FASTER Production Notes

ProductionNotes

ReleaseDate:February24,2011

Rating:TBC

RunningTime:TBC

After10yearsinprison,Driver(DwayneJohnson)hasasingularfocus-toavengethemurderofhisbrotherduringthebotchedbankrobberythatledtohisimprisonment.Now a free man with a deadly to-do list in hand, he’s finally on his mission…but with two men on his trail - a veteran cop (Billy Bob Thornton) just days from retirement, and a young egocentric hit-man (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) with a flair for the art of killing and a newfound worthy opponent. Thehunterisalsothehunted.It’sadoordieracetothelist’sfinishasthemysterysurroundinghisbrother’smurderdeepens,andnewdetailsemergealongthewayhintingthatDriver’slistmaybeincomplete.

Dwayne Johnson (Gridiron Gang, The Scorpion King, The Mummy Returns), Billy Bob Thornton (Eagle Eye, Monster's Ball) and newcomer Oliver Jackson-Cohen star alongside Carla Gugino (Watchmen), Maggie Grace (Taken) and Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation) in Faster, a co-production between CBS Films, the film division within CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBSA and CBS), and Tri-Star Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment. SonyPicturesReleasingInternationalwilldistributethefilminallinternationalterritoriesbeginninginlateNovember2010.GeorgeTillmanJr(Notorious,MenofHonour,SoulFood)directsfromascreenplaywrittenbyJoeandTonyGayton.FasterwrappedprincipalphotographyinApril2010andisscheduledtoreleaseinUStheatresNovember24,2010.

ThefilmisproducedbyCastleRockEntertainment'sMartinShaferandLizGlotzer,alongwithTonyGaytonandStateStreetPictures'RobertTeitel.JoeGaytonandDaraWeintraubareexecutiveproducers.

ABOUTTHEPRODUCTION

APROJECTHITSTHEGROUNDRUNNING

Itwasafatefuldayafewyearsagowhenwriter/producerTonyGaytonapproachedhisbrother,andFasterco-writer,JoeGaytonwiththethreadofanidea.“Irememberimaginingaguyinprisononthedayofhisreleasegettingaspeechfromthewardenthenjustbreakingintoasprintoutoftheprisongatesandgoingstraighttokillsomeone,”recallsTonyGayton.“Ilikedtheideaofthisintroductionwhereyouhavenoideawhothisguyis.Heturnsouttobetheheroouttogetrevengeforhisbrother’smurderbuthecouldverywellhaveturnedouttobethebadguy.”Onthatday,thecharacterthatwouldcometobeknownsimplyas‘Driver’wasborn.

“(Driver)islikeashark-hehasaclearmission,”notesJoeGaytonwhoalsoservesasExecutiveProduceronthefilm.“Itwasapparentatthisearlystagethathisdeterminationwouldprovideforatrue,high-octaneadventure.”Asthescreenplayevolved,whatemergedwasnotjustanactionfilmbutalsoacharacterstudyandexplorationintothemindsofthreemen-theothertwomaincharactersknownsimplybythemonikers‘Cop’and‘Killer.’ButDriver’smissionwasatthestory’scoreandfindingtherightactortoportrayhimwouldbethefirsttarget.

ThescriptsoonmadeitswayintothehandsofsuperstarDwayneJohnsonwho,afterspendingafewyearsexploringothergenres,wasanxioustogetbacktoaction.“Thestoryandthecharactersreallyspoketome,”recallsJohnson.“Itisaverysimpleanddistinctstoryline,yetallthecharactersarelayeredwithcomplexityandcomplication.”

WithcharactercomesmotivationandJohnsontookspecialnotethatDriver’smotivationisveryrawanddoesn’trequiresuspensionofdisbelief.“Ifsomethingimportanttoyouisrippedawayleavingyouwithnothing,theonlythingyouhaveleftistheabilitytomakethoseindividualspay.Therearemanydifferentwaysapersoncanrespondwhentheyloseeverythingbuthisresponseisstillreality-basedatitscore.ForDriver,theresponseis‘YoutookeverythingIhad,nowyoupay.’Whenhegetsoutofprison,it’ssafetosayyoushouldputthekidstobed.”

TheGaytonbrotherscouldn’thaveimaginedamoreappropriateorcapableactortofleshouttheirvision.“Therearenotalotofactorswhocantrulypulloffthebigbroodingpresenceofthisrole,”saysTonyGayton.“Dwayneisperfectforthis.”

WithJohnson,andproducersMartinShaferandLizGlotzerofCastleRockEntertainment,nowonboardtheprojectfounditswaytoCBSFilmsinFebruary2009.Thestudiofast-trackedthefilmbringingondirectorGeorgeTillmanJrandproducerBobTeitelofStateStreetPictures,whosecreditsincludeSoulFood,theBarbershopseries,MenofHonourandNotorious.Johnsoncouldnothavebeenhappierwiththechoice.

“IwasthoroughlyimpressedwithBobandGeorge,”complimentsJohnson“Theygotthetoneandunderstoodthecharacters.Georgewascertainlytherightdirectorforthemovie.”

ThedirectorwasequallythrilledtoworkwithJohnsonwhomhehadmetonanotherprojectfiveyearsearlier.“I’vealwaysbeenabigfanofDwayne’s.Asaguyyoucan’thelpbutlookathimandgo‘Iwanttobethatguy!’Andtoworkwithhimonhisreturntotheactiongenre,onarolethatfeelswrittenjustforhim-that’ssomethingIhadtobeapartof.”

ThoughthiswouldbeJohnson’sreturntothegenrethatmadehimaboxofficeheavyweight,Tillmannotesthatthefilmalsoallowsaudiencestoseehiminanewkindofrole,“unlikeanyotherhe’sdonebefore,namelyplayingmoredramaticelements.”

AsidefromDwayne’sattachment,andtheintriguingtitle,Tillmanalsorespondedtothematerialasathrowbacktoactionfilmsofthe70s.“70sactionfilmshavecoolheroesbutthosesameheroesalsohaveadramaticessence;theyarecomplicatedcharacters.Ithinkaudiencestodayyearnforamoresophisticatedactionfilmwheretheycanrelatetothecharacterssincepeoplearebynaturecomplicated.”

BobTeitelhadasimilarreactiontothematerial’snostalgicfactor.“Itfeltlikeamovieyoudon’treallyseethesedays-wheretheleadcharacterhasapresencethatimmediatelycommandstheaudience’sattentionandtheyinstantlyfollowhimonhisjourney.It’sonlyalongthatjourneythattheaudiencelearnsmoreaboutthecharacter.”

Alongthisjourney,theaudiencedoesn’tjustlearnmoreaboutDriverbutalsooftheothertwomenwhoareonhistrail…

CASTINGAFEW(COMPLICATED)MEN

Driver’sfirsthittakeshimtoatelemarketingofficewherehefindshisfirsttargetandlandsontheradarofBakersfieldhomicidedetectives.Twoweeksawayfromretirement,forceveteranCopisassignedtothecase.Hehasbeenthroughalotinhistenureontheforceandnow,withretirementandthepromiseofanewlifeonthehorizon,heistryingtogainrespectfromhiscolleaguesandmendfenceswithhisestrangedwifeMarinaandtheiryoungson.

Oscar-winningwriter/director/actorBillyBobThorntonwasattractedtoCop’sdeeply-rootedshadesofgreyandsignedon.“It’salwaysfuntoplaysomeonewho’sabitambiguous,”saysThornton.“Thosecharactersareusuallyalotmoreinterestingtoportrayandmoreentertainingfortheaudiencetowatch.”

“Copisaguywhoselifehasreallygonethewrongway,”Thorntoncontinues.“Hedoesn’thavemuch.Inhisfeeblewayheistryingtoscratchhiswaybacktosomekindofsemblanceofnormalcybutit’snoteasy.”

TillmanknewthatThornton’simmensetalentandcommitmentwouldbringalottotheproject.“AsidefromhisabilitytoplayCop’svulnerabilityandflaws,BillyBobisatalentedwriter/directorsoheisagreatcollaboratoronallaspectsofhowtomakeascenebetter.”

“BillyBobisabsolutelyperfectfortheroleofCop,”addsJohnson.“Heisverytalented,intriguingandextremelypassionate,especiallywhenhefindsacharacterheloves.”

AlsohotonDriver’strailisaprofessionalassassin,Killer,whohasaninsatiableappetitefortheextreme.Killerisanintensecharacterdrivenbyaninnateinsecurityandanunquenchablethirstforapproval.WhenfirstsparringwithDriverandexperiencinghistotallackoffear,Killerisshakentothecore.TheencountersparkssomethingwithinthecharacterthattriggersanobsessionwithbestingandessentiallykillingDriver.

“Killeristrulyafascinatingcharacter,”saysTeitel.“WhilehismainobjectiveistogetDriver,healsoadmiresandrespectshim.HewantsDrivertoacknowledgehim,andbecomesincreasinglyangrythatDriverdoesn’tgivehimrespect.Throughoutthefilm,youwitnesshimprogressivelygoingoffthedeepend.”

WhencastingtheroleofKiller,thefilmmakersassumedtheywouldfindanotherbig-nameactortoroundoutthemaleleadtriangle.ButtheywereblownawaybyavirtuallyunknownBritishactornamedOliverJackson-Cohen.

“Olivercameintoreadandreallynailedthepart,”remembersTeitel.“Heneverplayedascenethesamewaytwice-healwaysgavealittlevariation.”

ThoughthecharacterwasnotoriginallywrittenasaBrit,TonyGaytonlovedwhatthedifferenceinculturalback-storycouldbringtothecharacter.“ItaddedanotherlayerofstrangenesstoKiller.Youwouldn’tnormallythinkofanEnglishhitmanoutinthemiddleofthedesert.”

Jackson-CohenwasintriguedbyKillerandtheopportunitytoshowadifferentsideofahit-man’slife.“IrememberreadingthescriptandthinkingitwasthefirsttimeIrecallamoviedealingwithahit-mancarryingoutahitwhilesimultaneouslyhavingtolivewithhimselfanddealwithrepercussionsinhispersonallife.”

“Oliverhasdoneatremendousjobwiththecharacter,”saysJohnson.“It’snotaneasycharactertoplay,especiallyconsideringthecharacterison-and-offmedication.”

Themalecastlistisroundedoutbyanumberofwell-known,talentedactorsincludingAcademyAward-nomineeTomBerenger(mostrecentlyseeninInception),MikeEpps(LotteryTicket),andAdewaleAkinnuoye-Agbaje(“Lost”).

THEWOMENOFFASTER

ThefemalecharactersinFasterbalancethefilm’smaleenergyandplayasignificantandinfluentialroleinthelivesofthemen-bothinspiringtheirmalecounterparts,aswellasplayingapartintheirunravelling.

