HOTEL FOR DOGS



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“We had to protect the dogs. We did exactly what we were supposed to do. If we had to do it over again, I’d do the exact same thing.”

– Bruce (Jake T. Austin)

In the family comedy-adventure “Hotel for Dogs,” Andi (Emma Roberts) and her younger brother, Bruce (Jake T. Austin) live in a strictly no-pets household and are fast running out of ways to keep their perpetually hungry dog, Friday, under wraps. When they accidentally stumble on an abandoned hotel that is already home to a couple of resourceful strays, Andi has an idea. She taps Bruce’s mechanical genius for turning everyday objects into mechanical marvels, and, with the help of their friends in the neighborhood, transform the down-and-out hotel into a magical dog paradise – not only for Friday, but for every stray they can find.

But when the barking dogs make the neighbors and the suddenly out-of-work local dog catchers suspicious, Andi and Bruce have to use every invention at their disposal to prevent them from finding out “who let the dogs in.”

Besides Roberts and Austin, “Hotel for Dogs” features a comedy ensemble that includes Kyla Pratt, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon and Don Cheadle in this smart, funny family adventure that demonstrates just how far love and imagination can take you.

Dreamworks Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies Present In Association with Cold Spring Pictures A Donners’ Company/Montecito Picture Company Production “Hotel For Dogs” starring Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Kyla Pratt, with Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon and Don Cheadle. The film is directed by Thor Freudenthal from a screenplay by Jeff Lowell and Bob Schooley & Mark McCorkle. Based on the book by Lois Duncan. The film is produced by Lauren Shuler Donner, Jonathan Gordon, Ewan Leslie and Jason Clark. The executive producers are Ivan Reitman, Tom Pollock and Jeffrey Clifford. The director of photography is Michael Grady. The production designer is William Sandell. The film is edited by Sheldon Kahn, A.C.E. The costumes are designed by Beth Pasternak, C.D.G. The music is by John Debney. This film has been rated PG for brief mild thematic elements, language and some crude humor.

ALL ABOUT “HOTEL FOR DOGS”

Andi (Emma Roberts) and her younger brother Bruce (Jake T. Austin) have a secret – a furry, adorable and always hungry Jack Russell Terrier named Friday. When they can no longer keep their beloved pet in their small apartment, with a strict no-dogs allowed policy, the siblings will do whatever it takes to make a new home for him.

That’s the premise of “Hotel for Dogs,” an inventive urban fairy tale based on Lois Duncan’s beloved children’s book. Passionate dog-lover, activist and film producer Lauren Shuler Donner felt the book’s strong message about the importance of family – however unconventional it may be – made the novel an ideal property to bring to the big screen.

What stood out for her was the fact that the story presented ample opportunities for humor and adventure. “‘Hotel for Dogs’ is as much an adventure as it is a comedy. Andi and Bruce have to ingeniously find a way to hide their own dog, Friday, and eventually, every stray dog they come across,” says Shuler Donner. “The more dogs they rescue, the more dangerous it becomes for them. So Bruce has to keep coming up with new inventions to keep the dogs happy and quiet.”

The comedy, she continues, “comes from the dogs’ personalities and interactions – like one who likes to chew everything and the dog who howls if he can’t look out the window, which all become running jokes that get funnier and funnier. I sensed that working with the dogs would give rise to some happy accidents on the set – and I was right. And then, of course, there were the fun machines Bruce puts together from stuff the rest of us would regard as junk. They’re all so clever, you just have to laugh in appreciation.”

“As you can tell,” laughs Shuler Donner,” I’m a big dog lover. My husband and I rescue dogs. We have three now. So, right away, that part of the story spoke to me.

“And I love kids as well,” she continues. “These kids cause a bit of havoc because they are willing to do anything to stick together. Until these dogs come into their lives, they are afraid to connect to anyone else. When they set out to fight the system and rescue the dogs, they ultimately end up being saved themselves.

