S A N A T K O P

Two best friends—one unlucky-in-love divorcee (ROBIN WILLIAMS) and the other a fun-loving bachelor (JOHN TRAVOLTA)—have their lives turned upside down when they’re unexpectedly charged with the care of 7-year-old twins while on the verge of the biggest business deal of their lives. The not-so-kid-savvy bachelors stumble in their efforts to take care of the twins (newcomers ELLA BLEU TRAVOLTA and CONNER RAYBURN), leading to one debacle after another, and perhaps to a new-found understanding of what’s really important in life.

Presented by Walt Disney Pictures, “OLD DOGS” is directed by Walt Becker (“Wild Hogs,” “Van Wilder”) and written by David Diamond (“When in Rome,” “The Family Man”) & David Weissman (“When in Rome,” “The Family Man”). The film was produced by Andrew Panay (“When in Rome,” “Wedding Crashers”), Robert L. Levy (“The Comebacks,” “Wedding Crashers”) and Peter Abrams (“The Comebacks,” “Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj”). Garrett Grant is executive producer.

The film stars ROBIN WILLIAMS (“ Night at the Museum,” “Good Will Hunting,” for which he won an Oscar® for Best Supporting Actor) as Dan, a workaholic who’s better with numbers than people, and JOHN TRAVOLTA (“The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3,” “Hairspray”) as Charlie, a fun-loving bachelor who likes his life exactly like it is. KELLY PRESTON (“Jerry Maguire,” “Addicted to Love,” “The Cat in the Hat”) stars as Vicki, Dan’s old flame who springs the twins on Dan after keeping them a secret for seven years; SETH GREEN (“Without a Paddle,” “Robot Chicken,” “Family Guy”) portrays an enthusiastic, up-and-coming employee at their sports marketing company. Newcomers ELLA BLEU TRAVOLTA and CONNER RAYBURN star as the twins. The all-star lineup also includes LORI LOUGHLIN (“90210,” “Summerland”), MATT DILLON (“Crash”), RITA WILSON (“It’s Complicated,” “Sleepless in Seattle”) and the late BERNIE MAC (“Ocean’s Eleven,” “Ocean’s Twelve,” “Ocean’s Thirteen”).

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Jeffrey Kimball (“Four Christmases,” “Bonneville”), production designer David Gropman (“Taking Woodstock,” “Doubt”), editors Ryan Folsey (“When in Rome,” “Order of Redemption”) and Tom Lewis (“Employee of the Month,” “Scary Movie 4”), costume designer Joseph Aulisi (“Taking Woodstock,” “The Pink Panther 2”), composer John Debney (“Iron Man 2,” “Hannah Montana The Movie”), and music supervisor Dave Jordan (“Iron Man,” “When in Rome”).

“OLD DOGS” is rated PG by the MPAA for mild rude humor. The film opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 25, 2009.

BECOMING “OLD DOGS”

Fun Premise, Funny Cast

Take Robin Williams and John Travolta and put them in a movie about a couple of single guys who run a sports marketing firm, then toss in some of Hollywood’s funniest actors. What do you get?

“It’s definitely a broad comedy with a lot of funny set pieces,” says producer Andrew Panay, “but most importantly, it’s got a lot of heart.”

“I rarely read scripts where I’m just laughing out loud,” says director Walt Becker. “It has a great balance of heart, comedy and wonderful characters.”

“I love working with John; he’s a kick. He’s not afraid to try stuff. There are so many great people in this movie. That’s what’s been amazing,” says Williams. “Kelly Preston—she’s fearless. Seth Green, he’s got it all going on, he’s funny. Rita Wilson, plus Matt Dillon as a scout master being the alpha male is pretty great, too.”

On the heels of his immensely successful film “Wedding Crashers,” producer Andrew Panay met with screenwriters David Diamond and David Weissman at a favorite Los Angeles eatery where the story began to take shape.

The film’s “old dogs”—long-time friends and business partners in their 50s—are indeed set in their ways. “One of the men discovers that he’s the father of fraternal twins that he never knew about, the result of a hasty one-day marriage,” explains writer Weissman. “Now both men, who have never had children, are forced to deal with two 7-year-old kids and all the pitfalls that come with it.”

The filmmakers admit that the script was developed and written with a cast already in mind. “Our first choices were always John Travolta and Robin Williams. There are only a few guys that this movie is right for, and they are two of the best in the world. I mean, you don’t get much better,” says Panay. “It’s really an honor to cast two screen legends together in this film. It’s just a dream come true.”

Becker worked with Travolta on the box-office smash hit “Wild Hogs” and was excited to have him on board. “John’s always great to work with. He’s just about the nicest human being on the planet and as an actor he elevates every single scene he’s in,” Becker says. “In terms of instincts, he’s always right. We’ve learned to trust each other, and when he’s feeling something is working or I feel something is working, we kind of run with it.”

Travolta viewed the role as a unique opportunity to combine broad comedy with deep emotion. “My character Charlie likes his privacy, he likes his life, and he has lots of nice, expensive things—a great apartment, a cool car. He never planned on a family,” says Travolta. “I look for parts that I can do something with. I like to think, ‘Can I contribute something special and make it worthwhile for someone to use me in a film?’ It’s very important that my interpretation of the character benefits the story.”

Casting Robin Williams opposite Travolta created the ultimate dream team, according to the filmmakers. Says Becker, “This could be one of the greatest comedy pairings in a long time.”

Becker describes Williams as the consummate performer. “It’s incredible. He’s an encyclopedia of jokes, but he’s also got incredible depth as an actor. He can throw so much emotion just off a look and in the next second be incredibly funny.”

Williams portrays Dan, a brilliant but uptight executive who is also a romantic at heart. And when he gets impulsive, it’s in a big way. While recovering from a difficult divorce in South Beach with his pal, Charlie, Dan finds himself in a quickie marriage—followed by a quickie divorce. Unbeknownst to Dan, he fathers twins during the brief encounter. Williams saw the film as an opportunity to revisit fatherhood. “Baby boomers are getting old. You find yourself taking a lot more time to do everything. We are now our parents; that’s frightening. You find yourself saying ‘I am my dad,’ and it’s a lot scarier dealing with children in your 50s than it was in your 30s.”

The relationship between Travolta and Williams was also as real as it appears on screen. “I’ve known Robin for 30 years and consider him to be an old friend,” says Travolta.

Says Williams, “A lot of his stuff is really physical and that’s been good, because he throws it back. If you throw it out there, he’ll come and meet you right there, which is great.”

Kelly Preston was cast, not as Charlie’s girlfriend, but as Vicki, the mother of Dan’s twins. “She’s so fantastic, one of the best actresses out there,” says Panay. “And what’s really interesting is having her as Robin’s love interest, not John’s. It’s very exciting because we get to mix it up a bit.”

