The Jane Austen Book Club (2007)

Director:

Robin Swicord

Writers (WGA):

Robin Swicord (screenplay)
Karen Joy Fowler (book)

Release Date:

5 October 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

You don't have to know the books to be in the club.

Plot:

Six Californians start a club to discuss the works of Jane Austen, only to find their relationships -- both old and new -- begin to resemble 21st century versions of her novels.

Plot Keywords:

Skydiving | Jane Austen | Book Club | Affair | Rhodesian Ridgeback

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Maria Bello	...	Jocelyn
Emily Blunt	...	Prudie Drummond
Kathy Baker	...	Bernadette
Amy Brenneman	...	Sylvia Avila
Maggie Grace	...	Allegra Avila
Jimmy Smits	...	Daniel Avila
Ed Brigadier	...	Pastor
Kevin Zegers	...	Trey
Marc Blucas	...	Dean Drummond
Catherine Schreiber	...	Academic Woman
Ned Hosford	...	Waiter
Hugh Dancy	...	Grigg Harris
Messy Stench	...	Girl with Dog Collar
Chris Burket	...	Skydive Instructor
Parisa Fitz-Henley	...	Corinne
Lynn Redgrave	...	Mama Sky
Stephanie Denise Griffin	...	Mediator
Myndy Crist	...	Lynne
Graham Norris	...	Editor
Kurt Bryant	...	Rocknasium Instructor
Russ Jones	...	Parent
Michelle Ewin	...	Very Young Nurse
Gwendoline Yeo	...	Dr. Samantha Yep
Nancy Travis	...	Cat
Miguel Nájera	...	Señor Obando
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Shaifali Ratti	...	Karen Bhave
Sybil Martinez	...	Sally Wong (uncredited)
Kara R. Stribling	...	Rollerblader (uncredited)

Directed by
Robin Swicord

Writing credits (WGA)
Robin Swicord		(screenplay)
Karen Joy Fowler		(book)

Produced by
John Calley	....	producer
Julie Lynn	....	producer
Jonathan McCoy	....	line producer
Lisa Medwid	....	associate producer
Diana Napper	....	producer
Marshall Rose	....	executive producer
Kelly Thomas	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Aaron Zigman

Cinematography by
John Toon		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Maryann Brandon

Casting by
Deborah Aquila
Jennifer L. Smith		(as Jennifer Smith)
Mary Tricia Wood		(as Tricia Wood)

Production Design by
Rusty Smith

Art Direction by
Sebastian Schroder		(as Sebastian Schroeder)

Set Decoration by
Meg Everist

Costume Design by
Johnetta Boone

Makeup Department
Debra Coleman	....	makeup artist
Daniel Curet	....	hair department head
Kimberly Felix	....	key makeup artist (as Kim Felix-Burke)
Rudolfo Icezalaya Hernandez	....	additional hair stylist
Marie Larkin	....	key hair stylist
Sian Richards	....	makeup department head

Production Management
Jonathan McCoy	....	unit production manager
John Portnoy	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Julian Brain	....	second second assistant director
Paula Case	....	additional second second assistant director
Vincent Lascoumes	....	first assistant director
Christophe Le Chanu	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Jory Alvarado	....	lead man
Yumi Arai	....	art department intern
Omar Cruz	....	on-set dresser
Chris Eguia	....	property master: title montage unit
Lisa Fiorito	....	art department production assistant
Valerie Green	....	art director: title montage unit
Melina Kanitz	....	art department intern
Mark Kudra	....	on-set dresser (as Mark R. Kudra)
C.J. Maguire	....	property master
John McElroy	....	assistant property master (as John H. McElroy)
Wendy Means	....	art department coordinator (as Wendy Stanton)
Victor Mendez	....	swing gang
James Pollack	....	swing gang
Jennifer R. Blair	....	art department coordinator: pre-production (uncredited)
Lucie Bourgeau	....	art department assistant (uncredited)
Jaudi Negri	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Eric Reichardt	....	lead scenic (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jeremy Balko	....	adr mixer
Michael J. Benavente	....	supervising sound editor
Sean Byrnes	....	additional boom operator
Sean Byrnes	....	sound utility
Samuel C. Crutcher	....	sound editor (as Sam Crutcher)
Craig A. Dellinger	....	sound editor (as Craig Dellinger)
Peter J. Devlin	....	sound mixer (as Peter Devlin)
Jonathan Golodner	....	sound editor
Vincent Guisetti	....	foley artist
Pamela Kahn	....	foley artist
Tricia Linklater	....	assistant sound editor
David Raymond	....	boom operator
Kyle Rochlin	....	foley recordist
Steven Ticknor	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Steve Ticknor)
Jonathan Wales	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Weisberg	....	adr mixer
Tom Caton	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Elizabeth Rainey	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Chris Cline	....	special effects technician
David Waine	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Jason Anderson	....	interactive compositing coordinator: SPI
Govardhan Bakthavachalam	....	roto lead: Imageworks India
Shannan Burkley	....	digital matte painter: SPI
Govardhan Das	....	lead roto artist: SPI (as Govardhan)
James P. Noon	....	tracking
Sandesh Ramdev	....	roto artist
Shobanbabu	....	cg supervisor
David Taritero	....	senior visual effects producer: SPI
Matthew Thomas	....	production services technician: SPI
Carey Villegas	....	visual effects supervisor: SPI
Dhiraj Brahma	....	roto artist (uncredited)
Sankarasubramanian	....	roto artist: imageworks india (uncredited)
Sukumaran Lalithambika Vijin	....	rotoscope artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Kurt Bryant	....	stunt coordinator
Stacey Carino	....	stunt double: Maggie Grace
Robert A. Caster	....	stunts: skydiving
Clint Clawson	....	stunts: skydiving
Melanie Conatser Peschio	....	stunts: skydiving
Brett A. Jones	....	stunts (as Brett Jones)
Craig O'Brien	....	stunts: skydiving
Scott E. Smith	....	stunt coordinator: skydiving (as Scott Smith)
Scott E. Smith	....	stunts: skydiving (as Scott Smith)

