The Babysitters (2007)

Director:

David Ross

Writer (WGA):

David Ross (written by)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

These girls mean business.

Plot:

A teenager turns her babysitting service into a call-girl service for married guys after fooling around with one of her customers.

Plot Keywords:

Call Girl | College | Drugs | Babysitter | High School

Cast

Lauren Birkell	...	Melissa Rowan
Paul Borghese	...	Cook
Chira Cassel	...	Health Teacher
Anthony Cirillo	...	Adam Beltran
Spencer Treat Clark	...	Scott Miral
Andy Comeau	...	Jerry Tuchman
Alexandra Daddario	...	Barbara Yates
Ann Dowd	...	Tammy Lyner
Jason Dubin	...	George
Harold Fort	...	Doug
Alexie Gilmore	...	Jill
Halley Wegryn Gross	...	Nadine Woodberg
Michael Knowles	...	Guidance Counselor
Louisa Krause	...	Brenda Woodberg
Adam LeFevre	...	Mr. Brown
John Leguizamo	...	Michael Beltran
Jake Melman	...	Older Wessler Kid
Sydney Melman	...	Younger Wessler
Sergio Mendoza Sr.	...	Feet in Cabin
Cynthia Nixon	...	Gail Beltran
Denis O'Hare	...	Stan Lyner
Jansen Panettiere	...	Mikey Beltran
Jay Patterson	...	Ira
Ali Phillips	...	Freshman (as Allison Phillips)
Ethan Phillips	...	Mark Wessler (as Ethan 'Johnnie' Phillips)
Andi Potamkin	...	Stacy Silverstein
Bridget Regan	...	Tina Tuchman
Jessica Sandler	...	Jerry's Daughter
Kim Shaw	...	Ali Towne
Nancy St. Alban	...	George's Wife Fran
Katherine Waterston	...	Shirley Lyner
Paul Woodburn	...	Cop
Michael Yavnielli	...	Phil (as Michael Yavnieli)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nicole Berger	...	Student (uncredited)
Kyle Fischbach	...	High School kid (uncredited)
Brigitte Hagerman	...	Student (uncredited)
Raquel Jordan	...	Student (uncredited)
Eric Nelsen	...	High School Kid (uncredited)
Justin Restivo	...	Brazil Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Tyler Shamy	...	High School Kid (uncredited)
Lara Theodos	...	Student (uncredited)

Directed by
David Ross

Writing credits (WGA)
David Ross		(written by)

Produced by
Ilan Arboleda	....	associate producer
Chira Cassel	....	executive producer
Kathy DeMarco	....	producer
Jason Dubin	....	producer
Jennifer Dubin	....	producer
Laura Knight	....	executive producer (as Laura Lynn Knight)
John Leguizamo	....	producer
Scott Macaulay	....	executive producer
Robin O'Hara	....	executive producer
Cora Olson	....	producer
John Portnoy	....	executive producer
George Rizkallah	....	co-producer (as George P. Rizkallah)
Michael Romero	....	line producer
Nick Thurlow	....	executive producer
Todd Williams	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Chad Fischer

Cinematography by
Michael McDonough		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Zene Baker

Casting by
Ronnie Yeskel

Production Design by
Ray Kluga

Set Decoration by
Mila Khalevich

Costume Design by
Daphne Javitch

Makeup Department
Denise DeSimone	....	makeup intern
Suzanne DeSimone	....	makeup department head
Megan Helm	....	hair stylist
Johnny Mooi	....	hair stylist
Lora Scrignoli	....	hair department head

Production Management
Jimmy Price	....	production supervisor (as James Price)
George Rizkallah	....	co-post-production supervisor
Louise Runge	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Andrew Cesana	....	second second assistant director
Jason Dubin	....	second unit director
Jason Graham	....	second assistant director
Urs Hirschbiegel	....	first assistant director
Watari Nishida	....	additional second second assistant director
Justin Ritson	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Leni Calas	....	property master
Pete Dancy	....	on-set dresser
Peter DeCurtis	....	leadman
Mandie DeMeskey	....	on-set dresser
Janine Esposito	....	art intern
Alanna Levy	....	art department coordinator
Kyle Salvatore	....	props
Acacia Thompson	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Joshua Adeniji	....	foley editor
Alex Brazan	....	sound editor
John B. Cormier	....	sound effects editor
Jason Dotts	....	sound designer
Greg Farrell	....	adr engineer
J. Alex Faucheux	....	sound editor
Christopher Fondulas	....	boom operator
Cameron O. Galloway	....	sound effects editor
Judah Getz	....	foley mixer
Kevin Gradnigo	....	sound designer
Kevin Gradnigo	....	sound editor
Scott Hinkley	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Kitting	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Teferra McKenzie	....	boom operator
Esther Regelson	....	dialogue editor
Noah Timan	....	sound mixer
Nathan Toups	....	sound editor
Jonathan Wales	....	sound re-recording mixer

