The Bucket list
Academy Award winners Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman star in the
comedy drama “The Bucket List,” directed by Rob Reiner, a touching, no-holds-barred
adventure that shows it’s never too late to live life to its fullest.
A long time ago, Carter Chambers’ (Morgan Freeman) freshman year philosophy
professor suggested that his students compose a “bucket list,” a collection of all the
things they wanted to do, see and experience in life before they kicked the bucket.
But while Carter was still trying to define his private dreams and plans, reality
intruded. Marriage, children, myriad responsibilities and, ultimately, a 46-year job as an
auto mechanic gradually turned his concept of a bucket list into little more than a
bittersweet memory of lost opportunities and a mental exercise he occasionally thought
about to pass the time while working under the hood of a car.
Meanwhile, corporate billionaire Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) never saw a list
without a bottom line. He was always too busy making money and building an empire to
think about what his deeper needs might be beyond the next big acquisition or cup of
gourmet coffee.
Then life delivered an urgent and unexpected wake-up call to both of them.
Carter and Edward found themselves sharing a hospital room with plenty of time
to think about what might happen next—and about how much of that was in their hands.
For all their apparent differences, they soon discovered they had two very important
things in common: an unrealized need to come to terms with who they were and the
choices they’d made, and a pressing desire to spend the time they had left doing
everything they ever wanted to do.
The list wasn’t just a mental exercise anymore. It was an agenda.
So, against doctor’s orders and all good sense, these two virtual strangers check
themselves out of the hospital and hit the road together for the adventure of a lifetime—
from the Taj Mahal to the Serengeti, the finest restaurants to the seediest tattoo parlors,
the cockpit of vintage race cars to the open door of a prop plane—with just a sheet of
paper and their passion for life to guide them.
Adding and crossing items off their list while taking in the grandeur and beauty of
the world, they will grapple with the difficult questions and the even more difficult
answers that plague all of us. And, without even realizing it, become true friends. With
humor, insight, heart…and a fair amount of attitude.
Sometimes you just need a deadline to get your life in gear.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents, a Zadan Meron/Reiner Greisman Production of a
Rob Reiner Film: Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman in the comedy drama “The
Bucket List,” also starring Sean Hayes and Rob Morrow.
Directed by Rob Reiner and written by Justin Zackham, the film is produced by
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, Alan Greisman and Rob Reiner, with executive producers
Travis Knox, Justin Zackham and Jeffrey Stott.
The creative team includes director of photography John Schwartzman,
production designer Bill Brzeski and film editor Robert Leighton. Music is by Marc
Shaiman.
The original song “Say” is written, produced and performed especially for “The
Bucket List” by five-time Grammy Award winner John Mayer.
“The Bucket List” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a
Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. It is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for language,
including a sexual reference. www.thebucketlist.net
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
“Find the Joy in Your Life”
Director/producer Rob Reiner was only 10 pages into the script of “The Bucket
List” when he told producing partner Alan Greisman he had found their next project. As
Greisman recalls, “I told him to read the rest of it, just to be sure, but there was no doubt
about it. This was a subject close to his heart and without having to read any further, he
knew. ‘I love this story; I know these characters,’ he said. ‘This is it.’”
The two then contacted producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron of Storyline
Entertainment, who had sent them the script, and started making plans that would launch
“The Bucket List” into production within the year.
Reiner responded to the story in an immediate, deeply personal way and felt it
addressed issues that many people can relate to. “The baby boom generation, in
particular, are really starting to examine and evaluate their lives in a deeper way and the
themes touched on by ‘The Bucket List’ really resonate. Those of us who have parents or
grandparents getting up in years can appreciate what it’s like to look back on the time
spent and also to look ahead and really think about what we’re doing with the time we’ve
been given. I knew this was a subject I absolutely wanted to tackle now.
“There was just something about it,” he adds, citing the story’s potential for
natural humor as well as intimately personal human situations, not to mention “the grand
adventure that takes these two men around the world to figure out what’s been burning
inside them their entire lives.”
Zadan and Meron weren’t surprised, having fallen in love with the story
themselves after “The Bucket List” caught the attention of their head of feature
development, Travis Knox, an executive producer on the film.
“It was just like any other weeknight when I took home a pile of scripts to read,
but this was the first one in a long time that I could not put down. It was special, a
unique blend of humor and heart. I had to be a part of it,” Knox says, recounting how he
then took it to Zadan and Meron and suggested Reiner, with whom the producers had
recently met on an entirely different matter and had struck an undeniable creative rapport.
Acknowledging Reiner’s impressive body of work, Zadan recalls, “What we liked
about Rob was his ability to find the humor in emotional subjects. It’s that depth that
gives him such impact as a director and exactly what we all wanted for ‘The Bucket
List.’”
Says Greisman, “This is a story about friendship and love and discovering what’s
really important in life. It stirs a lot of emotions but at the same time makes you laugh
and, ultimately, I think, says something significant about the human condition.”
Moreover it reminds us, as Jack Nicholson affirms, “It’s always the things you
don’t do in life that you regret most, not the things you do.”
The developing—and often combustible—rapport between these two unlikely
traveling companions is what propels the story. Although poles apart in background,
temperament, experience and in innumerable other ways, what they share more than
makes up for these superficial differences.
Morgan Freeman, who stars as Carter, suggests, “You bond to people with whom
you have something in common and these two have something very important in
common. They are holding the rest of their lives in their hands and they both know it.
When Carter meets Edward, he is offered an opportunity to do things differently for the
first time, to go his own way. For a man who feels he’s spent his life doing what’s best
for everyone else, that’s very powerful.”
The list itself, from one of the college classes Carter attended before giving up his
studies to support his family, “was an exercise in forward-thinking. It was meant to give
young people focus by making them think about what was really important to them and
what they wanted to achieve in life,” Reiner explains. It’s a concept that the naturally
introspective Carter has often returned to and refined, idly, and he toys with it again as he
rests in the hospital contemplating his options. Even if Carter had ever entertained the
possibility of pursuing his bucket list items, he certainly doesn’t expect to do it now, and
says so when Edward happens to see the list and asks about it.
But Edward, unfamiliar with the concept of “no” and “too late,” proposes that
they do exactly that. Immediately. He even adds his own items, in his own characteristic
fashion.
Freeman notes how much, even in this, the two are different. “Edward
approaches it as a practical to-do list. Whereas Carter’s wishes are more spiritually
oriented, like ‘witness something majestic’ and ‘help a stranger for the good of it,’
Edward goes for the adrenalin, like jumping out of an airplane and kissing the most
beautiful girl in the world.”
Ultimately, against the advice of Edward’s doctor and against the adamant and
heartfelt protests of Carter’s loving wife, Virginia, these two set-in-their-ways 60somethings
tear off together to share the adventure of two lifetimes, in an open-ended
road trip unlike any other—to do everything they ever wanted to do and, in the process,
get a better understanding of who they really are and what their lives mean.
“I thought it was very adventurous and I like to be adventurous,” says Nicholson,
adding that, “It has a lot of things in it that people think about that aren’t articulated.”
“Along the way, the friendship between them changes profoundly,” says Meron.
“The whole thing may have started out as a lark for Edward, but Carter’s way of thinking
begins to work on him. Little by little, Edward begins to examine his life in a way he’s
never done before and moves toward being a more emotionally rounded individual.
Although, clearly, he still has a long way to go.
“The point is, it’s never too late,” he adds. “To decide what matters and to then
pursue that to the best of your ability is something that applies to everyone, no matter
where they may be in the spectrum of age or circumstance.”
Screenwriter Justin Zackham, also an executive producer on the film, was always
flexible about the ideal age range he imagined for his globe-trotting protagonists, but
says, “My contention was that you need characters who have lived a fair amount of life
already. They should have some regrets. For someone younger it would be more
conjecture.” Coincidentally, he reveals, even at the earliest stage, “I wrote the script with
Morgan Freeman’s voice in my head.”
It wasn’t long before Jack Nicholson’s voice also became a factor. In the weeks
preceding production, the actor met regularly with Rob Reiner to work through dialogue,
scene by scene. Says Reiner, “Let me tell you something about Jack Nicholson that most
people don’t know. Sure he’s a brilliant actor, everybody knows that, but he’s also a very
good writer, a true wordsmith. He knows how to make phrases more interesting, colorful
and just curvier. His point of view, like mine, was that we aren’t going to make a lot of
movies like this—in fact, we’re just going to make the one—so we want to explore all the
nuances and get it right. We worked through all of it before production and then even
during the shoot we’d pitch ideas back and forth in his trailer.”
The challenge, Reiner concedes, was “to balance the humor and emotion of the
story, to make it entertaining but not by cheapening it. It’s a serious subject and we
wanted to treat it with the respect it deserves, but, at the same time, there’s so much
potential for comedy and the energy of these two great actors sparking off each other is
just a joy to watch.”
As is so often the case, “It’s not so much the circumstances but the way in which
people handle them that makes all the difference. That’s what gives ‘The Bucket List’ its
radiance,” says Zadan. “It’s a story with tremendous heart, warmth and optimism. It’s
full of life.”
“Anyone can have a bucket list,” Zackham observes. “Just as there isn’t a human
being on earth who doesn’t want to be loved, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t have, in the
back of his mind, thoughts about what he wants to achieve. But we often get caught up in
the daily grind and sometimes drift into directions we never intended to go. ‘The Bucket
List’ is about two people who step up, who have the courage to pursue their dreams,
which is—sadly and surprisingly—such a rarity in life.”
“You measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you.”
-Carter Chambers
Having decided to make this picture, Rob Reiner’s next thought was that he
absolutely needed Morgan Freeman for the part of Carter Chambers. “In my mind, there
was no one else but Morgan for this role. His involvement was essential.”
Luckily, Freeman was genuinely taken by the script…and came back with a
casting suggestion Reiner already had in mind: Jack Nicholson as Edward Cole. Reiner
and Nicholson had previously teamed for the acclaimed 1992 crime drama “A Few Good
Men,” for which they both earned Oscar nominations.
“If we’re talking about personal bucket lists,” Freeman avows, “working
alongside Jack Nicholson would certainly be on mine.”
The rapport between Edward Cole and Carter Chambers depends greatly on Jack
Nicholson and Morgan Freeman’s interaction as actors and friends. As Freeman offers,
“The way we play off each other is not something I can describe. We just do. What Jack
brings to the role is his particular energy, expertise and vibe. Whatever it is, it’s what
makes us all run to see any movie he’s in. Call it flavor.”
“Jack can be very explosive on screen, and Morgan is like the Zen master who
lets nothing bother him,” posits Reiner. “They complement each other in a very special
way. I knew their chemistry together would be amazing and would fuel the dialogue and
action in ways we couldn’t imagine just by reading it.”
“It’s a pleasure,” says Zadan, “to see the two of them develop these characters.
There were lines in the script I thought were very well-written but I didn’t know how
funny they were until I heard Jack saying them and we all burst out laughing. He has a
way of finding the character in each word and phrase. And Morgan is just incapable of
hitting a false note. Ever. With him, there is no such thing as a bad take.”
Each character bears his measure of disappointment in his own way.
“Edward is a billionaire, always gets what he wants and goes first class all the
way,” Reiner explains. “He lives to make money and has poured all his energy into
business at the expense of anything resembling a personal life. He’s become the
embodiment of that adage about how no one ever wishes, on their deathbed, that they had
spent more time in the office, only he doesn’t realize it.”
“That fight has left him rather lonely, surrounded by money, so to speak,”
Nicholson acknowledges. Still, it’s this competitive spirit that serves Edward well at this
juncture, enabling him to confront any obstacle that stands in the way of the trip he
means to take with Carter. “Whatever it is, he is ready to go to war over it because he
basically is a fighter.”
Yet, notes Greisman, “Without sacrificing an ounce of the drive that propelled
Edward to the top of the business world, Jack also gives this character a touching
vulnerability.”
Meanwhile, Carter nurses his own regrets. “He’s disappointed…well, at least he
believes he’s disappointed,” says Freeman. “There were things he wanted to do in his
life but circumstances caught up with him and his sense of duty made him change
direction. He worked, raised a family, put his children through school and now, even
though his family means everything to him, he can’t help feeling that he’s missed the
boat.
“A lot of people end up in Carter’s situation,” Freeman continues. “If they’re
lucky, they might realize that they got what they wanted after all. I don’t think that if we
are offered another run at life we would necessarily make different choices because most
of those choices are made based on what we want or need at the time, not what might
happen down the line.”
