Hero Wanted (2008)

Director:

Brian Smrz

Writers:

Chad Law (written by)
Evan Law (written by)

Release Date:

10 July 2008 (Russia)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Plot:

After he awakens in a hospital, a man tracks down and murders the man that left him and a bank teller for dead during a robbery, only to end up having the slain thief's associates come after him in retaliation.

Plot Keywords:

Bank Teller | Hospital | Nonlinear Timeline | Beaten To Death | Accidental Killing

Cast

Cuba Gooding Jr.	...	Liam Case
Ray Liotta	...	Detective Terry Subcott
Norman Reedus	...	Swain
Kim Coates	...	Skinner McGraw
Tommy Flanagan	...	Derek (as Thomas Flannigan)
Jean Smart	...	Melanie McQueen
Christa Campbell	...	Kayla McQueen
Steven Kozlowski	...	Lynch McGraw
Gary Cairns II	...	Gill
Sammi Hanratty	...	Marley Singer (as Samantha Hanratty)
Ben Cross	...	Cosmo Jackson
Todd Jensen	...	Detective Wallace MacTee
Paul Sampson	...	Gordy McGraw
Lisa Dunne	...	Marley's Mom
Elitsa Rajeva	...	Dawn Case (as Elitza Rajeva)
Atanas Srebrev	...	Bartender (as Nasko Srebrev)
Tom Nelson	...	Security Guard
Sergio Buenrostro	...	Rookie Cop
Mimi Rigassio	...	Receptionist
Nathan Bautista	...	Door Dude
Sunnie Merrill	...	Bakery Woman
Mike Straub	...	Scrubs
George Asenov	...	Paramedic #1
Amy Davis	...	Staci - the Waitress
Carol Smrz	...	Family In Bank #1
Jenna Smrz	...	Family In Bank #2
Colton Lucas Smrz	...	Family In Bank #3 (as Colton Smrz)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Shero Rauf	...	Razor Room Dancer (uncredited)
Nicholas Rich	...	Police officer with K-9 (uncredited)

Directed by
Brian Smrz

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Chad Law		written by
Evan Law		written by

Produced by
Boaz Davidson	....	executive producer
Danny Dimbort	....	executive producer
Avi Lerner	....	executive producer
Danny Lerner	....	producer
Johnny Martin	....	producer
David E. Ornston	....	producer
Richard Salvatore	....	producer
Trevor Short	....	executive producer
John Thompson	....	producer
Les Weldon	....	producer

Original Music by
Kenneth Burgomaster

Cinematography by
Larry Blanford		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Tim Anderson

Casting by
Pam Gilles
Valerie McCaffrey

Production Design by
Carlos Silva Da Silva

Art Direction by
Sonya Savova

Set Decoration by
Norma Jean Sanders		(as Norma Sanders)

Makeup Department
Sofi Hvarleva	....	makeup artist (as Sofi Hvurleva)
Ivon Ivanova	....	makeup artist
Judy Lovell	....	makeup artist: Mr. Liotta
Tatyana 'Tita' Sleptsova	....	makeup artist: Mr. Gooding (as Tatyana Sleptcova)
Dimitrina Stoyanova	....	hair stylist (as Dimitrinka Stoyanova)
Rositsa Tsanovska	....	hair stylist (as Rositza Tzankovska)

Production Management
George Gale	....	post-production supervisor
Veselin Karadjov	....	unit production manager (as Vesselin Karadjov)
Joseph Lobato	....	post-production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sylvia Asenova	....	second second assistant director (as Silvia Asenova)
Mathew Dunne	....	first assistant director (as Mathew Dunne)
Petya Evtimova	....	second assistant director
Galina Kyuchukova	....	third assistant director
Johnny Martin	....	second unit director