Stunts
Roy Farfel	....	stunt performer
Tina Mckissick	....	stunt double: Nadine
Elliot Santiago	....	stunt coordinator
Manny Siverio	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Arisohn	....	additional electrician
Aida Artieda	....	additional grip
Cesar Baptista	....	grip
Christopher Cannucciari	....	electrician
Ian Carmody	....	camera loader
Marshall Coles	....	grip
John Coots	....	additional electrician
Meraby Ellis	....	best boy grip
Travis Hottinger	....	grip
Mike Jackson	....	electrician
Alec Jarnagin	....	Steadicam operator
Mark T. Karinja	....	electrician
Keith McNicholas	....	electrician
Jessica Miglio	....	still photographer
Messiah Rhodes	....	additional grip
Eddie Rodriguez	....	first assistant camera
Benjamin Salley	....	additional electrician
Meg Schrock	....	additional electric
Jonathan Stern	....	best boy electric
Elisa Vasquez	....	second assistant camera
Jason Velez	....	gaffer
David Waldman	....	camera operator
Zenfeek	....	additional electrician

Casting Department
Stephanie Holbrook	....	casting: New York
Rita Powers	....	extras casting
Sean Powers	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Chrissy Kuhn	....	costumer
Colleen McTigue	....	key costumer
Amy Pickering	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Christopher Kroll	....	additional editor
Joan Malloch	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Jim Black	....	music supervisor
Eric V. Hachikian	....	composer: additional music
Gabe Hilfer	....	associate music supervisor

Other crew
Noor Ahmed	....	production legal
Tara Andrus	....	production accountant
Shelli Arbusman	....	production intern
Brian Baum	....	production assistant
Brandon Blake	....	legal services: Blake & Wang P.A.
Raz Cunningham	....	assistant: Mrs. O'Hara
Jon Dean	....	production office intern
Marianne Denning	....	additional production assistant
Michael DiSalvo	....	office production assistant
Leo Driver	....	parking coordinator
Jason Fesel	....	additional production assistant (as Jason Fessel)
Erica Fishman	....	production assistant: first team
Lauren Fritz	....	location scout
Jonathan Gardner	....	production assistant
Rebecca Garland	....	accounting clerk
Avi Glijansky	....	festival coordinator
Dan Gloeckner	....	additional production assistant (as Dan Gloekner)
Orit Greenberg	....	second assistant location manager
Wilson Green	....	key set production assistant
Sarah Jensen	....	additional production assistant
Susan Kaufman	....	production legal services (as Susan Kaufman Esq.)
Matthew Kreiner	....	assistant production office coordinator
Patrick Mahoney	....	craft service
Jamie A. Marlowe	....	second assistant
Stephanie A. Marquardt	....	script supervisor
Allison McCloud	....	additional production assistant
Marcy McKenzie	....	location manager
Andy Nichols	....	production office intern
Watari Nishida	....	talent wrangler
Koko Ntuen	....	assistant: Mr. Macaulay
Sam O'Brien	....	additional production assistant (as Same O'Brien)
Peggy O'Leary	....	production office intern
Danielle Orange	....	production office intern
Susan T. Parsons	....	production office coordinator
Matthew Pratt-Hewitt	....	production assistant (as Matther S. Pratt-Hewitt)
Phillip Saxton	....	assistant location manager
Lara Sfire	....	production assistant
Mike Sime	....	video playback engineer
Brandon Slee	....	additional production assistant
Gabe Lee Tracy	....	assistant: Mr. Thurlow
Rob van de Laar	....	craft assistant
Justin Vernon	....	production assistant
Clarke Williams	....	production assistant

Thanks
Lon Haber	....	special thanks
Julia Ruiz	....	special thanks
Alexandra Soler	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Forensic Films
• O.D.D. Entertainment
• Rebel Films
• Upload Films

Distributors

• Peace Arch Entertainment Group (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Peace Arch Releasing (2008) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Louisiana Media Services  post-production
• Reder & Feig  production legal services
• Sonic Magic  sound post-production

MPAA:

Rated R for disturbing strong sexual content, language and some drug use - involving teens.

Runtime:

88 min | Canada:90 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:18A | USA:R | Australia:MA (2008) | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R18

Filming Locations:

Clinton Diner, Maspeth, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Forensic Films

Trivia:

Howard Stern was offered the chance to be a producer on the film but he turned it down.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Shirley Lyner: Shirley Lyner. I'm a junior at Alfred E. Groves high school. This is my babysitting service. The answer is no: mom doesn't drink, dad didn't hit me, Uncle Steve never showed me his privates. I don't even have an Uncle Steve. The money is nice, and paid fellatio isn't that much more humiliating than flipping burgers. But that's not why I do it.

Soundtrack:

Too Many Stars

As the great poet Winger opined: daddy says she's too young, but she's old enough for me

Shirley is just your normal babysitting teenager, until she begins an affair with one of her clients (John Leguizamo). After he slips her a few extra bucks in addition to her normal babysitting fee, she quickly decides to make this into a business opportunity and gets her girlfriends into the act of making dough the 'hard' way.

I found this film to be pretty good as a whole, even if the ending is horribly contrived and ties things up too easily. John Lequizamo gives possibly his best performance in a good long while, keeping it low key without his usual annoying flaboyancies. The rest of the cast is serviceable enough and it's reasonably well directed. It managed to keep my interest throughout the duration of the film (always a good sign), even if there were some plot holes I couldn't really overlook.

Eye Candy: Katherine Waterston gets topless

My Grade: C+

DVD Extras: Commentary with writer/Director David Ross & actress Katherine Waterston; a 7 & a half minute making-of; theatrical trailer; and trailers for "the Go-getter" & "Towards Darkness"