ForDriver,avisittohisex-girlfriendoffersadeeperlookintowhathe’ssacrificedsincehe’sbeeninprison.ThesceneallowedJohnsontoplayamoredramaticmomentandachancetoworkwith“Dexter's"JenniferCarpenter

“Jenniferisgreat,”notesJohnson.“Attheendofourscene,hercharactercallsafterDriverandsays,‘Ihopeyoukillthemall!’WithJennifer’sdelivery,thelinetrulypacksapunch.”

ForKiller,whosemaniaandobsessionwithbeingthebestisall-consuming,hisloverLilyprovidestheonlyemotionalconnectioninhislife.

WhileLilyisverysupportive,sheisalsogrowinginadifferentdirectionfromKillerinwhatshewantsoutoflife.Shetriestoholdontohimandkeephiminvestedintheirlifetogetherbutshecanseethatsheislosinghimtothechase.

TheroleofLilycalledforanactresswhoisnotonlybeautiful,butastrongenoughforcetoreigninKiller.FilmmakersfoundtheirLilyinactressMaggieGrace(mostnotablyknownforstarringoppositeLiamNeesoninTaken,aswellasinthetelevisionseries“Lost”).

GracewasintriguedbyLilyandhercomplicateddynamicwithKiller.“LilytriestokeepKillersafebuthefullycommitstowhateverhedoesinlife,”sheexplains.“He’sanadrenalinejunkytothenthdegree.”

FromhisfirstreadingwithGrace,Jackson-Cohenwastakenbytheactress’spresence.“ShewalkedintotheauditionandshebroughtsomethingIneverevenexpected.Shewassocaringandall-knowingwithoutbeingmotherly,”recallsJackson-Cohen.

WhereasKiller’srelationshipwithLilyisintact(albeitatapivotalcrossroads),CopisdesperatelytryingtosalvagewhateverisleftofhisrelationshipwithhiswifeMarinaandtheir8year-oldsonTommy.AlthoughCophadahandinhelpingMarinafaceherowndemonsinthepast,sheisnolongerwillingtolethimdragherdown.

ActressMoonBloodgood,whorecentlybrokeoutinthefilmTerminatorSalvation,wasenthusiasticabouttacklingarolewithsuchgritandrealism.“IfoundtheroleofMarinaverycompellinghavingneverbeforeplayedsomeonewithsuchadysfunctionalbackgroundwhoistryingtoproactivelymakeherlifebetter,”explainsBloodgood.“EveryonehassecretsandpainbutMarinacarriesthatallwithher.”

ForBloodgood,theopportunitytoworkwithBillyBobThorntonwasadream.AsforThornton,hewascompletelyimpressedwithBloodgoodwhomhedescribesas“aterrificactressandagreatperson.”

MarinaisnottheonlywomanCophastowinover.Cicero,atough-as-nails,by-the-bookhomicidedetective,isbaffledwhenshelearnsCophasbeenassignedtobeherpartneronDriver’scase.CiceroisarisingstarontheforceandhasnotoleranceforCop’santics.

ThoughDriverdoesn’tshareanysceneswithCicero,JohnsonwasecstatictolearnCarlaGugino(Watchmen)signedontoplaytherole(theypreviouslystarredtogetherinRaceToWitchMountain).“LikethecharacterofCicero,Carlaisastrong,independentwoman.Shecaneasilygotoe-to-toewithBillyandstillbeverysexy.”

Guginolovedthescript’sunexpectedtwistsandturns,andalsosawanopportunitytoplayagainstaclichéinaparticularaspectofCicero’sdynamicwithCop.“Generallyit’sawomanwhotriestosoftenahardenedmalecopbutinthisscriptCiceroisdefinitelytheonewhoneedssoftening-thegenderrolesarereversed.Ireallylikethatflipdynamic.”

ADIRECTORONAMISSION

DescribingGeorgeTillmanJrasaprepareddirectorwouldbeagrossunderstatement.Hisimpressiveworkethicwasfirstdemonstratedintheextensivepresentationhegavethestudiopriortobeinghired.

“LikeDriver,Iwasonamission-Ihadtodothismovie,”explainsTillman.“Iknewthisscriptwouldtakeadirectorwithastrongpoint-of-view,andwithanunderstandingofitsvaluefromauniversalstandpoint.Iunderstoodthesecharactersandwhatitwaswithinthisstorythatcouldberelatabletoaudiences.Thisfilmisultimatelyaboutlettingthepastgo-onlythencanyoumoveforwardinlife.SoIsetoutnotjusttoshowvisuals,buttoaddressthethematicideasatthestory’score.”

Tillman’spreparednessonlygrewmoreintensewiththepre-productionprocess.Hislegworkisbestillustratedinthebinderofresourcematerialhegaveeachcastmemberatthestartofthefilm.

“Georgeprovidesactorswithpagesandpagesofbackstoryandalistofmoviestowatchtodrawinspirationfrom,”saysJohnson.

Heworkedjustasextensivelywiththeactorsonset.“Georgecameintomytrailereverymorningandwetalkedaboutthescenewewereshootingandtheemotionsofthecharacters,”recallsJackson-Cohen.

“HavingworkedwithGeorgefor22years,Inoticedonthisfilmmorethananyotherthathewasespeciallyfocusedonthesubtextofthedialogue,”addsTeitel.“Helookedattheactors’performancesmorethanthedialogueitself.”

Anditwasn’tjusttheactorshebroughtintothemix.“Hewouldgettheentirecrewtogetheronadailybasisandwalkeveryonethroughallaspectsofthescene,”saysJohnson.“HewasveryphysicallyanimatedsoIgotalotofjoywatchingthis.Hewantseveryonefromthelightingdepartmenttocameraguystounderstandwhatthecharactersarefeeling.”

Tillmanexplainstheimportanceofthisinclusiveprocess:“Involvingalldepartmentsintheintentionofasceneautomaticallymakesascenebetter.Forexample,evenasmalldetaillikehowacarwouldbeparkedisinformedbyacharacter’sintentionandmotivation.Theproductionprocessisnotaone-manshow-ittakesmanypeopletomakeamovieandtheyallhavetobeonthesamepage.”

VISUALIZINGAJOURNEY

PrincipalphotographyonFasterbeganinFebruaryof2010andcontinuedforelevenweeksinvariouslocationsthroughoutSouthernCalifornia(asscriptedDriver’sjourneytakeshimthroughpartsofSouthernCaliforniaandNevada).Inchoosingspecificlocations,thefilmmakersmadecertaineachenvironmentresonatedtheideathatenvironmentplaysasignificantpartinaffectingcharacterandtheirperspectives.

ForTillman,itwasimportanttolookforlocationsandlandscapesthatweretruetothoseDriverwouldhavedrivenforthesenseexperience,aswellasthevisualaesthetic.“Itwasinvaluableforusalltofeellikewewereintheareasthatthecharacterwouldhavewalkedinanddrovethrough-toexperiencethe95degreehotdaysand50degreecoldnightsoftheseremovedlocations.”

“Partofourgoalasaproducinganddirectingteamwastofindgeographiclocationswithnopalmtrees,wherethebeautyofLAisnon-existent-seedydarkplaces,”expandsTeitel.

ProductionDesignerDavidLazan,whosepastcreditsincludeIAmLegendandSorcerer’sApprentice,sharedthisdesiretostaytruetothedesolatefeelofthescript.“FasterisajourneyfilmsoitisimportantthatthedifferentenvironmentsvisuallyreflectwhereDriverisonthatjourneyatanygivenpointinthestory,”heexplains.“He’sultimatelymovingthroughvariousstagesofunderstandingredemptionuntilhe’sfinallyenlightened.”

LocationsinPalmdale,Lancaster,Chatsworth,SanPedro,LakeBouquetandvarioussurroundingcanyonsneverbeforeseenonfilmfitthebillbutalsoprovedtobeanexhaustingchallengeforthecastandcrew.“Ineverdrovemoreinmylifethanonthisfilm,”recallsTeitel.“Thelocationswereallovertheplace-wewouldgofromLongBeachtoLosAngelestoLancasterallinoneweek.Betweenscoutingandshooting,thedrivingwasbrutal.”Thelocationscreatedjusttherighttoneforthestorysothedrivesprovedwellworthwhile.

LazandidextensiveresearchonthepathofDriver’sjourneyfromprisontohislastdestinationinInyoCountytoensurethearchitectureandlookofthecitieschosenwerevariedenoughtorepresenthismovementthroughdifferentgeographicareas.

Characteralsoinformedchoiceoflocationanditsdressing.Killer’shome,inparticular,calledforadifferentclassenvironment.ItisestablishedearlyoninthestorythatKillermadealotofmoneythroughtheInternet.Thisfactcoupledwithhisinherentneedtoimpressleadshimtocreateapolished,organizedworldforhimself.This,inturn,wouldbereflectedinhishome.LazanfoundanultramodernhouseinLakeHollywoodthatfitthebill.“Thehousehasbothacoldandwarmfeelingtoit,”saysLazan.“ThewarmthbeingimportantsinceLilyalsolivesthere.”

“It’sdefinitelynotjustthelocationsthemselvesbutthedetailsandlayersaddedtothespacesthatselleachcharacter,”notesLazan.ForKiller,itwasmostimportanttoincludedetailsofhisadultaccomplishmentsinhisspace(hewasn’tpartofthe‘incrowd’whenhewasyoungsohedefinitelyshowsoffhisachievementsinhishome,includingthedollarbillshecollectsoffhishits).Incontrast,CopisestrangedfromhishomewithMarinasoyouonlyseefaintdetailsofhiminthespace-justenoughtoreflectthatheoncelivedthere.

DevelopingacolourpalettereflectiveofthegenreandvariousstagesofDriver’sjourneyalsoplayedalargeroleinthefilm’svisuallook.Theprisonsetting,inthebeginningofthefilm,waspurposelymadetolookmoremonochromatic,voidofstrongcolour,toreflectDriver’shungerforrevenge.Incontrast,therevivaltentsettingtowardtheendofthefilmincludesmorebrightcoloursasDriver’sjourneycomestoanendandhebecomesmoreenlightened.

“Theoverallpaletterangedfromlesssaturatedearth-tonestomoresaturatedcolours,”explainsLazan.“ThoughthecolourshadtobeconsistentwiththetoneofDriver’sjourney,theyalsohadtogenerallyconveysomewhatofapopcornmoviefeel.Thatwasacarefulbalancewehadtostrike.”

ManyoftheelementsLazanhadtoconsiderinproductiondesignwerealsoofimportancetothefilm’scostumes.CostumeDesignerSalvadorPerez,whoworkedwithGeorgeandBobpreviouslyonSoulFoodandMenofHonour,maintainedLazan’scolourpalette.“AsidefromKillerandLily,thelookofthecostumesisverygrittyanddark,”notesPerez.

Thedifferencesinthecharacters’economicclassesmadeforaveryinterestingshoppingtripforPerez.“I’veshoppedeverywherefromtheSearsclearanceracktoChanelonthisshow.”