“It’s so cool,” says Preston. “Vickie is such a great character. She’s a little high strung, a little crazy, and that’s fun for me. And to be Robin’s love interest is just a trip. We had a blast together.

“It’s such a great part and a great script,” Preston continues. “It was the perfect dream job, because I got to work with my husband and my daughter in her first movie.”

Ella Bleu Travolta was cast as one of the twins after telling her parents she wanted to act. “Then this script arrived and it’s almost as if she predicted it,” says Travolta. “How often does a great role come along for a 7-year-old?”

Travolta says he maintained a constant, but hands-off, presence on the set. “I knew how to do that because my mother was an actress and director, and she knew how to separate professional behavior from familial behavior. I’m always Ella’s dad, but I’m also professional with her. I never interfered with the director’s rapport,” he says.

The young actress says it was easy to work with director Walt Becker. “If I wasn’t saying a line okay, he’d help me with it or give me better lines,” she says. “And he’s so sweet. He’d tell us we are so great and gave us high fives.”

A world-wide search was conducted to cast the precocious 7-year-old Zach, the other twin; filmmakers discovered Conner Rayburn. “We looked under every rock and there was no comparison,” says Panay. “Conner is a real pro. He’s fantastic.”

Becker says of his two youngest stars, “These are two little pros. They hit their marks. They did their lines. They even came up to me to suggest new lines. They really grew as actors.”

To portray Craig, the ambitious young maverick longing to succeed in the sports marketing business, the filmmakers cast the versatile Seth Green. “I was thinking about who was going to play this guy, and just the visual of Seth Green standing next to Robin Williams and John Travolta made me laugh,” says Becker. “He could be one of the funniest guys on the planet. His delivery is just so dry. In every scene, I could cut to him, and with just one look, huge laughter follows. He was really a treat.”

Green tips his hat to his co-stars. “All of my scenes are with Robin and John and that to me was very exciting. I’ve been a fan of both of them for so long,” he says. “I’ve been in films with John, but we haven’t really gotten to do a lot of interacting. And Robin is really a hero of mine, I’ve loved him for as long as I’ve wanted to be an actor. So getting to act with him was thrilling.”

The late Bernie Mac was cast as Jimmy Lunchbox, an over-the-top children’s performer and puppeteer, who also happens to be a genius with electronics.

Lori Loughlin portrays Amanda, the beautiful Japanese interpreter who turns Charlie’s head. “She comes into the picture when Dan and Charlie are trying to form a deal with a Japanese firm,” says Loughlin. “She and Charlie become smitten with each other.”

The talented Matt Dillon was cast as Barry, an earnest Pioneer scout leader Dan and Charlie encounter during a family camping trip. “My character is a little overzealous,” says Dillon. “He takes being a scout a little too seriously. I really like doing comedy, the chance to really have fun. I think the best way to play comedy is to play it straight, to play it sincere. I think it’s gotta be heartfelt.”

Says producer Panay: “What Matt brings to the table is incredible comedic chops. People loved him in ‘There’s Something About Mary’—he is unbelievably funny in that film.”

Rita Wilson, who portrays Jenna, a hand model and Vicki’s best friend, was thrilled to be working with her real-life dear friend. “I love working with Kelly,” says Wilson. “We’ve known each other for probably 16 years, and I think there is definitely a short-hand if you already have a friendship with someone. It makes coming to work that much easier.”

“Rita is absolutely hilarious,” says Preston. “She always makes the character her own.”

“It’s wonderful when your two stars are Robin Williams and John Travolta and then the supporting cast includes these incredible actors,” says Becker. “There’s never a dull moment. The material is already terrific and then it gets elevated by such great performances.”

ON LOCATION IN THE BIG APPLE

Filmmakers Capitalize on NYC Locale

The filmmakers selected iconic Manhattan locations, including Central Park, Top of the Rock, Grand Central Station, Radio City Music Hall, Shea Stadium and Times Square.

“Anytime you get an opportunity to shoot in New York City, you take it,” producer Andrew Panay says. “It’s a challenge in terms of the crowds and traffic, but wow, what an energy it gives to the performances.”

Adds director Walt Becker: “There are horns honking and people screaming for John and Robin in the middle of takes. But it’s well worth the trouble.”

The director says they chose several unique locales for the production. “We shot the Bloomberg Building. We shot Top of the Rock, which has never been in a film before. I think we sold New York in a way that was special and unique.”

Becker credits production designer David Gropman with creating an exciting visual palate. “I told Gropman that I want to be able to watch this film without the sound and still be entertained, and he pulled it off. He did a fantastic job,” he states.

One of the more challenging shooting days occurred at Shea Stadium, where filming took place during an actual ballgame. “Shooting during a live Mets game was a good idea on paper,” says Becker. “This was probably as close to combat as I’ve ever come. We had 15 minutes to shoot the entire thing. It was kind of guerrilla, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants filming. There were fans throwing stuff, taking pictures. I think I aged more in that 15 minutes than I ever have doing a scene.

“We also did one of the bravest things ever tried in a production, which was to show our actors live on the Jumbotron,” Becker continues. “It was amazing, because you see Dan and Charlie up there and everybody’s on the screen waving. There were our two old dogs in the middle of 40,000 cheering people and the Jumbotron read ‘Happy Grandparents Day.’ Just priceless. The Mets organization was so supportive.”

After two weeks of filming in New York, the production moved to Connecticut. Several interior sets were constructed here, including Charlie’s New York bachelor pad where Dan brings the kids to stay. Production designer David Gropman designed a two-story child-unfriendly apartment within a studio in Stanford. “We added the stairs, lots of glass, stainless steel and sharp edges,” he explains. “I also designed a large deck just outside the windows. Executive producer Garrett Grant looked at my model and said, ‘Why don’t you put a swimming pool out there?’ So we put an infinity pool on the deck of a five-story New York apartment, which added the final touch to our kid-dangerous dwelling.”

Several breathtaking exterior locales were used, including the historical Putnam Memorial State Park in Redding, Conn., where Dan and Charlie take the children to the Pioneer Scout Jamboree. The park dates back to the 1800s, and Becker wanted to keep that authentic feel. “Walt wanted a real, classic camp look,” says Gropman. “So instead of using contemporary scout tents, we used beautiful canvas tents of all sizes. It was fun to do, because it was a beautiful location where we had this great Adirondack piece of architecture.”

ON THE JOB

Comedy Superstars, Open-Minded Director Create Fun Set

Producer Andrew Panay says Travolta and Williams exhibited two completely different styles of improvisation. “John has such a controlled improv, it’s always coming from a real place. He’s always finding the joke within the joke. Robin is a machine gun. He keeps on firing the funnies. So you have two different approaches, both incredibly funny,” he says.

