Big Fat Liar (2002)

Director:

Shawn Levy

Writers (WGA):

Dan Schneider (story) &
Brian Robbins (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

8 February 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family

Tagline:

The truth is never overrated

Plot:

After a young boy's school essay erroneously finds its way into the hands of a Hollywood producer who turns the idea into a hit film, the boy travels to Los Angeles to claim his credit.

Plot Keywords:

Story | Essay | Liar | Producer | Paper

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 22	7:30 AM	TBS
Mon. Nov. 23	2:00 AM	TBS

Cast

Frankie Muniz	...	Jason Shepherd
Paul Giamatti	...	Marty Wolf
Amanda Bynes	...	Kaylee
Amanda Detmer	...	Monty Kirkham
Donald Faison	...	Frank Jackson
Sandra Oh	...	Mrs. Phyllis Caldwell
Russell Hornsby	...	Marcus Duncan
Michael Bryan French	...	Harry Shepherd
Christine Tucci	...	Carol Shepherd
Lee Majors	...	Vince
Sean O'Bryan	...	Leo
Amy Hill	...	Joscelyn Davis
John Cho	...	Dustin 'Dusty' Wong
Matthew Frauman	...	Lester Golub
Don Yesso	...	Rocco Malone
Rebecca Corry	...	Astrid Barker
Sparkle	...	Grandma Pearl
Taran Killam	...	Bret Callaway
Alexandra Breckenridge	...	Janie Shepherd (as Alex Breckenridge)
Ned Brower	...	Rudy
John Gatins	...	Tow Truck Driver
Andre Rosey Brown	...	Security Guard (as Rosey Brown)
Steven Shenbaum	...	Tram Guide
Jake Miner	...	Aaron
Ted Rooney	...	Boring Teacher
Marisa Petroro	...	Reporter
Randall Newsome	...	Photographer
Michelle Griffin	...	Shandra Duncan
Mike Smith	...	Limo Driver
Andrea Sevilla	...	Housekeeper
Pamela Paulshock	...	Female Extra
Erik Stabenau	...	Stunt Man (as Eric Stabenau)
Tracey Cherelle Jones	...	Penny
Pat O'Brien	...	Pat O'Brien
Brian Turk	...	The Masher
Sandra Lee Gimpel	...	Old Lady (as Sandy Gimpel)
Tim Haldeman	...	Suburban Dad
Patrick Falls	...	Chopper Stunt Man (as Pat Falls)
Timmy Fitzpatrick	...	Darren
Corinne Reilly	...	Wolf Party Guest
Shawn Levy	...	Wolf Party Guest
Dustin Diamond	...	Wolf Party Guest
Bart Myer	...	Wolf Party Guest
Kenan Thompson	...	Party Goer
Kanan Hooker	...	Ninja Kid
Houston Hooker	...	Ninja Kid
C.J. Picerni	...	Party Kid
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kyle Swann	...	Brett
Martin Klebba	...	Kissing Bandit (uncredited)
Natalia Livingston	...	Girl at movie premiere (uncredited)
Jaleel White	...	Himself (uncredited)

Directed by
Shawn Levy

Writing credits (WGA)
Dan Schneider		(story) &
Brian Robbins		(story)
Dan Schneider		(screenplay)

Produced by
Marie Cantin	....	co-producer
Michael Goldman	....	executive producer
Brian Robbins	....	producer
Michael Tollin	....	producer

Original Music by
Christophe Beck

Cinematography by
Jonathan Brown

Film Editing by
Stuart H. Pappé		(as Stuart Pappé)
Kimberly Ray

Casting by
Michelle Morris		(as Michelle Morris Gertz)