Aiding and abetting these two in their impromptu quest is Thomas, Edward
Cole’s personal assistant, barista and all-around Man Friday, played by Emmy Award
winner Sean Hayes. No matter what his original job description may have been, Thomas
has obviously exceeded it, not only navigating every demanding detail of Edward’s
corporate and personal schedules with wit and aplomb but also handling his boss’s moods
and prickly personality like a pro.
“He’s the assistant who gives back as much crap as he takes from Edward and is
probably one of the few people who is actually not afraid of him,” states Hayes.
“Thomas is always on call and never dresses down, which became a running joke. No
matter what time of the day or night, or what remote outpost they found themselves in,
Thomas always appears in a suit and tie.”
A dedicated list-maker and goal-setter himself, Hayes feels, “It’s a very
motivational story, a testament to the power of looking forward. I’m a huge fan of
movies that contain subtle life lessons or make you think about things in a new way as
you leave the theater.”
Producers Zadan and Meron worked with the actor on 2002’s critically acclaimed
television movie “Martin and Lewis,” in which Hayes portrayed Jerry Lewis. Says
Meron, “Thomas is ostensibly there to execute Edward’s orders but, in his own way, he
knows who Edward really is and what he needs even better than the man knows himself.
Sometimes he manages situations that will lead Edward on his own path to self-
discovery, which is a beautiful thing to see.”
“Sean is also the perfect comic foil for Jack, and the two of them have some
extremely tart exchanges that rely a great deal on Sean’s flawless deadpan delivery. In
addition, he would often toss his own jokes into the mix as ‘freebies,’” adds Reiner.
Like Thomas, Edward’s physician Dr. Hollins knows who he’s dealing with but,
unlike Thomas, has not the slightest ability to predict or control him. Multiple Emmy
and Golden Globe nominee Rob Morrow is Hollins.
Forgoing treatment in favor of taking this spontaneous jaunt to who-knows-where
is not exactly doctor’s orders. In fact, the doc tells him flat-out not to do it, but, like
anyone who’s ever dealt with Edward, from his stockholders and attorneys to his two ex-
wives, Hollins knows it’s pointless to argue.
Says Greisman, “We were lucky and happy that Rob was able to work this around
his series schedule and he’s been great. As Edward’s doctor, he’s there to represent the
voice of reason, but you can see in his face and his manner that he’s well aware nothing
he says will persuade this man from doing exactly what he wants.”
On Dr. Hollins’ side is Carter’s wife Virginia, played by Beverly Todd, teaming
here for the third time with Morgan Freeman. The two first co-starred in a two-character
drama at Joe Papp’s Public Theater in New York in the early 1970s and then in the 1989
film “Lean On Me.”
Not only does Virginia want Carter to remain in the hospital for what she believes
is his own good, she also, quite simply, wants him to stay for her own sake. Angry, hurt
and feeling abandoned, “She cannot even wrap her mind around the fact that this husband
she’s known, loved and cared for all these years is going to go off on some crazy
adventure with a man he just met, when they don’t even know how much time they have
left together,” Todd explains. Additionally, at this crucial stage in his life, “She fears he
might be blaming her for his failure to achieve his goals, because that’s what people
sometimes do, and that breaks her heart.”
Freeman credits Todd for conveying the depth of this decades-long marriage and
its rich, often conflicting, emotions, saying, “What Beverly brings to a portrayal is total
credibility and a range of feeling that makes audiences understand what she’s going
through. I learned that the first time we were on stage together, playing a troubled
couple. She had women in the audience going ‘mm-hmmm,’ because when she spoke
they heard the truth. Lines are there to provide a guideline but the emotion is something
an actor has to come up with himself.”
The role of Carter and Virginia’s son Roger is played by Morgan Freeman’s real-
life son Alfonso Freeman. Unlike Virginia, Roger is more ambivalent about Carter’s
impulsive holiday. An attorney with a young family of his own, he misses his dad and
feels his mother’s anxiety but also understands the longing that prompted Carter to take
this leap, and does not begrudge him the freedom and peace it may bring.
“What matters is not the places they visit and the things they do, but what happens
between them during the course of their taking this trip. They could be riding a jeep in
the Serengeti one day and sitting in front of a pyramid the next but it’s in the constant
thread of their conversation and reflection where the really exciting changes are
occurring,” Reiner acknowledges. “Each destination leads them to examine another facet
of their lives.”
Taking in the grandeur of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan’s elaborate monument to his
beloved wife, their thoughts turn toward the love they have experienced in their own lives
and what it means to them. Later, relaxing beside the Great Pyramid of Khufu, Carter
reflects on the ancient Egyptian belief they we will all be called to account for the quality
and purpose of our lives. Like Edward and Carter, audiences may be momentarily
captured by each fresh site in the ever-changing landscape “The Bucket List” traverses,
but will likely find their focus similarly shifting back to the landscape within.
“I’ve done some traveling and there are a lot of places I’d still like to see. I’m
sure I won’t get to all of them but I don’t think any of that is as important as the people I
spend my time with” says Reiner, returning to the story’s central theme. “Going around
the world, seeing Everest or parachuting out of a plane is great, but it isn’t something we
necessarily have to do to be fulfilled, and that’s the message of this movie. The most
important things in life are your relationships with family and friends. That’s what it’s all
about. If you can accomplish that, then, I believe, you have a meaningful life.”
ABOUT THE CAST
JACK NICHOLSON (Edward Cole), one of the most honored actors of all time,
has worked with many of the film industry’s most esteemed directors during his career,
which has spanned five decades and encompassed more than 60 feature films.
In 2002, Nicholson received his 12th Academy Award nomination for his
performance in the title role of Alexander Payne’s “About Schmidt,” giving him the
distinction of having earned the most Oscar nominations of any male actor. He has won
the Academy Award three times: twice for Best Actor, for his work in Milos Forman’s
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and James L. Brooks’ “As Good as It Gets”; and
once for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Brooks’ “Terms of Endearment.”
Nicholson has also been Oscar-nominated for his performances in Rob Reiner’s
“A Few Good Men,” Hector Babenco’s “Ironweed,” John Huston’s “Prizzi’s Honor,”
Warren Beatty’s “Reds,” Roman Polanski’s “Chinatown,” Hal Ashby’s “The Last
Detail,” Bob Rafelson’s “Five Easy Pieces” and Dennis Hopper’s “Easy Rider.”
Additionally, Nicholson won Golden Globe Awards for his work in “About
Schmidt,” “As Good as It Gets,” “Prizzi’s Honor,” “Terms of Endearment,” “One Flew
Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Chinatown.” He earned his most recent Golden Globe
Award nomination for his performance in Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed,” and has
also garnered Golden Globe nominations for his roles in “Something’s Gotta Give,” “A
Few Good Men,” Danny DeVito’s “Hoffa,” Tim Burton’s “Batman,” “Ironweed,”
“Reds,” “The Last Detail,” “Five Easy Pieces” and “Easy Rider.”
Nicholson’s film work has also brought him a myriad of critics groups’ awards.
In addition, he has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the
American Film Institute, and the Cecil B. DeMille Award from the Hollywood Foreign
Press Association.
His long list of film acting credits also includes the hit comedy “Anger
Management”; the Sean Penn-directed films “The Pledge” and “The Crossing Guard”;
Tim Burton’s “Mars Attacks!”; Mike Nichols’ “Wolf” and “Carnal Knowledge”; James
L. Brooks’ “Broadcast News”; George Miller’s “The Witches of Eastwick”; Bob
Rafelson’s “The Postman Always Rings Twice”; Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”; Elia
Kazan’s “The Last Tycoon”; and Michelangelo Antonioni’s “The Passenger.”
Nicholson made his feature film directorial debut in 1971 on “Drive, He Said,”
which he also wrote and produced. He went on to direct and star in “Goin’ South,” and
to direct, produce and star in “The Two Jakes,” which was the sequel to “Chinatown.”
MORGAN FREEMAN (Carter Chambers) won an Academy Award in 2005 for
his supporting role in Clint Eastwood’s “Million Dollar Baby.” He is also the recipient of
three additional Oscar nominations, the first in 1987 for his chilling performance as a
homicidal pimp in the drama “Street Smart,” which also brought him the L.A., N.Y., and
National Society of Film Critics Awards for best supporting actor as well as an
Independent Spirit Award and a Golden Globe nomination. He earned his second Oscar
nomination in 1989 for recreating his award-winning Broadway role in “Driving Miss
Daisy” and his third for Frank Darabont’s 1994 drama “The Shawshank Redemption.”
Recent film credits include Luc Besson’s “Unleashed,” Robert Redford’s “An
Unfinished Life,” “Batman Begins,” “Lucky Number Slevin,” the comedy “Bruce
Almighty” and its sequel, “Evan Almighty,” Ben Affleck’s “Gone Baby Gone,” Robert
Benton’s “Feast of Love” and the Academy Award-winning documentary “March of the
Penguins,” for which he provided the narration.
Among his upcoming projects are the next chapter in the Batman saga, “The Dark
Knight,” and the crime drama “The Code,” both set for a 2008 release.
The Memphis-born actor began his career on New York stages in the early 1960s,
following a stint as a mechanic in the Air Force. A decade later, he became a nationally
known television personality when he created the character Easy Reader on the popular
children's show “The Electric Company.” Throughout the 1970s, he continued his work
on stage, winning the Drama Desk Award and the Clarence Derwent Award and
receiving a Tony Award Nomination for his outstanding performance in “The Mighty
Gents” in 1978. He also won an Obie Award for his portrayal of Shakespearean anti-hero
Coriolanus at the New York Shakespeare Festival.
In 1984, Freeman won another Obie for his role as The Messenger in the
acclaimed Brooklyn Academy of Music production of Lee Breuer's “Gospel at Colonus”
and, in 1985, won the Dramalogue Award for the same role. The part of Hoke Coleburn
in Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Driving Miss Daisy,” brought him a third
Obie. His last stage appearance was as Petruchio in “The Taming of the Shrew” at the
New York Shakespeare Festival's Delacorte Theater with Tracey Ullman.
In 1993, Freeman made his film directorial debut with “Bopha!,” and soon after
formed Revelations Entertainment to develop entertainment product that “enlightens,
inspires and glorifies the human experience.” Their most recent production was the Brad
Silberling comedy “10 Items or Less,” in which Freeman starred with Paz Vega.
His earlier acting credits include roles in “Brubaker,” “Harry & Sons,”
“Teachers” “Marie,” “That Was Then…This Is Now,” “Clean & Sober,” “Johnny
Handsome,” the multiple award-winning “Glory,” “Chain Reaction,” “Kiss the Girls,”
Steven Spielberg’s “Amistad,” “Hard Rain,” “Deep Impact,” “Nurse Betty,” “Along
Came a Spider,” “Kiss the Girls,” “High Crimes” and “The Sum of All Fears.”
SEAN HAYES (Thomas) is best known to audiences for his starring role on the
smash hit comedy series “Will & Grace.” His portrayal of the often self-absorbed but
lovable Jack McFarland earned him seven consecutive Emmy Award nominations, from
2000 to 2006, as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He won the Emmy
for his first nomination as well as three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and an American
Comedy Award. He also shared in a SAG Award won by the cast of “Will & Grace” for
Outstanding Ensemble Performance, six Golden Globe nominations, and three more
individual SAG Award nominations for his work on the series.
In 2002, Hayes took on the role of Jerry Lewis in the acclaimed television biopic
“Martin and Lewis,” which chronicled the rise and eventual breakup of the legendary
duo. Hayes earned another SAG Award nomination for his portrayal of Lewis.
A native of Chicago, Hayes attended Illinois State University and began his
professional career in the Chicago theater community. He performed at the Organic
Theatre and honed his comedic and improvisational skills through the Second City
training program. While still in Chicago, Hayes worked in commercials and television
projects, including the television movie “A&P,” based on a story by John Updike .
Hayes made his feature film debut in 1998 in the title role of the art house hit
“Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss,” which won critical acclaim at the Sundance Film
Festival. He more recently co-starred with Nathan Lane, Josh Duhamel and Kate
Bosworth in the romantic comedy “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!” and was also seen in
the independent film “Pieces of April.” In addition, Hayes lent his voice to the role of
diabolic feline Mr. Tinkles in the family hit “Cats & Dogs” and was the voice of The Fish
in the big-screen adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic “The Cat in the Hat,” in which he
also appeared as Mr. Humberfloob.
In 2003, Hayes and producing partner Todd Milliner formed Hazy Mills
Productions. Their first production, “Situation: Comedy,” a documentary television show
in search of the next great sitcom, premiered on Bravo in 2005 to wide critical praise.