“There’s a key scene in the film in which Andi tells her brother that they really should find Friday a real family, and he insists that they are a real family,” she says. “Eventually they adopt all these dogs and they do become the real family he’s talking about. So family is where you find it, family is the gathering of those closest to you.”

Making his feature-film directorial debut, filmmaker Thor Freudenthal was drawn to the way the film’s themes spoke to the importance of a sense of belonging. “It draws an interesting parallel between the kids and the dogs,” says Freudenthal. “Although I was aware that it was a risk to jump into directing my first feature working with both kids and animals, I recognized the importance and relevance of the story and thought it was worth it.”

Producer Jason Clark had worked with Freudenthal on both “Stuart Little” movies, for which Freudenthal served as lead storyboard artist. His ability to produce CGI characters with lifelike personalities and emotion told Clark that Freudenthal’s acute attention to visual detail made him a perfect candidate to direct “Hotel for Dogs.”

“I was fascinated by Thor’s creativity and his ability to create characters and moments that rely on visuals rather than dialogue,” explains Clark. “I knew he would be able to imbue the dog characters with qualities we would all fall in love with.”

Shuler Donner was determined that “Hotel for Dogs” stand out from other family movies visually and believes that Freudenthal’s experience in animation gave him a unique edge. “We viewed a short film he directed and, within three minutes, we knew he was the guy,” she says. “It was the way he framed shots, the way he moved the camera, the use of color, the use of light. He’s very visually savvy and very specific.

“And we wanted to make sure we had somebody who got along well with kids, who wasn’t too intimidating or gruff,” the producer continues. “He’s a real sweetheart and the kids took to him right away.”

Executive producer Ivan Reitman observes that Freudenthal’s work has a special feeling that will set the film apart from more run-of-the-mill family fare. “’Hotel for Dogs’ is a great story and very funny,” he says. “It’s a terrific idea and we wanted someone who could tell the story in a way that would appeal to an entire family – to parents, adults and teenagers, as well as to kids.”

Shuler Donner adds: “Our mandate was that this had to be a film that parents like just as much as the kids. You laugh a lot and maybe you do cry a few times, but it never crosses over to the gooey side. The kids and animals are on a wild adventure and having fun. The dogs are so cute, the kids are so engaging and the inventions are so clever, that the parents will enjoy it.”

Adds producer Ewan Leslie, “One of the things we loved about Thor was his whimsical approach to the movie.  As an artist, he wanted to create a world that was grounded but still visually captivating to parents and kids.  He was very interested in creating mood and character using color and texture, and he focused on the tiniest details that the rest of us might have missed.  There were several ideas that Thor really fought for that the rest of the team didn’t think were as important. Thor was often right, and that attention to detail elevated the movie way beyond your average family fare.”

The secret ingredient in “Hotel for Dogs,” according to Reitman, is that in addition to being very funny, it has a deep emotional core. “These days it’s kind of refreshing to see a story like this told in live action, rather than in animated form,” he says. “It’s a bit of a throwback to the great family movies of the ‘60s and ‘70s, like “The Nutty Professor” and “The Shaggy Dog.” There’s something special and magical going on.”

Clark concurs: “I’m sure it will make audiences laugh, but it will also engage them emotionally. I see the heart of this movie as the real connection between these two lonely kids and the animals. Ultimately, there is something very real at stake here and that’s a strong reason to root for these kids to succeed. The movie is funny, exciting and has real heart, so I think it will work with audiences of all ages.”

THE “HOTEL FOR DOGS” ACTING FAMILY

For the central role of Andi, the fast-talking, protective older sister, the filmmakers chose rising young star Emma Roberts. “We basically needed to find someone who could carry a whole movie,” says Freudenthal. “To find someone who can do that at such a young age is extremely difficult. Emma came in and was amazingly professional. She understands the language of filmmaking and it was impressive to witness her level of professionalism and preparedness. She makes it look so easy on film.”

