Special (2006/I)

Directors:

Hal Haberman
Jeremy Passmore

Writers:

Hal Haberman (writer)
Jeremy Passmore (writer)

Release Date:

17 November 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

He's not your ordinary superhero.

Plot:

A lonely metermaid has a psychotic reaction to his medication and becomes convinced he's a superhero. A very select group of people in life are truly gifted. Special is a movie about everyone else.

Plot Keywords:

Superhero | Medication | Corporate Logo | Elevator Scene | Unspoken Love

Cast

Michael Rapaport	...	Les
Paul Blackthorne	...	Jonas Exiler
Josh Peck	...	Joey
Robert Baker	...	Everett
Jack Kehler	...	Dr. Dobson
Alexandra Holden	...	Maggie
Ian Bohen	...	Ted Exiler
Christopher Darga	...	Steve
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Erich Anderson	...	Newscaster
David Bear	...	Man on Elevator
Karyn Bryant	...	News Co-host
Amanda Carlin	...	Mugging Victim
Howard Ferguson	...	Homeless Man
Howard Ferguson-Woitzman	...	Homeless Man
Andrew Leeds	...	Bitter Lonely Guy
Ian McConnel	...	Sweet Lonely Guy
Patricia Ann Nelson	...	Pregnant Teen
Natalie Richter	...	Receptionist
Franc Ross	...	Crackhead
Marc Schaffer	...	Hold-up guy
Matthew Troyer	...	Tall Guy
Michael Shamus Wiles	...	Police Officer
Richard Koyasu Park	...	Japanese tour guide leader (uncredited)

Directed by
Hal Haberman
Jeremy Passmore

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Hal Haberman		writer
Jeremy Passmore		writer

Produced by
Craig Anderson	....	associate producer
B.P. Cooper	....	associate producer
Andre Fabrizio	....	co-producer
Louis Hagney	....	associate producer
Frank Mele	....	producer
Edward Parks	....	producer

Original Music by
Manish Raval
Tom Wolfe

Cinematography by
Nelson Cragg

Film Editing by
Mike Saenz

Casting by
Eyde Belasco

Production Design by
Nathan Amondson

Art Direction by
Zach Bangma

Set Decoration by
Travis Eli Whited

Costume Design by
Annie Bloom
Dawn Weisberg

Makeup Department
Autumn Butler	....	makeup department head

Production Management
Katie Mustard	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Bear	....	second assistant director
H. Conrad Knapp	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Rachel Block	....	assistant graphics
Lee-Roy Lahey	....	illustrator (as Lee-Roy)
Lee-Roy Lahey	....	storyboard artist (as Lee-Roy)
Brahm Revel	....	illustrator
Travis Eli Whited	....	property master

Sound Department
James Berry	....	sound editor
Joe Dzuban	....	sound re-recording mixer
Adam Parrish King	....	sound editor
H. Conrad Knapp	....	foley artist
Jeff Knudsen	....	sound mixer
Wes Kobernick	....	sound editor
Peter D. Lago	....	sound designer
Sean O'Malley	....	sound mixer

Visual Effects by
Adam Balentine	....	digital compositor
Raoul Bolognini	....	visual effects producer
Lane Jolly	....	digital compositor
Zachariah Zaubi	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Deena Grassia	....	stunt performer
Brian Hite	....	stunt coordinator
Matthew Rugetti	....	stunt performer
Marc Schaffer	....	stunt performer
Banzai Vitale	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian M. Fisher	....	electrician
Corey Giann Antonio	....	grip
Chris Hughes	....	gaffer
Christopher A. Johnson	....	assistant camera
Matthew Kistenmacher	....	best boy electric
Cameron Lee Michael	....	key grip
Noah Peter	....	key grip
Kristina M. Schulte-Eversum	....	camera utility
James Takata	....	first assistant camera
David White	....	additional first assistant camera

Editorial Department
Jon Dudkowski	....	associate editor

Music Department
Brad Haehnel	....	music mixer
Manish Raval	....	music editor
Manish Raval	....	music supervisor
Tom Wolfe	....	music editor
Tom Wolfe	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Jennifer Emil	....	personal assistant: Michael Rapaport
Conrad Knapp	....	key set production assistant
Tricia Lee	....	production assistant
Elena Rogovsky	....	script supervisor
Shauna Schurman	....	production assistant

Thanks
Hope Omen Ferdowsi	....	special thanks
Jamieson Fry	....	special thanks
Robert Hall	....	special thanks
Felix Werner	....	special thanks
Kathrin Werner	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Rival Pictures

Distributors

• Magnet Releasing (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Boll World Sales (2008) (non-USA) (all media)
• Fabrication Films (2006-2008) (worldwide) (all media)
• Magnolia Pictures
• Notro Films (2007) (Spain) (all media)
• Revolver Entertainment (2006) (UK) (all media)
• Videoville Showtime (2007) (Canada) (all media)

Special Effects

• Zoic Studios

Other Companies

• Circus Road Films  producer's representative

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some violence and brief drug use.

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:R

Company:

Rival Pictures

Quotes:

Les: [first lines - narration] I used to dream about flying. It went the same way every night. I realized that I could fly. No that's not quite right, I realized that there was no reason I *couldn't* fly, and after that I'd float off the ground and soar above the city. But I haven't had that dream in a while now. Lately, I dream about more ordinary things, like doing my laundry, or shopping for groceries, or riding on elevators. I wonder why that is?

Movie Connections:

References Kaijû sôshingeki (1968)

absolutely fantastic.

Just saw this film at the Edinburgh film festival, nearly went to see something else instead and i'm so glad i didn't! First half of the film is very funny, lots of ridiculous yet sorrowful scenes of the main characters self belief in his own superpowers.

I rarely find "comedy " films in any way amusing, but found myself crying with laughter at a lot of this.Very subtle, believable performances which make it heartrending when most of the laughs give way to a film dripping with sadness and important comments about the way we live today, and the search to find something important and special within ourselves. Film looks beautiful too, lots of strange fluorescent lighting. I can't rave about this film enough, its such a gem. Hilariously sad if that makes any sense....