Current projects in development include “Grimm,” ”Man and Woman,” “The Ten
Million Dollar Word,” “Cornerstone,” “Bi-Coastal,” “Eight Days a Week,” the remake
of the classic comedy feature “Cinderfella” and ”The Most Annoying Man in the World.”
ROB MORROW (Dr. Hollins) currently stars as an FBI agent on the hit CBS
drama “Numb3rs,” produced by Ridley Scott and Tony Scott. Morrow recently directed
an episode of “Numb3rs” and will continue to direct episodes every season. He was also
recently seen in the Lifetime original movie “Custody,” opposite James Denton.
Morrow is well-known for his critically acclaimed portrayal of a New York-
doctor-gone-Alaska on the hit television series “Northern Exposure,” which garnered him
three Golden Globe Award nominations and two Emmy Award nominations.
Among his other television credits are a starring role in the Showtime original
series “Street Time”; John Wilkes Booth in the TNT movie “The Day Lincoln was Shot”;
the CBS Hallmark Entertainment miniseries “Only Love”; the Showtime movie “The
Thin Blue Lie”; and the CBS movie “Jenifer.”
Morrow’s directing credits include an episode of HBO’s crime drama “Oz,” three
episodes of Showtime’s “Street Time,” and three episodes of CBS’ highly lauded drama
“Joan of Arcadia.” He made his directorial debut with “The Silent Alarm,” which
premiered at the 1993 Seattle Film Festival and went on to screen at the Hamptons,
Boston, Edinburgh and Sundance Film Festivals, with its television debut on Bravo.
On the big screen, Morrow starred in the 2001 independent feature “Maze,” which
he also wrote, directed and produced, and which co-starred Laura Linney. His film
credits include Michael Hoffman’s “The Emperor’s Club,” with Kevin Kline; Robert
Redford’s Oscar-nominated “Quiz Show,” with Ralph Fiennes and John Turturro; Daisy
VonScherler Mayer’s “The Guru,” with Heather Graham; Albert Brooks’ comedy
“Mother”; Bruce Beresford’s “Last Dance”; and Anthony Stark’s “Into My Heart.”
A native New Yorker, Morrow began his theater career working for Tom
O’Horgan and Norman Mailer. He starred in the hit Broadway show “The Exonerated,”
opposite Penn Jillette and Mia Farrow, “Third Street” at the Circle Repertory Theatre,
and London’s West End production of “Birdy.” He is a founding member of the
nonprofit ensemble Naked Angels.
Morrow serves on the Board of Directors for Project ALS.
BEVERLY TODD (Virginia), winner of a People’s Choice Award and a four-
time nominee for the NAACP Image Award, most recently captured critical attention in
the role of Don Cheadle’s mother in the Oscar-winning film “Crash.”
As a writer, producer and actor, Todd was first recognized for her prolific work in
the 1970s. Her mentor at the onset of her film career was actor/director Sidney Poitier
and she worked frequently with him in that decade, including appearences in the notable
films “The Lost Man,” “They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!” and “Brother John.” Todd went
on to co-star with Richard Pryor in the comedy “Moving,” with Whoopi Goldberg in
“Clara’s Heart” and with Diane Keaton in “Baby Boom.” In 1989 she starred opposite
her “Bucket List” co-star Morgan Freeman in the inspiring drama “Lean On Me.”
On television, Todd proved adept at both classy and streetwise urban roles.
Highlights include stand-out performances on the PBS Special “Six Characters in Search
of an Author”; the esteemed miniseries “Don’t Look Back: The Story of Leroy Satchel
Paige,” in which she co-starred as Mrs. Paige opposite Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr.;
and as an integral part of the historical TV event “Roots,” playing the role of Fanta.
More recently she played a recurring role on the acclaimed HBO series “Six Feet Under.”
She currently has recurring roles on “Lincoln Heights” and “House M.D.”
Todd teamed with Whoopi Goldberg to co-produce the award-winning comedy
special “A Laugh, A Tear, the Story of Black Humor in America.”
She is currently the executive producer of a forthcoming documentary on the life
and career of Dionne Warwick.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
ROB REINER (Director/Producer) has directed some of the most popular and
influential motion pictures of the past two decades.
The versatile filmmaker has been immersed in the entertainment business for
much of his life, succeeding first as an actor, then as a director and producer. Prior to his
directorial debut, Reiner acted in many television and feature productions. It was,
however, his Emmy Award-winning work as the son-in-law of Archie Bunker in the hit
series “All in the Family” that made him a household name.
Reiner’s directing credits include the now-legendary “This is Spinal Tap”; “The
Sure Thing”; the sleeper hit “Stand By Me,” for which he received Best Director
nominations from the Directors Guild of America and the Hollywood Foreign Press
Association; the much-loved fantasy “The Princess Bride,” adapted for the screen by
Academy Award winner William Goldman from his novel; the civil rights drama “Ghosts
of Mississippi”; and the marriage-themed comedy drama “The Story of Us.”
His succession of box-office hits include “When Harry Met Sally…,” for which
he received his second Best Director nomination from the DGA; “Misery”; “A Few Good
Men,” which earned him his third Best Director nomination from the DGA as well as an
Academy Award nomination for Best Picture; and “The American President.” Most
recently, he produced and directed the romantic comedy “Alex & Emma,” in which he
also appeared on screen, and directed the romantic comedy “Rumor Has It….” Last year
he lent his voice to the animated family adventure “Everyone’s Hero.”
Reiner is a principal and co-founder of Castle Rock Entertainment.
In 1997, Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, founded the I Am Your
Child Foundation, a national non-profit organization promoting early childhood
development and providing parents with quality educational materials. In 2004, I Am
Your Child became Parents’ Action for Children, expanding its mission to organize
parents into a powerful national movement ensuring that our nation’s policies reflect a
concern for and commitment to early education, health care, and high quality affordable
child care. www.parentsaction.org.
In 1998, Reiner chaired the successful California Children and Families Initiative,
which is now implementing an integrated program of early childhood development
services, including health care, preschool, and intervention programs for families at risk.
A committed environmentalist who has championed open space preservation in
the Los Angeles region, Reiner supports the National Resources Defense Council
(NRDC), a national non-profit organization that works to preserve and protect public
health and ensure the conservation and wise management of land and natural resources.
CRAIG ZADAN and NEIL MERON (Producers) are the producers of critically
acclaimed and award-winning feature films and television projects. In total, their films
have garnered six Academy Awards, five Golden Globes, eleven Emmy Awards and two
Peabody Awards.
Zadan and Meron were producers of this summer's hit film “Hairspray,” which
had the biggest opening weekend for a movie musical in motion picture history and is
one of the best reviewed movies of the year.
Previously, their film “Chicago,” which they executive produced, earned 13 Oscar
nominations, winning six, including one for Best Picture; and seven Golden Globe Award
nominations, winning three, including Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. It also
won two BAFTA Awards, three SAG awards, the Producers Guild of America Award for
Best Picture, the Directors Guild of America Award for Rob Marshall and a Grammy for
Best Soundtrack, and it was chosen by the Broadcast Film Critics Association as the Best
Motion Picture of the Year. “Chicago” became the highest-grossing movie in Miramax’s
history and the first musical in 34 years to win the Best Picture Oscar.
Their television adaptation of the musical “The Music Man,” starring Matthew
Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth, aired to acclaim. It earned five Emmy nominations
and earned director Jeff Bleckner a DGA Award.
The television biopic “Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows” was a
critical and ratings success, topping many Ten Best lists and becoming the highest-rated
movie or miniseries of that year. It earned 13 Emmy Award nominations, including
Outstanding Miniseries, and won five, including one for Judy Davis’ portrayal of Judy
Garland. Davis also won a Golden Globe Award, and the project was also Golden Globe
nominated for Outstanding Miniseries. Additionally, it won the Television Critics
Association Award, two Broadcast Film Critics Awards, a SAG Award, an AFI Award
and the Prism Award, as well as numerous other awards and nominations.
Their production of “The Beach Boys: An American Family” was nominated for
three Emmys, including Best Miniseries, and Jeff Bleckner won a DGA Award for the
miniseries.
Zadan and Meron executive produced a new version of “Annie,” starring Kathy
Bates, which won two Emmys, the Peabody Award and the TV Guide Award for Favorite
TV Movie or Miniseries. It was nominated for 12 Emmys, including Outstanding Made
for Television Movie. The musical also marked the directorial debut of Rob Marshall,
who received an Emmy nomination for Best Director, won an Emmy for Outstanding
Choreography and received a DGA nomination.
Their production of “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” which starred
Whitney Houston, Brandy, Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Alexander and Bernadette Peters,
garnered seven Emmy nominations.
Their first television musical event, “Gypsy,” was a three-hour CBS movie
musical starring Bette Midler. A ratings and critical triumph, the show was nominated
for 12 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Television Movie (the first such nomination
for a film musical in the Academy’s history), and three Golden Globes, including Best
Telefilm, as well as Producers Guild and Directors Guild nominations.
Zadan and Meron produced “Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer
Story.” The film received six Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Television
Movie, and won three: Best Actress for Glenn Close, Best Supporting Actress for Judy
Davis and Best Screenplay for Alison Cross. Additionally, it was nominated for Golden
Globe Awards for Best Television Movie, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress; was
nominated for awards from the Producers Guild, Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild,
and won the coveted National Education Association Award for the Advancement of
Learning Through Broadcasting. The producers also won the prestigious Peabody Award
for Outstanding Achievement in Broadcasting and were the recipients of the Lambda
Liberty Award as well as the GLAAD Media Award.
They previously executive produced the WB feature film comedy “My Fellow
Americans,” starring Jack Lemmon and James Garner.
Zadan’s first feature film production, “Footloose,” starring Kevin Bacon, received
two Oscar nominations, a Golden Globe nomination, and a Grammy nomination for Best
Soundtrack Album.
Zadan and Meron's next project is a new movie adaptation of “A Raisin in the
Sun,” based on Lorraine Hansberry’s classic play, starring Sean Combs, Phylicia Rashad,
Audra McDonald and Sanaa Lathan, which will air on ABC on Feb 25, 2008, the night
after ABC's airing of the Oscars. Their next feature film will be Frank Darabont's
adaptation of Ray Bradbury's “Fahrenheit 451,” which Darabont will also direct.
ALAN GREISMAN (Producer) has been partnered with Rob Reiner for the past
seven years, most recently teaming with him on the romantic comedy “Alex & Emma”
and the television feature “Everyday Life.”
The native New Yorker earned a degree in art history at Northwestern University
and continued studies in that field at Columbia University graduate school before
entering the film business. He made documentaries and commercials before producing
his first feature film in 1980, “Heart Beat,” the story of beat generation legends Neal and
Carolyn Cassady, starring Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek and John Heard.
Greisman subsequently produced a pair of comedies starring Chevy Chase,
“Modern Problems” and “Fletch,” as well as the film version of Marsha Norman’s
Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “’night, Mother.” He was executive producer on Harold
Ramis’ “Club Paradise,” with Robin Williams and Peter O’Toole.
Greisman worked for movie impresario Ray Stark for several years before going
on to run Savoy Pictures from 1992 to 1994. But he missed the world of production and
returned to that arena with the 1999 television movie “Earthly Possessions,” on which he
served as executive producer, followed by the theatrical feature “Texas Rangers.”
Greisman’s additional producing credits include “Windy City,” “Surrender,”
“Satisfaction,” “Fletch Lives,” “Soap Dish” and “Mr. Jones.” He also served as
executive producer on “Three O’Clock High” and “Cross My Heart.”
JUSTIN ZACKHAM (Screenwriter/Executive Producer). “The Bucket List”
marks Zackham’s first studio-produced work and the first for his company, Two Ton
Films. The inspiration for the film came after Zackham wrote his own bucket list during
a crossroads in his life.
He is also working on the book Bucket Lists, an inspiring compilation of
life-lists by luminaries ranging from Hugh Hefner and the smartest man alive, to
school teachers, farmers and children from across the globe. A significant portion
of its proceeds will be donated to The Prostate Cancer Foundation. Zackham is
also developing a website where users can create and share their own “bucket
lists” and learn how to fulfill them.
For the big screen, Zackham is currently adapting the book Planetwalker for
director Tom Shadyac as a vehicle for Will Smith. He is also writing, creating and
executive producing “Lights Out” for Fox television, a one-hour drama about a
former heavyweight champ attempting to correct the wrongs in his life before
succumbing to the effects of Parkinson's disease brought on by his years in the
ring. Acclaimed director Philip Noyce will executive produce and direct the pilot.