Camera and Electrical Department
Prarthna Arias	....	video assist operator
David Ariniello	....	dolly grip
Randy Babchuck	....	set lighting technician
Greg Baldi	....	director of photography: title montage unit
James Barker	....	best boy electric
James Barker	....	best boy electric: title montage unit
Samuel Barker	....	set lighting technician
Edward C. Bartel II	....	set lighting technician (as Ed Bartel II)
Katie Bogner	....	camera loader
Faith Brewer	....	camera operator: title montage unit
Faith Brewer	....	first assistant camera: title montage unit
Chris Burket	....	additional second assistant camera
Shane Buttle	....	set lighting technician
Brian Cantrell	....	set lighting technician
Kevin Chickanis	....	best boy grip: title montage unit
Chris Cline	....	video assist operator
Dhamarata Dhiensuwana	....	key rigging grip (as Dhamarata 'G' Dhiensuwana)
Louie Escobar	....	best boy rigger (as Louis Escobar)
Camille Freer	....	first assistant camera: "c" camera
Daniel H. Goldstein	....	set lighting technician (as Dan Goldstein)
Cory Gunter	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Keith A. Hascher	....	electrical intern (as Keith Hascher)
Darry Herrington	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, title montage unit (as Darrell Herrington)
Lawrence Karman	....	Steadicam operator
Lawrence Karman	....	camera operator
Vessie Kazachka	....	camera loader
Nicholas Gerard Klein	....	company grip (as Nicholas Klein)
Darin Krask	....	second assistant camera
Bill Layton	....	camera operator: "c" camera
Emily Mackley	....	first assistant camera (as Emily Nagel)
Denis Moran	....	camera operator: "c" camera (as Denis Muran)
Keiko Nakahara	....	electric intern: title montage unit
Keiko Nakahara	....	electrical intern
David C. Negrin	....	first assistant camera: "c" camera (as David Negrin)
Ralph Nelson	....	still photographer
George A. Olson Jr.	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as George Olson)
Pat O'Mara	....	key grip
Pat O'Mara	....	key grip: title montage unit
David Parker	....	best boy grip
David Parker	....	best boy grip: title montage unit
Tim Phelps	....	gaffer
Tim Phelps	....	gaffer: title montage unit
Nicholas Rini	....	company grip
William Robinson	....	first assistant camera: title montage unit (as Bill Robinson)
Eric Smith	....	camera loader
Penny Sprague	....	first assistant camera: "c" camera
Anthony Tellez	....	company grip
Anthony Widmer	....	company grip (as Tony Widmer)
Jay Pope	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Dawn Marie Deibert	....	extras casting (as Dawn Deibert)
Samantha Finkler	....	casting associate
Rich King	....	extras casting
Georgia Simon	....	adr voice casting
Erin Toner	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Deborah Myles Davis	....	costume buyer
Lorenzo Hearns Jr.	....	key costumer
Angela Ledgerwood	....	costume intern
Ellen Ryba	....	costume supervisor
Miriam Schulman	....	designer: artificial jewelry
Jean Stender Swicord	....	consultant: knitting
Earl Tanchuck	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Joanna Adler	....	post-production coordinator
Dan Aguilar	....	digital intermediate on-line editor: Company 3
Christine Carr	....	digital intermediate producer: Company 3
Mike Chiado	....	digital intermediate technician: Company 3
Tricia Chiarenza	....	color timer
David Feldman	....	digital intermediate on-line producer: Company 3
Jennifer Godin	....	post-production coordinator (as Jenn Godin)
Jackie Lee	....	digital intermediate account executive: Company 3
Mark T. Osborne	....	digital intermediate colorist: Company 3 (as Mark Osborne)
Julian Smirke	....	first assistant editor
Royce Smith	....	lab timer
Stefan Sonnenfeld	....	digital intermediate executive producer: Company 3
Jorge Tanaka	....	digital intermediate assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Johnny Caruso	....	music editor
Barklie K. Griggs	....	music supervisor
Michael Stern	....	music score mixer
Michael Stern	....	music score recordist
Jesse Voccia	....	electronic music programmer

