Killer Diller (2004)

Director:

Tricia Brock

Writers (WGA):

Clyde Edgerton (novel)
Tricia Brock (screenplay)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

Trouble brought them together. The music set them free.

Plot:

A guitar playing car thief meets an autistic savant piano player, and together they transform a group of reluctant halfway house convicts into The Killer Diller Blues Band. |

Plot Keywords:

Jared Tyler | Aspiring Musician | Autism | Blues | College

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Lucas Black	...	Vernon
William Lee Scott	...	Wesley
Fred Willard	...	Ned
W. Earl Brown	...	Holister
Ashley Johnson	...	Angie
Mary Kay Place	...	Dr. Gwen Bradley
Taj Mahal	...	J.R. Cox
Robert Wisdom	...	Moker
RonReaco Lee	...	Ben
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeanne Averill	...	Dr. Mills
Niki J. Crawford	...	Shanita
Clyde Edgerton	...	Faculty Member
Rosemary Garris	...	Faculty member
Molly Karrasch	...	Crowd Member
Lawrence Lowe	...	Lonnie
Davenia McFadden	...	Deputy Rhodell Larkin
Bonnie Root	...	Ladonna
David Shatraw	...	Reporter
Jared Tyler	...	Raymond
Courtney Kocak	...	Crowd Member (uncredited)
Dave Schuetz	...	Faculty Member (uncredited)
Kevin Stroup	...	Founder's Day attendee (uncredited)

Directed by
Tricia Brock

Writing credits (WGA)
Clyde Edgerton		(novel)
Tricia Brock		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jason Clark	....	producer
Steve Espinosa	....	producer
Teryn Fogel	....	associate producer
Ryan Gilleland	....	associate producer
Lisa Kearns	....	associate producer
Susan Kirr	....	line producer
Cary McNair	....	producer

Original Music by
Keb' Mo'
Tom Rothrock

Cinematography by
Matthew Jensen

Film Editing by
Tom McArdle

Casting by
Felicia Fasano
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Ben Woolverton

Art Direction by
Jack Thomas

Set Decoration by
Sean Kennedy

Costume Design by
Rhona Meyers

Makeup Department
Adruitha Lee	....	hair department head
Alex Proctor	....	makeup department head
Marina Proctor	....	assistant makeup artist
Tony Ward	....	assistant hair stylist

Production Management
Sarah J. Donohue	....	production supervisor: Los Angeles
Leah Palen	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joey Stewart	....	first assistant director
Chris Weaver	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Cat Cacciatore	....	property master
Ron Redburn	....	on-set dresser

Sound Department
Jeremy Balko	....	assistant sound editor
Jeremy Balko	....	foley mixer
Evan T. Chen	....	dialogue editor
Jake Eberle	....	supervising sound editor
Jeff Erdmann	....	sound mixer
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Jerry Gilbert	....	sound re-recording mixer
Scott Hinkley	....	post-production sound recordist
Shelley Roden	....	foley artist
Megan Silverstein	....	sound utility
David Wyman	....	sound mixer: Los Angeles
Susan Pusateri	....	additional foley artist (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Mike Ocoboc	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Thomas E. Bentley	....	stunts
Thomas E. Bentley	....	utility stunts
Krisztian Kery	....	stunts
Shawn Patrick Nash	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Trel Brock	....	still photographer
Cory Clay	....	assistant camera
Andy DePung	....	film loader
Dan Gartner	....	electrician
Ted Gregg	....	key grip
Tim Hawn	....	electric intern
Marty Hechinger	....	electrician
Philip J. Jaffe	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Bobby Kirk	....	best boy electric
Dave Kube	....	electrician
Larry F. Levenson	....	still photographer
Thomas Pease	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Ryan Samul	....	electric/grip swing
Jerry Wheat	....	electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Katie Calcaterra	....	costume department intern
Lizzie Cook	....	set costumer
Heather Rose Koonse	....	costume department intern
Katrina Migliore	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Sandra Grubb	....	first assistant editor
Chris Mistorni	....	additional editor
Michael Nouryeh	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Tree Adams	....	music producer
Walter New	....	music editor
Christopher S. Parker	....	music clearance
G. Marq Roswell	....	music supervisor
Adam Swart	....	music coordinator

Other crew
David C. Bernat	....	production coordinator: re-shoot
Jonathan Everett	....	production assistant: re-shoot
Pamela Garrett	....	first assistant accountant
Stephanie James	....	production assistant: re-shoot (as Stephanie Fike)
K. Lynn Martin	....	script supervisor
Molly Murray	....	production accountant
Vincent Palermo	....	location production assistant

Production Companies

• Bulwark Entertainment
• Sprocketdyne Entertainment

Distributors

• Freestyle Releasing (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Kd Productions Inc.

Other Companies

• Reder & Feig  production legal services

Also Known As:

Bottleneck (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some language.

Runtime:

USA:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:PG-13

Company:

Bulwark Entertainment

Trivia:

Niki J. Crawford (Shanita) on vocals, and 'Lawrence Lowe' (Lonnie) on drums, played all the musical parts themselves.

Soundtrack:

Judge Boushay's Blues

Killer Diller Rockin' Blues

I almost didn't see the movie because of the title, then I read the description in the SXSW directory, and I'm glad I did; it's up there amongst my favorite films from the 2004 selections.

A real killer diller, can really play, according to Vernon (Lucas Black), an austic savant at piano, who crosses paths with Wesley (William Lee Scott), a car thief sent in a halfway house. Wesley has a way of getting into trouble, but this time, manages to get something right, by striking up a friendship with Vernon, and turning the halfway house gospel group into a rockin band. The music is real killer diller, the acting engaging, and the crisis is plotted out very realistically. Scott and Black both do outstanding jobs in their roles, and they have chemistry as unlikely friends; you believe the bond. W. Earl Brown is equally believable as the gruff, loving father who does what he can to love and protect his son. Fred Willard, as the director of the halfway house, provides comic relief by believing in his mission to help the kids and in joyfully spiting his brother, who doesn't think a bunch of criminals belong in their community.

The music is outstanding; director Tricia Brock got the blues, by bringing in real bluesmen like Keb Mo' and Tree Adams to work the soundtrack and to work with the Killer Diller Blues Band. And actress Niki Crawford does her own singing (and the SXSW audience heard live proof of it). I hope there is a soundtrack released; the music is hot, rocking blues. See this movie!