He is also writing/creating “Riverside,” a semi-autobiographical series for
CBS that he describes as a one-hour drama with comedic elements about six childhood
friends, now in their late-twenties, who struggle to maintain their tight-knit group in the
face of adulthood. Zackham will executive produce alongside director Jon Turteltaub.
Two Ton Films, created by Zackham and producing partner Clay Pecorin, is
geared towards creating mature, adult-oriented content for the baby-boomer audience.
Their next project goes into production in Spring 2008.
A graduate of NYU Film School, Zackham lives in Los Angeles.
TRAVIS KNOX (Executive Producer) currently serves as head of motion picture
development for Storyline Entertainment. He was most recently co-producer on the hit
movie musical “Hairspray,” directed by Adam Shankman and starring John Travolta,
Nikki Blonsky, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifa and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Boston, Knox began his entertainment industry
career shortly after graduating film school at Chapman College. He was soon hired by
producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron as a production associate on the television movie
events “The Beach Boys: An American Family” and “What Makes a Family,” starring
Brooke Shields, Cherry Jones and Whoopi Goldberg. He continued his association with
Zadan and Meron’s Storyline Entertainment group on the Emmy Award-winning “Life
With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows” and the remake of “Brian’s Song.”
JEFFREY STOTT (Executive Producer) has collaborated with Rob Reiner since
Reiner’s directorial debut, “This is Spinal Tap.” The film went on to capture the hearts of
critics and audiences alike and was followed up with the equally successful films “The
Sure Thing,” “Stand by Me” and “The Princess Bride,” on which Stott was associate
producer.
His long association with Reiner continued through the formation of Reiner’s
company, Castle Rock Entertainment. During his tenure there as Executive Vice
President of Production Management, Stott oversaw the production of more than 60 films
and served as executive producer on “The American President,” “Ghosts of Mississippi,”
“The Story of Us” and “Alex & Emma.”
Stott’s credits as a co-producer include the classic “When Harry Met Sally”;
“Misery,” for which Kathy Bates won an Academy Award for Best Actress; and “A Few
Good Men,” which earned Jack Nicholson an Academy Award nomination for Best
Supporting Actor. His additional credits include “Murder By Numbers” and “Dolores
Claiborne.”
While at Castle Rock, Stott also served as the executive in charge of production
on the hit TV series “Seinfeld.”
Stott’s recent productions include the comedy “Fat Albert,” for director Joel
Zwick, and the remake of “The Omen,” directed by John Moore.
He holds an M.A. in history from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. in
history from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
JOHN SCHWARTZMAN (Director of Photography) most recently filmed the
action adventure sequel “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” starring Nicolas Cage,
currently in theatres, and the 2004 hit comedy “Meet the Fockers.”
Schwartzman earned an Academy Award nomination and won the American
Society of Cinematographers Award for his work on the acclaimed 2003 drama
“Seabiscuit.”
A graduate of the University of Southern California, he began his career as a
cinematographer in 1988 on the romantic comedy “You Can’t Hurry Love,” and went on
to serve as director of photography on numerous feature films for some of the industry’s
most respected directors, including Jeremiah Chechik’s independent hit “Benny & Joon”;
Michael Bay’s “The Rock”; Richard Donner’s “Conspiracy Theory”; the blockbuster
“Armageddon,” also for Michael Bay; Ron Howard’s “EdTV”; and “The Rookie,” for
John Lee Hancock. He earned his first nomination from the American Society of
Cinematographers for Michael Bay’s 2001 epic “Pearl Harbor.”
His notable commercial work includes spots for a wide range of national and
international clients such as HBO, State Farm Insurance, Capitol One, Blue Man Group,
Pacific Life, Chevy, Visa, Pizza Hut, Toyota, Hershey’s, American Express, Coca-Cola,
Budweiser, Buick, Honda, Nike, Victoria’s Secret, DIRECTV, Canon, Levi’s, Mercedes
Benz, Gatorade, Universal Studios, Jeep, Kodak and AT&T.
BILL BRZESKI (Production Designer) has been working in feature films,
television, interior design and theatre for over 20 years. He began his career in television
and has designed more than 800 episodes.
As a production designer in feature films he has lent his talents to James L.
Brooks’ Oscar-winning “As Good as It Gets,” Martin Lawrence’s “Blue Streak” and
Danny DeVito’s “Matilda.” He also designed the groundbreaking CGI movie “Stuart
Little” and its sequel, “Stuart Little 2,” for director Rob Minkoff.
His latest endeavor was “The Forbidden Kingdom,” again for Rob Minkoff,
starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li and set for a 2008 release. Brzeski spent eight months in
China on location for this epic story about the legendary Monkey King.
He also designs commercial spaces, most notably the award-winning Susina
Bakery in Los Angeles.
Brzeski received his undergraduate degree from Miami University and a Master
of Fine Arts in Design from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Originally
interested in designing for the ballet and opera, he began his career in the theatre before
moving to Los Angeles from New York City.
Most recently, he has embarked on a teaching career, conducting production
design workshops at graduate and undergraduate levels. His seminars have been hosted
by New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Miami University, Clemson
University and Loyola University Film School.
ROBERT LEIGHTON (Editor) has collaborated with Rob Reiner on each of his
feature directorial efforts, beginning with “This is Spinal Tap” and continuing with “The
Sure Thing,” “Stand By Me,” “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally…,”
“Misery,” “A Few Good Men,” “North,” “The American President,” “Ghosts of
Mississippi,” “The Story of Us,” “Alex & Emma” and “Rumor Has It…” He received an
Academy Award nomination and an Eddie nomination from the Editors Guild for his
work on “A Few Good Men.”
He most recently edited the Christopher Guest comedy “For Your Consideration,”
having previously worked with Guest on “A Mighty Wind” and “Best in Show,” and
director Peter Chelsom’s “Shall We Dance?” His additional editing credits include two
Ron Shelton films, “Bull Durham” and “Blaze,” as well as “Life with Mikey,” “Courage
Under Fire,” “Wavelength” and “Delusion.”
Born in London, Leighton studied his craft at the London Film School. He
worked for the BBC as an assistant editor before emigrating to the U.S. in 1975.
MARC SHAIMAN (Music) is the recipient of the 2007 ASCAP Henry Mancini
Career Achievement Award. As a composer, lyricist, arranger, performer and producer
for film, television, theatre and recordings he is one of the entertainment industry’s most
versatile talents.
Shaiman wrote the music and co-wrote the lyrics for the musical comedy
“Hairspray,” which debuted on Broadway in 2002. Based on John Waters’ 1988 cult
classic, “Hairspray” went on to win eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best
Original Score.
His extensive film credits as a composer, lyricist and performer include
“Broadcast News,” “Beaches,” “When Harry Met Sally...,” “City Slickers,” “The
Addams Family,” “Sister Act,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “A Few Good Men,” “The
American President,” “The First Wives Club,” “George of the Jungle,” “In & Out,”
“Patch Adams,” “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut” and “Team America: World
Police.”
He recently appeared on Broadway alongside long-time friend Martin Short in the
original musical “Fame Becomes Me” (for which Shaiman earned a Drama Desk Award
nomination). He is also composing and co-writing the lyrics for the upcoming musical
“Catch Me If You Can,” based upon Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed film.
Shaiman has received five Academy Award nominations: for the songs “Blame
Canada,” from “South Park,” and “A Wink and A Smile,” from “Sleepless In Seattle,”
and the scores for “Patch Adams,” “The First Wives Club” and “The American
President.” He won a Grammy Award for the Original Broadway Cast Album of
“Hairspray” and earned two additional Grammy nominations for his arrangements of
Harry Connick, Jr.’ s recordings “When Harry Met Sally” and “We Are In Love.” He
won an Emmy Award for co-writing Billy Crystal’s Academy Award Show
performances and was Emmy-nominated for his work on “Saturday Night Live.” He also
appeared on “SNL” as Skip St. Thomas, the pianist mastermind for The Sweeney Sisters.
Shaiman began his career as a musical director for theatre and cabaret. This led
him to become the vocal arranger for Bette Midler, then her musical director and coproducer
of many of her recordings, including “The Wind Beneath My Wings” and
“From a Distance.” With Midler he co-wrote the material for her Emmy Award-winning
performance on the penultimate “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.”
Will Ferrell, Jack Black and John C. Reilly performed Shaiman’s hilarious
musical tribute “A Comedian at the Oscars” at the 2007 Academy Awards.
WARNER BROS. PICTURES Presents
A ZADAN MERON/REINER GREISMAN Production
A ROB REINER Film
CAST
Edward......................................................................................JACK NICHOLSON
Carter.....................................................................................MORGAN FREEMAN
Thomas............................................................................................. SEAN HAYES
Virginia..........................................................................................BEVERLY TODD
Dr. Hollins ...................................................................................... ROB MORROW
Roger....................................................................................ALFONSO FREEMAN
Angelica......................................................................................... ROWENA KING
Kai........................................................................................ ANNTON BERRY, JR.
Chandra......................................................................................VERDA BRIDGES
Maya ...............................................................................DESTINY BROWNRIDGE
Lee............................................................................................BRIAN COPELAND
Instructor............................................................................... IAN ANTHONY DALE
Emily............................................................................JENNIFER DeFRANCISCO
Female Administrator .............................................................ANGELA GARDNER
Mechanic ...................................................................................NOEL GUGLIELMI
Manny............................................................................JONATHAN HERNANDEZ
County Health Director .................................................................... HUGH HOLUB
Elizabeth.............................................................................ANDREA J. JOHNSON
Flight Attendant ................................................................................ DAWN LEWIS
Tattoo Artist ....................................................................................JORDAN LUND
Board Chairman .............................................................. RICHARD McGONAGLE
Richard ................................................................................JONATHAN MANGUM
Nurse Shing...........................................................................KAREN MARUYAMA
Attractive Woman #1 ....................................................................... AMBER MEAD
Attractive Woman #2 ........................................................................ NIKKI NOVAK
Executive #1 ................................................................................... JOHN O'BRIEN
Rachel........................................................................................SERENA REEDER
Kyle..........................................................................CHRISTOPHER STAPLETON
Edward's Granddaughter............................................ TAYLOR ANN THOMPSON
Alex Trebek...............................................................................................HIMSELF
Doctor #1....................................................................................ROY VONGTAMA
Stunt Coordinator ...........................................................................ALEX DANIELS
Stunt Players ....................................................................................TANNER GILL
STEVE KELSO, RICK SEAMAN
JOPHERY BROWN, HUBIE KERNS, JR.
TODD SHOEBOTHAM
DEAN BAILEY, DAVID MAJOR
BUDDY SOSTHAND, ROB CASTER
CRAIG O'BRIEN, JIM WALLACE
PAT CONATSER, AUSTIN PRIESTER
HARRY WOWCHUK
FILMMAKERS
Directed by.........................................................................................ROB REINER
Written by.................................................................................. JUSTIN ZACKHAM
Produced by.....................................................................................CRAIG ZADAN
NEIL MERON
Produced by................................................................................ALAN GREISMAN
ROB REINER
Executive Producers....................................................................JEFFREY STOTT
TRAVIS KNOX
JUSTIN ZACKHAM
Director of Photography.........................................JOHN SCHWARTZMAN, A.S.C.
Production Designer.........................................................................BILL BRZESKI
Film Editor..............................................................................ROBERT LEIGHTON
Music by....................................................................................... MARC SHAIMAN
Costumes Designed by ............................................................ MOLLY MAGINNIS
Casting by.....................................................................JANE JENKINS, C.S.A. and
JANET HIRSHENSON, C.S.A.
