The Promotion (2008)

Director:

Steve Conrad

Writer (WGA):

Steve Conrad (written by)

Release Date:

28 August 2008 (Singapore)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Two guys. One job. No rules.

Plot:

Two assistant managers of a corporate grocery store vie for a coveted promotion.

Plot Keywords:

Supermarket | Canada | Motivational Tape | New House | Quebec

Cast

Seann William Scott	...	Doug Stauber
Chris Conrad	...	Teddy Grahams
Rick Gonzalez	...	Ernesto
Adrian Martinez	...	Octavio
Maestro Harrell	...	First Kid in Parking Lot
Kristopher Lofton	...	Second Kid in Parking Lot
Jarreau Brown	...	Third Kid in Parking Lot
Edwin M. Walker	...	Fourth Kid in Parking Lot
Jamaal C. Adams	...	Fifth Kid in Parking Lot
Mario Larraza	...	Edgar
Tory O. Davis	...	Keith
Fred Armisen	...	Scott Fargas
Bobby Cannavale	...	Dr. Timms
Jenna Fischer	...	Jen Stauber
Richard Henzel	...	Motivational Speaker
Brian Gallivan	...	Banjo Player #1
Christian Stolte	...	Banjo Player #2 (voice)
John C. Reilly	...	Richard Wehlner
Lili Taylor	...	Lori Wehlner
Peter Grosz	...	Guy in Windbreker
Joe Farina	...	Kevin - the Pepsi Rep
Gil Bellows	...	Mitch
Denny Anderson	...	Board Member #1
Kevin Patrick Smith	...	Board Member #2
Paul Thomas	...	Board Member #3
Ithamar Enriquez	...	Rogelio
Abby Allen	...	Christine
William Dick	...	Canadian #1
Guy Massey	...	Canadian #2
Rich Tanis	...	Board Member #4
Masi Oka	...	Realtor
Jason Bateman	...	Retreat Leader
Javier Lopez	...	Little Javier
Steve Park	...	David Kim
Anastasia Esper	...	Sylvia
Tony Fitzpatrick	...	Police Officer
Angel Guzman	...	Javier
David Moscow	...	Teddy Graham's Friend
Bruce Jarchow	...	Party Guest
Ernest Perry Jr.	...	Man in Audience (as Ernst Perry Jr.)
Chris Gardner	...	First Community Leader
Shaun Gayle	...	Second Community Leader
Stephanie G. Conti	...	Toll Booth Lady
Rebecca Fox	...	Dance Studio Employee
Joshua Eber	...	Hardy
Nathan Geist	...	Donnie Wahls
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nathan Adloff	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Michael Armon	...	Grocery Store Patron (uncredited)
Holly Barrett	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Debbi Burns	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Brent Allen Caputo	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Jack Claussen	...	Shopper (uncredited)
Katie Claussen	...	Featured Shopper (uncredited)
Lori Claussen	...	Shopper (uncredited)
Melissa Claussen	...	Shopper (uncredited)
Kelli Clevenger	...	Daycare Worker (uncredited)
Angela Cobb	...	Community Member (uncredited)
Charley Cross	...	Grocery Store Shopper (uncredited)
Sebastien Cuk	...	French Tourist (uncredited)
Kathleen Dagis	...	Doctor / Intern (uncredited)
Vicky Deckard	...	El Passenger (uncredited)
Fred Dial	...	Party Guest / Physician (uncredited)
Matt Dinerstein	...	Grocery Store Shopper (uncredited)
Tony Domino	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
David Charles DuBois	...	Doctor / Intern (uncredited)
Matt Dworzanczyk	...	Drug Addict (uncredited)
Ellen Fliesler	...	Cashier (uncredited)
Andrea Frisby	...	Community Member (uncredited)
Dennis Frymire	...	El Passenger (uncredited)
Jaide Gunther	...	Comical Boy at Party (uncredited)
Krystyl Gunther	...	Partygoer (uncredited)
John R. Haley	...	El Passenger (uncredited)
Steven H. Hansen	...	El Commuter (uncredited)
Bryanna Hartung	...	Grocery Store Shopper (uncredited)
David Hernandez	...	Rafael Velazquez (uncredited)
Safia Jalila	...	Town Hall Member (uncredited)
Randall Jones	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Kevin R. Kelly	...	(uncredited)
Sharon Kluge	...	Pedestrian at Acrobatic Scene (uncredited)
Bob Kolbey	...	Supermarket Manager (uncredited)
Tim Krueger	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Michael Kuster	...	Doctor Reid (uncredited)
Debra Langland	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Joseph Lazicki	...	Joe the Beer Guy (uncredited)
Blair Lewin	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Jamie Louachai	...	El Passenger (uncredited)
Alexandra Mann	...	Grocery Shopper (uncredited)
Eddie Martinez	...	Sylvia's Husband (uncredited)
Betsy McIntyre	...	Cute Pedestrian (uncredited)
Nikki Taylor Melton	...	Lizzie (uncredited)
Haley Nero	...	Store Patron (uncredited)
Lindsey Nero	...	Store Patron (uncredited)
James Pusztay	...	El Passenger (uncredited)
Phil Ridarelli	...	Man in Therapy (uncredited)
Yve Rojas	...	Business Woman (uncredited)
Janelle Rominski	...	El Passenger / Pedestrian (uncredited)
Mikki Raphael Rosenberg	...	Bus Rider (uncredited)
Ashley Schoenle	...	Grocery Store Shopper (uncredited)
Paris Scott	...	Shopper (uncredited)
Anita Showalter	...	Cashier (uncredited)
Toni-Marie Spera	...	El Passenger (uncredited)
January Stern	...	French Tourist (uncredited)
Tristan Layne Tapscott	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Rahul Thakkar	...	Student on El (uncredited)
Giota Trakas	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
David Dino Wells Jr.	...	Dodgy Guy (uncredited)
Michael White	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Erik A. Williams	...	Grocery Store Shopper (uncredited)
Joy Yascone	...	Second Nurse (uncredited)