Director Walt Becker’s easy-going style was a good match for his creative cast. “I always feel like if you’re not letting your actors contribute, you’re not getting everything you can from them,” he says. “And, frankly, I don’t care if an actor wants to do a scene standing on his head, because that’s just the way I go. I get one take for the script, one for me, and the rest is for the actor.”

Becker’s method is one the actors truly appreciate. Says Travolta, “I never go outside the box of the character, because if I do, it’ll end up on the cutting-room floor. I make sure all my improvisations are character-motivated.”

Preston says she enjoyed the environment filmmakers provided. “Walt is pretty much accepting of anything. We definitely stay on the page, but he’d suggest I do something else or come up with ideas. For example, in one scene, I’m dropping the kids off with Dan, and I really wanted to make it seem more personal, so I used scenarios that happen in my own life.

“And of course, with Robin, he doesn’t need any encouragement,” Preston continues. “He just takes it to wherever, and Walt won’t cut for the longest time. That is such a blast.”

Rita Wilson says she, too, wanted to add another dimension to her character, who she describes as a bit eccentric. “I love the idea of being a hand model, because that’s a job you see all the time but take for granted,” says Wilson. “But I gave Jenna a facial characteristic which wasn‘t originally written into the script, a lazy eye. I am so thankful that Walt is so open to new thoughts and ideas.”

The laid-back attitude amongst cast and crew brought about fun and levity on set, particularly between the two stars. “John is one of the funniest human beings on the planet, and he’s always riffing and joking,” says Preston. “So between John and Robin, who’s always on, it’s almost too much. They’ve got their on-camera schtick and their off-camera schtick. It’s hilarious either way you look at it.”

Daughter Ella says it became one of her biggest challenges. “It’s hard, because when Robin or my dad are being so funny in a scene, we can’t laugh. We want to laugh, but we can’t. It’s fun.”

Both Travolta and Williams were called on for physical comedy. “It’s been exciting to be this physical at this age—flying 65 feet in the air in a superhero suit that looks like Liberace’s stunt double on steroids,” says Williams. “If you want something funny, just run me into a wall.”

One of the most physical and enjoyable days on set was the Pioneer Scout Jamboree in the park. As part of his “Dad’s to-do list,” Zack, a Pioneer scout, asks Dan and Charlie to take him and Emily camping. They find themselves attempting to pitch tents, playing extreme Frisbee and shooting skeet. They must also contend with troop leader Barry, played by Matt Dillon, a serious scout who comes from four generations of Pioneers.

During the extreme Frisbee match, Becker admits that he let his actors go wild. “We did a little ‘The Right Stuff’ beat with John and Robin coming out in slow motion,” says Becker. “It was just fantastic seeing this game, which is supposed to be a non-contact sport, degrade into an all-out prison-rules game. We had a few casualties, too. Robin pulled a muscle, because he was going at it so hard—those guys did nearly all their own stunts. Robin and John were getting the crap beat out of them. The scene worked really well.”

Matt Dillon says he got a kick out of the skeet-shoot scenes. “The script had Barry just firing at the skeet in a typical way, but Walt added a layer by having Barry shoot cowboy-style from the hip. It’s probably what makes the scene so ridiculous,” he says.

Seth Green found his ultimate performance test while shooting an elaborate Japanese karaoke scene. His go-getter character immerses himself in the Japanese culture in preparation to run the business out of Japan. “On my second day of shooting, I did this glitzy karaoke scene in front of 150 extras. I got to sing and entertain them, which is not something I typically do. I owned that stage,” he laughs. “It’s very silly seeing me in this kimono with eyeliner and these sparkly shoes, screaming and jumping around to songs like ‘Mr. Roboto’ and ‘House of Pain.’”

The REAL Old Dog

The film wouldn’t be complete without its four-legged co-star. Filmmakers tapped Sebastian, a 9-year-old dog to portray Charlie’s aging hound Lucky. “Obviously, he’s not supposed to be doing too much, because he’s basically got one foot in the grave,” says trainer Dawn Barkin. “He does a lot of hanging out on the bed with John. His big, funny sight gag is that he gets to raise his leg and pee on a plant.”

Barkin, who works for a company called Paws for Affect, has been training Sebastian for several years. She says getting the seasoned canine to do the leg-lift was surprisingly easy. “He picked it up in a day and a half, which is extremely quick, and he loves to do it. He walks up to objects and just lifts his leg up like it’s the funniest thing in the world. It’s a behavior he enjoys doing,” she says.

The filmmakers agree that the whole process was an enjoyable one—one they think will come through on the big screen. “I think the audience can expect to have a really fun time,” says Becker. “And that’s whether you’re a 90-year-old grandma or a 9-year-old boy or a 20-year-old college student.”

“I want to make movies that make people happy and make people laugh,” says Panay. “I believe we’ve done that with ‘OLD DOGS.’”

ABOUT THE CAST

JOHN TRAVOLTA (Charlie) has been honored twice with Academy Award® nominations, the latest for his riveting portrayal of a philosophical hit-man in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” He also received BAFTA and Golden Globe® nominations for this highly acclaimed role and was named Best Actor by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, among other distinguished awards.

Travolta garnered further praise as a Mafioso-turned-movie producer in the comedy sensation “Get Shorty,” winning the Golden Globe Award® for Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy. In 1998, Travolta was honored by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts with the Britannia Award; and in that same year he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Chicago Film Festival. Travolta also won the prestigious Alan J. Pakula Award from the US Broadcast Critics Association for his performance in “A Civil Action,” based on the best-selling book and directed by Steve Zailian. He was nominated again for a Golden Globe for his performance in “Primary Colors,” directed by Mike Nichols and co-starring Emma Thompson and Billy Bob Thornton, and in 2008, he received his fourth Golden Globe nomination for his role as Edna Turnblad in the big- screen, box-office hit “Hairspray.” As a result of this performance, the Chicago Film Critics and the Santa Barbara Film Festival decided to recognize Travolta with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his role.

He previously starred in a number of monumental films, earning his first Oscar® and Golden Globe® nominations for his role in the blockbuster “Saturday Night Fever,” which launched the disco phenomenon in the 1970s. He went on to star in the big-screen version of the long-running musical “Grease” and the wildly successful “Urban Cowboy,” which also influenced trends in popular culture. Additional film credits include the Brian DePalma thrillers “Carrie” and “Blowout,” as well as Amy Heckerling’s hit comedy “Look Who’s Talking” and Nora Ephron’s comic hit “Michael.” Travolta starred in “Phenomenon” and took an equally distinctive turn as an action star in John Woo’s top-grossing “Broken Arrow.” He also starred in the classic “Face/Off” opposite Nicolas Cage, and “The General’s Daughter,” co-starring Madeline Stowe. Recently, Travolta reprised the role of ultra cool Chili Palmer in the “Get Shorty” sequel “Be Cool.” In addition, he starred opposite Scarlett Johansson in the critically acclaimed independent feature film “A Love Song for Bobby Long,” which was screened at the Venice Film Festival, where both Travolta and the film won rave reviews.