Unit Production Managers..........................................................DAVID A. SIEGEL
JEFFREY STOTT
First Assistant Director ...............................................................FRANK CAPRA III
Second Assistant Director.........................................................BRIAN F. RELYEA
Co-Producer ...............................................................................FRANK CAPRA III
Art Director..................................................................................... JAY PELISSIER
Assistant Art Director........................................................... MARTHA JOHNSTON
Set Decorator.................................................................... ROBERT GREENFIELD
Camera Operator....................................................................................... IAN FOX
Camera First Assistant.............................................................RICHARD MOSIER
Camera Second Assistant............................................................THOM LAIRSON
Camera Loader...................................................................... MELANIE BANDERS
Assistant Editor..............................................................................DANNY MILLER
VFX Editor ....................................................................................CORINNE VILLA
Production Sound Mixer .................................................................ROBERT EBER
Boom Operator ........................................................................ PERRY DODGSON
Cable ............................................................................................MIKE MESIROW
Script Supervisor .............................................................KERRY LYN McKISSICK
Video Assist................................................................................. DAVE SCHMALZ
Chief Lighting Technician..............................................DAVID R. CHRISTENSEN
Assistant Chief Lighting Technician ................................................ TOM DEROSE
Rigging Gaffer........................................................................FRANK DOROWSKY
Key Grip..............................................................................................LES TOMITA
Best Boy Grips..............................................DANA BAKER, MICHAEL TRAVERS
Rigging Key Grip .............................................................................. RICK HARRIS
Dolly Grip...............................................................................................BRAD REA
Department Head Make-up ...........................................................VALLI O'REILLY
Key Make-up Artist ......................................................................... TANYA VERNA
Mr. Nicholson's Make-up...............................................................MIKE GERMAIN
Mr. Nicholson's Prosthetic Make-up......................................MATTHEW MUNGLE
Mr. Freeman's Make-up........................................NANCY WORTHEN-HANCOCK
Prosthetic Lab Work ................................................................. RYAN McDOWELL
Tattoo Artist .............................................................................HOWARD BERGER
Department Head Hairstylist.................................................................. MEDUSAH
Key Hairstylist.................................................................................MARIE LARKIN
Mr. Nicholson's Hairstylist ................................................................. JOY ZAPATA
Mr. Freeman's Hairstylist.................................................................DEENA ADAIR
Costume Supervisor....................................................................SANDY KENYON
Key Costumer...........................................................................SALLY McCARDLE
Costumer .................................................................... DEMETRICUS HOLLOWAY
Mr. Nicholson's Costumer ............................................................ DEBBIE TRAVIS
Mr. Freeman's Costumer......................................................CATHIE VALDOVINO
Property Master ....................................................................EUGENE McCARTHY
Assistant Property Master .............................................................DOUG DuROSE
Special Effects Coordinator.......................................................DONALD FRAZEE
Special Effects Foreman ............................................................ SCOTT LINGARD
Special Effects Technicians...................................SCOTT FISHER, JIM ROLLINS
24 Frame Video Playback .......................................................... RICK WHITFIELD
24 Frame Playback Operator .................................................... MARK HOCHMAN
Assistant to Mr. Reiner.............................................................BOSTIC C. BEARD
Administrative Assistant to Mr. Reiner ................................................PAM JONES
Assistant to Mr. Greisman......................................................MARIA WESTFRIED
Assistant to Mr. Zadan and Mr. Meron ........................................LAINE BATEMAN
Assistant to Mr. Stott ......................................................................... ALICE S. KIM
Assistant to Mr. Knox...................................................................... JARED IACINO
Assistants to Mr. Nicholson..................................CHRIS SCOTT, DAWN PERLIN
Support Staff for Mr. Nicholson ................................................. CHET BADALATO
Assistant to Mr. Freeman ..........................................................QUENTIN PIERRE
Post Production Supervisor......................................................SUSAN E. NOVICK
Sound/ADR Supervisor .................................................................... LON BENDER
Re-recording Mixers ..................................... MARC FISHMAN, TONY LAMBERTI
Foley Supervisor...................................................................... GLYNNA GRIMALA
Dialogue Editors ..........................................................JOHN C. STUVER, M.P.S.E.
LAURA HARRIS ATKINSON
ADR Editor........................................................................................... TIM BOGGS
Sound Editors.....................................................ANN SCIBELLI, BRYAN BOWEN
First Assistant Sound Editor ........................................................ GAYLE WESLEY
Assistant Sound Editor..................................................................JOHN CANNON
Additional Audio.....................................................MARK ORMANDY, DAN KERR
Foley Artists......................................................JIMMY MORIANA, JEFF WILHOIT
Foley Mixer ........................................................................... NERSES GEZALYAN
ADR Mixers......................................................................... ROBERT DESCHAINE
RON BEDROSIAN, GREG STEELE
Digital Playback.......................................................................ROBERT ALTHOFF
Visual Effects Producer ............................................................... LORI J. NELSON
Lead Visual Effects Compositor .................................................. JEREMY BURNS
Visual Effects by RING OF FIRE
JERRY SPIVACK JOHN MYERS CASEY CONROY
GREG ANDERSON JASON PICCIONI BILL HIGGINS
JOSH RODEN BRINTON JAECKS KIM PEPPE
Visual Effects by ILLUSION ARTS, INC.
KELVIN McILWAIN SYD DUTTON CATHERINE SUDOLCAN
FUMI MASHIMO BOB SCIFO COLLIN FOWLER
2nd 2nd Assistant Director ....................................................STEVEN W. MOORE
Production Office Coordinator..................................................JENNIFER COREY
Asst. Production Office Coordinator...............................................STEVEN EDDY
Production Secretary.......................................................................BRYAN DAVIS
Production Accountant ....................................................................... ERIC LAYNE
Assistant Production Accountants..............................................JANETTE EVANS
CINDY ANDERSON
Location Manager.................................................................ROBBIE GOLDSTEIN
Key Assistant Location Manager............................................. MICHAEL WESLEY
Assistant Location Managers ....................................................ISAAC ARDOLINO
MONIQUE BERRENSON
Transportation Coordinator....................................... JONATHAN A. ROSENFELD
Transportation Captain...................................................................JEFF VERDICK
Transportation Co-Captain ..................................................................... JIM PETTI
Staff Assistants.........................................KEVIN BERLANDI, JENNIFER CARNO
SIERRA DONLEY, ALYSSA FEENER
TOM HANADA, RACHEL JENSEN
MARK McSORLEY, CHARLIE NADLER
MATTHEW SCHOENBAUM
ANDREW WILL, SHAWN WILLIAMSON
Lead.............................................................................................. SEAN GINEVAN
On Set Dresser............................................................. ROBERT GREENFIELD III
Set Designers.....................................................BARBARA MESNEY, JIM TOCCI
Art Department Coordinator .........................................................ILANA GORDON
Storyboard Artist...................................................................... MARK A. MORETTI
Construction Coordinator................................................................ JOHN ELLIOTT
General Foreman ..................................................................... MICHAEL MEDINA
Paint Foreman..................................................................LAURENCE CASTELLO
Plaster Foreman .......................................................................... TODD BENNETT
Labor Foreman .................................................................... DOMINIC SANDFREY
Propmaker Foremen....................................................... RANDY CULBERHOUSE
BRIAN FEOLA
Greens............................................................................................ LEE RUNNELS
Unit Publicist......................................................................................ROB HARRIS
Still Photographer ......................................................................SIDNEY BALDWIN
Casting Assistant...........................................................................JAMIE CASTRO
Extras Casting ..............................................CHRIS BUSTARD, JENI THORNELL
Medical Technical Advisors.................................................DR. FRED EINESMAN
DR. PAULA WHITEMAN
Jeopardy Technical Advisors..................................................... ROCKY SCHMIDT
LISA BROFFMAN
Researcher .................................................................... GALADRIEL THOMPSON
Stock Footage Researcher..................................................DEBORAH RICKETTS
Craft Service.................................................WILLIE RADCLIFF, LOIS RADCLIFF
First Aid......................................................................................DEIDERIC IRVING
HENRY HUMPHREYS, EUGENE STARZENSKI
Catering ......................................... KEN & ART'S MOTION PICTURE CATERING
Digital Intermediate by......................TECHNICOLOR DIGITAL INTERMEDIATES
Digital Film Colorists........................SCOTT GREGORY, STEPHEN NAKAMURA
Digital Intermediate Producer...................................................ZAHIDA BACCHUS
Titles by .......................................................................................... PACIFIC TITLE
Negative Cutter..................................................................................... MO HENRY
Color Timer............................................................................MICHAEL MERTENS
Music Editor.............................................................................SCOTT STAMBLER
Score Mixed and Recorded by.........................................................FRANK WOLF
Assistant Engineer............................................................................GREG HAYES
Score Orchestrated by.................................................................. JEFF ATMAJIAN
Score Conducted by.................................................................... PETE ANTHONY
Assistant Music Editor/Programmer .............................................. BRETT PIERCE
Orchestra Leader..........................................................................PETER ROTTER
Featured Piano ............................................MARC SHAIMAN, BRYAN PEZZONE
Featured Harpist........................................................................... GAYLE LEVANT
Featured Trumpet..............................................................................CHRIS BOTTI
"I've Got A Feelin' You're Foolin'"
Written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown
"It's Alright"
Written and Performed by Wade Hubbard
"Tush"
Written by Billy F Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard
Produced by Marc Shaiman and Frank Wolf
Performed by Doug Legacy
"Milord"
Written by Marguerite Monnot and Joseph Moustaki
Performed by Edith Piaf
Courtesy of EMI Music France
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music
"La Vie En Rose"
Written by Louiguy and Edith Piaf
Produced by Marc Shaiman
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
Written by George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore
Performed by The Tokens
Courtesy of The RCA Records Label
By arrangement with SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
"On The Road Again"
Written by Floyd Jones and Alan Wilson
Performed by Canned Heat
Courtesy of Cleopatra Records Inc.
By arrangement with pigFACTORY USA
"Say"
Written, Produced and Performed by John Mayer
John Mayer appears courtesy of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Produced in Association with TWO TON FILMS
Thanks to The City of Beverly Hills
MLB Footage Courtesy of MLB.com
Major League Baseball ® footage used
with permission of Major League Baseball Properties Inc.
BBC Motion Gallery
© 2007 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Corbis
Camera Cranes & Dollies by CHAPMAN/LEONARD STUDIO EQUIPMENT, INC.
Filmed with PANAVISION ® Cameras and Lenses
Color by TECHNICOLOR ®
KODAK Motion Picture Products
FUJIFILM Motion Picture Products
DOLBY Digital DTS Digital SDDS
Approved #43762 IATSE
Motion Picture Association of America
This motion picture
© 2007 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Story and Screenplay
© 2007 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Original Score
© 2007 Warner-Olive Music, LLC
THE BUCKET LIST
Warner Bros. Distribution
Los artistas ganadores del Premio de la Academia, Jack Nicholson y Morgan
Freeman, protagonizan la comedia dramática “
””, dirigida por Rob
Reiner. Dicho film, es una aventura de emoción sin límites, que muestra que nunca es
tarde para comenzar a vivir la vida plenamente.
Hace mucho tiempo atrás, el profesor de filosofía de Carter Chambers
(MORGAN FREEMAN), en su primer año de escuela superior, sugirió a sus estudiantes
componer una “lista de deseos”, una colección de todas las cosas que ellos querrían
hacer, ver y experimentar en sus vidas, antes de morir.
Carter todavía estaba tratando de definir sus sueños y planes personales, cuando
de repente le llegó la realidad de la vida: el casamiento, los hijos, una cantidad enorme de
responsabilidades, un trabajo de mecánico de autos durante 46 años, y cuando quiso darse
cuenta, su lista de deseos había quedado relegada a ser un agridulce recuerdo. Atrás
quedaron las oportunidades perdidas y la lista se convirtió en un ejercicio mental, en algo
en que pensaba ocasionalmente para pasar el tiempo, mientras que trabajaba en los
motores de los autos.
Mientras tanto, el multimillonario Edward Cole (JACK NICHOLSON) nunca vio
una lista que no fuera necesaria. Siempre estaba muy ocupado haciendo plata y
construyendo un imperio. No tenía tiempo para pensar cuáles podían ser sus necesidades
del alma, porque tenía que pensar en cuál sería su siguiente adquisición o qué tipo de café
exquisito tomaría.
De repente, la vida les hizo abrir los ojos a los dos, alarmante e inesperadamente.
Carter y Edward de pronto, se encuentran compartiendo la habitación del hospital,
a donde cada uno de ellos separadamente fue a parar. Allí tienen mucho tiempo para
pensar en qué podría suceder después, y si eso estaba o no en sus manos. Si bien entre
ellos existen muchas diferencias aparentes, muy pronto descubren que tienen dos cosas
muy importantes en común: una necesidad inconsciente de hacer la paz con la persona en
que ellos se han convertido y las elecciones tomadas de esa manera, y un urgente deseo
de tratar de recuperar el tiempo perdido y hacer las cosas que siempre habían deseado
hacer.
y Edward de pronto, se encuentran compartiendo la habitación del hospital,
a donde cada uno de ellos separadamente fue a parar. Allí tienen mucho tiempo para
pensar en qué podría suceder después, y si eso estaba o no en sus manos. Si bien entre
ellos existen muchas diferencias aparentes, muy pronto descubren que tienen dos cosas
muy importantes en común: una necesidad inconsciente de hacer la paz con la persona en
que ellos se han convertido y las elecciones tomadas de esa manera, y un urgente deseo
de tratar de recuperar el tiempo perdido y hacer las cosas que siempre habían deseado
hacer.