“Finding the right actress to play Andi was very important because the character has to be tough and protective of her brother but also vulnerable and very sympathetic,” says producer Leslie. “Emma is one of those young actors whose face just lights up the screen and she has the ability to play a wide range of emotions without any dialogue.  The camera just loves her.”

“Emma is fabulous,” says Shuler Donner. “When it came to the dramatic scenes, she nailed them. What I didn’t expect was her sweetness, the way she cares for Jake Austin, her co-star, and in the movie, the way she cares for her brother, Bruce. Her heart grounds the movie.”

“Emma has star dust,” says Clark. “She is an incredible and charismatic actress who can play the range of this part because Andi is someone who is always hiding her pain in an upbeat, optimistic and glib way. Emma can act the con man, but she also allows you to see underneath to the real pathos of a kid looking for a real home.”

Roberts was excited by the role, especially the character’s emotional growth during the course of the film. “Andi is definitely a bit of a tomboy but is cautious and very protective of her little brother, Bruce. Through this adventure, the dogs and the new friends they make, they get something they’ve never had before.”

“Both Andi and her brother have great strength of character because they’ve had to take care of themselves and figure out how to navigate life on their own,” notes Freudenthal. “While she really wants to be a conventional teenager, what Andi ultimately learns is to be proud of who she is.”

To play Bruce, Andi’s little brother and the movie’s master inventor, the filmmakers conducted a nationwide search for an actor who was fun and could emphasize the whimsical side of this boy genius. They found their Bruce in Jake T. Austin.

Producer Clark remembers meeting Jake and recognizing qualities in him that perfectly suited Bruce. “Jake came in really late in the casting process after we had seen close to 80 boys and he was amazing on every level. He played the emotional beats very well, felt the role and also understood timing. When there was a joke or comedic line, he always understood when to give or to hold back.”

Austin had just the right combination of innocence and wisdom we were looking for, according to Shuler Donner. “We needed someone who was a little lost and looking to his sister for guidance and yet super-smart, so that you believe he can concoct all these inventions. Jake is right on the cusp of something. He has a sort of savvy without being precocious.”

Although Bruce is a mechanical genius, director Freudenthal adds, he still had to have a particular level of whimsy. “Jake has a glint in his eye and a way of looking at something in front of him and instantly understanding it. He is someone who lives in his head, wants to learn constantly and thinks in ways other kids his age might not.”

For his part, Austin says he enjoyed inhabiting the character. “I really had to visualize and imagine what it was like to be Bruce and be a bit shy and nerdy. He was different from any other character I’ve played so far.”

Joining Roberts and Austin are three other young actors, who help them transform the abandoned hotel into a home for four-legged creatures. The characters of Dave and Heather, two local pet store employees, are played by Johnny Simmons (“Evan Almighty”) and Kyla Pratt (“Fat Albert”). Mark, a comically awkward teenager who works at a nearby market and befriends Andi and Bruce, is portrayed by Troy Gentile, who previously appeared in such comedies as “Nacho Libre” and “Drillbit Taylor.”

In the film, Andi and Bruce’s social worker, Bernie, is their most dependable adult lifeline. “Bernie bridges the gap to the adult world,” explains Freudenthal. “He is their anchor. He’s a disciplinarian, someone they take very seriously but also have a rapport with.”

Academy Award® nominee Don Cheadle was intrigued by the dynamic between Bernie and the kids. “When I read the script, I appreciated the way my character talked to the kids, because that’s how I talk to my kids, pretty straight- up and honest.”

The relationship between Cheadle and his younger co-stars mirrored that of their characters, according to Emma Roberts. “Bernie and Don are a lot alike because Don is very sweet and, when he talks to you, he doesn’t talk down because you’re a kid. He talks and laughs with you the same way that Bernie does with Andi and Bruce.”

Cheadle was at the top of the producer’s wish list for the role, says Shuler Donner. “It turned out his daughter is a big fan of Emma Roberts,” she says. “And he had done enough serious movies recently that he felt comfortable putting some lighter fare into the mix. We were very lucky. I mean, you could literally hand Don the phone book and he would give it intent and make it believable. He was just amazing. And the kids rose to the occasion. He made them even better.”