Directed by
Steve Conrad		(as Steven Conrad)

Writing credits (WGA)
Steve Conrad		(written by) (as Steven Conrad)

Produced by
Jessika Borsiczky	....	producer (as Jessika Borsiczky Goyer)
Steven A. Jones	....	producer
Ben Ormand	....	line producer: additional photography
Christina Varotsis	....	line producer
Bob Weinstein	....	executive producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Alex Wurman

Cinematography by
Lawrence Sher		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Myron I. Kerstein
Tim Streeto

Casting by
Mickie Paskal
Jennifer Rudnicke

Production Design by
Martin Whist

Art Direction by
Doug J. Meerdink

Set Decoration by
Daniel B. Clancy

Costume Design by
Susan Kaufmann

Makeup Department
Aimee Lippert-Bastien	....	assistant makeup artist
Tony Mirante	....	hair department head
Michael Mosher	....	makeup department head: additional photography
Suzi Ostos	....	makeup artist: Sean William Scott
Suzi Ostos	....	makeup department head
Cheryl Pickenback	....	hair stylist (as Cheryl Pickenpack)

Production Management
Robert Bella	....	post-production supervisor
Miles Ferguson	....	post-production supervisor
Ron Cosmo Vecchiarelli	....	production manager: additional photography

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Benjamin T. Brammeier	....	second assistant director
Alisa Fredericks	....	second assistant director: additional photography
Michelle Gonsiorek	....	second second assistant director
Bill Greenfield	....	first assistant director: additional photography (as Billy Greenfield)
Bruce Terris	....	first assistant director
Katey Wheelhouse	....	additional second assistant director: additional photography
Arthur Williams Jr.	....	second second assistant director: additional photography (as Art Williams Jr.)