Other recent feature film credits include the box-office hit comedy “Wild Hogs,” the action-thriller “Ladder 49,” the movie version of the successful comic book “The Punisher,” the drama “Basic,” the psychological thriller “Domestic Disturbance,” the hit action picture “Swordfish,” the successful sci-fi movie “Battlefield Earth,” based upon the best-selling novel by L. Ron Hubbard, and “Lonely Hearts.”

Most recently, Travolta starred opposite Denzel Washington in director Tony Scott’s remake of “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3,” and he provided the voice of the lead character in Walt Disney Pictures’ animated hit “Bolt.”

An Academy Award®-winning actor and multiple Grammy®-winning performer unparalleled in the scope of his imagination, ROBIN WILLIAMS (Dan) continues to add to his repertoire of indelible characters.

Williams, who began his career as a stand-up comedian, is currently on the second leg of his sold-out comedy tour entitled “Weapons of Self Destruction.” The critically-acclaimed tour has taken him across the United States and Canada, and to the United Kingdom where he performed two nights at the historic Gielgud Theatre on London’s West End to benefit the Prince’s Trust. The current leg will include Williams’ highly anticipated return to the New York City stage and two dates in Washington, DC, where the show will be filmed for an HBO special to air in December 2009.

On the big screen, Williams was most recently seen starring in the dark comedy, “World’s Greatest Dad.” The film premiered to raves at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and Williams’ performance has been touted as one of the best of his career. Bobcat Goldthwait directed the film, which was released by Magnolia Pictures in August 2009.

Well known for his free-associative monologues and for pointing out life’s absurdities through his astute social and political observations, Williams’ last stand-up comedy tour was in 2002. After a 16-year absence from the stand-up scene, he hit the road and toured America with a critically acclaimed one-man show that visited 36 cities. That tour became the highest-grossing comedy tour ever and culminated in a final performance filmed by HBO and broadcast live from New York on July 14, 2002. The special, entitled “Robin Williams: Live on Broadway,” was nominated for five Emmy Awards®.

In 1997, Williams received an Oscar® and a Screen Actors Guild Award® for his performance as Sean Maguire, the therapist who counsels Matt Damon’s math genius character in Gus Van Sant’s “Good Will Hunting.” The Academy previously nominated Williams for Best Actor in “The Fisher King,” “Dead Poets Society,” and “Good Morning, Vietnam.” Williams garnered a special honor from the National Board of Review for his performance opposite Robert DeNiro in “Awakenings.” In 2004, Williams received the prestigious Career Achievement Award from the Chicago International Film festival and, in 2005, the HFPA honored him with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.

Williams’ filmography includes a number of blockbusters. In 1993, he starred in Chris Columbus’ “Mrs. Doubtfire.” For Mike Nichols, Williams portrayed Armand Goldman in “The Birdcage,” for which the cast won a SAG Ensemble Award®. In 1996, both “The Birdcage” and “Jumanji” reached the $100 million mark in the USA in exactly the same week. Williams went on to assume the dual roles of Peter Pan/Peter Banning in Steven Spielberg’s “Hook,” to play a medical student who treats patients with humor in “Patch Adams” and to star in Disney’s “Flubber.” In 2006, Williams appeared opposite Ben Stiller in the hit comedy “Night at the Museum.” To date, the film has earned more than $250 million in the United States alone. In May 2009, he reprised his role as Teddy Roosevelt in the sequel “Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian,” which so far has earned another $400 million for the franchise worldwide. In addition, Williams’ award-winning vocal talents helped propel the Warner Bros. animated film “Happy Feet” to another $200 million box office, as well as the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film.

Williams first captured the attention of the world as Mork from Ork on the hit series “Mork & Mindy.” Born in Chicago and raised in both Michigan and California, he trained at New York’s Juilliard School under John Houseman. Williams made his cinematic debut as the title character in Robert Altman’s “Popeye.” Additional early motion picture credits include Paul Mazursky’s “Moscow on the Hudson,” in which he played a Russian musician who decides to defect, and “The World According to Garp,” George Roy Hill’s adaptation of John Irving’s acclaimed best-selling novel about a writer and his feminist mother. More recent credits include Sony Pictures’ hit comedy “R.V.,” Barry Levinson’s political comedy “Man of the Year,” and the Ken Kwapis comedy “License to Wed,” opposite John Krasinski and Mandy Moore.

In a departure from the usual comedic and family fare he is best known for, Williams collaborated with two accomplished young directors on dramatic thrillers. For Christopher Nolan, he starred opposite Al Pacino as reclusive novelist Walter Finch, the primary suspect in the murder of a teenaged girl in a small Alaskan town, in “Insomnia.” In Mark Romanek’s “One Hour Photo,” Williams played a photo lab employee who becomes obsessed with a young suburban family.

Using only his voice, Williams created one of the most vivid characters in recent memory—the Blue Genie of the Lamp in Disney’s “Aladdin.” The performance redefined how animations were voiced. Audio versions of his one-man shows and the children’s record “Pecos Bill” have won him five Grammy Awards®. More recently, Williams lent his vocal talents to the blockbuster hit animated feature “Robots.”

Williams’ stage credits include a landmark production of Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot,” directed by Mike Nichols and co-starring Steve Martin, and, most recently, a short run in San Francisco of “The Exonerated,” which tells the true stories of six innocent survivors of death row.

Offstage, Williams takes great joy in supporting numerous causes including health care, human rights, education, environmental protection and the arts, among others. He has toured the Middle East four times to help raise morale among the troops and is, perhaps, best known philanthropically for his affiliation with “Comic Relief,” which was founded in 1986 as a non-profit organization to help America’s homeless. To date, the overall efforts of the “Comic Relief” organization have raised more than $50 million.

 

A talented and captivating performer, KELLY PRESTON (Vicki) has performed in a broad range of motion pictures, portraying roles in such diverse films as “Jerry Maguire,” “Citizen Ruth” and “For the Love of the Game.” Her dynamic and compelling performances have proven her to be one of the most sought-after actors of our generation.

Preston was born and raised in Hawaii. As a result of her father’s position with an agricultural firm, the family moved first to Iraq for one year and then to Australia for two years. It was while she was a teenager in Hawaii that Preston appeared in television commercials and began to develop an interest in an acting career.

Preston graduated from Punahou High School in Hawaii, along with fellow alumni, President Barack Obama. She then relocated to Los Angeles and enrolled in the University of Southern California where she studied drama and theatre. She ultimately transferred to the University of California at Los Angeles and decided to pursue acting seriously. She would soon win her very first audition.