For Reitman, Cheadle’s presence brought what he calls “the weight of credibility and intelligence to this very frothy tale. He’s a very serious presence and it was wonderful just to watch him work. What happens because of his acting skills, everyone around him, even the dogs, become better. There’s a truth and reality that takes over as soon as he steps on to the set.”

Cheadle, who has two young daughters himself, also appreciated the fact that “Hotel for Dogs” was a family film that both parents and kids could enjoy. “You don’t want to make a movie that parents are going to sleep through – although those can be nice too because you get that ‘day nap’ in.”

The heads of Andi and Bruce’s household, Lois (Lisa Kudrow) and Carl Scudder (Kevin Dillon), are aging musicians desperately holding on to the dream of becoming rock stars. Unfortunately, they fail to recognize their complete ineptitude for creating music, with hilarious results.

“In his mind, Carl is the total package of a rock star,” says Freudenthal. “He’s completely delusional. Lois, who is a bit deluded herself, probably met Carl when he was a roadie and believed they could someday make it. They’re holding onto that dream for dear life.”

Lisa Kudrow agreed to come on board after reading the script and discussing the project with Freudenthal. “I loved it and thought there was something different about this project,” explains Kudrow. “I got really excited after meeting Thor and hearing his take on how the film would look visually. When I came to the set and watched how it was being shot, I appreciated and understood what kind of beautiful and magical storybook movie this was going to be.”

Lois and Carl’s musical skills can best be summed up as nonexistent, says the actress. “We can only be described as a ‘band’ because Carl plays the guitar and I have a Casio that can play many instruments at the same time. They are not very good. In fact, their level of talent goes beyond bad to pathetic. It was fun to be that bad because there’s pressure when you’re supposed to be good, but it’s all fun when you’re that bad.”

Kevin Dillon jumped at the chance to fill the shoes of the narcissistic rock god wannabe Carl Scudder. Scudder, he says, is a character he could really have fun with, someone who is sincerely convinced he’s destined for greatness. “I think the reason Carl hasn’t made it is mostly because all the songs he writes are about himself,” say the actor. “Even if he attempts to do an issue song, it ends up revolving around him in some way.”

The comedic chemistry between Kudrow and Dillon came as no surprise to the filmmakers. The duo truly enjoyed playing off each other. “When I heard that Kevin was playing my husband, I knew it was going to be good. He is absolutely hilarious; every time he opens his mouth I have to fight to not laugh,” says Kudrow.

“I’ve loved working with Lisa,” says Dillon, returning the compliment. “We bounced off each other very well and came up with some really interesting moments that weren’t on the page. She’s a lot of fun and her character is a real crack up.”

While the Scudders are by no means great guardians, Kudrow and Dillon bring a playfulness to their characters that draws audience sympathy, notes producer Jonathan Gordon. “The way Kevin and Lisa play the Scudders, you have to love them. You never feel the kids are in real jeopardy and, in reality, they’re giving the kids a way of staying together.”

THE HOTEL “GUESTS”

Andi and Bruce’s beloved Friday is tough for them to keep under wraps. Friday’s inability to resist any kind of food makes him conspicuous at extremely inconvenient moments. “Friday always wants to eat and has a very strong will. If you tell him no, he goes for what he wants anyway,” says Freudenthal. “This constantly gets the kids in trouble, but ultimately, he’s the harbinger of good fortune.”

“I love all the dogs in “Hotel for Dogs” and there are lots of them,” says Reitman. “But Friday is probably my favorite. He has this wonderful intelligence in his eyes.”

The canine actor playing Friday is actually a rescue dog named Cosmo. “We tried to use as many rescues as possible and then find homes for them,” says Shuler Donner. “We wanted dogs that would connect. We were looking for dogs with the most personality, the most interesting quirks, not the most beautiful.”