Thestorycoversa5-dayjourneyforDriverbutaftermuchdiscussionitwasdecidedhewouldn’tchangehisclothesgivenhisunwaveringfocusonhismission.Whatwouldsomeoneinprisonfor10yearswearuponhisrelease?Perezposedthatexactquestiontoalocalprisonstaff.Turnsoutfamilymembersusuallybringprisonersclothestowearout.SinceDriverhasnofamilyhe’scloseto,thenextoptionwouldbeaprisoncharitybox.Driverpulledoutat-shirtandjeans.TheoutfithappenedtobeanArmaniCollezioniT-shirtandveryexpensivejeansbutthat’sthemagicoffilmcostumesasthefitwasamazingandthelookwasrightforthecharacter.Luckily,theaudiencedoesn’tseelabels…andPerezwasabletoget30quantitysocontinuitywasnotanissue.

ForCop,Tillmanwantedawesterninfluencetotheclothes.PerezdressedBillyBobinwesternshirts,blazersandbeltbucklesbutleaningmoretowardtherealityrealmthana‘character’look.ThebiggestconcernwasthatCop’sclotheslooklivedinandwellworn.Thecostumedepartmentspenthoursuponhoursagingmultiplesofhispieces.

Killer’slookwastheexactoppositeofDriverandCop-expensivesuitsinamoderncut.Itwasn’thardtodressOliverJackson-Cohenwhois6foot3andaperfectsize40long.“Hewalkedintobeautifullymade,Europeanfitclothing,”notesPerez.

HAVEGUNWILLTRAVEL:THEACTIONOFFASTER

ThefilmmakerswantedtheactionsteepedinrealismandvoidofCGIoroverblownspecialeffects.Theprimarygoalwastocreateanaestheticthatwouldn’tbeareachforaudiences.TocomplimentthesimplicityofDriver’sobjective,allhewouldhaveinhisarsenalwouldbeafastcar,abiggunandtotallackofemotionorfear.

Whendesigningtheactionsequencesandlargersetpieces,thefilmmakerswantedtomoveawayfromthecurrenttrendsofoverlychoreographedfightsequencesandheavilyenhanceduseofweaponsandphysicality.Nowiresorintricatecombat,justrawfuryandpurposefulviolence.“Driverisnotaskilledmartialartistinanyway,”explainsJohnson.“Hejusthasananimalinstinctthatcan’tbedenied.”

“Wewantedtomakesurethefightingstylewasinlinewithaguywhoforthebetterpartofhis20sand30slivedinprisonandfoughtdaily.Those,bytheway,aretheguysyoudefinitelydon’teverwanttocross,”warnsJohnson.

StuntCo-ordinatorDarrinPrescott,whoseextensiveresumeincludestheBourneseriesandTheMatrixtrilogy,keptthephysicalityconsistentwiththematerial.“Thisisn’tthemoviewheretheytosseachotheroversinksandsmashthroughwalls.Theactionhadtofitthestory,notjustbeactionforaction’ssake.”

Oneofthefilm’sactionsetpiecesisabathroomfightscenewhereDrivergoestoetotoewithoneofhistargets.Thescenecouldeasilyhavebeenshotwithaquickexchangeofwordsfollowedbyasimplephysicalaltercation.Instead,Dwaynetrainedwithtwoprofessionalsovertwodaysin52Blocks-acombatstyledevelopedinthewestcoastprisonsystem.AsTillmannotes,“Driverwasinconfinementformuchofhistimeinprisonbutalsowouldhavepickedupfightingstyles,suchas52Blocks,whenhewasoutamongsttheotherprisoners.”TillmanjustmadecertainJohnsondidn’tlooktoopolishedinthetechniquesinceDriverlikelywouldnothaveperfecteditinprison.

ToaccompanyDriveronhisjourney,thefilmmakerswantedacarthatwouldequalDriver’srawenergy.“Driverlikelyaskedhiscontactontheoutsideforamachine,somethingthatsays‘Idon’tplay!’”saysTillman.

TillmanhadTransportationbringinanumberofdifferentmakesandmodels.OnceJohnsonsatintheSuperSportChevelle,itwasobvioustheyhadfoundtheircar(thecarthatappearsinthefilmisactuallyahybrid1970/1971Chevellewithanupgradedengineandnitrobooster).

Johnsonloveddrivingamusclecar.“I’vehadtheopportunitytodrivesomefuncarsinthepast,butnothingthiscool,”admitsJohnson.“I’veriddenhorses,camels-it’snotthesame.YougetbehindthewheelofamusclecarlikeaChevellewithacoolguninhandandit’sa‘bigboyswithtoys’dream.”

Killer’scar,ontheotherhand,hadtobesleek.Nopresentationofmakesandmodelswasneeded.ThefilmmakersknewrightoffthebatthatasilverFerrari360wastheperfectchoice.“Killer’scarhastoreflectfinesseandspeed-that’sdefinitelyaFerrari,”commentsTillman.

OthercarsusedinthefilmincludeayellowLotusforLily(“Lily’scarhadtobeableto‘hang’withKiller’s,”saysTillman)andagold’67GTO(drivenbyDriverinaflashbackscene).

Topreparetheactorsforthedrivingsequences,thefilmmakersarrangedforthecasttospendadayatRickSeaman’sStuntDrivingSchool.DwayneJohnson,OliverJackson-CohenandMaggieGrace(wholearnedtodriveastickontheLotus)workedonbasicstuntdrivingmanoeuvresandprecisiondriving,allowingthemtodomoreoftheirowndrivinginthefilm.

“Drivingschoolwasimportantsowewouldn’thavetocutawayfromtheactorsasmuch,”explainsTillman.“Thismakestheactionsequenceslookallthemorereal.”DirectorofPhotographyMichaelGrady(whoworkedwithTillmanpreviouslyonNotorious)wasabletoshootthecarsfromvariousclose-upanglesgenerallynotpossiblewithstuntactors.

Johnsonenjoyedtheopportunitytogetbehindthewheelandworkwithsomeofthebestdriversinthebusiness.“Ihadalotoffunwiththoseguysdoing45s,90s,180s,thenreverse180sgoing80,90milesanhourbackwards-wreckingthehelloutofthecars.Itwasagreatexperienceforme.”

Inadditiontoautotraining,theactorsworkedextensivelywithtechnicalsupervisor(andformerLAPDdetective)ChicDanieltolearntheinsandoutsofhandlingfirearms.Theactorsnotonlylearnedhowtoshootthegunsbutalsohowtoreload(usuallyinfilmsgunsmagicallyhaveanendlesssupplyofbulletsbut,foraccuracy’ssake,theFasterfilmmakersinsistedtheactorsreloadoncamera).Theactorsalsoworkedextensivelyonbodylanguagewhenhandlinggunssotheycouldmakechoicesspecifictotheircharacters.

AlthoughJohnsonhadcertainlyshotgunsinotherfilms,heandDanielworkedonspecifictechniquesforDriver.Aswasthecasewithcombattechniques,shootingchoreographywouldalsobecarefullysculptedtoreflectDriver’sanimalisticnature.“Dwayne’sapproachwasn’taboutshowinganindividualwell-trainedinfirearmsbutwasmoreinlinewithsomeoneallaboutrevenge,”saysDaniel.“Thelookwasinstinctiveshootingratherthantrainedshooting.”

ThechoiceofgunforDriverwasjustasthought-out.Thegunhadtolookmenacingandrural,andideallybeloudwithalotofkickback.

“He’sunsophisticatedinhisgunplaysowesettledonaRedhawkAlaskanRuger,nicknamed‘theBearKiller,’”saysJohnson.“It’soneofthebiggestrevolversevermadeanditcouldstopabearpointblankinitstracks.”

ForCop,shootingchoreographyandgunchoiceneededtoreflecthiscareerinlawenforcement.“Insteadofcomingaroundacornerwiththeweaponleading,acopwouldcomeslowlyaroundthecornersothattheofficerandthegunareseeingthesamethingatthesametime,”saysDaniel.TillmanchoseaGlockforCopastheguniswidelyusedbylawenforcementworldwide.

Aswithhiscar,Killerwouldpickagunthatsays‘finesse.’TillmanfoundthatguninaH&KP30withsilencer.Midwaythroughthestory,however,KillerswitchestoaGlock(thoughadifferentmodelfromCop’s).Withnosilencer,andamodelthatdoesn’toftenmissitstarget,Killer’schangeinfirearmshowshisgrowingdeterminationnottomisswhenhenextcomesintocontactwithDriver.

Priortothisproject,Jackson-CohenhadvirtuallynoweaponstrainingwhichallowedDanieltotraintheactorfromscratch.“It’sanexhilaratingfeelingholdingsomethingsopowerful,”saysJackson-Cohen.“IkeptthinkingIwasgoingtoshootmyselfinthefoot!”

Ofalltheactors,Jackson-Cohenwasputthroughthemostextensiveandrigoroustrainingprogramingeneralforthefilm-includingfitnessandyogatraining.TheBritishactorwasn’texactlyusedtoextensiveexercisebuttheexperienceprovedtobeathrill.“IhonestlyfeelliketheluckiestpersonbecauseIgettodoeverythingI’veeverwantedtodosinceIwasachildinthisfilm,”sharesJackson-Cohen.“I’vealwayswantedtoshootagun,alwayswantedtodriveafastcarandalwayshavebeencuriousofcombattraining.It’sbeenincredibletolearnallthesenewthings.”

Thefilmmakerswereamazedbyhisphysicaltransformationinsuchashorttime.“Withinsixweekshetotallytransformedandyoucouldseeitinhisdemeanour-thewayhewalkedandthewayhecarriedhimself.Itwasremarkable,”recallsBobTeitel.

ABOUTTHECAST

DWAYNEJOHNSON(Driver)

DwayneJohnsonhassolidifiedhimselfasaglobalboxofficesuccesswithgrossfilmrevenuesinexcessof1.5billiondollarsworldwide.

Bornintoafamilyofuniqueentertainers,Johnsonhadtheopportunitytodevelopagrassrootsunderstandingofthenuancesofliveperformanceashewatchedbothhisfatherandgrandfatherachievetremendoussuccessintheworldofprofessionalwrestling.WatchingthemperformthroughoutthecountrygaveJohnsonaprimaryeducationthatwasunlikeanyother.WithamovetoPennsylvaniainhislatterteenyears,JohnsonfocusedhisnaturalathleticabilitiesonfootballattractingtheattentionoftheUniversityofMiami.Afterreceivingafullfootballscholarship,JohnsonjoinedthepowerhousefootballprogramandwonhisfirstNationalChampionshipwiththeteamin1991.HeplayedagainfortheNationalChampionshipin1992,closingouthisillustriousfootballcareerbycompetingforathirdNationalChampionshipin1995againsttheUniversityofNebraskaintheOrangeBowl.

