Fame (2009)

Director:

Kevin Tancharoen

Writers (WGA):

Allison Burnett (screenplay)
Christopher Gore (1980 motion picture "Fame")

Release Date:

25 September 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Dream It - Earn It - Live It

Plot:

An updated version of the 1980 musical, which centered on the students of the New York Academy of Performing Arts. |

Plot Keywords:

One Word Title | Remake

Cast

Kay Panabaker	...	Jenny Garrison
Naturi Naughton	...	Denise Dupree
Kherington Payne	...	Alice Ellerton
Megan Mullally	...	Ms. Fran Rowan
Bebe Neuwirth	...	Ms. Kraft
Debbie Allen	...	Ms. Angela Simms
Asher Book	...	Marco
Cody Longo	...	Andy Matthews
Walter Perez	...	Victor Taveras
Charles S. Dutton	...	Mr. James Dowd
Kelsey Grammer	...	Mr. Martin Cranston
Collins Pennie	...	Malik Washburn
Anna Maria Perez de Tagle	...	Joy
Paul McGill	...	Kevin Barrett
Paul Iacono	...	Neil Baczynsky
Kristy Flores	...	Rosie Martinez
Julius Tennon	...	Denise's Dad
April Grace	...	Denise's Mom
Michael Hyatt	...	Malik's Mom
Laura Johnson	...	Alice's Mom
James Read	...	Alice's Dad
Ryan Surratt	...	Eddie
Howard Gutman	...	Neil's Dad
Dale Godboldo	...	Music Executive
J.T. Horenstein	...	Dance Teacher
Stephanie Mace	...	Mr. Cranston's Assistant
Patrick Censoplano	...	Brooklyn Boy
Donnie 'Burger' Winston	...	Hype Man
Marcus Hopson	...	Senior Rapper
Krystle 'Ak'sent' Johnson	...	Female Rapper
Tynisha Keli	...	Female Singer
Kate Mulligan	...	Karaoke Singer
Don Smith	...	Film Set PA (as Donnie Smith)
Earl Carroll	...	Camera Shop Clerk
Oren Waters	...	Singing Homeless Man
Tim Jo	...	Korean Boy
Michael Eric Reid	...	Red Haired Boy (as Mikey Reid)
Leslie Ishii	...	Administrator
Gavin Turek	...	Ethnic Girl
Paulina Gretzky	...	Gorgeous Blonde Senior
Alex Liddy	...	Friend of Brooklyn Boy
Bre Morgan	...	Intense Girl
Anastasia Boissier	...	Little 10 Year Old Girl
Kasha Kropinski	...	Ballerina
Jessie Sherman	...	Drama Helper
Jeremy Hudson	...	Dancer Boy
Mallauri Esquibel	...	Dancer Girl
Annika Daniel	...	Marco's Little Sister
Sophia Daniel	...	Marco's Little Sister
Tiffany Espensen	...	Joy's Sister
Scott J. Wood	...	Teacher (as Scott Wood)
Eli Myers	...	Cafeteria Jam Piano Student
Seth Daly	...	Cafeteria Jam Violin Student
Miss Lola Rose	...	Butcher Shop Customer
Nisha Bedi	...	Drama Student #1
Nick Grimes	...	Drama Student #2
Angela Alexander	...	Drama Student #3
Eva Ramirez	...	Drama Student #4
Whitney Barncord	...	Drama Student #5
Brittany Magill	...	Drama Student #6
Smyth Campbell	...	Drama Student #7
Gino Barletta	...	Drama Student #8
Philomena Bankston	...	Drama Student #9
Ronald Kartoon Antwine	...	Nightclub Bouncer
Sharon Pierre-Louis	...	Broadway Girl
Hailey Villaire	...	Opera Girl
Deanna Knott	...	Club Jam Vocal #1
Krys Ivory	...	Club Jam Vocal #2
Betty Griffin-Keller	...	Orchestra Conductor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Luoc Lee	...	Karaoke Server
Dani Miura	...	Gospel Singer / Student
Don Abernathy	...	Audience Member / Teacher (uncredited)
Lisette Alvarez	...	Ballerina (uncredited)
Deanne Destler	...	Drama Student (uncredited)
Krystal Ellsworth	...	Featured Dancer (uncredited)
Mark Anthony Lopez	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
Katrina Norman	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Paul Peglar	...	Student with Glasses (uncredited)
Allie Rivera	...	Gospel Choir (uncredited)

