The King of Kong (2007)

Director:

Seth Gordon

Release Date:

28 February 2008 (Australia)

Genre:

Documentary | Sport

Tagline:

Don't get chumpatized.

Plot:

Diehard video game fans compete to break World Records on classic arcade games.

Plot Keywords:

Video | World Record | Florida | 1980s | Teacher

Awards:

4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Steve Wiebe	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Billy Mitchell	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Walter Day	...	Himself (also archive footage)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mark Alpiger	...	Himself
Greg Bond	...	Himself
Craig Glenday	...	Himself
Brian Kuh	...	Himself
Robert Mruczek	...	Himself
Todd Rogers	...	Himself
Steve Sanders	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Doris Self	...	Herself
Roy Shildt	...	Himself - 'Mr. Awesome' (also archive footage)
Mike Thompson	...	Himself
Derek Wiebe	...	Himself
Jillian Wiebe	...	Herself
Nicole Wiebe	...	Herself
Adam Wood	...	Himself
Steve B. Harris	...	Himself (uncredited)

Directed by
Seth Gordon

Produced by
Beau Bauman	....	consulting producer
Joshuah Bearman	....	contributing producer
Ed Cunningham	....	producer
Luis Lopez	....	associate producer
Ross Tuttle	....	contributing producer
J. Clay Tweel	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Craig Richey

Cinematography by
Seth Gordon

Film Editing by
Seth Gordon

Art Department
Ben Fry	....	additional graphic artist

Sound Department
Nathan Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Staci Bernstein	....	camera operator
Ty Clancey	....	camera operator (as Tyler Clancey)
Charlie Crapella	....	camera operator
Ed Cunningham	....	camera operator
Brett Hammond	....	camera operator
Brent Hoff	....	camera operator
Bootsy Holler	....	camera operator
Luis Lopez	....	camera operator
Ross Tuttle	....	camera operator
J. Clay Tweel	....	camera operator
Greg Whiteley	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
Jim Bruce	....	additional editor
Ed Cunningham	....	additional editor
Luis Lopez	....	additional editor
Mato	....	color timer: film
Kostas Theodosiou	....	color correction
J. Clay Tweel	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Kripa Jones	....	composer: additional original score
Chris Robertson	....	music supervisor
Thomas Wilson	....	composer: additional original score
Thomas Wilson	....	music consultant

Other crew
Enrica Ferorelli	....	source: still photos
Christopher J. Keene	....	legal services
Paul Lavoie	....	digital production manager
George Nicholis	....	film publicist
Philip J. Strina	....	business & legal affairs: Picturehouse

Thanks
Duncan Birmingham	....	thanks (as Duncan Burmingham)
Heather Bergen Holme	....	special thanks
Steven Klein	....	thanks
Joel Relampagos	....	thanks
Mary Rohlich	....	special thanks
Doris Self	....	in memory of
Monique Sorgen	....	special thanks
David Stern	....	thanks

Production Companies

• LargeLab (in association with)

Distributors

• Odeon Films (2007) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Picturehouse Entertainment (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• New Line Cinema (2007) (non-USA) (all media)
• New Line Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Revolver Entertainment (2007) (UK) (all media)

Other Companies

• Endeavor Agency  filmmakers representation
• Walter Day, John Sorflaten, and Lewis Wilson  additional footage provided by

Also Known As:

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (USA) (new title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for a brief sexual reference.

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (A Brief Sexual Reference) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Florida, USA

Company:

LargeLab

Trivia:

Several of those depicted in the documentary, including Wiebe and Mitchell themselves, claim that it does not accurately depict events. For example, Wiebe and Mitchell were, and still are, on much friendlier terms than is suggested, and another player's record was in place during some of the events but is omitted. The director has conceded to many of these claims in statements, arguing that the fictionalized account is more entertaining.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In the scene in which Steve's son Derek is crying and shouting, the "Donkey Kong" sounds heard don't match the action shown on-screen.

Quotes:

Jillian Wiebe: Work is for people who can't play video games.

Movie Connections:

References Donkey Kong 3 (1983) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Gummy Substances

Great Documentary

I totally disagree with the characterization that Billy Mitchell is made the villain and Steve Weibe the heroic underdog. This film did a great job of just letting each person fill in the colors for themselves. At the end, when Billy Mitchell's finally turning hypocrisy inside out, there are a few shots inserted finally that show that the filmmakers notice what is going on, but that is the extent of it.

This is a great film. Like the film American Movie, it is a whirlwind in which the power and depth of the material is remarkable, and yet it is incredibly compelling to watch, start to finish.

Another important point is that the film is not only a great treatise on individual psychology and what our winning-obsessed culture has wrought, but a great meditation on how the various types are fostered by and then fuel their immediate relations.