UpongraduationJohnsoncapitalizedonhisinherentdriveanddisciplinetoturnhispassionforentertainmentintoalife-changingcareer.FollowinginthefootstepsofhisWorldWrestlingEntertainmentHallofFamegrandfatherandfather,Dwaynequicklyutilizedhispastlifelessonstodeveloptheiconiccharacter‘TheRock.’Johnsonperformedtoover10millionfansaweekontelevisionaswellasbothdomesticandinternationalliveaudiencesthatreachedinexcessof70,000people.JohnsonconsistentlysoldoutvenuessuchastheHoustonAstrodome,MadisonSquareGardenandTorontoSkyDome.Asthecharacter‘TheRock,’DwayneachievedunprecedentedsuccessbecomingaNewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorforhisautobiographyentitledTheRockSaysaswellasaplatinumrecordingartistforhisWWEcompilationCD,performingwithsuchartistsasGrammyAward-winnerWyclefJean.

JohnsonpursuedhisdesiretoexpandhisentertainmentmediumsandtransitionedfromtelevisiontofilmwhereheplayedtheEgyptianman/god‘theScorpionKing’inthe2001blockbusterTheMummyReturns,leadingtohisfirststarringroleinTheScorpionKingin2002.ThesuccessofthatfilmledtosubsequentleadingrolesinTheRundown(asabountyhunteroutofhiselementinSouthAmerica),WalkingTall(asareturningPersianGulfWarherowhoprotectshishometownfromdrugdealers)andGridironGang(asacompassionate,yettoughcorrectionsofficerinspiringateammadeofteenageinmates).HealsogaveanacclaimedstandoutperformanceintheensemblehitBeCool,asacolourfulgaySamoanbodyguard.

JohnsonhastraversedtheworldofanimationbylendinghisvoicetoPlanet51asastronaut‘CaptainCharlesBaker.’Theactorreturnedtobig-familycomedythispastJanuarywithhisstarringroleinTheToothFairy.

FasterisJohnson’shighlyanticipatedreturntotheactiongenre.DwaynethenwillbeintroducingUnitedStatesDSSSpecialAgent‘LuciusLukeHobbs’inUniversal’sFastandFurious5whichwrapsfilmingOctober2010.Additionally,thisFallJohnsonbeginsproductiononJourney2:TheMysteriousIsland(whichisthesequeltoJourneyToTheCentreoftheEarth).

Aglobalphilanthropist,JohnsonfoundedTheRockFoundationin2006.Duringitsfirstyear,thefoundationfocuseditseffortsonTheRock'sToyChest,aprogramthatassistedinrecoveryandcreatedhopeinthelivesofchildrenhospitalizedforvariousmedicalconditions.ThecurrentmissionofTheRockFoundationistoillustrateandinspirepeopleofallages,backgroundsandeconomicmeanstounderstandthepowerthatintegrity,hardworkandunwaveringperseverancehasinachievingonesgoalsandtheninturn,thegratificationoflendingahandtootherssothatmayalsodothesame.

InadditiontoservingasChairman/Founderofhisfoundation,JohnsonisalsoacommittedCelebrityCabinetMemberforTheAmericanRedCross,hasservedontheNationalAdvisoryBoardforTheMake-A-WishFoundationwhereheservesasaWishAmbassador,andhasservedastheNationalSpokespersonforAfterSchoolAll-Stars(fkaTheArnoldSchwarzeneggerYouthFoundation). TheGivingBackFundrecognizedDwaynein2006asoneofthetop30celebritieswhomadethelargestpubliccharitabledonations(UniversityofMiami).InJune2008,theUnitedStatesCongress,theJointLeadershipCommissionandtheUnitedStatesCongressionalAwardFoundationrecognizedJohnsonwiththeprestigiousHorizonAward,theUS.CongressionalAwardgiventoanindividualintheprivatesectorwhohascontributedtoexpandingopportunitiesforallAmericansthroughtheirowncontributions,andwhohassetexceptionalexamplesforyoungpeoplethroughtheirsuccessesinlife.

Dwayneisalovingfathertohis9-year-olddaughterSimone.

BILLYBOBTHORNTON(Cop)

AcademyAward-winningwriter,actor,directorandmusician,BillyBobThorntonhasanextensiveandimpressivecareerinmotionpictures,televisionandtheatre.Charismaticanduniquelytalented,Thorntonhasestablishedhimselfasoneofthemostsoughtafterfilmmakersofhisgeneration.

BillyBobThorntoniscurrentlycelebratingahighwatermarkinhiscareer.Most recently, Thornton starred in the film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ best-selling novel The Informers and the Polish Brothers’ dark comedy Manure, as well as Paramount Pictures’ Eagle Eye, the New Line Cinema comedy Mr Woodcock, Warner Bros Pictures’ The Astronaut Farmer, directed by the Polish Brothers, School For Scoundrels, the re-make of The Bad News Bears for Paramount Pictures, Friday Night Lights for Universal Pictures, garnered a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for his role in the critically acclaimed hit Bad Santa, and received rave reviews for his portrayal of legendary frontiersman Davy Crockett in Touchstone Pictures’ The Alamo.

Showingtheversatilityofhisactingabilities,in2001ThorntonstarredinthecapercomedyBanditsfordirectorBarryLevinsonandco-starringBruceWillisandCateBlanchett;thenoirTheManWhoWasn’tTherefortheCoenBrothers;andtheheartwrenchingdramaMonster’sBall,inwhichheco-starredwithHalleBerry,PeterBoyleandHeathLedger.

EachofthethreeperformancesgarneredThorntonunprecedentedcriticalacclaim,andresultedinhimbeingnamedBestActorof2001bytheNationalBoardofReview,GoldenGlobenominationsforBestActorinaDramaforTheManWhoWasn’tThereandBestActorinaMusicalorComedyforBandits,andanAmericanFilmInstituteAwardnominationforBestActorforTheManWhoWasn’tThere.

Thornton’s1996releaseofthecriticallyacclaimedandphenomenallypopularfeaturefilmSlingBlade,whichhestarredinanddirectedfromanoriginalscripthewrote,firmlysecuredhisstatusasapre-eminentfilmmaker.Forhisefforts,hewashonouredwithbothanAcademyAwardforBestAdaptedScreenplayandanAcademyAwardnominationforBestActor.Thefilm,producedbyTheShootingGalleryandreleasedbyMiramax,alsostarredRobertDuvall,JTWalsh,DwightYoakumandJohnRitter.

PriortoSlingBlade,Thorntonalreadyhadanextensivemotionpicturecreditlist.HewroteandstarredinthethrillingcharacterdramaOneFalseMove,whichbroughthimimmediatecriticalpraise.Thornton’spowerfulscript(co-writtenwithTomEpperson)wasenhancedbyhisintenseperformanceasahuntedcriminal.Thefilm,directedbyCarlFranklin,wasanunheraldedsleepersuccess.

Inaddition,ThorntonhasbeenfeaturedinsuchfilmsasTheWinner,fordirectorAlexCox,ParamountPictures’IndecentProposaldirectedbyAdrianLyne,Deadman,fordirectorJimJarmuschforMiramax,andinTombstone,directedbyGeorgeCosmatosforBuenaVistaPictures.

ThorntonhasalsoappearedinthefilmsOnDeadlyGround,BoundByHonour,ForTheBoysandTheStarsFellonHenrietta.

Asawriter,ThorntonhasworkedonnumerousprojectsforUnitedArtists,Miramax,UniversalStudios,WarnerBros,TouchstonePictures,IslandPictures,DavidGeffenProductionsandHBO.HealsoscriptedAFamilyThing,ahighlyregardedfeaturefilmthatstarredRobertDuvallandJamesEarlJonesforUnitedArtists.

Thorntonco-starredintheblockbusteraction-adventurefilmArmageddonwithBruceWillisforproducerJerryBruckheimerandhehasalsoco-starredoppositeSeanPennandNickNolteinU-Turn,directedbyOliverStoneandinPrimaryColoursoppositeJohnTravoltaandEmmaThompsonfordirectorMikeNichols.HealsostarredinthedarkcomedyPushingTinoppositeJohnCusack.

ThorntonreceivedanAcademyAwardnominationandGoldenGlobenominationforBestSupportingActorforhiscelebratedworkinthetightlywovendramaASimplePlanfordirectorSamRaimi,aswellasaBestSupportingActorawardfromtheLosAngelesFilmCriticsAssociationandaBestSupportingActornominationfromtheScreenActorsGuild.

Forhissecondandthirddirectorialoutings,ThorntonchosethecomedyDaddyAndThem,whichheagainwroteandstarredin,andthebest-sellingCormacMcCarthynovel,theepicAllThePrettyHorses,starringMattDamon,PenelopeCruzandHenryThomas.

Thorntonalsoco-wroteTheGift,starringCateBlanchett,GiovanniRibisiandHillarySwank.Thornton’sotherfilmcreditsincludethecomedyWakingUpInReno,co-starringCharlizeTheron,PatrickSwayzeandNatashaRichardsonforMiramaxFilms,thedramaLevity,inwhichheco-starredwithMorganFreeman,HollyHunterandKirstenDunst,IntolerableCrueltyco-starringGeorgeClooneyandCatherineZetaJones,andLoveActually,withHughGrant,LauraLinneyandLiamNeeson.

OLIVERJACKSON-COHEN(Killer)

OliverJackson-CohenwasborninLondontofamedBritishfashiondesignerBettyJacksonandherFrenchhusband,businessmanDavidCohen.Attheageof15,hegothisprofessionalstartwithagueststarring-roleontheBBCTVshow,“Hollyoaks.”AfterappearingontheUKseries“TheTimeofYourLife,”OliverlandedtheleadintheBBCperioddrama“LarkRisetoCandleford.”

OliverwasacceptedintotheStrasbergTheatreInstituteandrelocatedtoNYtocontinuehisstudiesasanactor.HisfirstauditioninNewYorkwasfortheindependentfeatureLifeDeathat17.HewontheleadroleandwasquicklysignedbytheWilliamMorrisEndeavourAgency.OlivercancurrentlybeseenintheatresintheWarnerBros/NewLineCinemafilmGoingTheDistanceoppositeDrewBarrymore.OliveriscurrentlyfilmingWhat’sYourNumber?forTwentiethCenturyFoxwithAnnaFarisandChrisEvans.

CARLAGUGINO(Cicero)

Aftergraduatingfromhighschoolasclassvaledictorian,CarlaGuginobeganamemorableandprovocativeactingcareerwhichtodaycontinuestoshowcasehermanytalentsandconsiderablebeauty.

GuginocancurrentlybeseeninElectraLuxxwhichisdirectedbyandwrittenbySebastianGutierrez.Thisfilmisthesequeltolastyear'sWomenInTroublewhichwasalsodirectedbyGutierrez.ThefilmpremieredatSXSWonMarch14thandwasscreenedattheGenArtFilmFestivalonApril9th.