Those “quirks” helped to create characters with their own distinct personalities. Since the filmmakers had decided against using any special effects, the challenge was finding different ways to distinguish the dogs from each other. “The question we asked ourselves was, how can we take the audience on a journey where we meet distinct characters who don’t speak throughout the movie?” recalls producer Clark. “Recognition and believability were important to us. We wanted the dogs to show who they really are, real animals with strong characters.”

To prepare the canines for their complicated roles and stunts, Mark Forbes of Birds and Animals Unlimited, one of Hollywood’s premier trainers, was brought on board. Forbes appreciated the story’s acknowledgment of the strong connection between people and animals. But he was also aware of the challenges the film would present.

“When I read the script for the first time, my initial reaction was both sheer terror and excitement, because I knew it would be a really fun project to work on,” says Forbes. “It is a great story about making a place for yourself and your loved ones in the world.”

In addition to Friday, several other dogs become permanent “guests” at the hotel. The filmmakers selected nine “hero” dogs to play these key roles.

Lenny and Georgia are the original inhabitants of the hotel. Lenny, a 160-pound Bull Mastiff, is a gentle giant who watches over Georgia, a feisty Boston Terrier who is small in size but large in personality. The dogs’ personal quirks inspire Andi and Bruce to come up with novel ways to entertain them.

“Lenny’s biggest concern is that he get a view of the outside world, so he always wants the windows open,” explains Forbes. “If Lenny doesn’t have a view or an open window, he starts howling, which jeopardizes the secrecy of the whole operation.”

Georgia, Lenny’s partner-in-crime, is a compulsive fetcher. “Georgia must always be chasing after something, picking it up and bringing it back to somebody so they can throw it again,” says the trainer. “Bruce ends up inventing a fetching machine for her so she can play all day long.”

“Georgia seems to be the kids’ favorites because she’s cute and little and she’ll fetch anything,” says Shuler Donner. “She’s got a really sweet face and a personality to go with it.”

Cooper, Shep and Romeo, the three dogs from the pet store that Dave begs Andi to adopt, each have their own peculiar habits that have prevented them from finding homes. Cooper, an English Bulldog with loads of personality, compulsively chews up anything in sight. “Cooper will chew drywall, license plates, shoes, you name it,” explains Forbes. “He’ll chew his way out of his crate.”

Reitman describes Cooper as the natural comedian of the pack. “There’s just such a scale to him – his weight and the jowliness of his face make me laugh every time I see him.”

Cooper seems destined to win a lot of hearts in this movie, says Shuler Donner, who recalls his first experience with one of the movie’s signature gadgets: “We set up treadmills and we hung bones on the treadmills to keep the dogs walking forward. The other dogs were trying to get the proper gait, but when Cooper saw the bone at the end of his treadmill, he was way over the end of it, going after that bone. It wasn’t planned, but it’s in the movie and it is so funny. He just has a little mind of his own. So I liked him a lot.”

Shep, an energetic Border Collie, has no control over his herding instincts. “Shep loves to shepherd and order people around by circling them,” says director Freudenthal. “In the end, he helps gather all the various dogs and steers them in the right direction when they lost.”

The inappropriately named Romeo is a Chinese Crested, a breed that is hairless except for a tousled topknot. “What can you say about Romeo?” asks Forbes. “He doesn’t possess the most beautiful face you’ve ever seen, but he doesn’t know that. He falls in love with the beautiful Juliet, and that makes for quite an interesting match.”

Juliet is an ungroomed Poodle the kids rescue from the grips of the dog catchers who are about to haul her off to the pound. “Once the kids take Juliet back to the hotel and groom her, she comes out looking like the Bo Derek of the dog world, and Romeo chases her all the way through the hotel up to the rooftop, where they fall in love,” says Forbes.

“Romeo starts out a timid pooch given to hiding under tables and is not particularly confident,” says Freudenthal. “He becomes emboldened when he meets Juliet and his romantic instincts really kick into gear. His is a classic case of ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ because he possesses a romantic nature that you don’t see at first glance.”