Transportation Department
Martin C. Alvillar	....	driver (as Marty C. Alvillar)
Luis Arroyo	....	driver
Drew Barnett-Hamilton	....	transportation clerk
Robin Bishop	....	driver
Chris Faiella	....	driver
D'Aldo Fazzone	....	driver
Rick Fese Jr.	....	driver (as Rick Fese)
Sandra Freeman	....	driver: title montage unit (as Sandy Freeman)
Geno Hart	....	transportation consultant
Chris Haynes	....	driver
Jay Krueger	....	driver
Ned LaGrotta	....	driver: title montage unit
Ronald Linxwiler	....	driver (as Ron Linxwiler)
Marc Lipman	....	driver
Robert Mckee	....	driver
Michael O'Grady	....	driver (as Mike O'Grady)
Peter Ortega	....	driver
Fidel Pean	....	driver
John Pellegrino	....	transportation captain (as John 'JR' Pellegrino)
Armando Santana	....	driver
Tim Schau	....	driver
Anthony Sorrentino	....	driver
John F. Teeple	....	driver
Luis F. Velandia	....	driver
Ronald Wayne Yakshe	....	transportation co-captain (as Ronald W. Yakshe)
Sergio Zarate	....	driver
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car (uncredited)

Other crew
Carlos A. Aragon	....	location manager (as Carlos Antonio Aragon)
Bettina Browne	....	animal trainer
Emerson E. Bruns	....	legal services
Ernesto Chincgillas	....	additional chef: Alex's Gourmet Catering (as Ernesto Chinchillas)
Sarah Clifford	....	animal trainer
Aidan Orion Crawford	....	assistant: Hugh Dancy (as Aiden Crawford)
Bryan Daley	....	production intern
Tad Driscoll	....	production accountant
Angel Estrada	....	additional chef: Alex's Gourmet Catering
Heather Fielding	....	studio teacher
Peter Flanigan	....	legal services
Jesse Grillo	....	location aide
Erica Hagen	....	assistant: John Calley
Jason Halley	....	set production assistant (as Jason 'Hippy' Halley)
Rebecca Hall	....	assistant: Maria Bello
Lori Hironaka	....	assistant: Robin Swicord
Jeff Hunt	....	production office assistant
Paul Jaconi Biery	....	production coordinator (as Paul Jaconi-Biery)
Lindsey Kaiser	....	production assistant: title montage unit
Lindsey Kaiser	....	production intern
Shea Kammer	....	key first assistant accountant
Melissa Lambert	....	assistant: Amy Brenneman
Eloy Lara	....	set medic (as Eloy Lara Jr.)
Monica M. Lecusay	....	production intern (as Monica Lecusay)
Scott Levine	....	set production assistant
Samantha Luu	....	production assistant: title montage unit
Liana Maeby	....	accounting clerk
Jan McWilliams	....	script supervisor
Scott Menville	....	adr loop group
Richard Miro	....	adr loop group
Bob Neill	....	adr loop group
Eric Petersen	....	assistant location manager
Jacqueline Piñol	....	adr loop group
J. Lamont Pope	....	adr loop group (as Juan Pope)
John Portnoy	....	title designer: end title layout
Jose Prieto	....	chef: Alex's Gourmet Catering
Michelle Ruff	....	adr loop group
Martin Salgo	....	production secretary
Nina Saxon	....	title designer
Megan Schmidt	....	set production assistant
Justin Shenkarow	....	adr loop group
Georgia Simon	....	adr loop group
Tom Skapars	....	assistant: Robin Swicord
Scott E. Smith	....	provider: skydiving footage (as Scott Smith)
Kelly Stables	....	adr loop group
Linda Stanley	....	additional studio teacher
Karen Strassman	....	adr loop group
Scott Trimble	....	key assistant location manager
Andrew Turner	....	assistant: Emily Blunt
Peter Vogel	....	assistant production coordinator
Alma Weaks	....	craft service
Robert S. Wilhelm Jr.	....	key set production assistant (as Bobby S. Wilhelm Jr.)
Byll Williams Bird	....	location manager: title montage unit
Tami Zamberg	....	production intern
Lisa Marie Boiko	....	choreographer (uncredited)
Sarah Clifford	....	animal supplier (uncredited)
Claire Doré	....	dog trainer (uncredited)
Charles Heaphy	....	production financing (uncredited)
Jason Jancosek	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Scott Trimble	....	location scout (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Mockingbird Pictures (in association with)
• John Calley Productions