Preston recently wrapped production on “The Last Song,” based on Nicholas Sparks’ latest novel. The film stars Greg Kinnear as an estranged father who tries to reconnect with his teenaged daughter (Miley Cyrus) through the only thing they have in common—music. Preston portrays the teen’s mother in the story of family, friendship, secrets and salvation, first loves and second chances. The film is directed by Julie Anne Robinson from a screenplay by Sparks & Jeff Van Wie.

Preston recently filmed “Casino Jack” alongside Kevin Spacey. The film is based on the true story of a hot-shot Washington, D.C. lobbyist and his protégé, who both go down hard as their schemes to peddle influence lead to corruption and murder. Preston plays the role of Pam Abramoff.

She was seen on a four-episode arc on the hit NBC show “Medium” as an attractive venture capitalist who likes what she sees when she teams with Joe Dubois (Jake Weber), ultimately creating tension in his marriage.

Recent projects include the HBO pilot, “Suburban Shootout,” directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and the Lifetime Original Movie “The Tenth Circle” with Ron Eldard. Based on The New York Times best-selling novel by Jodi Picoult, “The Tenth Circle” is a powerful account of an American family, and a story that probes the unbreakable bond between parent and child. Preston can also be seen in the Fox thriller “Death Sentence” with Kevin Bacon, directed by James Wan.

Preston made her feature-film debut in the hit motion picture “Twins,” opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. She starred in the Academy Award®-nominated short “Little Surprises,” directed by Jeff Goldblum.

Preston appeared to rave reviews with Tom Cruise in the number one box office smash hit “Jerry Maguire,” which was written and directed by Cameron Crowe. She starred opposite Kevin Costner in “For the Love of the Game,” directed by Sam Raimi. She was also seen in a pivotal role in the critically acclaimed motion picture “Citizen Ruth” for Miramax. In addition, Preston starred in “Sky High” with Kurt Russell, “The Cat in the Hat” alongside Mike Meyers, the dark comedy “Eulogy” with Ray Romano and Debra Winger, “Addicted to Love,” co-starring Meg Ryan and Matthew Broderick , and the comedy “Nothing to Lose,” opposite Tim Robbins and Martin Lawrence.

Preston also starred in the feature film comedy “The Holy Man,” with Eddie Murphy and Jeff Goldblum; “Jack Frost,” opposite Michael Keaton; “Daddy and Them,” directed by Billy Bob Thornton; “View From the Top” with Gwyneth Paltrow and Christina Applegate; and “What a Girl Wants,” opposite Amanda Bynes and Colin Firth.

SETH GREEN (Craig) was named the Best TV Actor by Entertainment Weekly magazine while E! Entertainment Television’s poll proclaimed him the hottest young actor in Hollywood. He recently wrapped the lead role in Disney’s upcoming “Mars Needs Moms.” Green and Matthew Senreich created/executive produce/write/direct (and Green provides multiple voices each week for) the Emmy®-winning “Robot Chicken,” their stop-motion animation, pop-culture parody show on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. The “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II” special earned Green an Outstanding Voiceover Emmy nomination and the 2009 Annie Awards for writing and best animated TV show. Green won the 2008 Annie Award for directing the first “Robot Chicken: Star Wars” special and both specials were Emmy-nominated. Green, Senreich and Tom Root executive produce “Titan Maximum,” their new Adult Swim show with Green voicing the villain. Green also voices Chris Griffin on “Family Guy,” the hit Fox animated series.

Green was the lead in Paramount’s comedy “Without a Paddle,” and the indie film “Party Monster.” He also won rave reviews for his starring turns in “Knockaround Guys,” “Can’t Hardly Wait,” “The Italian Job,” “America’s Sweethearts,” “Rat Race,” all three “Austin Powers” films, and numerous television roles. He mocked his well-earned nice-guy rep on “Entourage.” Aside from his other accolades, Green reached the pinnacle of showbiz success in the most tangible medium…multiple action figures made in his likeness by the industry’s top toymakers.

He’s worked almost non-stop since he began in the business at age 7. Green was born on February 8, 1974. He signed with a manager who had him working the next day on an RCA/John Denver promotion. Soon he was commuting regularly between Philadelphia and locations across the country. At 8, Green landed his first film assignment, a co-starring role in “Hotel New Hampshire,” at 12, a lead in Woody Allen’s “Radio Days” and was soon trading quips with Carson. He was the rare child actor (“Big Business,” “My Stepmother Is an Alien,” “Can’t Buy Me Love” and three TV series) who successfully transitioned to adult roles, including starring in David Mamet’s “American Buffalo” at the Old Globe in San Diego in ’96. He also starred on TV in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Greg the Bunny” and “Four Kings.”

He already reached his original goal of “getting all my friends together to make a movie or TV show.” Green, Senreich and Root have a series pilot deal at Fox and have several films in development. He and his childhood friend, Hugh Sterbakov, created a comic book for Top Cow, “Freshmen,” which debuted at the 2005 Comic-Con and sold out across the country the week of its debut. Known for his professionalism on and off the set, Green says, “I don’t take myself seriously but I take what I do seriously—I always want to work hard and to appreciate what I am getting.”

ELLA BLEU TRAVOLTA (Emily) makes her foray into acting with her feature film debut in Walt Disney Pictures’ “Old Dogs.” The daughter of John Travolta and Kelly Preston, Ella Bleu stars as 7-year-old Emily.

Now 9, Travolta’s hobbies include swimming, skateboarding and horseback riding. The animal lover and avid golf-cart driver also enjoys arts and crafts, computers, reading, writing stories, traveling and collecting coins and gems.

Best recognized for her role as Rebecca Donaldson on the long-running hit comedy series “Full House,” LORI LOUGHLIN (Amanda) (pronounced LOCK-lin) has now added another iconic series to resume – the CW’s new incarnation of “90210.” She plays the mother of two teenagers who struggles with her family’s move from the normalcy in Kansas to the fast lane of Beverly Hills. Her most recent feature film was “Moondance Alexander,” in which she portrayed an eccentric mother whose daughter finds a pony and is determined to win the Bow Valley Classic, learning that loyalty and individuality can land you in the winners circle.

Born and raised in Hauppauge, Long Island, Loughlin got her start in show business at a young age. She was cast in the daytime drama “The Edge of Night,” for which she received a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Young Actress in a Daytime Series.

In 1985, Loughlin was cast in the feature film “Secret Admirer,” a romantic comedy co-starring C. Thomas Howell and Kelly Preston. Loughlin also starred opposite Treat Williams in “Critical Mass.” She appeared in the beach movie spoof “Back to the Beach,” as well as in “Rad,” a film about BMX racing and “Amityville 3-D,” the third installment of the “Amityville” horror movie franchise.