GuginocanalsobeseeninEveryDaywithLievSchreiberandHelenHunt.ThefilmpremieredattheTribecaFilmFestivalonApril24th.

GuginowillsoonbeseenstarringintheWarnerBros/LegendarydramaSuckerPunchwhereshewillreunitewithWatchmendirectorZackSnyder.Thisfilmcentresaroundagirlwho’sinstitutionalizedbyherwickedstepfatherandretreatsintoanalternativerealityasacopingstrategy.Guginowillplayanurseintheinsaneasylumwhobecomesamadamatabrothelinthefilm’salternatereality.ThefilmissettoreleaseMarch25,2011.

GuginowaslastseenonBroadwayin“DesireUndertheElms,”aplaybyEugeneO’NeilanddirectedbyTonyAwardrecipientRobertFalls.TheshowranattheawardwinningGoodmanTheatreinChicago,ILandwaspickedupforaBroadwayrunthankstoravereviews.GuginoreceivedincrediblereviewsforherstellarperformanceasAbbie,analluringandheadstrongwomanwhoknowswhatshewants.

GuginowasalsoseeninthefilmWatchmen,basedonthecelebratedDCComicnovel.ZackSnyder(300)directedthefilm,whichalsostarredJeffreyDeanMorgan,MalinAkerman,BillyCrudup,PatrickWilson,MatthewGoodeandJackieEarleHaley.Thefilmgrossed$181millionworldwide.

FollowingWatchmen,GuginostarredinRaceToWitchMountain,oppositeDwayneJohnson.Theactionadventure,fromWaltDisneyPictures,wasdirectedbyAndyFickman(TheGamePlan)andadvancedfromtheplotofthe1975Disneyfavourite,EscapeToWitchMountain.Thefilmopenedat#1attheboxoffice.

GuginoportrayedAmandaontheHBOhitseries“Entourage.”Theseriesfollowsanup-and-comingactor,VinceChaseashenavigateshiscareerinHollywood.GuginojoinedthecastinitsfourthseasonasVinceChase’snewagentafterhefiredhislong-timeagentplayedbyJeremyPiven.“Entourage”hascontinueditssuccessamongcriticsandfansandhasearnedmultipleawardsandnominations.

OtherrecentprojectsforGuginoincludethefilmOurLadyOfVictoryandNewYork,ILoveYou,inwhich12filmmakersdirectedshortfilmsillustratingtheuniversalthemeofencounteringlovewithinthefiveboroughsofNewYorkCity.

GuginostarredoppositeRobertDeNiroandAlPacinointhefilmRighteousKill.ThiscrimedramafollowstwoNewYorkCitypolicemeninsearchofaserialkiller.RighteousKillopenedwideandhascontinueditssuccessintheboxoffice.

In2007,GuginostarredinthecriticallyacclaimedAmericanGangsteroppositeRussellCroweandDenzelWashingtonunderthedirectionofRidleyScott,andTheLookoutoppositeJosephGordon-Levitt.GuginoalsostarredintheSpyKidstrilogyofmoviesoppositeAntonioBanderasandhadascene-stealingperformanceinRobertRodriguez'sSinCity.In2006,GuginostarredoppositeBenStillerinNightAtTheMuseum,whichwasthehighestgrossingfilmofthatyear.

OthertelevisioncreditsincludehercriticallyacclaimedperformancesasagovernmentrecruitontheCBSseries“Threshold”andasthetitlecharacterintheABCseries“KarenSisco,”basedontheElmoreLeonardnovelOutOfSight.Rolesinshowslike“ChicagoHope”andtheABCsitcom“SpinCity”showcasedGugino'swiderangeoftalentsinbothdramaandcomedy.

Guginocompletedacriticallylaudedperformanceas'CatherineHolly'oppositeBlytheDannerinaRoundaboutTheatreCompanyproductionoftheTennesseeWilliamsclassis“SuddenlyLastSummer.”ShemadeherBroadwaydebutinRoundabout's2004revivalofArthurMiller's“AfterTheFall.”Forherperformance,shereceivedmanyaccolades,includinganOuterCritics'CircleAwardnominationandaTheatreWorldawardforOutstandingBroadwayDebutforherrole'Maggie.'

Gugino'sfilmcareerbeganauspiciouslyasshelandedaroleinthenowiconicTroopBeverlyHills.From there, Gugino would go on to roles in Son In Law, This Boy’s Life opposite Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, Miami Rhapsody opposite Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael opposite John Travolta, Snake Eyes in which she starred alongside Nicolas Cage under Brian De Palma's direction, and The Singing Detective opposite Robert Downey Jr, Robin Wright Penn, and Jeremy Northam.

GuginocurrentlyresidesinLosAngeles.

MAGGIEGRACE(Lily)

MaggieGracewasmostrecentlyseeninthispastsummer’sFoxfeatureKnightAndDayfordirectorJamesMangoldoppositeTomCruiseandCameronDiazinwhichsheplaysDiaz’ssister.ShehasalsocompletedfilmingTheExperimentforSonyPicturesoppositeAdrianBrodyaswellastheindependentfeatureFlyingLessonsforproducerMarkJohnsonwhichopenedtheSantaBarbarafilmfestivalearlierthisyear.GracealsojustsignedontostarinTheTwilightSaga:BreakingDawnfordirectorBillCondon.ThefilmwillopenNovember2011.

GracestarredintheFoxrunawayhitTaken,whichwasnumberoneattheboxoffice.SheplayedthefemaleleadoppositeLiamNeeson.Themoviehasgrossedover$250millionworldwideandtheyaredevelopingthesequelforGracetostar.GracecanalsobeseeninTheJaneAustenBookClubforSony,inwhichsheplaystheleadroleof‘Allegra,’oppositeMariaBelloandEmilyBlunt.

Sherecentlyreprisedherroleforthefinalseasonof“Lost”asthespoiledcastawayShannonRutherford.Shebeganwiththeseriesinitsinceptionin2004.

GracecurrentlyresidesinLosAngeles.

MOONBLOODGOOD(Marina)

MoonBloodgoodisanactress,fromKorean,Dutch,andIrishdecent,whoisquicklybecomingknownforherworkinallaspectsoffilmandtelevision.Bloodgoodstartedhercareerasaprofessionaldancerandatayoungage,landedacovetedspottojointheLALakerGirlsteam.Herloveforhip-hopledtotouringgigswiththeinfamousPrince,BrandiandtherockbandOffspring.Herstrikingbeautybedazzledmanyphotographerswhoencouragedhertoexpandheroutletsofexpressionandpursuemodelling.AtriptoNewYorkprovedtobelucrative,whereMoonfoundherselfmodellingforcosmeticgiantsRevlon,L’OrealandAvon.FamedphotographerDavidLaChapelleshotherDieselcampaignandsoonafter,shewasfeaturedinboththeAdidasandNikeWomancampaigns.BloodgoodwasalsofeaturedinPeopleMagazine’sWorld’sMostBeautifulissuein2006and2009.

TheDreamWorksfilmWinADateWithTedHamiltonwasBloodgood’sfirstfeaturefilmdebut,playingoppositeJoshDuhamel.Soonafter,shewasstarringoppositeAshtonKutcherinDisney’sALotLikeLove,andStreetfighterasatoughThaidetectiveonamissiontobringdownanevilempire.OtherfilmrolesincludeWhatJustHappened?co-starringRobertDe Niro,theFoxfantasyfilmPathfinderfromdirectorMarcusNispel,andintheindependentfilmMoonlightSerenadeoppositeAmyAdams.Intelevision,BloodgoodhasstarredintheABCseries“Daybreak”oppositeTayeDiggs,“BurnNotice”oppositeJeffreyDonovan,andasthefemaleleadintheNBCseries“Journeyman”oppositeKevinMcKidd.

MostrecentlyBloodgoodwasseenstarringintheFrankMarshallDisneyfeatureEightBelowoppositePaulWalkerandJasonBiggs,andasBlairWilliamsintheWarnerBrosblockbusterTerminatorSalvation,starringoppositeChristianBaleandSamWorthington.

BloodgoodcurrentlyresidesinLosAngeles.

ADEWALEAKINNUOYE-AGBAJE(Evangelist)

British-bornactorAdewaleAkinnuoye-Agbajehasawell-establishedactingcareerwithastringoficonicperformancesunderhisbelt.

Akinnuoye-Agbajeiscurrentlyworkingontwonewprojects:UniversalPictures’prequeltoJohnCarpenter’shorrorclassicTheThing,openingnextyearandSonyPicturesEntertainment’sanimatedPirates!openingin2012.

Dubbedthe‘ActionFigure’actorinarecentmagazineforhisstrongcharactersonfilmandintelevision,hisstrengthofpresencewasonfulldisplayinGI.Joe:TheRiseofCobra,whichopenedatnumberonelastsummerandshatteredAugustopeningweekendrecords.Akinnuoye-AgbajeplayedHeavyDuty,theteam’sfearlessheavyordinancespecialistwhoalsoshowsarefinedside,sharingapassionforcooking,classicalguitarandspeakinginrhyme.

Akinnuoye-AgbajealsostarredasMrEkoonJJAbrams’hugelysuccessfuldrama“Lost,”onABC.HeismaybebestknownforhisroleasSimonAdebisionanotherground-breakingtelevisionseries:HBO’sprisondrama“Oz.”ForhisperformancehewasnominatedforOutstandingActorinaDramaSeriesandOutstandingSupportingActorinaDramaSeriesbytheNAACPforhisportrayalofthemurderousdrugaddict.Mostrecently,heplayedoppositeTonyShalhoubinasplashyguest-starringroleontheEmmyAward-winning“Monk.”

HisbigscreencreditsincludeGetRichorDieTryin’,starringalongsideCurtis“50Cent”Jackson,TheBourneIdentityplayingoppositeOscarwinnerMattDamon,TheMummyReturnswithBrendanFraser,andAceVentura:WhenNatureCalls,alongsideHollywood’sfunnymanJimCarrey.HewentontostarinaplethoraofblockbusterssuchasCongo,Unstoppable,Legionnaireandmore.

Akinnuoye-AgbajegothisbreakintoAmericanTVin1994,makingappearancesin“Cracker”and“NewYorkUndercover.”He was also featured in several iconic music videos early in his career for such artists as En Vogue, Mary J Blige, Salt 'n' Pepa, and The Pet Shop Boys. PriortotheserolesheworkedasamodelandlivedinMilan,Italy.

Akinnuoye-AgbajewasborninLondonwhereheattendedKing’sCollege,UniversityofLondonandgraduatedwithamaster’sdegreeinlaw.AdewalespeaksseverallanguagesincludingItalian,Swahili,abitofFrench,andYoruba,theNigerianlanguageofhisparents.