Production Design by
Nina Ruscio

Art Direction by
Francis J. Pezza

Set Decoration by
Dena Roth

Costume Design by
Sanja Milkovic Hays

Makeup Department
Ralph M. Abalos	....	assistant hair stylist
Howard Berger	....	special makeup effects artist
Anita Brabec	....	assistant makeup artist
Clare M. Corsick	....	hair department head (as Clare Corsick)
Tammy Kusian	....	hair stylist: Mr. Muniz
Lydia Milars	....	makeup department head
Christopher Nelson	....	special makeup effects artist
Barry Wittman	....	assistant makeup artist
Anthony Miner	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Marie Cantin	....	unit production manager
Virginia Landis Albertson	....	post-production supervisor
Kris Nielsen	....	production supervisor (as Kris Nielsen-Morris)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joe Camp III	....	first assistant director
Rick Kelly	....	second second assistant director
Matt Rebenkoff	....	second assistant director
Ellie Smith	....	second assistant director
Danny Green	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
John Aldays	....	stand-by greensman (as John W. Aldays)
Bryan Belair	....	construction coordinator
Mark Boucher	....	set dresser
Susan A. Burig	....	scenic artist
Matt Callahan	....	art department assistant
Thomas A. Cottrill	....	labor foreman
Scott Doran	....	lead man (as R. Scott Doran)
Don Elliott	....	set dresser
Brandon S. Gilgen	....	stand-by painter (as Brandon Shawn Gilgen)
David L. Glazer	....	property master
Robert C. Goldstein	....	set designer (as Robert Goldstein)
Kenny Hayes	....	propmaker foreman (as Ken L. Hayes)
Tim Jackson	....	general foreman (as Timothy C. Jackson)
Randy Martens	....	greens foreman
Ed Martin II	....	assistant property master
Michael Mikita	....	paint foreman
Mark Sakamoto	....	set dresser
Randy Severino	....	set dresser
Reina Solunaya	....	art department assistant
Scott Swank	....	on-set dresser
Scott Vollmer	....	propmaker gang boss
Kirstin Weller	....	art department assistant
Shannon Curfman	....	lead person: re-shoots (uncredited)
Kathy Orlando	....	buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bobbi Banks	....	adr editor
Jeanette Browning	....	adr recordist
Norval D. Crutcher III	....	supervising adr supervisor
Diana Flores	....	adr mixer
Gary S. Gerlich	....	supervising sound editor (as Gary Gerlich)
Lee Gilmore	....	apprentice sound editor
Jeff Gomillion	....	adr mixer
Marilyn Graf	....	foley editor
Michael Herbick	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bill Higley	....	adr mixer
William Hooper	....	sound editor
Bobby Johanson	....	adr mixer (as Bobby Johnason)
Jason Johnston	....	cable person
Doc Kane	....	adr mixer
Richard LeGrand Jr.	....	supervising sound editor (as Richard Legrand Jr.)
James Marchione	....	adr recordist (as Jim Marchione)
Peter Marling	....	adr recordist
Bob McNabb	....	dialogue editor
Stephen Neary	....	sound recordist
David Obermeyer	....	sound mixer
Patrick O'Sullivan	....	sound editor
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist (as Phillip Rogers)
Walter Spencer	....	dialogue editor
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Samuel Webb	....	assistant sound editor
Tim Webb	....	sound recordist
Jeffrey A. Williams	....	boom operator (as Jeff Williams)
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jared Baker	....	special effects assistant
John S. Baker	....	special effects coordinator
Nick Karas	....	special effects foreman
Craig R. Uszak	....	special effects assistant (as Craig Uszak)

