez A. Monroe	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joan G. Bostwick	....	second assistant director: New York
Cary Jones	....	second second assistant director
Scott Andrew Robertson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Scott Buckwald	....	property master
Dan Dorfer	....	camera scenic artist
L. David Gordon	....	drapery foreman
Jeanne Kukor	....	property assistant
Debi Shirk Tagliaferro	....	art department coordinator
Franco Esile	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Kon Iliov	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Dean B. Katz	....	leadman (uncredited)
Kathy Orlando	....	buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Lawrence L. Commans	....	boom operator
Alison Fisher	....	adr editor
Alison Fisher	....	dialogue editor
Todd Harris	....	assistant sound editor
Matthew Iadarola	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Michael Magill	....	sound editor
Andy Peach	....	post-production sound recordist
Kira Smith	....	utility sound technician
Hamilton Sterling	....	supervising sound editor
Mark Weingarten	....	production sound mixer
Gary Gegan	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Robin Harlan	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Sarah Monat	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Chris Navarro	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Susumu Tokunow	....	sound mixer: reshoots (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David M. Dunlap	....	director of photography: second unit, New York
Doug Foote	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Jordan Lapsansky	....	lighting technician
William M. Weberg	....	best boy grip: New York
David Barker	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
Brian Bartolini	....	electrician: re-shoots (uncredited)
Barry Berona	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Matt Blades	....	key rigging grip: New York (uncredited)
Rick Davis	....	key grip (uncredited)
Russell Griffith	....	electrician: re-shoots (uncredited)
Tim Hubbard	....	camera operator (uncredited)
David Lee	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Mike Shaheen	....	video playback operator (uncredited)
Ian Strang	....	electrician (uncredited)
Suzanne Tenner	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Leigh French	....	voice casting
Jimmy Jue	....	extras casting
Matthew Skrobalak	....	casting associate
Jill Warner	....	casting intern
Summer Wesson	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gloria Fonseca	....	costumer (uncredited)
Jaimie Froemming	....	costumer intern (uncredited)
Jennifer Starzyk	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Andrew Dickler	....	additional editor
Chris Wagley	....	color timer
Mark Yoshikawa	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Fernand Bos	....	supervising music editor
Jeffrey C.J. Vanston	....	music producer
Adrian Van Velsen	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Keith D. Fisher	....	transportation captain
Don Poole	....	driver
Aaron Skalka	....	transportation coordinator
Ken Farnell	....	driver (uncredited)
Michael Forte	....	transportation coordinator: re-shoots (uncredited)

Other crew
Michael Wesley Aycock	....	assistant location manager
Ian Calip	....	production assistant
Robby Fisher	....	assistant: Mr. Murphy
Michael M. Franklin	....	production assistant
Robbie Goldstein	....	location manager
Pamela Louise Griner	....	assistant: Mr. Guest (as Pamela Griner)
Gregory D. Hemstreet	....	production accountant
Bart Higgins	....	production assistant
Michael Judd	....	production assistant
David Kaufman	....	location manager
Colin McKean	....	production assistant
Carla Raij	....	location manager: New York
Marci Rosenberg	....	production coordinator
Albert Salsich	....	assistant location manager
Steffen Schlachtenhaufen	....	production assistant
Billy Taylor	....	production assistant
Mimi Turner	....	location scout
Susan White	....	production assistant
Clark Credle	....	additional production assistant (uncredited)
Gary Ferraro	....	caterer (uncredited)
Ronald Hairston Jr.	....	craft service (uncredited)
Ronald E. Hairston	....	key craft service (uncredited)
Ryce Hetherington	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jonathan B. Lee	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Stephanie Lovell	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Helen McGinn	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Anne Scott	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)

Thanks
Jeffrey Stott	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Castle Rock Entertainment

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Net5 (2009) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2004) (Finland) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Cinema Mechanics  grip and lighting equipment
• Columbia Records  soundtrack
• DMZ Records  soundtrack
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• Sony Music Soundtrax  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Untitled Christopher Guest Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sex-related humor.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:K-3 | Netherlands:AL | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | New Zealand:PG | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39820) | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Greystone Park & Mansion - 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

John Michael Higgins wrote all of the vocal arrangements for The New Main Street Singers. Originally the group was going to be a nine-piece ensemble that sang in unison (everyone singing the same part) but it was decided to give Higgins free reign with it.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the New Main Street Singers are performing at the reunion concert, the only original member is playing with one foot on the ground and one on the rail of his stool. The foot on the ground and on the rail alternate between shots.

Quotes:

Mark Shubb: To do then now would be retro. To do then then was very now-tro, if you will.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 2004 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Fare Away

Doesn't have to be mean to be funny

Some felt that this was too close to reality to be considered a parody, but I thought it was beautifully done - made fun of the cloying smugness of some "folkies", but mixed it with genuine pathos. I have a feeling Eugene Levy may have lost a couple of friends to bad acid trips - his portrayal was hilarious, but not cruel. Christopher Guest continues to amaze me with his light touch; most comedies put people in bad situations and make them squirm their way through; instead Guest takes apparently mediocre characters and puts them in situations that stretch their personalities.

Contains the single funniest comment I've ever heard about model trains.

Suggested double feature: This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, or Bob Roberts