In addition to “Full House,” Loughlin was a regular in “Hudson Street,” a comedy starring Tony Danza. She was also the star and producer of The WB’s family drama “Summerland.” Other television roles have included an after-school special titled “No Means No,” for which she received an Emmy® nomination for Best Actress. Loughlin also worked with Jim Carrey in the television movie “Doing Time on Maple Drive” and starred in “In the Line of Duty: Blaze of Glory.” She has made repeat performances in a number of series, including “The Drew Carey Show” and “Spin City,” and guest-starred in such series as “Seinfeld,” “Suddenly Susan,” “The Larry Sanders Show” and The WB drama “Birds of Prey.”

Loughlin resides in Los Angeles with her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, and their three children.

 

CONNER RAYBURN (Zach) spent five seasons honing his comedic acting skills as Kyle on the Emmy®-nominated ABC series “According to Jim,” collecting a Young Artist Award nomination for his role as one of the title character’s (portrayed by Jim Belushi) five children.

In addition, he’s had guest roles in “Monk” and “Cold Case,” acted in the movies “The Invention of Lying,” “Big Momma’s House 2” and “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” and did voiceover work as a giraffe in “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.”

In “According to Jim,” Rayburn inevitably came off as a believable kid whether the plot was an everyday storyline (boy gets picked on by a bully) or wildly ridiculous (boy sleeps in a dresser drawer). Rayburn was encouraged to influence the development of his character in the sitcom, and he had a major hand in building the theme and sequence for a Blue Cross/Blue Shield commercial in which he appeared.

He might not yet be a teen, but he’s already aiming to build on his experience in front of the camera to become a movie and TV director.

Born April 7, 1999, in Dickson, Tennessee—about 40 miles west of Nashville—Rayburn’s first years gave no hint at the entertainment career that awaited him. After the family moved to Nevada, Rayburn, along with his brother, was enrolled in acting classes. Both received a place in the school, and both quickly won commercials— Rayburn’s first was a spot for Net Zero Internet Services during the fall of 2004.

In short order, he also picked up the “According to Jim” role. It gave him a head start on his career, plus some valuable relationships with Belushi and actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley.

At age 10, Rayburn is living a two-city life. The family stays in Los Angeles when he’s working, returning to Tennessee in his downtime to keep the boys grounded and to stay close to family.

MATT DILLON (Barry) has built a successful film career that spans three decades, showcasing his wide range of dramatic and comedic talents. As The New York Times’ film critic A.O. Scott put it, “He seems to be getting better with every film.”

From his breakthrough performance in “The Outsiders” to his hilarious turn as an obsessed private investigator in “There’s Something About Mary,” Dillon has proven himself to be one of the most versatile actors of his generation. His numerous film credits include “Factotum,” in which he played Charles Bukowski, “Rumble Fish,” “Over the Edge,” “My Bodyguard,” “One Night at McCool’s,” John McNaughton’s “Wild Things,” “In & Out,” Kevin Spacey’s “Albino Alligator,” “Grace of My Heart,” Ted Demme’s “Beautiful Girls,” Gus Van Sant’s “To Die For,” “Kansas,” “Golden Gate,” “Mr. Wonderful,” “The Flamingo Kid,” “The Saint of Fort Washington,” Cameron Crowe’s “Singles” and “A Kiss Before Dying,” and “You, Me and Dupree,” opposite Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson.

In 1990, Dillon won an IFP Spirit Award for his gritty performance as a drug addict in Gus Van Sant’s “Drugstore Cowboy.” He also displayed his versatility with an arresting performance co-starring as a racist cop in the critically acclaimed Paul Haggis film “Crash.” This role earned him nominations for an Academy Award®, Golden Globe Award®, Screen Actors Guild Award®, Critics Choice Award and BAFTA Award, as well as an Independent Spirit Award win. In addition, the film won both a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Critics Choice Award for Best Ensemble.

Aside from being an accomplished actor, Dillon wrote, and made his feature film directorial debut with “City of Ghosts,” in which he also starred with Gérard Depardieu, Stellan Skarsgård and James Caan. Prior to “City of Ghosts,” Dillon made his television directorial debut in 1997 with an episode of HBO’s gritty prison drama “Oz.”

He will next be seen in “Armored” and “Takers,” both for Screen Gems.

The late BERNIE MAC (Johnny Lunchbox) went from the small comedy clubs of Chicago to become one of the highest-grossing comedians, selling out arenas and theatres all across the country. He passed away in Aug. 2008.

Mac appeared in the Dimension Films comedy “Soul Men” with Samuel L. Jackson. They starred as estranged soul-singing legends on a reunion tour. He was also heard in the DreamWorks Animation sequel “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.” Mac provided the voice of Zuba, who turns out to be the wild father of Ben Stiller’s zoo-pampered lion, Alex.

Mac had a first-look deal with Lions Gate Entertainment. He appeared in the Lions Gate feature “Pride.” The film is based on the true life story of determined swim coach Jim Ellis (Terrence Howard), who starts a swim team for troubled teens at the Philadelphia Department of Recreation. Mac plays the janitor who helps fight to keep the recreation center open for the kids. In May 2007, Mac re-teamed with the original cast for the Warner Bros. feature “Ocean’s Thirteen.”

In 2002, Mac created the family comedy “The Bernie Mac Show,” in which he also starred. He received Emmy Award® nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2002 and 2003 and the show won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series in 2003. The show also received the Peabody Award, two Television Critics Association Awards for Best Comedy Series and Best Comedy Performance, and a NAACP Image Award for Best Comedy Series and Best Actor.

Mac was seen in the feature films “Head of State,” the highly anticipated sequel “Charlie’s Angels 2: Full Throttle,” the holiday hit “Bad Santa,” the Disney feature “Mr. 3000” and the remake of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”

Never one to focus on any one medium, Mac wrote his first book, “I Ain’t Scared of You,” which was published in fall 2001. In it, he ripped through such topics as sex, religion, hygiene, celebrity and more without missing a beat. In his second book, a more traditional autobiography entitled “Maybe You Never Cry Again,” Mac expounds upon growing up in Chicago and the hardships and obstacles in his path to the top.

As a founding member of the “Kings of Comedy” comedy tour, Mac displayed his trademark rapid-fire and hard-hitting delivery. The success of the tour spawned Spike Lee’s 2000 concert film “The Original Kings of Comedy,” which has grossed nearly $40 million.

Born and raised in Chicago, Mac made his television debut on the landmark HBO comedy series “Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam” which led to him being cast in the Damon Wayans feature “Mo’ Money,” marking his feature-film debut. Other film credits include the Eddie Murphy/Martin Lawrence comedy “Life,” “House Party 3,” “How to Be a Player” and “What’s the Worst That Could Happen?”

Actor/Producer RITA WILSON (Jenna) first donned her producer’s cap for the record-breaking box-office hit “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” Wilson was the driving force behind bringing Nia Vardalos’ semi-autobiographical story to the screen with Vardalos as the lead. Wilson was honored with the Visionary Award from the Producers Guild of America, and the film won the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Comedy, as well as Golden Globe® and Oscar® nominations. Wilson recently reteamed with Nia Vardalos as executive producer for “My Life in Ruins.”