Visual Effects by
Richard Malzahn	....	visual effects supervisor
Derek Ledbetter	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Tsuyoshi Abe	....	stunts
Lesley Aletter	....	stunts
Seth Arnett	....	stunts
William H. Burton	....	stunts (as William Burton)
Michael Chaturantabut	....	stunts (as Mike Chaturantabut)
Kofi Elam	....	stunts
Danny Epper	....	stunts (as Daniel Epper)
Richard Epper	....	stunts
Andy Gill	....	stunts
Cody Gill	....	stunts
Jack Gill	....	stunts
Katie Gill	....	stunts
Mark Ginther	....	stunts
Yoshio Iizuka	....	stunts
Cinda-Lin James	....	stunts
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunts
Svetla Krasteva	....	stunts (as Svetla Krasteba)
Marty Murray	....	stunts
Steve Picerni	....	stunts
Gary Price	....	stunt double: Paul Giamatti
Gary Price	....	stunts
Pat Romano	....	stunt coordinator
Felipe Savahge	....	stunts
Cody Weselis	....	stunts (as Cody Tyler Weselis)
Dick Ziker	....	stunts
Mike Smith	....	stunt limo driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Dean Andolsek	....	chief lighting technician (as Dean F. Andolsek)
Pete Asidilla	....	grip
Danny Barfield	....	best boy grip
Hans Bjerno	....	aerial photographer
Michael Brown	....	grip
Kevin Cadwallader	....	lamp operator
Tracy Allen Davey	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Damon Doherty	....	rigging key grip (as Damon T. Doherty)
René Domínguez	....	grip
Jason Ehlers	....	grip
John Fine	....	lamp operator (as Johnny Fine)
Michael Fuhr	....	second assistant camera
David Gamerman	....	rigging gaffer
Gerry Ganger	....	technician: Spacecam camera
Scott Gregory	....	rigging grip
Rudy Harbon	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Stan Harrison	....	video assist operator
John Hatchitt	....	key grip (as John M. Hatchitt)
Ryan J. Hesse	....	lamp operator
Rex Hiscocks	....	rigging grip best boy (as Rex T. Hiscocks)
Kirsten Laube	....	camera loader
Art Martin	....	first assistant camera
Fredrick W. Marx III	....	rigging electrician (as Fredrick Marx III)
Brien McDonald	....	grip
Michael A. Mendez	....	rigging grip (as Michael Mendez)
Dale Myrand	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Terence Nightingall	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Terence Nightengall)
Robert Ogden	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Masahiro Onodera	....	technician: Spacecam camera
Charles Papert	....	Steadicam operator
Charles Papert	....	camera operator
Mike Parsons	....	rigging best boy electric (as Michael A. Parsons)
Peter Rhoads	....	camera intern
Landon Ruddel	....	grip (as Landen Ruddell)
Thomas J. Ruffner	....	dolly grip (as Thomas A.C. Ruffner)
Gary Spalding	....	rigging grip
Darcy Spires	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Pattie Stone	....	dimmer board operator
Sam Urdank	....	still photographer
O'Shana Walker	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Keith Williams	....	rigging electrician
Eli Golub	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Charles Papert	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Stephen Martin Paull	....	lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Kelly O'Brien	....	casting associate
Sasha Adkinson	....	extras casting (uncredited)
Leor Mendel	....	casting associate (uncredited)
Angelique Midthunder	....	extras casting: Central Casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Camille Argus	....	costume supervisor
Artemio Carpio	....	set costumer
Lorenzo Hearns Jr.	....	set costumer
Lyle Morse	....	costumer
Irena Stepic	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
R. Orlando Duenas	....	first assistant editor
Katie Flint	....	editorial production assistant
Stephen R. Sheridan	....	color timer (as Steve Sheridan)
Angus Spottiswoode	....	apprentice editor
Jan Wesley	....	assistant editor
Frank Cuomo	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)