Directed by
Kevin Tancharoen

Writing credits (WGA)
Allison Burnett		(screenplay)
Christopher Gore		(1980 motion picture "Fame")

Produced by
Mark Canton	....	producer
Celine Catalaa	....	producer: additional photography
Beth DePatie	....	executive producer
David Kern	....	executive producer
Gary Lucchesi	....	producer
Brian McNelis	....	co-producer
Eric Reid	....	executive producer
Tom Rosenberg	....	producer
Richard S. Wright	....	producer

Original Music by
Mark Isham

Cinematography by
Scott Kevan		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Myron I. Kerstein

Casting by
Deborah Aquila
Mary Tricia Wood

Production Design by
Paul Eads

Art Direction by
Scott Meehan

Set Decoration by
Cindy Carr

Costume Design by
Dayna Pink

Makeup Department
Barry Berger	....	makeup artist
Marc Boyle	....	hair stylist
Barney Burman	....	makeup artist
Rosie Duprat Fort	....	additional makeup artist
Denise Fischer	....	key makeup artist
Sean Flanigan	....	hair department head
Elisabeth Fry	....	makeup department head
Natasha Ladek	....	wig maker
Donyale McRae	....	makeup artist
Kelly Muldoon	....	hair artist
Gary J. Perticone	....	additional hair stylist
Theraesa Rivers	....	key hair stylist
Judy Yonemoto	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Steve Demko	....	post-production supervisor
Beth DePatie	....	unit production manager
Alyson Latz	....	unit production manager: New York
Sophia Lin	....	assistant unit production manager: NY unit
Robin Mulcahy Fisichella	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Bamber	....	first assistant director
David Catalano	....	first assistant director: splinter unit, New York
Ryan Craig	....	second assistant director
Michael Judd	....	additional second assistant director
Justin Ritson	....	second assistant director: New York
Lynn Struiksma	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Tom Altobello	....	assistant property master
Ellis J. Barbacoff	....	props
Jason Bartolone	....	propmaker gangboss
Max Bozeman	....	set dresser
Maus Drechsler	....	assistant property master: winter unit (as Ana Katharina Drechsler)
Emily Gaunt	....	charge scenic artist: New York
Kristopher Gifford	....	art department assistant
Theresa Gonzalez	....	New York
Erica Hohf	....	art department production assistant
Michael Jortner	....	property master: winter unit
Scott W. Leslie	....	set dresser
Ron Mason	....	set designer
Joe Ondrejko	....	construction coordinator
Brent Rice	....	leadman
Rachel Rosales	....	set decoration intern
Kyle Salvatore	....	assistant props: New York
Charisse St. Amant	....	assistant props
Anne Tobin	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
Michael Babcock	....	sound designer
Michael Babcock	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Babcock	....	supervising sound editor
David Beadle	....	supervising dialogue & adr editor
Craig Dollinger	....	boom operator
Eric Flickinger	....	digital sound mix technician
Christof Gebert	....	sound mixer: New York
Aaron Grice	....	utility sound
Anguibe Guindo	....	boom operator: New York
Jon Mete	....	sound effects editor
Alyson Dee Moore	....	foley artist
Steven Morrow	....	sound mixer
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Jason Oliver	....	adr recordist
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Phil Rosati	....	sound utility: New York
Joseph Tsai	....	assistant sound editor

