Childstar (2004)

Director:

Don McKellar

Writers:

Michael Goldbach (writer)
Don McKellar (writer)

Release Date:

11 June 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

When you're only famous for fifteen minutes, every second counts.

Plot:

Taylor Brandon Burns, a conflicted twelve-year-old TV star from the U.S., runs away from the set - and his problems...

Awards:

6 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Don McKellar	...	Rick
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Suzanne
Mark Rendall	...	Taylor Brandon Burns
Brendan Fehr	...	Chip Metzger
Kristin Adams	...	Natalie
Dave Foley	...	Philip Templeman
Michael Murphy	...	Reed Harrison
Peter Paige	...	Tim
Gil Bellows	...	Isaac
Alan Thicke	...	J.R.
Victoria Fodor	...	Enthusiastic Agent
Patrick Garrow	...	P.R. Agent
Pamela Redfern	...	Stewardess (as Pam Redfern)
Danielle Miller	...	Fangirl
Noam Jenkins	...	Sydney Mehta
Jeanie Calleja	...	Jane (3rd A.D.)
Toby Proctor	...	Wade Keener (1st A.D.)
Tracy Wright	...	Tabitha
Jeff Jordan	...	Basil
Bob Martin	...	Mr. Budge
Wendy Lyon	...	Miss Kelly
Jeffrey R. Smith	...	Mr. Cramer-Byng
Tricelle Cummings	...	Angie #1
Raven Dauda	...	Angie #2
Allegra Fulton	...	Photographer
Paul Haddad	...	'Wedge' Exec
Albert Howell	...	Lighting Guy
Eric Stoltz	...	Fresno Burnbaum
Matt Watts	...	First Son Editor
Kelly Fiddick	...	Ex-Junkie
Paul Romanuk	...	Hockey Announcer
Bill Hayes	...	Hockey Announcer
Johnny Goltz	...	Terrence
Leah Cudmore	...	Girlfriend
Paul Brogren	...	Young Pioneer
Michael Barry	...	Waiter
Lisa Lambert	...	Sous Chef
Kathryn Haggis	...	Dishwasher
Stefanie Samuels	...	Nurse
Mark Dailey	...	News Anchor
J.C. Kenny	...	L.A. Reporter
Kris Saric	...	S.W.A.T. Sargeant
Jay Ferguson	...	Fresno's Band
Michael Johnson	...	Fresno's Band
Chris Murphy	...	Fresno's Band
Andrew Scott	...	Fresno's Band
Nathan Stephenson	...	First Son Actor - Chad
Jake Goldsbie	...	First Son Actor- Dexter
David Klar	...	First Son Actor - Lenny
Matt Cahill	...	First Son Actor - Camp Counsellor
Taxi	...	Banjo
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Niv Fichman	...	Audience (uncredited)

Directed by
Don McKellar

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael Goldbach		writer
Don McKellar		writer

Produced by
Niv Fichman	....	producer
Daniel Iron	....	producer
Jennifer Jonas	....	producer

Original Music by
Christopher Dedrick

Cinematography by
André Turpin

Film Editing by
Reginald Harkema

Casting by
John Buchan

Production Design by
John Dondertman

Costume Design by
Debra Hanson

Makeup Department
Debra Johnson	....	hair stylist (as Deb Johnson)
Traci Loader	....	first assistant makeup artist
Mary Monforte	....	key makeup artist
Taraleigh Wallace	....	assistant hair stylist

Production Management
Matt Cahill	....	post-production supervisor
Maribeth Daley	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Black	....	second assistant director
Vicki Henton	....	trainee assistant director
David Manion	....	first assistant director
Neil Winemaker	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Garry Honcharuk	....	property master
Norm Ouzounis	....	props
David Sauder	....	assistant art director
Adam Urquhart	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Erik Culp	....	foley mixer
Robert Fletcher	....	sound recordist
Martin Lee	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Munro	....	sound designer
Lou Solakofski	....	sound re-recording mixer
Iain Stewart	....	boom operator
David Drainie Taylor	....	dialogue editor

Special Effects by
Tim Good	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Naomi Anderlini	....	main title designer
Rob Gyorgy	....	digital effects artist
Chad Malbon	....	digital film producer
Chad Malbon	....	visual effects producer

Stunts
Tiny Good	....	stunt rigging
Alison Reid	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Max Armstrong	....	camera trainee
Blayne Badge	....	electrician
Terry Banting	....	gaffer
Pauline Edwards	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Andy Gondek	....	best boy electric
J.W. Lee Ionson	....	generator operator
Eric Jennings	....	first assistant camera: second unit
John Pogue	....	electrician
John Price	....	first assistant camera
Joe Strazzeri	....	key grip
Clayton Tiedemann	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Jonathan Payne	....	casting assistant

Editorial Department
Louis Casado	....	film timer
Kenn Elliott	....	colorist: HDTV dailies
Jim Fleming	....	digital film colorist
Branko Vasovic	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Velma Barkwell	....	executive producer: soundtrack album
Kyprios	....	composer: song "Ignorance Is Beautiful [Help Me]"
Chris Murphy	....	composer: song "Oh Baby"
Michael Perlmutter	....	music supervisor
Ron Searles	....	music score recording engineer
Sloan	....	music performers

Other crew
Cynthia Amsden	....	unit publicist
David Betances	....	production assistant
Janet Cavanagh	....	set supervisor
Gary Eisler	....	stand-in: male
Eric Fieland	....	production assistant
A.J. Hordal	....	location manager
Kris King	....	assistant production coordinator
Julie McLeod	....	stand-in: female
Oliver Olsen	....	script supervisor
Carole-Ann Woods	....	production coordinator

Thanks
Atom Egoyan	....	special thanks
Ron Sexsmith	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Rhombus Media

Distributors

• America Video Film (2004) (Non-USA) (all media)
• Hart Sharp Video
• TVA Films (Canada) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Good FX

Other Companies

• Hand Prop  props supplied by
• Toronto Film Studios  movie studio

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

98 min | Canada:100 min (Ontario)

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Rhombus Media

Trivia:

Filmed in 19 days.

Quotes:

[Natalie and Taylor have snuck onto the White House set to have sex]
Taylor Brandon Burns: So where do you want to do it? The Oval Office, The Greenroom, the Lincoln Bedroom ?
Natalie: It's your fantasy; I'm Canadian.

Movie Connections:

References Maman et la putain, La (1973)

very funny -- and strange

I saw this movie Sunday morning (and i am not a morning person) at the Toronto film festival, and I must say, it was not what I expected. First of all, it was funnier than the premise would lead you to believe. Secondly, it was actually artfully done. And thirdly, it was very different from the average slow Canadian film. Did I like the film? Yes, very much. It was more of Don McKellar's strange brand of humor, like the kind he used on Twitch City (his TV show) but faster, and maybe a little more biting. In fact, the movie was so fast and multi-layered that I'd like to see it again, soon. Overall I think this was a really entertaining film, and I would highly recommend it -- especially to those who want proof that Canadian movies can be funny, and fast, and exciting, and still smart.