Last, but not least is Henry, an intimidating Beauceron(a French breed that looks like a cross between a Doberman and a Rotweiler) with the gentle soul of a pacifist. As Forbes, the animal trainer explains, “In the story, Henry had an owner who wanted him to be a guard dog, which really didn’t suit his personality. The kids rescue him and bring him to the hotel. He starts gaining confidence and ends up helping the kids through a really sticky situation.”

The first step in bringing these distinctive dog “actors” to the screen was casting them. “As far as putting personality into a dog on screen, you can do it somewhat with behavior and the other types of activities they perform on screen,” explains Forbes. “But it’s hard to make a dog act differently than he or she really is. In the end, the animal’s real personality will emerge. It’s not as if you can ask them to read the script and give their comments to the filmmakers; so finding the right dog for each particular role was our primary responsibility.”

With Forbes’ help, the filmmakers went through a catalog of breeds to determine the identity of each of the hero dogs. “We wanted to make all the dogs look different in size, as well as color and facial structure, so that their look suggested their personality,” says Freudenthal. “After all, you can’t talk to the dog about his motivation, so the face has to read easily and express who each dog is.”

“I automatically gravitated toward either the smaller ones or the really big ones to create contrast,” continues Freudenthal. “In both the Romeo and Juliet relationship, as well as the one between Lenny and Georgia, I think we ended up with a really good matchup.”

To fill out the extensive cast of dogs – about 70 in total, the filmmakers selected a variety of breeds, mostly mixed, plus several pure-breeds. “Each of them has his own story,” says producer Leslie. “Within a couple of months, we trained them all to do everything that was needed for the movie. It’s pretty amazing.”

In a classic example of life imitating art, roughly two-thirds of the dogs used in the film were rescues. The lead dog, Cosmo, and his two doubles, who all brilliantly play Friday, were rescued within six months prior to shooting.

Producer Leslie, a devoted animal activist, works with Karma Rescue, an organization that finds adoptive homes for abandoned and homeless dogs. With the help of a donation from DreamWorks Pictures, he was able to rescue and find homes for 14 dogs throughout pre-production and filming. Several crew members adopted dogs or helped find some of them new homes.

“We saved quite a few dogs, and are hoping it will inspire others to adopt a dog,” he says. “One of the most amazing things about rescued dogs is they’re just so grateful that you’ve come along and saved them. When they find a loving home, they’re so grateful to have somebody that they are truly the best dogs in the world.”

YOU CAN TEACH AN OLD DOG

To prepare for the extensive on-camera action required of his canine charges, Forbes and his team of trainers began working with the “hero” dogs 16 weeks prior to the start of production. For the “green” hero dogs – rescues with no prior training – the process was broken down into four-week phases. In the first phase, the dogs were taught basic commands such as “sit” and “lie down,” as well as how to hit a mark with front feet on a big block. The second phase focused on more sophisticated commands like retrieving, waving and finding ways to pull behavioral traits out of the individual dogs to create a performance.

“The way a dog rolled on his back with his paws in the air might suggest laughter,” says Clark. “Or a dog might have body language that expresses sadness, like tucking its tail between its legs with his shoulders and ears down. The second level of training was finding these behaviors and defining how they establish the character.”

The last phase was to take the dogs into various public places to train and review the commands. “At this stage in the training, the dogs were taken to shopping malls, parks and other public arenas, because there was no other way to recreate the atmosphere of a movie set.” notes Forbes. “You want the dogs to sense that everything is fine and they’ll still get their treat regardless of the location. The set becomes just another place for them to go.”

When basic training was complete, Forbes’ team focused on the specific actions required of each dog. “It takes quite a bit of organization just to figure out how to get each dog to do what he’s supposed to do,” he explains. “We have to take the script and turn it into dog language. Then we can slowly train the dogs so they understand what they’re supposed to do. Each scene becomes all about how many shots it will take to create it and each dog is reminded of what it has to do right before the shot, because they can’t possibly remember it the next day.”