NeveronetobecomplacentthisyearAkinnuoye-Agbajeembarksuponyetanotherchapterofhiscareer.Herecentlyshowcasedhisfirst“featureshort”atRobertRedford’sprestigiousSundanceLabs,forwhichhewontheAnnenbergawardforbestnewcomerwriteranddirector.ThisyearAkinnuoye-Agbajewillmakehishighlyanticipateddirectorialdebutwithanautobiographicalstoryinwhichhewillstar,writeandproduce.

TripleA,ashehasbeendubbedbytheHollywoodcommunity,currentlyresidesinLosAngeles.

TOMBERENGER(Warden)

TomBerenger’scareerspansfeaturefilms,televisionandproduction.HisfilmcareertookoffwhenheappearedintheOscar-nominatedfilmTheBigChill,withGlennCloseandWilliamHurt.HewentontoreceiveGoldenGlobeandAcademyAwardnominationsforhisroleintheOscar-winningfilmPlatoon,withWillemDafoeandCharlieSheen.Berengerhasmadeseveraltelevisionappearances,includinganEmmy-nominatedguestperformanceonthehittelevisionseries“Cheers.”

BerengerwasmostrecentlyseeninChristopherNolan’sInception,whichWarnerBrosreleasedthispastsummer.ThefilmalsostarsLeonardoDiCaprio,MarionCotillardandJosephGordon-Levitt.Inaddition,TomcanbeseenintheindependentfeaturefilmsLastWill,thesuspensethrillerwhichhestarredoppositeTatumO’NealandPeterCoyote,andLionsGate’sOrderofRedemption.Tomstarsas“StevenLuisi”,acriminaldefenceattorneytryingtogethislifebackafterovercomingabattlewithaddiction.

Berenger’spasttelevisioncreditsincludesABC’s“OctoberRoad,”StephenKing’sTNTminiseries“NightmaresDreamscapes,”“IntotheWest,”“Gettysburg”and“RoughRiders,”thelastofwhichhealsoexecutiveproduced.HehasalsostarredinthepopularfilmsJonathanToomey,anadaptationofthechildren’sbookTheChristmasMiracleofJonathanToomey,MajorLeague,TrainingDay,Sniper,Sliver,ShatteredandAtPlayintheFieldsoftheLord.Berenger’sotherexecutive-producingcreditsincludeTheOccasionalHellandthetelevisionseries“Peacemakers.”

MIKEEPPS(Grone)

MikeEppshasgeneratedanextraordinaryamountofbuzzamonghispeersandwithintheentertainmentindustryforbeingoneofthefunniestcomicactorstoemergeontotheHollywoodscene.

Eppsiscurrentlyontheroadperforminghisacclaimedstand-upinfrontoffansinsoldoutvenuesseatingover5thousandpeople.Herecentlybroughthis“MikeEppsPresents…”showtotheClubNokiainLosAngeles.Bothperformancesweresoldoutinwhichheintroducedfiveupandcomingcomedianstohisaudience.EppsfurtherpushedtheenvelopewhenheandSnoopDoggpremieredtheirnewcomedyhiphopshow“ImagineThat!”infrontofaudiencesonApril30thatHarrah’sRinconCasinoinSanDiego.The“ImagineThat!”tourcontinuedthroughsummeracrossthecountry.

LastSpringEppsstarredoppositeMosDefandDonaldFaisoninthedarkcomedy,NextDayAir,whichSummitEntertainmentreleasedintheatresonMay8th.EppswasalsoseenonthebigscreenalongsideBradleyCooper,ZackGalifianakis,JustinBarthaandEdHelmsinWarnerBros’smashhitTheHangover(directedbyOldSchool’sToddPhillips).TheHangoverhasbecomethehighestgrossingR-ratedcomedyofalltimebyreachingover$385Millionworldwideattheboxoffice.EppsmostrecentlyappearedintheWarnerBrosfilmLotteryTicketstarringalongsideBowWow,BrandonTJacksonandIceCube.

Eppscanbeseenonthesmallscreeninhisnewestcomedyspecial“Under-RatedandNever-Faded:LiveFromDetroit"whichpremieredonShowtimeOctober3,2009andwasreleasedonDVD,November10th.EppsalsorecentlyreleasedanewcomedyDVD,“FunnyBidness”whichhefollowedupwithhisdebutcomedyrapalbumalsotitled“FunnyBidness”thatdroppedOctober27,2009.ThealbumfeaturesSnoopDogg,TI.andKidRocktonameafew.AlsoonOctober27thEppswasseenonthesmallscreenhostingthe2009BETHipHopAwards.

2008provedtobeanimpressiveyearforEpps.InFebruary,heappearedintheUniversalStudiosensemblecomedyWelcomeHomeRoscoeJenkins,oppositeMartinLawrence,JamesEarlJonesandJoyBryant.InApril2008,heappearedintheindie-filmTheGrand,directedbyZakPennandstarringWoodyHarrelsonandCherylHines.Hecanalsobeseeninthefollowing2008releases:MGM’sSoulMenstarringSamuelLJackson,BernieMacandIsaacHayes;SonyPictures’HancockstarringWillSmithandCharlizeTheronandOpenSeason2inwhichhelendshisvoice.

WhenEppsisn’tfilming,heistouringthecountryandperforminghiscomedyacttosold-outtheatresandarenas.In2007hisonehourcomedyspecial,“InappropriateBehaviour”airedonHBOandwasoneofthenetwork’stop-ratedone-hourspecialsoftheyear,followedbyitssubsequentDVDreleasethatsamemonth.Laterthatfall,hetransitionedfromhisHBOcomedyspecialtohostingdutiesasthenewhostofHBO’sDefComedyJam,whichairedonSeptember10,2006.

In2007,Eppsreprisedhisroleas‘LJ’inSony’sfuturisticactionfranchise,ResidentEvil:Extinction,whichplacednumberoneattheboxofficefortwoconsecutiveweeksinSeptember‘07.EppsalsohadasmallbutdramaticrolealongsideDonCheadleinTalktoMeforFocusFeaturesinAugust2007.

Since2000,Epps’comedicfilmroleshaveexploded;inMarch2002EppswasseenstarringoppositeIceCubeinNewLineCinema’sAllAbouttheBenjamins.EppsalsoreprisedhisroleasDay-DayinFridayAfterNext,thethirdinstalmentoftheFridayseries.In2003,EppsappearedintheParamountcomedy,TheFightingTemptationsalongsideCubaGoodingJrandBeyoncéKnowles,andin2004hewasinSonyPictures’blockbustersequelResidentEvil:ApocalypsestarringMillaJovovich.

InSeptemberof’05,EppsplayedthecomedicreliefasaloudmouthedgarbagemaninFoxSearchlight’sRollBounce,afilmsetinthelate1970sabouttherollerskatinglifestylewhichalsostarredBowWow,ChiMcBride,andNickCannon.EppsthenwentontoplayapivotalroleintheFocusFeaturesromanticcomedy,SomethingNew,starringSanaaLathanasablackcareerwomanwhounexpectedlyfindslovewithawhiteworking-classman,playedbySimonBaker.Earlierthatsameyear,Eppsstarredintwoclassicremakes-firstEppswasseeninColumbiaPictures’wellreceived,GuessWho,starringAshtonKutcherandBernieMacwhichwasreleasedinMarchof’05.HethenstarredinParamountPicture’sremakeofTheHoneymooners,inwhichheplayedcomediclegendEdNorton,alongsideCedrictheEntertainerasRalphKramden.

AnativeofIndianawhohassteadilyclimbedhiswayupthestand-upcomedyranksforthelastsevenyears,Epps’comedictalentwasrecognizedbyanationalaudiencein1995whenheappearedontheDefComedyJamtourandappearedonHBO’sDefComedyJambroadcasts.EppsmovedtoLosAngelesafterhissuccessfulperformanceatthe1999LaffapaloozafestivalinAtlanta.DuringhisperformanceatLA’sComedyStore,EppscaughttheattentionofIceCube.Thisledtohimbeingcastintheco-starringroleofDay-Dayinhisfeaturefilmdebut,2000’shitcomedyNextFriday.EppshasalsoappearedinBaitwithJamieFoxx,HowHighwithMethodManandRedmanandwasthevoiceofSonnyinDrDolittle2.

EppscurrentlyresidesinLosAngeles,CA.

XANDERBERKELEY(Mallory)

XanderBerkeleywaspeggedforanactorfromthestart,preferringcostumestotoysfromearlychildhood.

At16,hewasalreadyactivelyinvolvedwithcommunitytheatreandhighschoolplayswhenanexperimentaltheatretroupeworkingintheNewJerseyareabroughthimonboardastheiryoungestmember.Thatwasprettymuchit,evencollegecouldn'tstophim.Hewasconsumeddoingplaysaswellasdesigningthemake-upormakingmasksforoneproductionafterthenext.HestudiedwithteachersfromtheMoscowArtTheatre,London'sRoyalAcademyofDramaticArtsandevenLeeStrasberghimself.Xanderfeelstheearlyexperimentaltheatreexperiencesaswellasstintsworkingwithimprovisationcompaniestrainedhimforfilmactingasmuchasanythingelse.

XandermadehisscreendebutinMommieDearestasChristopherCrawfordandnowalmost100filmslater,hestillfeelslikethesamekidinacandyshopwhenitcomestoputtingonthecostumeandbecomingsomeoneelse.Itwashisskillasamake-upartistthathelpedlandhimtheroleofdrugdealerBowerSnaxinSidandNancybackin1985.Thedirectorsawhimonthesetaftercastinghimfromavideotapeauditionandexclaimed"Oh!You'resoCLEAN!IthoughtwehadsomehowfoundaJUNKYwhocouldactnaturallyoncamera!"(Sorrytodisappointyoupal).BouncingbackandforthfromhugeblockbusterslikeTerminator2andApollo13andAFewGoodMen,tosmallerindependentfilmslikeSafe(whereheplayedJulianneMoore'shusband,Greg),andCandyman(VirginiaMadsen'sphilanderinghusband,Trevor),Xanderhasfoundthatsubtlephysicaldifferenceshavekeephischaractersspecifictoeachfilm.

Collaboratingwithmake-upartistsincreasinglybecameapastimeonsets.InAirForceOne,intheroleofturncoatsecretserviceman"Gibbs",KevinHaneyandXandercameupwithawaytomakeayeteffectivetransformation.WilliamCorsoandXanderbecamefriendsworkingtogetherandcollaboratingontheShowtimemovie,Roswellfortheoldagemake-up,andthengottoworktogetheragainonAmistadforSpielberg.Xander'stransformationinNorthCountryasminemanagerArlenwassocomplete,hisownmotherdidn'trecognizeforthefirsttwoscenes.This,inmanyways,iswhatdroveXandertowanttoactinthefirstplace,tobecomecharacterssocompletelythattheywouldbeunrecognizablefromonetothenext.Clearlyithasmadethejourneymoreinterestingandbyprotectinghisefficacyfromroletoroleinthisway,hasmadeforlongevityandversatility.