Visual Effects by
Andy Burmeister	....	lead matchmover
Michael Cashore	....	visual effects artist
Vincent Cirelli	....	visual effects supervisor: Luma Pictures
Siggy Ferstl	....	digital intermediate colorist
Monty Granito	....	previsualization supervisor: Proof Inc.
Steve Griffith	....	visual effects producer: Luma Pictures
James McQuaide	....	visual effects supervisor
James Notari	....	visual effects coordinator
David Sanchez	....	character modeler/texturer
Thanapoom Siripopungul	....	character technical director: Luma Pictures
Mai Suzuki	....	digital restoration artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Saeed Adyani	....	still photographer
Justin Babin	....	rigging grip best boy
Ethan Borsuk	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera: New York Unit
Adam Camacho	....	grip
Jonathan Clark	....	film loader
Chris Cuevas	....	assistant camera
Frank Dorowsky	....	rigging gaffer
Nathan Dean Fetzer	....	electrician
Daniel C. Gold	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Josh Greer	....	assistant camera
Joe Guzman	....	grip
Craig Paul Harris	....	electrician
Joe Hill	....	rigging grip
Scott Ippolito	....	assistant camera
Joe Iverson	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Jeffrey A. Johnson	....	best boy grip
Scott C. Keys	....	rigging electric best boy
Alex Klabukov	....	key grip
Eric Leach	....	camera operator: "b" camera / second unit director of photography
William MacGhee	....	electrician
Dominic Mainl	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
BJ McDonnell	....	MK-V AR operator
BJ McDonnell	....	camera operator: "c" camera
BJ McDonnell	....	steadicam operator
Luke Miller	....	lighting technician
John J. Moers	....	director of photography: documentary crew
Maritza Norr	....	film loader: New York Unit
David Schmalz	....	video assist operator
Trace Schneider	....	electrician
Abel Soto	....	grip
Jessica Szejn	....	additional electrician
Matthew Thiemann	....	set lighting technician
Christopher Warren	....	additional photographer
Jay W. Yowler	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Scott Blasko	....	extras/musician casting coordinator
Sig De Miguel	....	casting: New York
Samantha Finkler	....	casting associate
Deanna Gallucio	....	extras casting: New York
Tina Kerr	....	extras/musician casting director
Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson	....	adr voice casting
Heather Reidenbach	....	extras casting: New York
Stephen Vincent	....	casting: New York
Lisa Zagoria	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Adrienne Greshock	....	key costumer
Tabitha Johnson	....	costumer
Linda Matthews	....	costume supervisor
Lindsay McKay	....	assistant costume designer
Hana Rausalova	....	set costumer
Kevin Ritter	....	wardrobe supervisor: NY
Paul Sinnott	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Nicholas Hasson	....	smoke editor
Andy Kaplan	....	digital intermediate producer
Santiago Padilla	....	colorist: dailies
Jill Piwowar	....	first assistant editor
Sin-Halina Sy	....	assistant editor
Paul Sage	....	digital intermediate assistant: Company 3 (uncredited)

Music Department
Eric Craig	....	music supervisor
Scott Francisco	....	music editor
John Houlihan	....	associate music supervisor
Jason La Rocca	....	score mixer
Deborah Lurie	....	arranger
Brian McNelis	....	music supervisor
David Metzner	....	assistant music editor
Jon Mooney	....	additional music editor
Tyler Parkinson	....	music score engineer
Angie Rubin	....	music editor
Peter Seibert	....	conductor
Raney Shockne	....	additional music producer
Emily H. Cummins	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)
John Robert Wood	....	additional music production (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Tony Barattini	....	rigging electric driver
James Fanning	....	transportation captain
Geno Hart	....	transportation consultant
Hugh Kelly	....	driver
Seth Levine	....	driver
Glen Mathias	....	transportation co-captain
Hardy Ophuls	....	transportation co-captain
Marty Osborne	....	picture car coordinator
Adam Pinkstaff	....	transportation captain
Brenda Ryan	....	driver