Another important part of the training included working with the actors to familiarize them with how the dogs behave and create a comfort level between the human and the dog actors. “A lot of times, the training with the actors is more for the actors than for the dogs, because it teaches them to relate to whoever they’re working with in the scene,” Forbes explains.

“Working with the actors before the shoot also helps familiarize them with what goes into training and working an animal on set,” Forbes continues. “The actor may have to give the dog a treat a few times, or there may be a trainer right off his or her eye line who’s jumping up and down and waving to the dog, so it can be a little distracting.”

“We wanted to give the actors and dogs an opportunity to develop a relationship and it’s been wonderful to see,” says producer Clark. “These dogs have become these kids’ dogs and when the camera cuts, you can see that they’re deeply in love with these animals. They became a family and you’ll be able to see that close relationship in the film.”

The experience was an eye-opener for Roberts, who had never shared the screen with a four-legged co-star. “Working with all the dogs definitely takes a lot more patience than you’d think, because even if we do it right, if the dog wasn’t right, then the take was bad. Sometimes the dog will do the scene perfectly and other times they’ll just start wandering around. You forget sometimes and have to remind yourself that they’re dogs and can’t do exactly what you ask them to do every time.”

“On a normal set, there is a lot of quiet when actors are working, but when there are dogs present, the trainers are doing everything including shouting, jumping up and down or whistling, and that is distracting for any actor,” says Clark. “Emma and Jake and all our actors did an amazing job at acclimating themselves to that process and diving right in like the terrific performers they are.”

To prepare the dogs for using the various gadgets in the film, the special effects department gave the trainers early mock-ups of the machines for the trainers to work with. “Michael Lantieri and his effects team were great because even if they didn’t have the machines ready,” observes Clark, “they got something to us so we could get the dogs used to the machine months ahead of filming.”

THE GENIUS AND THE GADGETS

In “Hotel for Dogs,” the clever 11-year-old Bruce, ingeniously puts together gadgets he assembles from discarded items he finds in the abandoned hotel to keep the dogs happy, safe and fully entertained. “Up until this point, no one has truly understood and appreciated Bruce’s talents, but in the hotel he finally gets the attention and appreciation of all these kids around him,” notes Freudenthal.

Academy Award®-nominated special effects coordinator Michael Lantieri was brought on board to build the ingenious contraptions Bruce devises to keep the dogs engaged, healthy and hopefully quiet. “The two things that attracted me to this particular project were the opportunity to build all these amazing gizmos and my personal love of dogs,” recalls Lantieri. “One of the things I look for in a project is whether or not whatever I’m building is a central part of the story and with this film that was very much the case.”

For Georgia, the Boston Terrier who loves to fetch and run, Bruce creates the ultimate fetching machine, which Georgia can operate and enjoy all by herself. The creation of this gizmo went through two model phases. The first was a simple spring-loaded device that throws a ball and spoon down hallways, while the second device was a bit more sophisticated. “This fetching machine uses a bicycle and a hand from a mannequin. It is timed so that the wheels turn, and the ball is magnetic so it sticks in the hand, which comes round and launches the object so the dog can chase it,” explains Lantieri. “Things can seem simple when you read them, but making it work on screen has to do with timing, the weight of the ball and how the ball stays in the hand until you want it to move.

In addition to making the complex inventions work, Lantieri and his team faced the additional challenge of making them look as if they sprung from the mind of a gifted 11-year-old boy. “Every gadget had to look as though Bruce was capable of putting it together and, fortunately, over the years, I’ve been able to assemble the best experts to match up with the intellect of a real 11-year-old,” deadpans Lantieri.

As if that weren’t enough, the inventions also needed to be created from objects that might be found in an abandoned hotel. “We had many meetings over what would be left behind in a hotel – in the laundry rooms, the kitchens and in storage,” Lantieri says. “We tried to pick things that couldn’t be recognized as new or store-bought but something that would be found up in the attic next to all the old Christmas decorations, hotel supplies and other equipment.”