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Classics (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2008) (Argentina) (all media)

Special Effects

• Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI) (special visual effects and animation) (as Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc.)
• Yannix Technologies (tracking)

Other Companies

• Adrenalin Nation  provider: skydiving footage
• Alex Gourmet Catering  catering (as Alex's Gourmet Catering)
• Avon Studio Transport  transportation
• Axium Hollywood Services  payroll services
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• City National Bank  financing
• Company 3  digital intermediate
• Company 3  telecine services
• DeLuxe Laboratories  processing
• Digital Vortechs  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Film Finance  bond
• Keslow Cameras  camera equipment provided by
• Keslow Cameras  cameras (as Keslow Camera)
• NT Audio Services  optical soundtrack (as NT Audio)
• Nina Saxon Film Design  titles
• Panavision Remote Systems  camera cranes
• Rage  gaffer: security
• Reel Security  security: Munich
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services (as Sessions Payroll)
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• Truman Van Dyke Company  insurance (as Truman Van Dyke)
• Upload Films  post-production management
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content, brief strong language and some drug use.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Canada:PG | Ireland:PG | UK:12A | Germany:o.Al. | South Korea:15 | Singapore:M18 | Netherlands:AL | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Spain:7 | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Mockingbird Pictures

Trivia:

The website address www.laughing-allegra.com written on Allegra's jewelry-kit-box (which she brought to the first meeting of the book club at Starbucks) actually links to the official site of the film.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Jocelyn says she looks for a book at bookstores on State Street; there is no State Street in Sacramento or its suburbs.

Quotes:

Daniel Avila: [speaking to Sylvia after running into her with the woman he left her for] I'm sorry, we don't shop on this side of town, ever. You can have this Whole Foods. We won't ever use it again, ok?

Movie Connections:

References Sense and Sensibility (1995)

Soundtrack:

New Shoes

Getting in touch with my inner Austen.

An enjoyable film that, for the genre it's in, was not very predictable, and in this way was a very pleasant watch. I really wasn't sure what to expect. I figured with Jane Austen's named tagged onto it it'd be some kind of emotional film with lots of angst. Perhaps it might be a period piece. But this isn't what I got.

I have to admit that I've never cracked a Jane Austen novel, but had seen many a British import on PBS rendering Austen's works for the small screen. And I half expected a costume drama to unfold on the screen, but got something that was a little more cliché in one way, but very unique in another.

The film uses Austen's plots as set piece examples from which the characters learn, apply to their personal lives, and grow. I have to say that I saw some aspects of my own personal life ingrained in this film. One might call it art imitating life, imitating art, only to imitate life once more. As an audience member whose been through some unique experiences as of recent, I found it heart felt. But I digress.

The film is respectably shot. Warm lighting compliments respectable though average cinematography. But then again the film isn't about wowing the audience with stunning visuals. It's about presenting characters and how they relate to one of the great writers of all time and her works.

The humor revolves around the unexpected, as do the more tragic and hurtful points. But even here there's a sort of unpredictable-predictability that, because of its exuberance, can be accepted for what it is. The characters behave as expected, but are surprised with the audience when the unexpected pops up. We can sympathize with them and their situations. It's what might be called the ultimate in character empathy--Austen style.

And isn't that one of Austen's great hallmarks? Her ability to create characters one can believe and sympathize with on all levels? Austen's books are used to create a tapestry of themes to navigate the highs and woes of life. The film's irreverent narrative remains intelligent, adult, somewhat prosaic and marginally didactic, but highly enjoyable for the most part.

A respectable chick-flick. :-) Enjoy!