Other crew
Jorge Luis Alvarez	....	key assistant location manager
Joshua Aufrance	....	post production accountant
Michael Beatrice	....	assistant accountant
Paul Belenardo	....	production accountant
Michael Bretten	....	production assistant
Maxine Brooks	....	studio teacher
Jennifer Bydwell	....	product placement and clearances
Christina Cada	....	accounting intern
Steve Cainas	....	production coordinator
Kevin A. Canamar	....	set medic
Adam Cuthbert	....	production assistant
Bianca D'Carpio	....	production assistant
Dan Domenech	....	assistant choreographer
Marc C. Geschwind	....	extras coordinator
Dan Gloeckner	....	set production assistant: New York
Grant Grabowski	....	assisant production coordinator
Sandi Greenberg	....	production assistant: New York
Pamela B. Green	....	producer: main and end titles
Jennifer Hamilton	....	assistant choreographer
Matthew Horan	....	set production assistant
Eric Huus	....	production assistant
Ben Jordan	....	production assistant
Nathan Jordan	....	production support
Laura Kasek	....	assistant to director
Sarah P. Koeppe	....	accounting clerk
Rich Koski	....	production assistant: New York Unit
Rachel Lax	....	first assistant accountant
Jerry Lee	....	construction accountant
Sophia Lucchesi	....	coordinator: splinter unit, New York
Jessica Lu	....	stand-in
Stephanie Mace	....	set production assistant
Ian MacGregor	....	location manager: New York
Ruben Malaret	....	publicity agent
Christopher Miller	....	location manager
Kevin Mills	....	production secretary
Dan Milner	....	key assistant location manager
Lindsay Mizrahi	....	assistant location manager
Lillian Ng	....	assistant to actor
Stuart Nicolai	....	assistant location manager: NY
Scott Peterson	....	script supervisor
Wayne Petrucelli	....	security coordinator
Michael M. Piehler	....	assistant location manager
Marguerite Pomerhn Derricks	....	choreographer
Matthew F. Preston	....	production coordinator: New York
Jason Quimby	....	location assistant (nyc unit )
Jennifer Roberts	....	set production assistant: NY Unit
Max Smerling	....	assistant: executive producer: Eric Reid
John W. Snyder	....	hand double: piano
Leanne K. Tanizawa	....	clearance and product placement
Stephanie Tull	....	set production assistant
Jarik Van Sluijs	....	creative director: main titles
Amy Denning Winfrey	....	payroll accountant
Kristina Woo	....	production assistant
Will Youngblood	....	assistant: Megan Mullally
Tami Zamberg	....	assistant to producers
Aaron Zaragoza	....	production assistant
Kim Thio	....	medic on-location (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Lakeshore Entertainment (presents)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures) (presents)
• United Artists (presents)

Distributors

• Cathay-Keris Films (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Cinestar (2009) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• E1 Entertainment Benelux (2009) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• E1 Entertainment Benelux (2009) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• E1 Entertainment Benelux (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Entertainment Film Distributors (2009) (UK) (theatrical)
• Forum Film Poland (2009) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Icon Film Distribution (2009) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (2009) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation (MGM) (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2009) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2009) (Switzerland) (all media)
• D Productions (2009) (Turkey) (all media)
• Long Shong Entertainment Multimedia Company (2009) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Lotte Entertainment (2009) (South Korea) (all media)
• Lucky Red (2009) (Italy) (all media)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2009) (France) (all media)
• Noori Pictures (2009) (South Korea) (all media)
• Odeon (2009) (Greece) (all media)
• PlayArte Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (all media)
• Wide Pictures (2009) (Spain) (all media)

Special Effects

• Proof (previsualization)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• Designer Wardrobe Trailers  wardrobe trailer
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• Hollywood-DI  HD Screening Services
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• PIC Agency  main and end titles
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals
• SLx - Rentals & Sales  camera equipment provided by (lens control system)

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic material including teen drinking, a sexual situation and language.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #45461) | South Korea:12 | Singapore:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Ireland:PG | Australia:PG | Norway:A | New Zealand:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Sweden:Btl | Hong Kong:IIA | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Lakeshore Entertainment

Trivia:

A photo is shown of Ms. Kraft (Bebe Neuwirth) with Broadway stage legend, Chita Rivera. Rivera notably played the role of Velma Kelly in the original 1975 Broadway production of "Chicago". Neuwirth also played Velma Kelly when "Chicago" was revived on Broadway in 1996. Both actresses received Tony Award nominations for their portrayals of the same character. Neuwirth went on to win the honor.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Marco is playing the piano at his parent's restaurant, the song he is playing is filled with sustained chords and legato melodies; which would require the foot pedal to be used quite often in order to achieve the sound that is heard. However, when the camera pans back to show underneath the piano, the pedal is not moving.