Art Department
Filip Andreev	....	set decoration laborer
Diana Angelova	....	graphic designer
Petko Angelov	....	set dresser
Vladislav Balchov	....	laborer
Borislav Belberov	....	stand-by props
Victor Bikarski	....	carpenter
Blagovest Blagoev	....	laborer
Bogdan Bogdanov	....	carpenter
Borislav Bogdanov	....	set dresser
Valeri Bojilchev	....	laborer
Ivan Borisov	....	set decoration electrician
Ivan Borushev	....	welder
Bilyana Buchmann	....	assistant property master (as Biliana Buchmann)
Dirk Buchmann	....	property master
Lidiya Burukova	....	graphic designer
Georgi Chavramov	....	set dressing buyer
Ina Deneva	....	painter
Emanuil Deyanov	....	set dresser (as Emanuil Deanov)
Dian Dimitrov	....	carpenter
Ivan Dimitrov	....	on-set dresser
Kamen Dimov	....	painter (as Kamen Dinov)
Kiril Dimov	....	carpenter (as Kiril Domov)
Kristian Dobrev	....	on-set dresser
Maria Doicheva	....	painter
Georgi Emilov	....	plasterer
Bojidar Evtov	....	carpenter (as Bojidar Eftov)
Bojidar Evtov	....	construction foreman (as Bozhidar Eftov)
Andrey Filchev	....	stand-by props (as Andrew Filchev)
Branka Gligorova	....	assistant art department coordinator
Nikolai Goranov	....	carpenter (as Nikolay Goranov)
Milen Grigorov	....	laborer
Anna Hadzhieva	....	art department coordinator
Valentin Hadzhiev	....	carpenter (as Valentin Hadjiev)
Lubomir Harizanov	....	set decoration laborer
Ana Hristova	....	painter
Gergana Hristova	....	set decoration painter
Iliya Iliev	....	set decoration laborer
Petko Iliev	....	construction buyer
Sashko Iliev	....	construction buyer
Veselin Ilov	....	laborer
Aleksander Ivanov	....	painter
Martin Ivanov	....	set decoration welder
Petko Ivanov	....	set dressing buyer
Alexei Karagyaur	....	graphic designer (as Alexey Karagyaur)
Alexei Karagyaur	....	set decorator: Bulgaria
Mihail Kitanov	....	welder
Georgi Kodzhabashiyski	....	painter (as Georgi Kodjabashiiski)
Vasil Konakchiev	....	plasterer (as Vasko Konakchiev)
Kiril Kovachev	....	carpenter
Petar Lozanov	....	set decoration carpenter
Petar Lozanov	....	set decoration painter
Vencislav Lukanov	....	set decoration upholsterer
Buddy MacKett	....	construction manager (as Buddy Macket)
Petko Matev	....	welder
Mihaela Mihailova	....	construction store
Mihaela Mihailova	....	set decoration store
Miko Mikov	....	welder
Lubomir Milanov	....	carpenter
Kolio Nachev	....	head painter (as Kolyo Nachev)
Kolio Nachev	....	plasterer
Ivanka Nenova	....	set decoration painter (as Ivanka Memova)
Vasil Nikodimov	....	plasterer
Veselin Nikolov	....	carpenter
Svetoslav Panayotob	....	laborer
Angel Pavlov	....	laborer
Pavlin Pavlov	....	carpenter
Vladimir Petkov	....	carpenter
Svetlozar Petrov	....	set dresser
Vlado Popov	....	plasterer
Emil Shmidt	....	set dressing buyer (as Emil Schmidt)
Eleonora Slavkova	....	painter
Rosen Stefanov	....	leadman
Stefan Stoikov	....	carpenter (as Stefan Sv. Stoikov)
Svetoslav Stoilov	....	carpenter
Radko Stoyanov	....	set decoration laborer
Stoyan Cv. Stoyanov	....	plasterer
Strahil Strahilov	....	carpenter
Stefan Tassev	....	carpenter (as Stefan Tasev)
Rumen Todorov	....	laborer
Stoyan Tsakov	....	set dresser (as Stoyan Cakov)
Todor Tunov	....	carpenter
Ivan Yankov Kirov	....	set decoration upholsterer
Valery Yankov	....	set decoration electrician (as Valery Yankov)
Ivailo Zahariev	....	laborer
Zhivko Zhelyazkov	....	storyboard artist (as Jivko Jeliazkov)