Music Department
Pete Anthony	....	orchestrator
Julian Bratolyubov	....	music preparation
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor (as Sandy De Crescent)
Rossano Galante	....	orchestrator
David Giuli	....	music preparation (as Dave Giuli)
Tanya Noel Hill	....	assistant music editor
Luana Jackman	....	vocal contractor (as Louana Jackman)
Gary Jones	....	music supervisor
Dave Jordan	....	music supervisor
Kevin Kliesch	....	orchestrator
Kathy Nelson	....	executive in charge of film music
Douglas Romayne	....	orchestrator (as Douglas Stevens)
Casey Stone	....	music scoring mixer
Jojo Villanueva	....	music coordinator
Terry Wilson	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Timothy Bateman	....	transportation co-captain
Steve Imbler	....	transportation coordinator
Austin Thompson	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Russell Allen	....	production secretary
Sebastian Attie	....	accounting clerk
Lori A. Balton	....	location scout
Tyler Burk	....	production assistant
Chris Carrington	....	set medic
Raul Celaya	....	production assistant (as Raul L. Celaya)
J.J. Dalton	....	production assistant
Jennifer Dawes	....	payroll accountant
Jon E. Edwards	....	production assistant
Maurice 'Moe' Freeman	....	production assistant (as Maurice Freeman)
Lisa Furia	....	second assistant accountant
Ramon Galvez	....	craft service
Rhona Gordon	....	studio teacher
Terri Greening	....	first assistant accountant
Nancy Honeycutt	....	production coordinator (as Nancy C. Honeycutt)
J. Larsen Jay	....	assistant production coordinator (as Larsen Jay)
Eva Jensen	....	studio teacher
Joan Johnson	....	assistant to co-producer
Adam Jordan	....	location assistant (as Adam Lee Jordan)
Kim Kerbls	....	production assistant
Christian Krieger	....	assistant location manager
Berna Levin	....	assistant: Mr. Tollin
Tali Lipa	....	production accountant
Stephen Mapel	....	location manager (as Steve Mapel)
Todd A. Marks	....	computer/video coordinator (as Todd Aron Marks)
James Maull	....	post-production accountant (as James O. Maull)
Diane H. Newman	....	script supervisor (as Diane Hassinger Newman)
Coralyn Christian Peirson	....	location assistant
Daria Pepp	....	production assistant
Alan D. Purwin	....	aerial coordinator (as Alan Purwin)
Alan D. Purwin	....	pilot (as Alan Purwin)
J.B. Rasor	....	craft service
Gene A. Roepke	....	assistant: Mr. Levy
Ellen Rydzewski	....	assistant: Mr. Robbins
Ben Skorstad	....	pilot
Dee Dee Smith	....	assistant: Ms. Cantin
Danielle Stewart	....	assistant: Mr. Goldman
Jimmy Zelinger	....	title designer
Steve Zukowski	....	craft service (as Steven Zukowski)
Hilary Adahms	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Carlos A. Aragon	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Candace Brokaw	....	stand-in: Frankie Muniz (uncredited)
Terri Greening	....	accountant: re-shoot (uncredited)
Evan Liss	....	unit medic (uncredited)
Wendy Pineda	....	location coordinator (uncredited)
Wendy Pineda	....	production coordinator (uncredited)
James P. Warren	....	animal trainer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (presents)
• Tollin/Robbins Productions
• Mediastream Zweite Film GmbH & Co. Productions KG

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2003) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2003) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Net5 (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Argentina) (all media)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Video (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2003) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2002) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (retail)

Special Effects

• Perpetual Motion Pictures (visual effects)
• Snow Business International (snow effects)

Other Companies

• Birds & Animals Unlimited  animal trainers
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Eclipse Catering  catering
• L.A. Mad Dogs  voice casting
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Transportation Resources  transportation equipment

Also Known As:

Lügen haben kurze Beine (Germany)
Lost and Found (USA) (working title)
Pay or Play (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some language.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:G | South Korea:All | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-7 | Germany:6 | Norway:11 | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #38481) | Iceland:L | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

When talking to Monty, Kaylee mentions the Wb program Charmed. "when Alyssa Milano was about to cast a spell on her super hot demon boyfriend..."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Marty gets ready to go swimming, he hits a switch to turn on the music. The switch is shown both "on" and "off" after that.

Quotes:

Jason Sheperd: Remember me? I wrote "Big Fat Liar".

Movie Connections:

References Jurassic Park (1993)

Soundtrack:

Party Time

Very nice kids movie; adults can play spot the connection.

Broad comedy, minimized violence, recognizable stars - drop the kids off at the matinee and you're in good shape.

If you go along with them, you can play spot the movie connection. Half the movie is set at Universal Studios Los Angeles. Aside from the obvious (character walking past the Norman Bates House, etc.), the producers left dozens of props from other movies lying around. (I already submitted the cars from "Back to the Future" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".) It's almost like the movie is one big plug for the Universal Studios tour.

Speaking of plugs: Note the obvious ones for Coca-Cola and the E.T. re-release.

Parental Guidance note: Please be sure to explain to your kids that a) Hollywood is not a nice place to run away to, and b) they shouldn't expect to get hugs and encouragement after they run away.