Mostrecently,XanderhasappearedinsuchfilmsasYearOnedirectedbyHaroldRamis,MatthewVaughn’sKick-Ass,and,asidefromFaster,hecannextbeseenintheupcomingfilmTheHungryRabbitJumpsstarringNicolasCage.ThisFall,XandercanbeseenontelevisionscreenseverywhereintheCWseries“Nikita”createdbyHollywoodpowerhouseMcG.

ABOUTTHEFILMMAKERS

GEORGETILLMANJR(Director)

Afterseeingthefilm,CooleyHigh,Milwaukee,WisconsinnativeGeorgeTillmanJrbecameinspiredtomakefilmsofhisown.In1994,Georgewroteanddirectedhisfirstfeaturefilm,ScenesForTheSoul.ItwasshotentirelyinChicago,usinglocaltalentandresources.Thefilm,whichcost$150,000tomake,caughttheattentionofDougMcHenryandGeorgeJacksonwhoacquireditforSavoyPicturesfor$1million.Followingthemomentumofthissuccess,Georgebegantowriteascript,looselybasedonhisownlife--SoulFood.

SoulFoodbeganproductiononNovember6th,1996onahectic30-dayschedulewithacastthatincludedVanessaWilliams,VivicaAFox,NiaLong,MekhiPhifer,MichaelBeach,IrmaPHall,andBrandonHammond.Modestlybudgetedat$7million,SoulFoodopenedtocriticalandfinancialsuccess,grossingover$43milliondomestically.Asaresult,Georgeandhisproducingpartner,BobTeitel,landedatwo-year,firstlookdealatFox2000.StateStreetPicturesbecametheircompany’snewname - areferencetotheirearlieryearsasafilmmakingteaminChicago.

George’snextdirectorialeffortwasMenOfHonour,anepicstoryinspiredbythelifeofCarlBrashear,amanwhobattledtheobstaclesofracism,alackofeducation,andthelossofhislegtobecometheUnitedStatesNavy’sfirstAfrican-AmericanMasterdeepseadiver.ThefilmstarredOscarwinningactorsCubaGoodingJrandRobertDeNirowithanensemblecastthatincludedCharlizeTheron,MichaelRapaport,LonetteMcKee,GlynnTurman,andHalHolbrook.ThefilmopenednationwideonNovember10th2000andgrossed$85millionworldwide.

AfterthesuccessofMenOfHonour,Georgeventuredintoproducing.InadditiontohisroleasExecutiveProducerofthebeloved“SoulFood:TheSeries”forShowtimeNetworks,Georgeco-producedwithpartner,BobTeiteltheMGMfilmBarbershop.TimStorydirectedthecomedy,aboutadayinthelifeofaSouthsideChicagobarbershop.ThefilmstarredIceCube,AnthonyAnderson,SeanPatrickThomas,EveandCedricTheEntertainer.Widelypraisedbymoviegoersandcriticsalike,BarbershopopenedonSeptember13th,2002torecord-breakingboxofficesuccess.Withadomesticgrossupwardsof$75million,BarbershophasbecomethemostprofitableAfrican-Americanthemedfilmofalltime.

HotontheheelsofBarbershopcamethesequelBarbershop2:BackInBusiness.ItwasreleasedFebruary6th,2004.Thefilm,directedbyKevinRodneySullivan,wasnumberoneinanopeningweekendthatwasevenbiggerthanitspredecessor,rakinginmorethan$24.2million.Thesuccessofthetwofilmsspurredtwomorespin-offs:BeautyShop,starringQueenLatifah,KevinBacon,AliciaSilverstoneandDjimonHounsou,aswellasatelevisionshowbasedontheoriginalfilmthatwasmadeforShowtime.

George,togetherwithpartnerBobTeitel,followedupthesuccessoftheBarbershopfranchisewiththeFoxSearchlight/Fox2000filmRollBouncein2005.The70s-inspiredcoming-of-agecomedyfeaturedanall-starcastledbyBowWow,ChiMcBride,KhleoThomas,MikeEpps,MeaganGood,NickCannonandKellitaSmith.ThefilmwasdirectedbyMalcolmDLee.

Georgesteppedbackintothedirector’schairin2007todirectthebiopicNotoriousatFoxSearchlight.ThisedgytellingofslainrapperNotoriousBIG’slifeprovedtobetheperfectvehicleforGeorge’sdirectorialstyleandfinesse.StarringtheunknownJamalWoolardasChristopher“NotoriousBig”Wallace,thefilmalsoboastsstrongtalentsuchasDerekLukeasSean“Puffy”Combs,OscarnominatedAngelaBassettasVolettaWallaceandAnthonyMackieasTupacShakur.Thefilmopenedto23milliondollarsinJanuary2009.

TONYGAYTON(Writer/Producer)

TonyGaytongraduatedfromtheUSCSchoolofFilmandTelevisionwherehewastherecipientoftheJackNicholsonScreenwritingAward.Heisthewriterofthreefeaturefilms:TheSaltonSea,MurderbyNumbers,andFasterwhichheco-wrotewithhisbrother,JoeGayton.Heco-wroteandproducedthetelevisionpilot“SouthernComfort”withJoeGaytonfortheFoxNetworkandheandhisbrotherarecurrentlyinpre-productionon“HellonWheels,”atelevisionpilotforAMC.

Inadditiontowriting,hehasalsodirectedtwodocumentariesaboutrockmusicandmusicians:Athens,GeorgiaInside/OutandTwoHeadedCow.

HelivesinPalosVerdes,Californiawithhiswifeandthreechildren.

JOEGAYTON(Writer/ExecutiveProducer)

JoeGaytongrewupinMerrittIslandFlorida.HemovedwithhisbrotherTonytoLosAngelesin1980totryhishandatscreenwriting.HisfirstproducedmoviewasUncommonValour.HehassincewrittenthefeaturefilmsShoutandBullet-proof.HehasalsodirectedWarmSummerRainandSweetJane.Heandhisbrotherwrotethepilot“SouthernComfort”forFox.“HellOnWheels”(pilotwrittenTonyandJoe)willshootthissummerforAMCinCalgary.Fasteristheirfirstproducedco-writtenfeaturefilm.

MARTINSHAFER(Producer)

MartinShaferistheChairmanandChiefExecutiveOfficerofCastleRockEntertainment.CastleRockrecentlyproduced,DidYouHearAboutTheMorgan’s,NoReservations,MusicandLyrics,MichaelClayton,Fracture,Sleuth,IntheLandofWomen,ForYourConsideration,alsoproducedbyCastleRockareMissCongeniality2:ArmedFabulousandThePolarExpress.AndsuchcriticallyacclaimedfilmsasWhenHarryMetSally,AFewGoodMen(whichwasnominatedforfourAcademyAwards)AbsolutePower,CitySlickers,IntheLineofFire,HoneymoonInVegas,andMisery,forwhichKathyBateswontheAcademyAwardforBestActress,TheAmericanPresidentandTheShawshankRedemption(nominatedforsevenAcademyAwards),andTheGreenMile(nominatedforfourAcademyAwards).Thecompanyalsoproducedtheenormouslypopularhittelevisionshow“Seinfeld.”In1995,CastleRockEntertainmentreceivedtheExcellenceinFilmmakingAwardatShoWest.

AsidefromFaster,CastleRockupcomingslateincludesFlippedstarringMadelineCarroll,PenelopeAnnMillerandAnthonyEdwards.

PriortoformingCastleRock,MartinShaferwasPresidentofProductionforEmbassyPicturesandservedasExecutiveVicePresidentofProductionatTwentiethCenturyFoxFilmCorporation.InOctober2000,ShaferreceivedtheLifetimeAchievementAwardatShowEast.MartinShaferwasalsooneoftheproducersofBeowulf.

LIZGLOTZER(Producer)

LizGlotzerjoinedCastleRockEntertainmentatitsinception,andwaspromotedtoPresidentofCastleRockEntertainmentin1999.Duringhertenure,CastleRockhasproducedover90filmsincluding:WhenHarryMetSally,Misery(withKathyBateswinningtheAcademyAwardforBestActress),HoneymooninVegas,InTheLineofFire,TheGreenMile,AFewGoodMen,(NominatedforfourAcademyAwards),CitySlickers,BestInShow,MissCongenialityandPolarExpress.

OtherCastleRockmoviesinclude:NoReservations,InTheLandofWomen,Sleuth,AmericanPresidentandtheAcademyAwardWinningMichaelClayton.

Inadditiontosupervisingallaspectsofproductionanddevelopmentforthecompany,Glotzerhasmostrecentlyproduced:Faster,DidYouHearAboutTheMorgan’s,Fracture,andMusicandLyrics(starringHughGrantandDrewBarrymore).ShealsoservedasproduceronSiblingRivalryandTheMistforDimensionFilmsstarringThomasJaneandMarciaGayHardenwhichreunitedherwithdirectorFrankDarabontwithwhomshecollaboratedpreviouslyasexecutiveproduceronTheShawshankRedemption(NominatedforsevenAcademyAwards).

PriortojoiningCastleRock,shewasanexecutiveatSamuelGoldwynCompanyandwasinvolvedinanumberofprojects,includingthesleeperhit,MysticPizza.

MsGlotzerreceivedherBAfromBenningtonCollegeandherMFAfromUSC’sPeterStarkProgram.

ROBERTTEITEL(Producer)

RobertTeitelisanativeofChicago,Illinois.MajoringinFilmandMarketing,hegraduatedfromColumbiaCollegein1990.Duringhiscollegecareer,heformedaproductioncompanybythenameofMenagerieFilmswithdirectorGeorgeTillmanJr.HethenproducedPaula,a30-minuteshortwhichwonseveralawards,includingtheStudentAcademyAward.Atthesametime,TeitelproducedseveralmusicvideosundertheMenagerieumbrella.In1994,heraised$150,000andproducedScenesfortheSoul,afeaturefilmthatwasshotinChicago,usinglocaltalentandresources.ScenesfortheSoulwassoldtoJackson-McHenryatSavoyPicturesfor$1million.

TeitelfollowedupSceneswiththewell-receivedfeatureSoulFoodforFox2000at20thCenturyFox.SoulFoodisafilmdirectedbyGeorgeTillmanJr,featuringanassembledcastofVanessaWilliams,VivicaFox,BrandonHammond,NiaLong,MekhiPhifer,IrmaPHall,MichaelBeach,andJeffreySams.ThefilmwasexecutiveproducedbyKenny"Babyface"EdmondsandreleasedinSeptemberof1997.Onasparsebudgetof$7.5million,SoulFoodmanagedtoastoundthefilmcommunitybysurpassingallexpectationsandpullingin$43million.Thesoundtrackshippeddoubleplatinumandwhenthefilmwentonsaleinvideo,itwasinthetop10.