Sound Department
Joshua Adeniji	....	foley editor
Randy Babajtis	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Dehn	....	assistant sound editor
Judah Getz	....	foley mixer
Angela Hemingway	....	adr editor
Angela Hemingway	....	dialogue editor
Scott Hinkley	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kiril Kaloyanov	....	boom operator
Vladimir Kaloyanov	....	sound mixer
Richard Kitting	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Dana McCommon	....	additional adr mixer
Valery Metodiev	....	boom operator
David F. Van Slyke	....	dialogue supervisor
Jonathan Wales	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Ivo Jivkov	....	special effects supervisor
Marten Ruskov	....	special effects crew
Yana Stoyanova	....	prosthetic makeup designer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Ivaylo Andonov	....	digital compositor
Simeon Asenov	....	visual effects art director
Luba Atanasova	....	video colorist
Svilen Aynadzhiev	....	digital compositor
Angelina Borisowa	....	visual effect assistant editor
Maria Boyuklieva	....	digital compositor
Rachel Clement	....	digital cleanup artist
Scott Coulter	....	visual effects producer
Nina Dimitrova	....	matchmove artist
Konstantin Dimitrov	....	digital artist
Kiril Georgiev	....	visual effects coordinator
Kiril Gizdov	....	digital compositor
Danail Hadzhiyski	....	digital artist
Angel Ivanov	....	3D lead artist
Milen Jiliazkov	....	digital lead artist
Ivet Jordanova	....	visual effects artist
Peter Keranov	....	digital compositor
Dennis Little	....	DI producer
Maria Maltcheva	....	on-set visual effects assistant
Diana Moneva	....	digital compositor
Nick Peshunoff	....	visual effects coordinator
Diana Simeonova	....	matchmove artist
Atanas Stankov	....	visual effects
Stefan Tchakarov	....	visual effects supervisor
Casey Yahnke	....	digital compositor: Mechnology Visual Effects
Slavov Yanko	....	matchmove artist
Vladimir Zdravkov	....	visual effects systems administrator

Stunts
Asen Asenov	....	stunts
Jake Brake	....	stunt rigger
Georgi Dimitrov	....	stunts
Dimiter Doichinov	....	stunts (as Dimitar Doichinov)
Dimiter Doichinov	....	stunts: costumer (as Dimitar Doichinov)
Dian Hristov	....	stunts (as Diyan Hristov)
Radoslav Ignatov	....	stunts
Borislav Iliev	....	stunts (as Dorislav Iliev)
Charles Jarman	....	stunt double: Mr. Gooding
Danko Jordanov	....	stunt double
Danko Jordanov	....	stunt double: Mr. Kozlowski (as Danko Yordanov)
Danko Jordanov	....	stunts (as Danko Yordanov)
George Karlukovski	....	stunt double: Mr. Coates (as Georgi Karlukovski)
George Karlukovski	....	stunts (as Georgi Karlukovski)
Kalin Kerin	....	stunts
Georgi Manchev	....	stunts
Johnny Martin	....	stunts: policeman #1
Javor Mihailov	....	stunt double: Mr. Liotta
Trayan Milenov-Troy	....	stunts (as Trayan Milenov)
Radoslav Parvanov	....	stunts
Velizar Peev	....	stunts
Rumen Petrov	....	stunts
Elitsa Rajeva	....	stunts (as Elitza Rujeva)
Krasimir Simeonov	....	stunts
Krasimir Simeonov	....	stunts: client
Scott Sproule	....	stunt rigger
Georgi Stanislavov	....	stunts
Vencislav Stojanov	....	stunts (as Ventsislav Stoyanov)
Teodor Tsolov	....	stunts (as Teodor Tzolov)
Magdalena Vurbanova	....	stunt double: Ms. Hanratty
Magdalena Vurbanova	....	stunts (as Magdalena Varbanova)
Yordan Zahariev	....	stunt coordinator (as Yordan Zahariev-Zmeya)
Jake Brake	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Hristo Aleksandrov	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Ivan Aleksandrov	....	rigging grip
Anna Andreeva	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (as Anna V. Andreeva)
Ivaylo Angelov	....	rigger (as Ivo Angelov)
Mihail Apostolov	....	key grip
Dimitar Bonev	....	focus puller: "a" camera
Miroslav Borisov	....	rigging grip cable cam
Jake Brake	....	key rigger
Matteo Carlesimo	....	Steadicam operator
Matteo Carlesimo	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Georgi Dianelos	....	focus puller: "c" camera
Spiro Dichev	....	rigging grip
Dimitar Dimitrov	....	grip
Georgy Dimitrov	....	set generator (as George Dimirtrov)
Hristo Elandjiev	....	electrician
Vladislav Galabov	....	rigger
Ivailo Genchev	....	rigger (as Ivaylo Genchev)
Desislav Georgiev	....	camera operator: remote head camera
Stoyan Georgiev	....	grip (as Stoyan H. Georgiev)
Lyubomir Hristoskov	....	dolly grip (as Liubomir Hristoskov)
Ivailo Ivanov	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (as Ivaylo Ivanov)
Ivelin Ivanov	....	Genny base camp
Ivailo Kostov	....	electrician
Nikolai Kostov	....	rigging key grip (as Nikolay Kostov)
Tsvetan Kostov	....	grip (as Cvetan Kostov)
Borislav Krastanov	....	pre-rig gaffer
Neven Mihailova	....	camera operator: "c" camera
George Mihailov	....	best boy electric (as Georgie Mihailov)
Nikolai Mihailov	....	electrician (as Nikolay Mihailov)
Anton Nakov	....	focus puller: "c" camera
Emil Petkov	....	rigging grip
Georgi Petkov	....	grip
Radoslav Petkov	....	video assistant
Plamen Soklev	....	electrician
Scott Sproule	....	key rigger
Georgi Stanishev	....	camera operator: remote head camera
Venelin Stepanov	....	grip
Emil Topuzov	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Ivan Vatzov	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Simon Versano	....	still photographer
Konstantin Vladimirov	....	electrician (as Kostadin Vladimirov)
Mihail Yanakiev	....	second assistant camera: "c" camera
Yavor Zahariev	....	gaffer
Borislav Zlatinov	....	camera loader (as Borislav Slatanov)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Katya Ivanova	....	costume supervisor
Atanas Ivanov	....	wardrobe assistant
Vladimir Kovachev	....	wardrobe assistant
Daniela Kutsarova	....	laundry (as Daniela Kucarova)
Nik Palankov	....	assistant costume designer
Maria Stoyanova	....	tailor
Jasmina Vasileva-Stoichkova	....	costumer: Mr. Gooding (as Jasmina Vaileva)