La lista de deseos ya no era un ejercicio mental. Era una necesidad a satisfacer.
Así, sin escuchar las recomendaciones de los médicos, y sin demasiado sentido
común, los dos virtualmente extraños compañeros, se van del hospital para tratar de vivir
la aventura de sus vidas: desde el Taj Mahal a Serengeti, desde los más finos restaurantes
a las casas de tatuajes más rústicas, desde la cabina de autos de carrera antiguos a la
puerta abierta de un avión a propulsión— con tan sólo una hoja de papel y su pasión por
la vida como guía.
Añadiendo y tachando cosas a sus listas, atosigándose de la grandeza y la belleza
del mundo, ellos intentarán contestar preguntas difíciles que tienen respuestas aún más
difíciles. Ese tipo de preguntas que nos preocupan a todos. Sin siquiera darse cuenta, se
convierten en verdaderos amigos. Con humor, perspicacia, honestos sentimientos…y con
mucha actitud.
A veces, uno tan solo necesita saber cuándo no va más, para comenzar a
encaminar su vida.
Warner Bros. Pictures presenta, la producción de Zadan Meron/Reiner Greisman,
de una película de Rob Reiner: Jack Nicholson y Morgan Freeman en la comedia
dramática “
””, donde también actúan Sean Hayes como Edward Cole
como el sufrido asistente Thomas, y Rob Morrow como el Dr. Hollis.
”” está dirigida por Rob Reiner y escrita por Justin Zackham.
El film fue producido por Craig Zadan y Neil Meron, Alan Greisman y Rob Reiner. Los
productores ejecutivos fueron Travis Knox, Justin Zackham y Jeffrey Stott.
El equipo creativo estuvo compuesto por el director de fotografía John
Schwartzman, el diseñador de producción Bill Brzeski y el montaje estuvo a cargo de
Robert Leighton. Música de Marc Shaiman.
estuvo compuesto por el director de fotografía John
Schwartzman, el diseñador de producción Bill Brzeski y el montaje estuvo a cargo de
Robert Leighton. Música de Marc Shaiman.
La canción original “Say” fue escrita, producida e interpretada especialmente para
,, por el artista cinco veces ganador del Premio Grammy, John
Mayer.
”” será distribuida mundialmente por Warner Bros. Pictures,
una compañía Warner Bros. Entertainment.
Esta película ha sido clasificada “PG” (Parental Guidance Suggested =
Supervisión de los padres recomendada – parte del material puede no ser adecuado para
niños) por la MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America), por su “lenguaje que
incluye referencias sexuales”. www.thebucketlist.net
Para descargar información y fotos de
”” del Internet, por favor visite: http://press.warnerbros.com
SOBRE LA PRODUCCIÓN
“Encuentra la alegría en tu vida”
El director Rob Reiner había leído tan solo 10 páginas del guión de “
,, cuando llamó a su socio productor Alan Greisman y le dijo que había
encontrado el material para su próxima película. Greisman dice recordando: -“Le dije que
leyera todo el guión para asegurarse de que así era, pero en realidad no había dudas al
respecto. Este era un tema que le llegaba al corazón, y sin tener que leer mucho más, ya
estaba convencido. ‘Me encanta la historia’ -dijo – ‘Conozco estos personajes. Esto es lo
que vamos a hacer’”.
Los dos contrataron entonces a los productores Craig Zadan y Neil Meron, de
Storyline Entertainment, quienes le habían enviado el guión. En seguida comenzaron a
hacer planes para comenzar la producción de
”” dentro del mismo
año.
Por su lado, la reacción de Reiner a la historia fue profundamente personal, pues
sintió que la misma tocaba temas con los que mucha gente podía relacionarse. -“La
generación de post guerra (los baby boomers) en particular, comienzan a examinar y a
evaluar realmente sus vidas en mayor profundidad. Los temas que trata ‘T
son exactamente esos. Aquellas personas que tienen padres o abuelos ya mayores,
pueden darse cuento lo que es mirar en retrospectiva y también hacia el futuro, y darse
cuenta qué es lo que han hecho en su vida. Este era un tema que me interesaba abordar”.
-“Había algo especial en la historia” – continúa diciendo Reiner, y menciona el
potencial natural de humor que la misma ofrecía, además de las situaciones íntimamente
personales y humanas -“se trata de la gran aventura alrededor del mundo a la que se van
dos hombres, para tratar de descubrir qué había dentro suyo durante todas sus vidas”.
Zadan y Meron no estaban sorprendidos, a ellos mismos les había gustado la
historia de “
””, un guión entre cientos que había llamado la atención
del jefe de desarrollo de películas, Travis Knox, quien también fue productor de la
película.
-“Fue una noche como cualquiera de la semana, en la que yo me llevé una pila de
guiones a mi casa para leer, pero este fue el primero en largo tiempo, que cuando lo
empecé a leer, no lo podía dejar. Tenía algo especial, una mezcla única de humor y
sentimiento. Yo tenía que tener parte en él”-relata Knox, diciendo que entonces llevó el
guión a Zadan y a Meron. Knox les sugirió a Reiner como director, pero ellos
recientemente se habían encontrado con él, para algo completamente desconectado, y
habían encontrado que con Reiner tenían una innegable relación creativa.
Reconociendo la gran experiencia de Reiner a través de sus innumerables
trabajos, Zadan comenta: -“Nos gustaba la habilidad de Rob para encontrar humor en
temas emotivos. Esa profundidad es la que le da impacto como director, y eso era
exactamente lo que queríamos para “
El productor Alan Greisman dice: -“Esta es una historia que se trata de amistad y
amor, y de descubrir qué es en verdad importante en la vida. Revuelve muchas
emociones, y al mismo tiempo que hace que uno se ría, y termina diciendo algo
significativo sobre la condición humana”.
Alan Greisman dice: -“Esta es una historia que se trata de amistad y
amor, y de descubrir qué es en verdad importante en la vida. Revuelve muchas
emociones, y al mismo tiempo que hace que uno se ría, y termina diciendo algo
significativo sobre la condición humana”.
Jack Nicholson comenta por su lado que –“Nos hace recordar que en realidad, uno
se arrepiente de las cosas que no hace en la vida, no de las que uno hace”.
El motor de la historia es el desarrollo de la relación-a veces explosiva-entre la
dispar pareja de viajeros. Si bien ellos son diametralmente opuestos en su procedencia,
temperamento, experiencia y en muchas otras formas, lo que comparten equilibra esas
diferencias superficiales.
Morgan Freeman, quien hace el papel de Carter, dice: -“Uno se relaciona con
gente con la que tiene algo en común, y estos dos hombres tienen algo muy importante en
común. Tienen el resto de sus vidas en sus manos, y ambos lo saben. Cuando Carter
conoce a Edward, se le da la oportunidad de hacer las cosas de manera diferente por
primera vez en su vida. Hacer las cosas exactamente a su manera. Para un hombre que
siente que se pasó la vida haciendo cosas buenas para los demás, esa idea tiene mucha
fuerza”.
La lista de deseos, que Carter había hecho cuando iba a la universidad, antes de
tener que abandonar sus estudios para mantener a su familia, -“era un ejercicio mental,
siempre para el futuro. El propósito de la lista, era darle a la gente joven algo que les
hiciera darse cuenta de qué cosas eran importantes en su vida, y cuáles de esas cosas
querían lograr”-explica Reiner –“Carter, un hombre bastante introvertido, vuelve a
revisar su lista cada tanto para mejorarla o cambiarla. Estando en el hospital y
contemplando sus opciones médicas, vuelve a pensar en su lista. Le hubiera gustado
haber podido cumplir algunos de los deseos de su lista, y aún así, nunca pensó en la
posibilidad de hacerlo ya mismo. Es entonces cuando Edward ve la lista y le pregunta
sobre ella”.
Para Edward no existe el concepto de “no” o “es demasiado tarde”, por lo que le
propone a Carter llevar a cabo sus deseos, inmediatamente. Edgar inclusive agrega sus
propias cosas a la lista, de manera bien característica en él.
Freeman hace notar, qué diferentes aún en esto, son los dos personajes. -“Edward
ve las cosas desde el punto de vista práctico. En cambio, los deseos de Carter son más
espirituales. Por ejemplo, en su lista figura: “presenciar algo majestuoso” o “ayudar a un
extraño porque sí”. Edward en cambio, busca experiencias que le hagan correr la
adrenalina, como saltar desde un avión o besar a la muchacha más linda del mundo”.
hace notar, qué diferentes aún en esto, son los dos personajes. -“Edward
ve las cosas desde el punto de vista práctico. En cambio, los deseos de Carter son más
espirituales. Por ejemplo, en su lista figura: “presenciar algo majestuoso” o “ayudar a un
extraño porque sí”. Edward en cambio, busca experiencias que le hagan correr la
adrenalina, como saltar desde un avión o besar a la muchacha más linda del mundo”.
Contra el consejo del médico de Edward, y contra todos los esfuerzos de la
inflexible pero amante esposa de Carter, Virginia, los dos sexagenarios se van juntos a
vivir la aventura de sus dos vidas. Se ponen en camino a un viaje sin planes, para hacer
todo lo que ellos alguna vez habían soñado, y de esa manera, poder descubrir quiénes
eran ellos, y qué significaban sus vidas”.
-“Pienso que eso es muy aventurero, y a mí me gusta ser aventurero” – dice
Nicholson, y agrega –“Hay muchas cosas en ello que la gente piensa que no están muy
bien pensadas”.
-“En medio de todo, la amistad entre los dos hombres cambia profundamente” –
dice el productor Meron – “Todo había comenzado como una broma para Edward, pero
la manera de pensar las cosas de Carter, comienza a influenciarlo. Poco a poco, Edward
comienza a examinar su vida, de forma en que jamás lo había hecho antes, y comienza a
transformarse en un individuo más emocional, aunque sin ninguna duda, le falta mucho,
mucho camino por recorrer en ese aspecto”.
-“La cuestión es que nunca es demasiado tarde”-agrega el productor-“para
decidir qué cosas son importantes, y hacer todo lo que uno pueda para lograrlas. Y eso
aplica a todo el mundo, sin importar en qué edad o circunstancia esté”.
El guionista Justin Zackham, que también fue productor ejecutivo de la película,
siempre había tenido una idea flexible sobre la edad de sus viajeros protagonistas, pero
dice: -“Debían ser sin embargo, gente que ya hubiera vivido gran parte de sus vidas.
Tenían que estar arrepentidos de algunas cosas. Si los personaje fueran más jóvenes, eso
aún sería una conjetura”. Casualmente, el guionista revela que al principio -“Escribí este
guión con la voz de Morgan Freeman en mi cabeza”.
No pasó mucho tiempo para que la voz de Jack Nicholson formara también parte
de toda la idea. Semanas antes de que comenzara la producción, el actor se encontró
repetidamente con Rob Reiner, para trabajar juntos en el diálogo, escena por escena.
Reiner comenta al respecto: -“Quiero decir algo sobre Jack Nicholson que la mayoría de
la gente no sabe. Sin ninguna duda es un actor brillante, y todos saben eso. Pero él
también es un excelente escritor, maestro de las palabras. El sabe cómo hacer las frases
más interesantes y coloridas. Al igual que yo, él pensaba que no íbamos a hacer
demasiadas películas como esta. De hecho sólo vamos a hacer una. Por eso, quisimos
estudiar las distintas tonalidades que podíamos darle, para hacerla bien. Trabajamos en
todo el guión antes de comenzar a rodar, e inclusive durante la filmación, barajamos
distintas ideas reuniéndonos en su camarín”.
-“Quiero decir algo sobre Jack Nicholson que la mayoría de
la gente no sabe. Sin ninguna duda es un actor brillante, y todos saben eso. Pero él
también es un excelente escritor, maestro de las palabras. El sabe cómo hacer las frases
más interesantes y coloridas. Al igual que yo, él pensaba que no íbamos a hacer
demasiadas películas como esta. De hecho sólo vamos a hacer una. Por eso, quisimos
estudiar las distintas tonalidades que podíamos darle, para hacerla bien. Trabajamos en
todo el guión antes de comenzar a rodar, e inclusive durante la filmación, barajamos
distintas ideas reuniéndonos en su camarín”.
-“Lo difícil”-dice Reiner –“fue encontrar un equilibrio entre el humor y la parte
emotiva de la historia, para hacerla entretenida sin aminorar su calidad. Ese era un tema
muy serio, y quisimos manejarlo con el respeto que merece. Al mismo tiempo, la historia
tenía mucho potencial para comedia, y la energía de estos dos grandes actores, sacándose
chispas el uno al otro, era algo grandioso para ver”.