In 2008 Wilson served as an executive producer on the Universal Studios hit film version of the ABBA stage musical “Mamma Mia!,” starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan. Seeing the play in London soon after it opened, and loving the energy and ABBA music, Wilson felt immediately that it could be a wonderful movie. She got the ball rolling on the film before the play made it to audiences outside of the U.K.

Film credits include the upcoming Nancy Meyers film “It’s Complicated” with Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, “Sleepless in Seattle” with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, “Runaway Bride” with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, and “The Story of Us,” co-starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Bruce Willis. Other film credits include “Beautiful, Ohio” with William Hurt, “That Thing You Do!” with Tom Hanks and Liv Tyler, “The Chumbscrubber,” with Ralph Fiennes, “Raise Your Voice” with Hilary Duff, “Auto Focus” with Greg Kinnear, Gus Van Sant’s “Psycho” and Nora Ephron’s “Mixed Nuts” with Steve Martin.

Wilson is currently about to appear on the New York stage in “Love, Loss & What I Wore,” written by Nora & Delia Ephron, beginning November 18 and continuing until December 13. In 2007, Wilson starred in the world premiere of Lisa Loomer’s “Distracted,” directed by Leonard Foglia at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. Wilson made a personal dream come true and made her Broadway debut in 2006 as Roxie Hart in “Chicago: The Musical.” She also starred in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Dinner with Friends” in Los Angeles and Boston, directed by Dan Sullivan. Wilson works with the Shakespeare Festival/LA, a charity that provides free Shakespeare to the citizens of Los Angeles, as well providing a program for youths in the community.

On television, Wilson has foiled Larry David in “The Doll” episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” has been girlfriend and mother to Kelsey Grammer’s “Frasier,” and co-starred as Susan Borman in HBO’s Emmy Award®-winning miniseries “From the Earth to the Moon.” Wilson has “The Brady Bunch” to thank for her first professional acting job.

In 2007 Wilson made her directorial debut for Glamour Magazine’s Reel Moments. “The Trap,” starring Jeanne Tripplehorn and Channing Tatum, also includes the song “Lessons Learned” by Grammy Award®-winning songwriter Diane Warren, and is performed by Wilson.

She has been a contributing editor to Harper’s Bazaar since 2006 and has also written for Oprah Magazine, where readers have followed her thoughts on varying subjects from fashion to family.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

WALT BECKER (Director) is an accomplished director, screenwriter, producer and best-selling author. One of Hollywood’s top emerging film-makers, Becker most recently directed the tent pole Disney comedy “Old Dogs” starring Robin Williams and John Travolta, which is set for a 2009 Thanksgiving release. He previously directed Touchstone Pictures’ “Wild Hogs” starring John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, William H. Macy, Ray Liotta and Marisa Tomei, which has grossed more than $250 million worldwide.

Previously, Becker directed the breakout commercial comedy “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder.”

Mr. Becker made his directorial debut with “Buying the Cow” for Sony Pictures, which he also co-wrote. As a screenwriter, he has sold several scripts to Hollywood studios, and is attached to direct upcoming films at Sony, Universal, Disney and Lionsgate. Becker is producing a number of feature film projects, including “The Zookeeper” which is currently shooting and starring Kevin James at MGM. He recently directed the pilot “1321 Clover” for CBS.

Becker is the author of two novels; his latest, “Misconception,” was co-written with renowned attorney Robert Shapiro. His first book, “Link,” was on the Los Angeles Times and National Bestseller lists, and is in development for Becker to direct and produce. He also created and is attached to direct the graphic novel “Last Reign,” which Boom! Comics published in 2009.

Becker received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications Studies from UCLA and a Master’s Degree in Film from the School of Cinema and Television at USC, where he won the prestigious Robert S. Ferguson Award.

 

DAVID DIAMOND and DAVID WEISSMAN’s (Written By) partnership is rooted in a 30-year friendship that dates back to their high school days together in Philadelphia. They parted company for college; Diamond studied film at NYU and Weissman studied Chinese history, first at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and then at the University of Michigan. Weissman received two Masters Degrees in the subject, one from the University of Wisconsin and the second from Brown University before setting aside academic aspirations to join Diamond, who had settled in Los Angeles to pursue a writing career.

The partners sold their first spec script, “The Whiz Kid,” to 20th Century Fox in 1994. They followed with a series of original ideas for comedies, beginning with “Guam Goes to the Moon” and their first produced credit in 2000, Universal Pictures’ “The Family Man,” starring Nicolas Cage and Tea Leoni. A collaboration with director Ivan Reitman came next with Diamond and Weissman writing the DreamWorks Pictures sci-fi comedy ”Evolution.”

In 2005 the team met “Wedding Crashers” producer Andrew Panay, marking the beginning of a collaboration that has spanned five consecutive projects. “Old Dogs” is the first to reach the big screen, followed in January 2010 by Touchstone Pictures’ romantic comedy “When in Rome,” starring Kristin Bell and Josh Duhamel.

Diamond and Weissman are both married and have five children between them, ranging in age from 4 to 10. It brings them enormous pleasure to bring their unique blend of raucous comedy and genuine emotion and join the Walt Disney Company in creating entertainment the whole family can enjoy.

ANDREW PANAY (Producer) of Panay Films, a Walt Disney Motion Picture-based production company, came up with the idea and produced the iconic comedy smash film “Wedding Crashers,” starring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, which has grossed $209 million domestically. He recently produced the Touchstone Pictures’ comedy “When In Rome” starring Kristen Bell, Danny DeVito, Josh Duhamel and Will Arnett. The film follows a young art curator (Bell) who finds herself aggressively pursued by a band of wannabe lovers after she steals coins from a Roman fountain.

While at Tapestry films, Panay was responsible for developing Miramax’s “She’s All That,” and co-producing “Serendipity,” which starred John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. He served as executive producer on “On the Line,” starring Lance Bass and Joey Fatone of ‘N Sync. He also created the idea and produced Artisan’s “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder,” starring Ryan Reynolds and Tara Reid. He is responsible for setting up and developing Warner Brothers’ “Pay It Forward,” starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment. Panay also produced the teen thriller “Underclassman,” starring Nick Cannon.

Panay’s producer credits include “Employee of the Month” for Lionsgate, which starred Dane Cook, Jessica Simpson and Dax Shepard, and the “Comebacks” for Fox Atomic, which starred David Koechner.