Editorial Department
Ryan Dorney	....	first assistant editor
Julius Friede	....	digital intermediate colorist
David Graubard	....	digital intermediate senior systems engineer
Candice Levy	....	post-production coordinator
Dennis Little	....	digital intermediate producer
Jon Pehlke	....	on-line editor
Sarah Priestnall	....	production supervisor: digital intermediate
Todor G. Todorov	....	colorist: dailies (uncredited)

Music Department
Selena Arizanovic	....	music coordinator
Drew DeAscentis	....	music editor
Ashley Miller	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Angel Angelov	....	driver: truck
Stefan Angelov	....	driver: art department truck
Nikolay Asenov	....	driver: set dressing minivan
Ivaylo Avramov	....	driver: Mr. Gooding
Sotir Baladjanov	....	driver: pyrotechnics effects
Milen Bojichkov	....	driver: Mr. Blanford (as Milen Bojichov)
Hristo Bonev	....	driver: wardrobe truck
Boyan Borisov	....	driver: grip pickup
Boyan Borisov	....	driver: makeup trailer, Mr. Gooding
Boyan Borisov	....	driver: pulling trailers
Stefan Cheresharski	....	driver: construction truck
Svetlin Chervenkov	....	driver: cast minivan
Dimitur Dimitrov	....	driver: grip truck (as Dimitar Dimitrov)
Georgi Dimitrov	....	driver: light truck
Ivo Dimitrov	....	driver: riggers minivan
Vladimir Dimitrov	....	office runner
Stefan Dinev	....	driver: grip truck
Antonio Dulendarov	....	driver: prelight truck (as Antonio Delendarov)
Stefan Dundakov	....	driver: wardrobe minivan
Lubomir Evtimov	....	driver: art department
Ivo Georgiev	....	driver: makeup cast
Traicho Georgiev	....	driver: cable rig truck
Ventsislav Ignatov	....	driver: light truck
Iliya Iliev	....	driver: props truck
Sashko Iliev	....	driver: construction
Martin Kolev	....	driver: art department
Nikolai Kolev	....	motorhome driver: Mr. Liotta (as Niki Kolev)
Bojidar Kostov	....	driver: cast minivan
Lyubo Krastev	....	driver: crew bus (as Lubo Krastev)
Stefan Lalev	....	action vehicles
Stanislav Manolov	....	driver: crew bus
Yavor Mantarkov	....	assistant transportation coordinator
Rumen Marinov	....	driver: Mr. Coates
Nedko Mavrikov	....	driver: construction minivan
Kalin Nikolov	....	transportation coordinator
Lyudomil Nikolov	....	driver: camera truck (as Ludmil Nikolov)
Stoyan Nikolov	....	driver: pulling trailers
Stoyan Nikolov	....	motorhome driver: Mr. Gooding
Cvetomil Peshov	....	driver: props
Plamen Petrov	....	driver: special effects
Svetlyo Petrov	....	driver: Mr. Smrz
Svetlin Popov	....	driver: set dressing truck
Emil Serkedjiev	....	driver: honeywagon
Zahari Todorov	....	driver: crew bus
Vladimir Vasilev	....	driver: Mr. Martin
Vladimir Vasilev	....	driver: cast minivan (as Vladimir St. Vasilev)