Quotes:

Joel Cranston: [from trailer] You have talent. Now let's see what we can do with it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Jay Leno Show: (#1.24)" (2009)

A Nutshell Review: Fame

I had watched the original Fame movie when I was a kid, enough to know the theme song sung by Irene Cara, but little else. Fast forward to today, I'm pretty sure I still enjoyed the reworked theme song, but the film unfortunately is a disaster, with predictable story lines, cardboard characters, and while I'm quite OK that it may have tried to be more documentary like in its presentation, it just fell short on almost all accounts, save for some of the set musical pieces.

Despite its hip trailer aimed specifically at its demographic audience, the film just didn't work out, and tried too hard to resemble plenty of dance movies already out there, except that it did a lot more worse by injecting too many characters having everyone bear the brunt of the burden in carrying the film through its runtime, through supporting role appearances at best. Having cast a relative bunch of good looking unknowns also helped in providing the fresh-facedness required, but it's akin to watching a bad episode of American Idol, except that you don't get to choose who stays and who goes.

Granted it wanted to be more "School like" encompassing all the various subjects taught from dance to acting, in quite an elitist fashion in getting mere hundreds amongst thousands of applicants, and if quality control was so stringent, it provided critical flaws to the plausibility of the show. For one, these characters are talented folks, and it's just no good treating talented folks like toddlers in school, picking on every little thing they do wrong in hoping to polish those rough diamonds. Also, the screening of candidates, while provided some Audition hilarity, was mostly based on the whims of the various instructors, hence the kind of petty issues they dredge up for themselves, like the angry actor who thought the stage was his calling, throwing tantrums and in need for some serious counselling.

But the most critical flaw of them all, for a movie in its genre, is whence the buildup and character development? We're suppose to believe that after their graduation they're all "ready to make it" in the big, bad, unforgiving world of fine art performance. Unfortunately the output's pretty much the same as the input, save for a few characters who turned into perfect gems overnight, with nary any focus on their transformation. The best just coasted through school, while the worst (amongst the best) turned in much better performances through the sprinkle of magic dust or through the rubbing of shoulders. There must be something in the diet served by the school's canteen as well it seems.

Fame fell short and became plain, formula, predictable, and ultimately boring. The screenplay reeked laziness - who needs yet another teenage movie where it tells you that even the best amongst us suffer from trouble dished out by disapproving parents, romantic relationship roadblocks, yet another naive girl becoming bait for hot looking predatory guys, wanting to fulfill a deep desire and break out of routine, discrimination, trust and integrity. The list just goes on, no thanks to individual cardboard characters being assigned some thematic homework, and turning in the results in little episodes and scenes, without allowing the audience to build any emotional connection, or to even root for the underdogs.

It's ambitious too in its setting, taking on the entire school journey of these select group of youngsters, albeit without a real story, nor gelling them together in one coherent way. Technically, director Kevin Tancharoen (who had so far done music videos) and cinematographer Scott Kevan had opted for the shaky cam technique, for what reasons I do not fathom, and came off quite irritatingly. Someone should start preaching the virtues of mounting the camera of a tripod, versus making it a lame excuse to want to do it documentary style, or to allow for fluid motion in capturing the performances, not!

The only saving grace here, are some of the performances, be it group dance ensembles, or solo acts. I had preferred the former a lot more for their energy and choreography, and amongst all the disciplines, I personally enjoyed the dances a lot more, compared to the others like acting, or even singing, due to the rather lacklustre tunes and mediocre lyrics.

This is one film that I'd rather not remember its name, and could be called anything else other than a remake of Fame.