Art Department
Anthony Barracca	....	leadman (as Tony Barracca)
Scott Bauer	....	property master: additional photography
Caity Birmingham	....	art department intern
Kimberly Clancy	....	set dresser
Frank Coronado	....	storyboard artist
Kristin Hanson	....	art department coordinator
Aaron C. Holden Jr.	....	on-set dresser
Kyle Holden	....	set dresser
Tuyet van thi Mach	....	art department intern
Matthew J. Norskog	....	set dresser
Benjamin Nowicki	....	assistant art director
Mike Piccirillo	....	art department coordinator: re-shoots
Marquee Reno	....	product placement buyer
Derek Scouler	....	set dresser
John J. Slove Jr.	....	construction coordinator
Julie Smith	....	set decorator: Los Angeles
Oscar Thompson	....	lead man
Timothy W. Tiedje	....	property master
Juan Vela	....	set dresser
Kho Wong	....	art department assistant/buyer
Rob Yale	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Chris Barron	....	digital sound transferer (as Christopher Barron)
Frank Clary	....	assistant supervising sound editor
John Countryman	....	digital sound transferer
Gary Day	....	sound recordist: additional photography
Sean England	....	foley recordist
Jim Gaudio	....	cable person
Jonathan Greber	....	digital sound transferer
Jason Johnston	....	boom operator
Zach Martin	....	sound recordist
Tom Myers	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Myers	....	supervising sound editor
Nathan Nance	....	sound mix technician
Brandon Proctor	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank Rinella	....	foley mixer
Ronald G. Roumas	....	sound recordist
Kevin Sellers	....	foley editor
Clint Smith	....	sound recordist
Scott D. Smith	....	sound mixer
Carlos Sotolongo	....	adr mixer
Daniel Sperry	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Dennie Thorpe	....	foley artist
Jana Vance	....	foley artist
Marshall Winn	....	supervising adr editor
Marshall Winn	....	supervising dialogue editor

Special Effects by
Josh Hakian	....	special effects coordinator: reshoots
Ken Tarallo	....	special effects foreman: additional photography, Los Angeles

Visual Effects by
Gilbert Alvarado	....	visual effects artist
John Campuzano	....	visual effects coordinator
Alan De Castro	....	visual effects artist (as Alan DeCastro)
Emily Fenster	....	visual effects associate producer
Chris Gelles	....	visual effects executive producer: & Company
David Isyomin	....	visual effects supervisor: & Company
Cristian A. Kong	....	visual effects
Ladd Lanford	....	visual effects producer
Miles Lauridsen	....	visual effects artist
Peter Luong	....	visual effects coordinator
Jenna Mateo	....	visual effects artist
Abe Saleh	....	digital artist
Bob Wiatr	....	digital compositor

Stunts
James Fierro	....	utility stunts
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator (as Rick LeFevour)
Daniel Maldonado	....	stunts
Natalie M. Meyer	....	stunts
Justin Sundquist	....	stunts
Gary J. Wayton	....	stunt coordinator: additional photography, Los Angeles (as Gary Wayton)

Camera and Electrical Department
Faires Anderson	....	Steadicam operator
Faires Anderson	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Joe Carpita	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Alan Caudillo	....	director of photography: "b" camera, Los Angeles
Jonathan Clark	....	film loader
Christopher M. Collar Jr.	....	grip
Jaime Dawkins	....	grip
Julie Donovan	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera, Los Angeles
Sam Emerson	....	still photographer: Los Angeles
Joseph Guerino	....	best boy electric (as Joseph F. Guerino)
Bryan Haigh	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, Los Angeles
Charles S. Hodes	....	still photographer
David Irwin	....	gaffer: additional photography
Robert Krzeminski	....	best boy grip
Peter Kuttner	....	first assistant camera: 'a' camera
Ahnna Lee	....	camera intern
Morgan Michael Lewis	....	key grip
Joseph M. Lyons	....	set lighting technician
Elizabeth Miller	....	second assistant camera: additional camera
Dan Ming	....	additional first assistant camera: "b" camera, Los Angeles
Robyn Noble	....	additional second assistant camera: "b" camera, Los Angeles
Mark Purkart	....	dolly grip
Tim Ryan	....	grip intern
Brian Scotti	....	electrician
Joseph Sikora	....	electrician
Dean M. Simmon	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Stuart Slack	....	grip
Jeff Snyder	....	video assist operator
Richard Sobin	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Karina Teismann	....	electrician
Rick Thomas	....	gaffer
Joe 'Jody' Williams	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Kevin Wisor	....	electrician
Frank Yario Jr.	....	video playback engineer
Kumiko Yuki	....	camera intern