Como pasa la mayoría de las veces, -“no es tanto la situación, lo que hace a la
escena graciosa, sino la manera en que la gente actúa frente a ella. Esa es la gran
diferencia”.
-“Exactamente eso lo que hace destacar a “
’-dice Zadan “
Es una historia con mucho corazón, calidez y optimismo. Una historia llena de vida”.
-“Todos pueden tener una lista de deseos”-dice Zackham -“de la misma manera
que no existe ser sobre la Tierra que no quiera ser amado, no hay nadie que, aunque sea
en un lugar recóndito de su mente, no haya pensado en las cosas que le gustaría hacer
antes de morir. Pero, frecuentemente uno se olvida de ellas, atareado en las obligaciones
diarias, y otras veces la vida nos lleva en direcciones impensadas. “
se trata de dos personas que tienen el coraje de parar y dedicarse a vivir sus sueños, lo
cual lamentable y sorprendentemente, sucede pocas veces en la vida”.
“Te mides comparándote con la gente que se mide a sí misma comparándose contigo”
Carter Chambers
Una vez que decidió realizar esta película, Rob Reiner se puso a pensar que
absolutamente necesitaba que Morgan Freeman interpretara el papel de Carter Chambers.
-“En mi mente no había otra persona más que Morgan para este papel. Era fundamental
que él actuara”.
“En mi mente no había otra persona más que Morgan para este papel. Era fundamental
que él actuara”.
Por suerte, a Freeman verdaderamente le gustó el guión… y se juntó al reparto
trayendo algunas sugerencias de actores. Reiner ya tenía en mente a Jack Nicholson para
el papel de Edward Cole. Reiner y Nicholson ya habían trabajado juntos en 1992, en la
película policial dramática “A Few Good Men”, con la cual ambos fueron nominados al
Oscar.
-“Si yo tuviera una lista de deseos antes de morir” -confiesa Freeman -“poder
trabajar junto a Jack Nicholson seguramente hubiera sido uno”.
La relación entre los personajes Edward Cole y Carter Chambers dependía en
mucho de la interacción como actores y como amigos de Jack Nicholson y Morgan
Freeman. Freeman comenta al respecto: -“La manera en que nos relacionamos es algo
que no puedo describir. Simplemente lo hacíamos. Jack daba a su personaje una energía
muy particular, experiencia y lo hacía vibrantemente. Eso es lo que nos hace ir al cine
cada vez que se estrena una película en la que él actúa. Tal vez debería llamarlo sabor”.
-“Jack puede ser muy explosivo en la pantalla, todo lo opuesto, Morgan es como
un maestro de Zen, y no deja que nada le preocupe”-detalla Reiner -“Se complementan
mutuamente de manera muy especial. Yo sabía que juntos iban a ser geniales y que iban a
encender el diálogo y la acción de manera inimaginable”.
-“Fue un placer ver a estos dos hombres desarrollar sus personajes”-dice Zadan –
“Había líneas del guión que nos parecía muy bien escritas, pero aún así, no me había
dado cuenta de que eran tan graciosas hasta que lo escuché a Jack decirlas. No podíamos
parar de reírnos. El tiene una manera especial de reflejar al personaje en cada palabra y
en cada frase. Por su lado, Morgan es incapaz de dar una nota falsa. Jamás. Con él es
imposible hacer una mala toma”.
Cada personaje está un tanto desencantado, a su manera.
-“Edward es multi-millonario. Siempre obtiene lo que desea, y su ida por la vida
siempre es de primera clase”-explica Reiner -“Vive para hacer dinero y pone todas sus
energías en los negocios. El precio de eso, es no tener nada que se parezca a una vida
personal. El es ese tipo de personas que, al momento de su muerte, se dan cuenta que se
pasaron casi toda su vida en la oficina, sin haberse dado nunca cuenta”.
-“Es tipo de lucha lo ha dejado solo, lleno de dinero, pero nada más”-reconoce
Nicholson –“Pese a todo, el espíritu combativo de Edward lo ayuda en esa ocasión,
permitiéndole saltar cualquier obstáculo que se interponga en el camino del viaje que
quiere hacer con Carter. Cualquier cosa que se oponga, él le va a hacer guerra, porque
básicamente, él es un guerrero”.
“Es tipo de lucha lo ha dejado solo, lleno de dinero, pero nada más”-reconoce
Nicholson –“Pese a todo, el espíritu combativo de Edward lo ayuda en esa ocasión,
permitiéndole saltar cualquier obstáculo que se interponga en el camino del viaje que
quiere hacer con Carter. Cualquier cosa que se oponga, él le va a hacer guerra, porque
básicamente, él es un guerrero”.
Greisman acota: -“Sin sacrificar una gota de la energía que lo empuja a Edward y
que lo mantiene en el tope del mundo de los negocios, Jack supo darle un toque
vulnerable a su personaje”.
Por su lado Carter tiene sus propios arrepentimientos. –“Está decepcionado… o al
menos él cree que está decepcionado”-dice Freeman -“Había cosas que él quería hacer
en su vida, pero las circunstancias y su sentido del deber le hicieron cambiar de dirección.
El trabajó, construyó una familia, dio una educación a sus hijos y ahora, aunque su
familia es todo para él, no puede evitar sentir que le falta algo.
-“Mucha gente termina estando en la situación de Carter”-continúa diciendo
Freeman -“Si tienen suerte, van a darse cuenta que en realidad obtuvieron lo que querían
después de todo. No creo que si uno pudiera vivir la vida nuevamente haría elecciones
distintas, porque muchas de esas elecciones estuvieron basadas en lo que uno quería o
necesitaba en ese momento, y no en lo que podía suceder”.
Para ayudar a estos dos hombres a llevar a cabo su cometido, está Thomas, el
asistente personal, mano derecha de Edward Cole, particularmente eficiente y leal, que
además sabe hacer un café delicioso. El actor ganador del Premio Emmy, Sean Hayes, es
quien lo interpreta. Para Thomas, ya no tiene ninguna importancia cuáles eran en origen
las obligaciones y responsabilidades de su trabajo, porque él con mucho aplomo, las
sobrepasó. El es un maestro acomodando con inteligencia los exigentes compromisos,
horarios y detalles en la vida de negocios y en la vida personal de Edward, y también
maneja como un as los humores y la difícil personalidad de su jefe.
-“Thomas un asistente que le devuelve a Edward tanto maltrato como el que
recibe, y probablemente es una de las pocas personas que no le teme”-afirma Hayes“
Siempre está listo e impecable, lo cual se convirtió en una broma constante. Porque no
importaba a qué hora del día o de la noche, o en qué remoto lugar del mundo estuvieran,
Thomas siempre aparece de saco y corbata”.
Hayes siempre hace listas y se pone metas, y comenta: -“Esta es una historia
motivadora, que da fe del valor de mirar hacia el futuro. Soy un fanático de las películas
que muestran sugerentes lecciones de vida, o que le hacen pensar a uno cosas de una
manera distinta al salir del cine”.
-“Esta es una historia
motivadora, que da fe del valor de mirar hacia el futuro. Soy un fanático de las películas
que muestran sugerentes lecciones de vida, o que le hacen pensar a uno cosas de una
manera distinta al salir del cine”.
Los productores Zadan y Meron habían trabajado con el actor en el 2002, en la
aclamada película para televisión “Martin and Lewis”, en la cual Hayes encarnaba a Jerry
Lewis. Meron dice: -“Sin duda, Thomas está allí para ejecutar las órdenes de Edward,
pero él sabe quién es Edward en realidad y qué necesita, pues lo conoce mejor de lo que
Edward se conoce a sí mismo. A veces maneja situaciones que van a encaminar a su jefe
descubrirse a sí mismo, y eso es algo hermoso para ver”.
-“Sean es además el perfecto compañero cómico para Jack. Entre sus dos
personajes debía haber momentos que mostraran una relación extremadamente familiar,
las cuales dependían en gran parte, de la impecable e inexpresiva respuesta de Sean.
Además, Sean a menudo hacía sus propias bromas fuera de guión”.-agrega Reiner.
Al igual que Thomas, el médico de Edward, el Dr. Hollins, sabe con quién está
tratando, pero a diferencia de él, no tiene la más remota habilidad para predecir la
conducta de su paciente o para controlarlo. Rob Morrow, actor ganador de múltiples
premios Emmy y Globos de Oro, hace el papel del Dr. Hollins.
Por supuesto que las órdenes del doctor, no son renunciar a todo tratamiento e irse
de viaje “quién sabe dónde”. De hecho, el Dr. Hollins le recomienda no hacerlo, pero al
igual que un montón de gente que ha tratado con Edward, como sus agentes de bolsa, sus
abogados, y sus dos ex – esposas, sabe que no sirve para nada discutir con él.
Greisman comenta: -“Tuvimos suerte y estamos muy contentos de que Rob nos
haya hecho un hueco de tiempo entre la filmación de sus series, para filmar esta película.
En el papel del doctor de Edward, él representa aquí la voz de la razón, pero a través de la
expresión de su rostro y sus expresiones, uno puede ver que ya sabe que nada de lo que
diga va a persuadir a su paciente de hacer exactamente como le dé la gana”.
Del lado del doctor, está la esposa de Carter Chambers, Virginia, interpretada por
Beverly Todd, actriz que trabaja por tercera vez con Morgan Freeman. Ellos dos ya
habían actuado juntos en el drama teatral del Teatro Público Joe Papp de Nueva York, a
comienzos de 1970. Más tarde, en 1989 volvieron a estar juntos en “Lean On Me”.
Virginia no sólo quiere que Carter se quede en el hospital por su propio bien, sino
por el bien de ella. Ella está enojada, herida y se siente abandonada. –“Todavía no puede
creer que su marido, ese a quien tanto conoce, quiere y cuida desde hace ya tantos años,
de repente se vaya en una loca aventura con un hombre a quien recién conoce.
Especialmente cuando no saben cuánto tiempo de vida les queda juntos”-explica Todd –
“Además, en esta etapa crucial de la vida de su marido, ella teme que él la culpe de no
haber podido alcanzar sus sueños, porque eso es lo que la gente hace a veces. Solamente
pensarlo, le rompe el corazón”.
no sólo quiere que Carter se quede en el hospital por su propio bien, sino
por el bien de ella. Ella está enojada, herida y se siente abandonada. –“Todavía no puede
creer que su marido, ese a quien tanto conoce, quiere y cuida desde hace ya tantos años,
de repente se vaya en una loca aventura con un hombre a quien recién conoce.
Especialmente cuando no saben cuánto tiempo de vida les queda juntos”-explica Todd –
“Además, en esta etapa crucial de la vida de su marido, ella teme que él la culpe de no
haber podido alcanzar sus sueños, porque eso es lo que la gente hace a veces. Solamente
pensarlo, le rompe el corazón”.
Freeman da crédito a Todd por transmitir ese sentimiento de décadas de
matrimonio a los personajes, y por sus ricas y a veces conflictuadas emociones. El actor
dice: -“Beverly creó una situación y un personaje completamente creíbles, y logró
transmitir un abanico de sentimientos que hacen que el espectador entienda por lo que
ella está pasando. Yo me dí cuenta de estas cualidades suyas la primera vez que actuamos
juntos, interpretando a una pareja con problemas. Había mujeres en el teatro que decían
‘mm-hmmm, porque cuando ella hablaba, las espectadores escuchaban la verdad. El
guión sirve para dar pautas, pero la emoción es algo que pone el artista”.
El papel del hijo de Carter y Virginia, Roger, estuvo actuado por el hijo en la vida
real de Morgan Freeman, Alfonso Freeman. Al contrario de Virginia, Roger tiene una
opinión ambivalente sobre las impulsivas vacaciones de Carter. El es abogado y tiene su
propia familia. Extraña a su padre, y puede sentir la ansiedad de su madre, pero, al mismo
tiempo, él comprende el deseo que lleva a su padre a hacer lo que hace, y no pone en
duda la libertad y la paz que ese viaje le puede dar.
Comentando sobre el viaje mismo, que lleva a los nuevos amigos a lugares de alto
lujo alrededor del mundo, Reiner dice: -“Lo importante no son los lugares que visitan, ni
las cosas que allí hacen, sino lo que sucede entre ellos dos durante el curso del viaje.
Ellos pueden estar en un jeep en Serengeti un día, o estar sentados junto a una pirámide al
otro día, pero lo importante es el hilo de conversación y reflexión entre ellos, pues es allí
donde el verdadero cambio ocurre. Cada lugar les hace enfrentarse con otra faceta de sus
vidas”.