ROBERT LEVY (Producer) has written and produced motion pictures for more than 20 years and is a principal partner with Peter Abrams in Tapestry Films. He’s produced such hit films as “Smokey and the Bandit,” starring Burt Reynolds and Sally Field; “Point Break,” starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze; “Pay It Forward,” starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment; “Employee of the Month,” starring Dane Cook, Jessica Simpson and Dax Shepard; “Wedding Crashers,” starring Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams and Christopher Walken; “Serendipity,” starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale; “The Wedding Planner,” with Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey; “She’s All That,” with Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook; “Underclassman,” starring Nick Cannon; “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder,” starring Ryan Reynolds and Tara Reid; “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj,” starring Kal Penn; “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder: Freshman Year,” starring Jonathan Bennett and Kristin Cavallari; and the upcoming “Wrong Turn at Tahoe,” starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Harvey Keitel.

His additional producing credits include “Jane Austin’s Mafia!,” “The Last Time I Committed Suicide,” “Enemy of My Enemy,” “Denial,” “Full Eclipse,” “Warlock—The Armageddon,” and “A Killing Time.” Levy has also executive produced such films as “Swing,” “Black & White,” “Payback,” “The Chain,” “The Granny” and “Dark Tide.” In addition to his writing and producing credits, he has also directed “A Kid in Aladdin’s Court,” the sequel to Tapestry’s “A Kid in King Arthur’s Court.” Tapestry Films also produced 15 award-winning children’s videos starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, which consistently ranked among the top of the best-seller lists. The three most recent productions were “Winning London,” “When in Rome,” and “The Challenge.”

A graduate from the University of California at Los Angeles, Levy is also the recipient of a producing fellowship from the American Film Institute.

PETER ABRAMS (Producer) is a principal founder and partner of Tapestry Films. Since the company’s inception 20 years ago as a financing and production company, Abrams has produced numerous hit films under the banner, including “Wedding Crashers,” starring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn; “Point Break,” starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze; “Serendipity,” starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale; “Pay It Forward,” starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment; “The Wedding Planner,” starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey; “Van Wilder,” starring Ryan Reynolds and Tara Reid; “She’s All That,” starring Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook; and “Underclassman,” starring Nick Cannon.

Along with major motion pictures, Tapestry Films has produced 15 award-winning children’s videos starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, which consistently ranked among the top of the best-seller lists. The three most recent productions were “Winning London,” “When in Rome” and “The Challenge.”

Prior to forming his creative partnership with Robert L. Levy, Abrams produced “A Talent for Murder,” starring Sir Lawrence Olivier and Angela Lansbury for Showtime and the BBC.

GARRETT GRANT (Executive Producer) most recently produced “Going the Distance” with Drew Barrymore for New Line. His film credits include four collaborations with director Adam Shankman—last year’s “Bedtime Stories,” starring Adam Sandler, “Hairspray,” “The Pacifier,” and “Cheaper by the Dozen 2”—as well as nine films with longtime collaborators Bobby and Peter Farrelly: “The Ringer,” “Stuck on You,” “Shallow Hal,” “Osmosis Jones,” “Say It Isn’t So,” “Me, Myself & Irene,” “There’s Something About Mary,” “Kingpin” and “Dumb and Dumber.”

Grant also served as co-producer on “Like Mike” and as line producer for “The Locusts.” Additionally, he was the unit production manager on “Freddy Got Fingered” and “Gun Shy” and served as production supervisor for “Beverly Hills Ninja.”

Grant began his film career as a location manager for such films as “Killing Zoe” and “Albino Alligator,” among others.

JEFFREY L. KIMBALL, A.S.C. (Director of Photography) has been lending his talents to the world of film for more than thirty years.

Some of Kimball’s credits as cinematographer include “Four Christmases,” “Bonneville,” “Star Trek: Nemesis,” “Stigmata,” “Wild Things,” “The Specialist,” “Curly Sue,” “Jacob’s Ladder,” “The Legend of Billie Jean,” “Paycheck,” “The Big Bounce,” the upcoming F. Gary Gray’s “Be Cool,” and collaborations with director John Woo on “Windtalkers” and “Mission Impossible II,” and with director Tony Scott on “True Romance,” ”Revenge,” “Beverly Hills Cop II,” and “Top Gun.”

Born in Texas, Kimball first became intrigued with the world of film when he acquired an 8mm camera in the 1950s that he bought with points earned from his paper route. After graduating from North Texas State University, Kimball abandoned his notions of becoming a professional bass player and set out into the world of film, first as apprentice to still photographer Bill Langley.

Kimball went on to do many jobs on the set from boom man to assistant director, eventually settling on his true passion of cinematography.

DAVID GROPMAN (Production Designer) was nominated for an Academy Award® for his work on Lasse Hallstrom’s “The Cider House Rules.” His work was most recently seen in John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt” and Ang Lee’s “Taking Woodstock.”

Gropman’s numerous other credits include “Hairspray,” “Little Children,” “Casanova,” “The Human Stain,” “The Shipping News,” “Chocolat,” “A Civil Action,” “Waiting to Exhale,” “A Walk in the Clouds,” “Searching for Bobby Fischer,” “Nobody’s Fool,” “Of Mice and Men,” “Mr. & Mrs. Bridge” and “Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.”

 

Over the past four decades, JOSEPH AULISI (Costume Designer) has amassed an impressive body of work that includes 52 feature films and 10 television movies.

Aulisi was nominated for an Emmy® for his work on the miniseries “Lincoln” and has been nominated twice for a Costume Designers Guild Award twice for his work on the films “Charlie’s Angels” and “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.”

Some of Aulisi’s many film credits include “Pink Panther,” “Pink Panther 2,” “Duplex,” “Glitter,” “Stepmom,” “Private Parts,” “Die Hard: With a Vengeance,” “Nobody’s Fool,” “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” “The Pope of Greenwich Village,” “Three Days of the Condor,” “Easy Money,” “A Stranger Is Watching,” “Death Wish” and “Shaft.”

JOHN DEBNEY’s (Composer) history with Disney began even before his career. As the son of a Disney producer, Debney grew up around the studio. He scored his first major studio film, “Hocus Pocus,” for Disney, and since then has scored several other Disney films, including “The Princess Diaries 1 & 2,” “Chicken Little,” “The Emperor’s New Groove” and the comedy “Old Dogs,” opening later this year.

Debney has built a reputation for his ability to score across a wide range of genres. His credits include his Academy Award®-nominated score to “The Passion of the Christ,” the drama “The Stoning of Soraya M.,” the comedies “Elf” and “My Best Friend’s Girl,” the comic-based “Sin City,” the videogame “Lair” and the recent family film “Hotel for Dogs.” In addition to his Academy Award nomination, he has won several Emmy® and ASCAP awards and the prestigious Henry Mancini Lifetime Achievement Award. In March 2009, Debney was honored with the Career Achievement Award at the Burbank International Film Festival. In 2010, Debney’s “Passion Symphony” will be performed in Saint Peter’s Square (the Vatican), with a 500-voice choir and a full orchestra.

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SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARD® and SAG AWARD® are the registered trademarks and service marks of Screen Actors Guild.

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