Casting Department
Annette D'Ariano	....	extras casting
Matt Miller	....	casting associate
Rebecca Norris	....	casting intern
Wendy O'Brien	....	casting: Los Angeles
Vanessa Portillo	....	extras casting
Jessica Remis	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gretchen Gain	....	assistant costume designer
Rachael Ohman	....	set costumer
Gina Panno	....	costume supervisor
Jamie Rush	....	key costume assistant
Jeannie Vanko	....	set costumer
Daphne Vardakis	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Hannah David	....	assistant editor
Kimberly K. Ferraro	....	post-production coordinator
Perri B. Frank	....	assistant editor
Kate Hickey	....	post-production assistant
Mike Mertens	....	color timer
Jill Piwowar	....	apprentice editor
Paul Tanzillo Jr.	....	negative cutter (as Paul E. Tanzillo Jr.)
Greg Thompson	....	assistant editor
Kelley Whitis	....	post-production coordinator
Sharon Zurek	....	post-production services

Music Department
Tom Brissette	....	score mix assistant
Julianne Freund	....	assistant to Alex Wurman
Simon James	....	orchestra contractor
Bronwen Jones	....	orchestrator
Samuel Lehmer	....	score mixer
Angela Leus	....	soundtrack coordinator
Rachel Levy	....	executive in charge of music
Ernie Mannix	....	music editor: temp music
Tracy McKnight	....	music supervisor
Robert Puff	....	music preparation
Reed Ruddy	....	score recordist
David Sabee	....	conductor
David Sabee	....	orchestra contractor
Ellen Segal	....	music editor
Steve Slanec	....	additional music editor: temp music
T. Colby Trane	....	music coordinator (as Colby Trane)
Alex Wurman	....	score producer

Transportation Department
Michael P. Deal	....	transportation captain (as Mike Deal)
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car, re-shoots
Thaddeus E. Larkowski	....	transportation coordinator
Richard C. Ryan	....	transportation captain: additional photography

Other crew
Jeremy Alter	....	location manager: additional photography
MeSun Barnett	....	production assistant
Jeremy Beiermann	....	assistant production office coordinator
Adam Boor	....	set production assistant
Chad Bryant	....	production assistant
Korey Budd	....	office production assistant: additional photography
Chris-Teena Constas	....	location sets
Matt Dworzanczyk	....	stand-in
Nick Ferrin	....	stand-in
Jennifer Zolten Freed	....	post-production accountant
Thomas J. Glynn	....	assistant to director
Liz Goldsmith	....	location scout
P.J. Haines	....	caterer
Amy Holliday	....	script supervisor
Jim Jaffe	....	product placement
Nicholas Jamison	....	location intern
Jonathan Jansen	....	key assistant location manager
Jonathan Kinnas	....	extras coordinator
Ross L. Kulma	....	first aid medic
Michael Kuster	....	stand-in: John C. Reilly
Mike Lane	....	client services
Joseph Lazicki	....	stand-in: Seann William Scott
Alex Lee	....	production assistant
Jenne Lee	....	set production assistant
Christie Leensvaart	....	stand-in: Jenna Fischer
Yana Collins Lehman	....	post-production accountant
Matthew F. Leonetti Jr.	....	production supervisor
Michael J. Linowes	....	legal counsel
Sean Lynn	....	assistant chef
Sean Lynn	....	caterer
Scott Markus	....	production assistant
Timothy Joseph Martin	....	stand in/double
John Mason	....	intern set production assistant
Patrick Muldoon	....	location manager
Kevin Muller	....	office production assistant: additional photography
Natasha Parker	....	production assistant
Ian J. Putnam	....	production assistant
Nick Rafferty	....	assistant location manager
Moheen Ramsey	....	production secretary
Stefan Rand	....	set production assistant
Amy Rising	....	assistant to producers
Jess W. Royall	....	office production assistant: additional photography
Jackie Saygan	....	first assistant accountant
Ericka N. Shane	....	payroll accountant
Andy Spellman	....	key set production assistant
James Thomas	....	key production accountant
Margaret A. Thomas	....	production office coordinator
Kat White	....	clearance coordinator
Nicole Willared	....	product placement
Richard Wolgemuth	....	production assistant
Mark N. Woods	....	remote head technician
Andrew Yeager	....	production assistant: additional photography
Tim Martin	....	stand in: sean william scott (uncredited)