Cuando se encuentran ante la grandeza del Taj Mahal, monumento que Shah
Jahan dedicó a su amante esposa, comienzan a hablar de los amores de sus vidas y lo que
significan para ellos. Más tarde, ante la Gran Pirámide de Khufu, Carter comienza a
reflexionar sobre la antigua creencia egipcia de que al morir, la gente debe rendir cuenta
de la calidad y propósito de sus vidas. Al igual que Edward y Carter, los espectadores van
ante la Gran Pirámide de Khufu, Carter comienza a
reflexionar sobre la antigua creencia egipcia de que al morir, la gente debe rendir cuenta
de la calidad y propósito de sus vidas. Al igual que Edward y Carter, los espectadores van
a quedar fascinados por el fresco panorama de cada sitio que “
”” toca,
pero al igual que ellos, también cambiarán su foco al panorama interior maravilloso de
cada uno de los personajes.
-“Yo he viajado, y aún hay varios lugares que querría visitar. Seguramente no
podré visitarlos todos. Pero de todas maneras, creo que ninguno de ellos es tan importante
como la gente con la estuve allí” – dice Reiner, retornando al tema central de la película “
Viajar alrededor del mundo, ver el Everest, o hacer paracaidismo desde un avión es
maravilloso, pero no es algo que tenemos que hacer para sentirnos completos. Ese es el
mensaje de esta película. La cosa más importante en nuestras vidas son nuestras
relaciones, la familia y los amigos. De eso se trata todo. Si uno se siente logrado en ese
aspecto, creo que entiende el significado de la vida”.
SOBRE LOS ACTORES
JACK NICHOLSON (Edward Cole), es uno de los actores más célebres de
todos los tiempos. A través de los largos años de su carrera -cinco décadas-trabajó con
los directores de cine más reconocidos en la industria, y actuó en más de 60 películas.
En el año 2002, Nicholson recibió su 12ava postulación al Premio de la Academia,
por su actuación en “About Shmidt”, película en la que hacía el papel principal de
Alexander Payne. Con ello, Nicholson se convirtió en el actor que fue nominado más
veces para el Oscar.
El actor ganó el Premio de la Academia tres veces: dos en la categoría Mejor
Actor: por su actuación en la película de Milos Forman “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s
Nest” y por la película de James L. Brooks“, As Good As It Gets”. Luego ganó el Oscar
en la categoría Mejor Actor Secundario, por su actuación en la película de Brooks,
“Terms of Endearment”. Nicholson fue postulado para el Oscar por sus actuaciones en:
“A Few Good Men” del director Rob Reiner, “Ironweed” de Hector Babenco, “Prizzi’s
Honor” de John Huston, “Reds” en la cual el actor Warren Beatty era director,
“Chinatown” de Roman Polanski, “The Last Detail” de Hal Ashby, “Five Easy Pieces”
de Bob Rafelson, y “Easy Rider” de Dennis Hopper.
” de John Huston, “Reds” en la cual el actor Warren Beatty era director,
“Chinatown” de Roman Polanski, “The Last Detail” de Hal Ashby, “Five Easy Pieces”
de Bob Rafelson, y “Easy Rider” de Dennis Hopper.
Nicholson ganó el Premio Globo de Oro por su trabajo en las películas: “About
Schmidt”, “As Good as It Gets,” “Prizzi’s Honor”, “Terms of Endearment”, “One Flew
Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” y “Chinatown”. Su más reciente postulación al Globo de Oro,
fue por su actuación en la película de Martin Scorsese, “The Departed”. Además, fue
proclamado candidato para el mismo premio por sus papeles en “Something’s Gotta
Give”, “A Few Good Men”, “Hoffa”, en la cual el actor Danny DeVito era director;
“Batman” bajo la batuta de Tim Burton, “Ironweed”, “Reds”, “The Last Detail”, “Five
Easy Pieces” y “Easy Rider.”
La interpretación de Nicholson en las películas, le brindó una gran cantidad de
premios de grupos de críticos. Además el American Film Institute le otorgó el Premio
Logro de Toda una Vida, y la Asociación de la Prensa Extranjera de Hollywood su
premio Cecil B. DeMille.
Entre la larga lista de créditos de Nicholson como actor, cabe mencionar: la
comedia “Anger Management”; las películas dirigidas por el actor Sean Penn “The
Pledge” y “The Crossing Guard”; “Mars Attacks!” de Tim Burton; “Wolf” y “Carnal
Knowledge” de Mike Nichols; “Broadcast News” de James L. Brooks; “The Witches of
Eastwick” de George Miller; “The Postman Always Rings Twice” de Bob Rafelson; “The
Shining” de Stanley Kubrick; “The Last Tycoon” de Elia Kazan; y “The Passenger” de
Michelangelo Antonioni.
Jack Nicholson debutó como director en el año 1971, con la película que también
escribió y produjo, “Drive, He Said”. Luego dirigió y actuó “Goin’ South”, y dirigió,
produjo y protagonizó “The Two Jakes”, la cual fue la secuela de “Chinatown”.
MORGAN FREEMAN (Carter Chambers) en el año 2005, ganó el Premio de la
Academia, por su papel secundario en la película de Clint Eastwood, “Million Dollar
Baby”. Anteriormente había sido tres veces candidato al Oscar. La primera fue por su
escalofriante actuación como el homicida del drama “Street Smart”, en 1987, por el cual
también ganó los Premios de la Sociedad de Críticos de Cine de Los Ángeles, Nueva
York y el de la Asociación Nacional de los Críticos de Cine al Mejor Actor de Reparto,
además de las candidaturas a los premio Independent Spirit y Globo de Oro. Su segunda
postulación al Oscar fue en 1989, al recrear su premiado personaje de Broadway en
“Driving Miss Daisy”; y la tercera vez fue por el drama de Frank Darabont de 1994, “The
Shawshank Redemption”.
además de las candidaturas a los premio Independent Spirit y Globo de Oro. Su segunda
postulación al Oscar fue en 1989, al recrear su premiado personaje de Broadway en
“Driving Miss Daisy”; y la tercera vez fue por el drama de Frank Darabont de 1994, “The
Shawshank Redemption”.
Entre sus películas más recientes están: “Unleashed” de Luc Besson, “An
Unfinished Life” de Robert Redford, “Batman Begins”, “Lucky Number Slevin”, la
comedia “Bruce Almighty” y su segunda parte “Evan Almighty”, “Gone Baby Gone” de
Ben Afleck, “Feast of Love” de Robert Benton, y el documental ganador del Premio de la
Academia “March of The Penguins”, para el cual prestó su voz.
Próximo para el actor, están: la saga de Batman “The Dark Knight”; y el drama
policial “The Code”, ambas para estrenarse en el 2008.
Freeman nació en Memphis, y comenzó su carrera en Nueva York a comienzos de
1960. Anteriormente había trabajado brevemente como mecánico en la Fuerza Aérea.
Una década más tarde era una personalidad conocida en la televisión, cuando él creó el
popular Easy Reader en el exitoso programa para niños “The Electric Company”. A lo
largo de la década de 1970 continuó actuando en teatro, ganando los premios Drama
Desk y Clarence Derwent. Además fue candidato al premio Tony, por su actuación
sobresaliente en “The Mighty Gents” en 1978. También recibió enormes elogios, y el
Premio Obie, por su interpretación del antihéroe shakespereano, Coriolanus, en el
Festival Shakespeare de Nueva York.
En 1984, Freeman ganó otro Obie por su papel como el mensajero, en la aclamada
producción de Lee Breuer, en la Academia de Música de Brooklyn de “Gospel at
Colonus”. En 1985, ese mismo papel le valió el Premio Dramalogue. El personaje de
Hoke Colburn, en la pieza de Alfred Uhry, ganadora de un Premio Pulitzer, “Driving
Miss Daisy”, le hizo merecedor de su tercer Premio Obie. Su más reciente comparecencia
en el teatro, fue como Petruchio en “The Taming of the Shrew”, junto a Tracey Ullman
en el Teatro Delacorte, en el Festival Shakespeare de Nueva York.
En 1993, Freeman debutó como director con “Bopha!”. Poco después fundó su
compañía productora Revelations Entertainment, para crear producciones de
entretenimiento que “iluminan, inspiran y glorifican la experiencia humana”.
Su producción más reciente fue la comedia “10 Items or Less” de Brad Silberling,
en la cual Freeman actuaba junto a Paz Vega.
reciente fue la comedia “10 Items or Less” de Brad Silberling,
en la cual Freeman actuaba junto a Paz Vega.
Entre sus actuaciones anteriores, cabe destacar papeles en : “Brubaker”, “Harry &
Sons”, “Teachers” “Marie”, “That Was Then, This Is Now”, “Clean & Sober”, “Johnny
Handsome”, “Glory” ganadora de múltiples premios, “Chain Reaction”, “Kiss the Girls”,
“Amistad”, de Steven Spielberg, “Hard Rain”, “Deep Impact”, “Nurse Betty”, “Along
Came a Spider”, “Kiss the Girls”, “High Crimes” y “The Sum of All Fears”.
SEAN HAYES (Thomas) es una cara conocida por televidentes, por su papel
protagónico en la exitosa serie de comedia “Will & Grace”. Su interpretación del
ensimismado pero adorable Jack McFarland, le valió siete candidaturas seguidas a los
premios Emmy, desde el año 2000 al 2006, como Actor Secundario Sobresaliente en una
Serie de Comedia. Ganó el Emmy con su primera nominación y tres Premios del Gremio
de Actores de Cine (SAG), además del Premio American Comedy. Asimismo compartió
un premio del SAG con los actores del reparto de “Will & Grace” al Grupo de Actuación
Sobresaliente, estuvo en las listas a los premios Globos de Oro, junto con el grupo seis
otras veces, y tres veces individualmente fue candidato al premio del SAG por su trabajo
en la serie.
En el 2002, Hayes interpretó el papel de Jerry Lewis en la aclamada película
biográfica de “Martin and Lewis”, la cual relataba las andanzas y la eventual separación
del legendario dúo. Hayes volvió a ser postulado al premio del SAG por su actuación
como Lewis.
Hayes nació en Chicago, y estudió en la Universidad Estatal de Illinois. Comenzó
su carrera profesional en un teatro comunitario de Chicago. Actuó en el Teatro Organic y
aguzó sus dones para la comedia y la improvisación en el programa de entrenamiento
Second City. Mientras que estaba en Chicago, Hayes trabajó en comerciales para
televisión y otros pequeños papeles, incluyendo uno en la película para televisión “A&P”,
basada en la historia de John Updike.
Hayes debutó en cine en 1998, con el papel protagónico en “Billy’s Hollywood
Screen Kiss”, que tuvo el aplauso de la crítica en el Festival de Cine de Sundance. Más
recientemente, co-protagonizó la comedia romántica “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton”,
junto a Nathan Lane, Josh Duhamel y Kate Bosworth. También se lo pudo ver en el film
independiente “Pieces of April”. Hayes además, prestó su voz para el diabólico personaje
felino Mr. Tinkles, en la exitosa película para la familia “Cats & Dogs”, y fue la voz de
The Fish en la adaptación para la pantalla grande del libro clásico del Dr. Seuss, “The Cat
in the Hat”, en donde también aparece como Mr. Humberfloob.
Nathan Lane, Josh Duhamel y Kate Bosworth. También se lo pudo ver en el film
independiente “Pieces of April”. Hayes además, prestó su voz para el diabólico personaje
felino Mr. Tinkles, en la exitosa película para la familia “Cats & Dogs”, y fue la voz de
The Fish en la adaptación para la pantalla grande del libro clásico del Dr. Seuss, “The Cat
in the Hat”, en donde también aparece como Mr. Humberfloob.
En el año 2003, Hayes y su socio productor Todd Milliner, formaron la casa
productora Hazy Mills. Su primera producción, “Situation: Comedy”, un documental
para televisión que hacía una búsqueda para un programa cómico. El show tuvo su
première en el canal Bravo en el verano del 2005, y se ganó la aprobación de los críticos.
Entre los proyectos en pleno desarrollo de su compañía, cabe mencionar:
“Grimm”, “Man and Woman”, “The Ten Million Dollar Word”, “Cornerstone”, “Bi-
Coastal”, “Eight Days A Week”, una nueva versión en comedia del clásico cuento
“Cinderfella” y ”The Most Annoying Man in the World”.
ROB MORROW (Dr. Hollins) Actualmente actúa como agente del FBI en el
drama del canal de televisión CBS “Numb3rs”, producido por Ridley Scott y Tony Scott. <