Uponthereleaseofthefilm,thepartnerssignedafirstlookproductiondealwithFox2000fortheirproductioncompany,StateStreetPictures,whichenabledthemtodevelopprojectsforTeiteltoproduceandforTillmantoproduceanddirect.StateStreet’sothercreditsincludethehitdramaMenofHonour,whichgrossed$100millionworldwideandstarsOscar-winningactorsCubaGoodingJrandRobertDeNirowithanensemblecastthatincludesCharlizeTheron.

AfterthesuccessofMenofHonour,Teitelco-producedwithTillmantheMGMfilmBarbershop.TimStorydirectedthecomedyaboutadayinthelifeofaSouthsideChicagobarbershop.ThefilmstarredIceCube,AnthonyAnderson,SeanPatrickThomas,EveandCedrictheEntertainer.Widelypraisedbymoviegoersandcriticsalike,BarbershopwentontobecomethemostprofitableAfrican-American-themedfilmofalltime.

HotontheheelsofBarbershop,TeitelandTillmanwentontoproduceseveralotherAfrican-American-themedsuccesses,includingBarbershop2,BeautyShop,andthemuchcriticallypraisedRollBounce.

Morerecently,TeitelandTillmancollaboratedonNotoriousforFoxSearchlightandNothingLikeTheHolidaysforOverture.

DARAWEINTRAUB(ExecutiveProducer)

DaraWeintraubhasshepherdednumerousmotionpicturesineverygenrefrompre-productionthroughpost-production.Sherecentlyservedasco-producerandUPMonthefilmsTheLastSongstarringMileyCyrusand17AgainaNewLineCinemaproductionstarringZacEfron.BeforethatshewastheCo-producerandUPMontwoJuddApatowprojectsforColumbiaPictures:PineappleExpress,directedbyDavidGordonGreeneandstarringSethRogenandJamesFranco,andSuperBad,directedbyGregMottolaandstarringSethRogenandMichaelCera.Previously,DarawastheCo-Producer/UPMonthefilmSouthlandTales,starringDwayneJohnsonandSeanWilliamScott.

Standingoutamongthemanycharacter-drivengems,Weintraub’sotherCo-Producer/UPMcreditsincludeDavidORussell’sIHeartHuckabees,starringJasonSchwartzman,DustinHoffman,LilyTomlinandJudeLaw;TheClearing,withRobertRedford,HelenMirrenandWillemDafoe;LisaCholodenko’sLaurelCanyon,withFrancesMcDormand,ChristianBaleandKateBeckinsale;andTheUnitedStatesofLeland,withDonCheadle,RyanGoslingandLenaOlin.WeintraubalsoservedastheUnitProductionManagerfortheWashingtonDClegofTimBurton’sPlanetoftheApesandwastheUnitProductionManagerontheLAportionofX-Men.OthercreditsincludeSimpatico,starringNickNolte,SharonStoneandJeffBridges,CrimeandPunishmentinSuburbia,StarkRavingMad,andTheManfromElysianFields.

Sheisalsocurrentlyindevelopmentonsomeofherownprojects.

MICHAELGRADY(DirectorofPhotography)

AfterGraduatingfromfilmschoolatAFIin1995,MichaelGradyshotmusicvideos,shortfilms,andsevensmallindependentnarrativefeatureswithsuccessatmanyfilmfestivalsworldwide.HealsoshottwofeaturedocumentariesincludingBeyondtheMat,whichwasproducedbyRonHowardandBrianGrazer.

GradywasinvitedtojointheCinematographersbranchoftheAcademyofMotionPicturesSciencesforhisworkonWonderland,starringValKilmeraspornstarJohnHolmes,NeverwasstarringSirIanMcKellen,JessicaLangeandAaronEckhartandFactoryGirlwithSiennaMiller.

Grady’sothercreditsincludethe2009familyfilmHotelforDogsstarringEmmaRoberts,andNotorious,thebiopicthatfollowsthelifeofthelaterapperNotoriousBIG.GradyrecentlyshotthefilmEasyA,withacastthatincludesEmmaStone,AmandaBynes,StanleyTucci,MalcolmMcDowellandLisaKudrow.

DAVIDLAZAN(ProductionDesigner)

DavidLazan,whorecentlyworkedonJerryBruckheimer’sSorcerer’sApprentice,bringshisdiverseProductionDesignandArtDirectionexperiencetoFaster.HehashadtheopportunitytoworkwiththevisualdirectorFrancisLawrenceonIAmLegendandConstantine.HisdesigncreditsalsoincludeworkingwiththevideocommercialdirectorDavidMeyersonTheHitcher.

DavidhashadtheabilitytoworkonadiversepalletofpicturesasanArtDirectorwhichhasincludedbigbudgetfilmsfromBadBoys2toSupermanandawardnominatedfilmssuchasTrainingDayandAmericanBeauty.

SALVADORPEREZ(CostumeDesigner)

AversatileCostumeDesignerwhoenjoysthevarietyofworkwithdesigningbothFilmsandTelevision.HiscreditsincludetheABCDrama“Castle,”theSTARZnetworkcomedy“PartyDown,”theVampireDrama“Moonlight”and3seasonsof“VeronicaMars.”HisfeaturefilmcreditsincludeZackandMirimakeaPornodirectedbyKevinSmith,Drumline,directedbyCharlesStoneIII,theFoxcomedyChasingPapi,directedbyLindaMendoza,theFoxfamilyfilmCatchThatKid,thecomedyMr3000,starringBernieMac,andtheGeorgeTillmanJrfilmsSoulFoodandMenofHonour.

BeforebecomingaCostumeDesigner,PerezworkedasanAssistantCostumeDesignerandCostumeManufacturingForeman,runningtheworkroomsandbuildingcostumesforfilmssuchasStargate,TheFlintstones,BarbWire,Casper,TheBradyBunch,AceVentura:WhenNatureCalls,ThePhantomandtheOscar-winningepicTitanic.

BornandraisedinCalifornia’sCentralValley,PerezmakeshishomeinLosAngeles,California.

DIRKWESTERVELT(Editor)

DirkWestervelthasenjoyedrepeatcollaborationswithseveralfilmmakersthroughouthiscareer.

He edited George Tillman Jr’s acclaimed biographical drama Men of Honour, starring Robert De Niro, Cuba Gooding Jr and Charlize Theron, as well as the director's Notorious, about the life of the rapper known as Notorious BIG, and was associate editor on the director’s hit comedy-drama Soul Food, which featured an ensemble led by Vanessa L Williams, Vivica A Fox and Nia Long.

WesterveltservedasVisualEffectsEditorandTempMusicEditoronGuillermodelToro’ssci-fiadventureHellboyandhisaction-thrillerBladeII.

Forwriter-directorRickFamuyiwa,WestervelteditedtheromanticcomediesOurFamilyWedding,starringForestWhitakerandAmericaFerrera,andBrownSugar,starringTayeDiggsandQueenLatifah,andservedasadditionaleditoronthecoming-of-agetaleTheWood.

HehastwicecollaboratedwithFGaryGray,asassociateeditoronthefilmmaker’sacclaimeddramaSetItOffandasfirstassistanteditorofhishitcomedyFriday,starringIceCubeandChrisTucker.

WesterveltalsoworkedasEditoronthe3Dhit,JourneytotheCentreoftheEarth,fordirectorEricBrevigandWaldenMedia/NewLineCinema.HewastheonlyEditortostayonthistechnicallychallengingprojectfrompre-productionthroughtocompletion.

Additionally,WesterveltservedasDirectorofPhotographyonDirectorKateHaug’slaudedshortfilmPASS,whichscreenedinthe“NewDirectors/NewFilms”festivalatTheMuseumofModernArtinNewYork.

HesplitshistimebetweenNewYork,LosAngelesandPrague.

CHICDANIEL(TechnicalAdvisor)

ChicDanielretiredasaDetectivefromtheLosAngelesPoliceDepartmentafternearly26yearsofservice.DuringhisyearswiththeLAPD,Chicworkedavarietyofassignmentsincludingpatrol,thebeachdetail,gang(CRASH)enforcement,andSpecialWeaponsandTactics(SWAT)unit.

DuringhistimeinSWAT,Chicwasinvolvedintheserviceofhundredsofhighrisksearchwarrantsandthecreationoftacticsusedintheserviceofthesewarrants.ChicwasalsoamemberofthefirearmstrainingcadreandCrisisNegotiationTeam,(CNT)whichdealtwithbarricadedsuspects,hostagesituationsandthegrowingnumberofsuiciderelatedcalls.

UponhispromotiontoDetective,ChicwasassignedtoMajorNarcoticsandworkedinaDrugEnforcementAdministration(DEA)TaskForceatLosAngelesInternationalAirport.HisjobassignmentatLAXincludedtheinterdictionofnarcoticsandcurrencysmugglers,surveillances,andtrainingofTaskForcemembers.Inaddition,Chicwasinvolvedwiththehandlingofnarcoticdetectioncanines.ChichastaughtandcontinuestoteachadvancedfirearmsaswellasclassesdealingwithSearchWarrantPreparationandService,CrisisNegotiations,SuicidebyCop,AirportInterdictionandCourtroomTestimonyrelatingtoNarcoticDetectionCanines.

Uponretirement,Chiccontinuedacareerasatechnicaladvisorforthefilmandtelevisionindustries.HehasworkedonsuchfilmsasFace/Off,Traffic,Swordfish,PhoneBooth,Oceans11,Insomnia,Collateral,Cheandmanymore.Histelevisionresumeincludes“X-Files,”“Charmed,”“RobberyHomicideDivision,”“NightStalker,”“DayBreak,”“Southland,”and“FlashForward”tonameafew.

CHRISTINEBONNEM(LocationManager)

ChristineBonnemisaveteranLocationManagerof24yearsinthefilmindustry.HerfeaturefilmcreditsincludeValentine’sDay,He’sJustNotThatIntoYou,PineappleExpress,SuperBad,Smokin'Aces,andAmericanBeauty.ShehasworkedwithprestigiousfilmdirectorssuchasGarryMarshall,SamMendesandRennieHarlin.ChristinehasscoutedinternationallyaswellasallovertheUnitedStatesandCanada.SheiscurrentlyscoutinginAlbuquerque,NMfortheremakeoftheclassic1985film,FrightNight.

DARRINPRESCOTT(StuntCo-ordinator)

DarrinPrescotthasworkedonover80filmsthroughouthisstuntcareer.HisfilmographyincludesworkonawiderangeoftitlesincludingIndependenceDay(1996),MarsAttacks!(1996),BatmanRobin(1997),TheGame(1997),PanicRoom(2002),TheMatrixReloaded(2003),TheMatrixRevolutions(2003),TheBourneSupremacy(2004),Jackass:TheMovie(2002),Spider-Man3(2007),IndianaJonesandtheKingdomoftheCrystalSkull(2008),TheHangover(2009),amongmanyothers.AsidefromFaster,hismostrecentworkincludesRedDawn(2010),TheFields(2011),WaterForElephants(2011),andMoneyball(2011).

1