Other crew
Amy Agzarian	....	chief accountant
Prince Bagdasarian	....	film and high definition coordinator
Anna Bankova	....	payroll accountant
Vimala Berrington	....	script supervisor
Wiebina Berrington	....	script supervisor
Alexandre Coscas	....	assistant: Mr Lerner
Yanko Denkov Takiev	....	production assistant (as Yanko Takev)
Vladimir Dimitrov	....	production assistant (as Vladimir Dimitrov)
Claude Forest	....	insurance broker
Elka Gecheva	....	production assistant
Hristian Georgiev	....	photo double: Mr. Coates
Andrey Getov	....	production assistant
Dimitar Ilkov	....	photo double: Mr. Sampson
Stoyan Istratiev	....	photo double: Mr. Kozlowski
Todd Korody	....	systems engineer
Krastio I. Krastev	....	production assistant
Lily Lacheva	....	production accountant: Bulgaria
Alan J. Lam	....	production controller (as Alan Lam)
Alan J. Lam	....	production controller
Joan Mao	....	assistant: Mr Davidson
Plamen Milanov	....	set coordinator
Svetoslav Milenov	....	photo double: Mr. Jensen (as Svetoslav Milanov)
Travis Mitchell	....	post production accountant
Lyuben Nikolov	....	craft service (as Ljubo Nikolov)
Violeta Piperevska	....	production coordinator
Brieann Rich	....	set medic
Lea Rozen	....	office assistant
Hristo Shterev	....	production assistant
Alexander Skerlev	....	production assistant
Veselin Stankov	....	accounting assistant
Vencislav Tzonchev	....	photo double: Mr. Kozlowski
Arturo Lopez Uscanga	....	scanning manager
Robert Van Norden	....	production coordinator: Los Angeles
Roman Viaris-de-Lesegno	....	vice president finance
Vladimir Vladimirov	....	location manager

Thanks
Steven Kozlowski	....	dedicatee

Production Companies

• Heroic Productions
• Martini Films
• Millennium Films
• Salvatore/Ornston Productions
• Two Sticks Productions

Distributors

• Odeon (2008) (Cyprus) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• CK Entertainment (2009) (Japan) (DVD)
• Eagle Films (2008) (Non-USA) (all media) (middle east)
• Gativideo (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2008) (Thailand) (all media)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2008) (Vietnam) (all media)
• Millennium Films (2008) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• Nu Image Films (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Odeon (2008) (Romania) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2008) (USA) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• TV2 (2009) (Hungary) (TV) (original airing)
• Top Film (2008) (Russia) (all media)

Other Companies

• Fairfield Studios  sound post-production (additional adr recording)
• Hollywood Intermediate  digital intermediate services
• On Tour Productions  provided the dog
• On Tour Productions  transportation services
• Sonic Magic  sound post-production
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility (aka Soundtrack Boston)
• Talent Partners Casting  extras casting
• Wildfire Studios  digital intermediate facility

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language and brief sexual content.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:M18 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:MA | Argentina:16 | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

New Boyana Film Studios, Sofia, Bulgaria

Company:

Heroic Productions

Trivia:

Actor Paul Sampson suffered a minor eye injury during one sequence in which he is shot by Ben Cross' character due to a premature squib detonation. This footage is included in the finished film.

Goofs:

Continuity: After the cops find the dead body in the bathroom of the nightclub there is a scene where the two detectives play pool in a bar. In one split of a second you can see the que ball on the table but once the pool table is off camera the detective is clearly hitting a different ball.

Quotes:

Liam Case: I wish I wouldn't have survived in the bank that day. I wish they'd have killed me.

Soundtrack:

Scared

Loved the opening shot

Camera work on the opening shot is just awesome.

Was is a solid straight camera leading from the street, through the apartment, out the alley, down the lane and back into the street? If it was, I think that was just a fantastic piece of direction, even though the apartment and alley didn't hold any value, but the camera work was really cool.

Overall, I liked the film a lot and thought the story was really well and most of the characters were written and portrayed good.

There was some overkill on the gunfire and the standard overdone nightclub gangster stuff, but in general, the rest was really good.

What I am trying to understand is why a bunch of movies are being filmed in Bulgaria now to represent an American city.

With a 12 million budget, filming in some small town in the US or Canada would definitely cover the bill, but a bunch of shoots are being flown overseas...how does that help on budgeting? Really...it loses it's originality.

I remember times when Vancouver would portray New York or Detroit...and while that was not fit either...Bulgaria certainly doesn't cut as inner city America or Canada at all...just the little details that make it not gel.

Aside from a few minor things, I think it's an overall good production with a great opening shot.