Thanks
Denise Chamian	....	special thanks
Todd Phillips	....	special thanks
James Dean Robinson	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• Dimension Films

Distributors

• Third Rail Releasing (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2009) (Luxembourg) (all media)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2009) (Belgium) (all media) (retail)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (all media) (retail)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2008) (Singapore) (all media)
• Maple Pictures (2009) (Canada) (all media)
• Movie Bank (2009) (Belgium) (DVD) (rental)
• Movie Bank (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Nordisk Film International Sales (2009) (Denmark) (all media)
• Nordisk Film Theatrical Distribution (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• Nordisk Film (2009) (Norway) (all media)
• Nordisk Film (2009) (Sweden) (all media)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2007) (Romania) (all media)
• Weinstein Company, The (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• & Company
• Pacific Title and Art Studio (additional visual effects)

Other Companies

• AFTR7  negative cutting (as Aftr-7)
• Airside  title design
• American Roadshow Motion Picture And Television Catering  catering
• Angel City Grips  grip equipment: Los Angeles
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Chicago Audio Works  production sound
• Clearance Domain  script clearance
• Essanay Studio & Lighting  grip and electric equipment (as Essanay Studios)
• Filmworkers Club/Astro  telecine (as Filmworkers Astro Lab)
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Leonetti Company  electric equipment: Los Angeles
• Lighting Support Services  lighting
• NT Audio Visual  optical soundtrack negative (as NT Audio)
• Northwest Sinfonia  orchestra
• Orbit Digital  Avid services and support
• Pacific Title and Art Studio  opticals
• Post Logic Studios  post-production services
• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services
• Sonart Productions  score mixed at
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• Studio X  score recorded at
• Trevanna Post  post-production accounting
• What the Hale Music  additional sound recording

Also Known As:

Quebec (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language including sexual references, and some drug use.

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-11 | Netherlands:6 | Australia:M | Canada:14A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

S. Greenwood Avenue between 54th & 55th Streets, Hyde Park, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

The film was originally scheduled to be released on May 2007, but was pushed back to June 2008 to add new scenes featuring Masi Oka's cameo appearance.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Richard Welhner is from Québec, and his car has Québec plates, but vehicles from this province only have license plates on the rear of the vehicle, not on the front.

Quotes:

Richard: We're all just out here trying to get some food... sometimes, we bump into each other.

"We're all just here trying to get some food. Sometimes we bump into each other."

Having recently watched the amazingly disappointing Step Brothers with John C. Reilly and Will Farrell, I was not expecting much when I watched Reilly star alongside Seann William Scott in what looked to me like your standard rivalry comedy. But it's my job to watch movies so I was forced to sit through it, and I must say I was certainly pleasantly surprised.

Scott is Doug Stauber, a regular guy with a regular job at a supermarket and he's looking to get a promotion to store manager. He sees a career and a simple but comfortable life with his young wife and their dream of a small home and a happy family. He's a good guy and he works hard, and we want him to get the job.

The simplicity of his character is illustrated in a charming interaction with his wife, where she assures him that things will be okay, she can get a job and help them make money.

Doug: "I wanna be the primary breadwinner, Jen."

Jen: "Female lions do the hunting…"

Doug: "I'm not a lion, I'm a guy…"

But then a Richard Wehlner, a charming Canadian transfer, arrives and they each realize that they are both seeking the same position. Richard has more experience than Richard and is probably more qualified for the job, and he also has his own wife and daughter and is also a great guy. Doug and Richard respect and even like each other, which makes their competition genuinely interesting.

The movie centers on each man's inability to figure out how they are supposed to respond to and treat each other. They both want to be amiable and friendly, but they each realize that they have to destroy the other's hopes in order to achieve their own. The escalation of their competition and the gradual collapse of their formality is far more than I had expected from the movie, and the best way that the movie succeeds is that it makes us want to root for both of them.

I noticed another user said on the IMDb that the movie was like an attempt to "pull a Jim Carrey or Will Farrell." This person has missed the point of the movie so completely and so ridiculously that it's difficult for me to believe that he actually watched it. The Promotion is a smart movie starring two guys best known for doing not very smart comedy. All have made a step forward here and they should be recognized for it. Bravo!