For Shep, the Border Collie with an uncontrollable urge to herd, Bruce creates a specially designed room. The herding room is a paradise for Shep. He chases remote controlled sheep made out of fishing wire, oven mitts, cotton balls and foam mounted on top of disassembled remote controlled cars. Lantieri and his team particularly enjoyed this creation. “Initially, when I read the script, I thought the sheep would be on wires, but once we got to actually radio-control them, we raced them in the shop to test them. It became a sort of kindergarten for adults.”

“Michael Lantieri has been nominated for many Oscars®,” notes producer Gordon. “You can see him going to the ceremony in his tux and returning to his workshop where he and his team are essentially building the ultimate dream toys. It’s good to know that, in the process of destroying their parents’ homes for the first 18 years of their lives, he and his crew finally found a creative outlet in the movie business. They are the most brilliant kids you’ll ever meet.”

For the door-knocking room, Lantieri gathered doors in specific colors and architectural styles. The knockers were driven by air, springs and elastic bands, which caused a boot to repeatedly knock on the door. “That is one of the funniest rooms in the movie,” says Lantieri. “Having my own dog and knowing how crazy and excited dogs can get when the doorbell rings or when someone knocks at the door, it was hilarious to watch a pack of dogs reacting to multiple knocking doors. It was total chaos and a lot of fun to watch.”

Bruce creates another special room to satisfy one of the most common canine habits. “We all know that dogs like to stick their heads out the window while driving; it’s part of the fun of being a dog,” says Shuler Donner. “Bruce goes into the basement and commandeers whatever he finds that’s useful, and with old car doors, a projector and some strategically placed fans, the dogs get to enjoy their ride.”

For Cooper, the English Bulldog who chews anything he can get his teeth on, a vending machine is transformed into a fantasy gadget. Filled with shoes and various other chew toys, Bruce rigs the machine so that Cooper can step on a lever and the machine drops a new toy on demand.

To keep Friday and the other dogs fed when the kids are not around, Bruce creates a feeding machine that is on a timed-release system that drops food in the bowls through six hatches. Friday, with his insatiable hunger and sharp intellect, soon figures out how to operate the machine and is able to eat whenever he feels like it.

When the hotel becomes populated with more “guests” as the kids begin to rescue scores of strays off the city streets, Bruce builds a massive feeder that can accommodate all the new arrivals. His pièce de résistance, the second feeding machine is comprised of two long belts with bowls that are pulled down a grand dining table by a toy train, with food dropping into each bowl. Lantieri had to build a machine that was timed perfectly. “We worked on designs for the big feeder for weeks to sort out all the details like the colors, the number of dishes we could use, the table to slide it on and making certain that the train was powerful enough to pull all the bowls out. Everything was done in steps and what audiences will see is very simple and elegant, just like an 11-year-old had created it.”

Each bowl had to be filled with the exact right amount of food, no easy feat since all the food is transferred from a giant bottle above, through chambers, down a worm drive, through flaps, into each can and dumped into every bowl. When the machine was complete, the dogs rehearsed with the machine to make sure they were comfortable with the contraption. “We had to spend time with the dogs getting them used to the noises the machine makes and its process,” notes Lantieri. “The first dog at the table had to learn to watch all 50 filled-bowls pass by without diving in. When we accomplished that, we thought it was a big success.”

A second unit was brought in to capture the extensive dog action sequences and gadgetry. This team had the unique experience of working with up to 60 dogs on any given day, recalls Clark. “They were asked to capture some crazy action. They had a real ball, but on some days things got a bit deafening. They were at the mercy of not only the dogs, but also their 60 trainers. It was a very loud unit as you can imagine.”

CHECK OUT THIS “HOTEL FOR DOGS”

“I think part of the appeal of our movie is the wish-fulfillment aspect for kids,” concludes producer Leslie. “After all, the hotel in our movie is the ultimate ‘fort’ or ‘tree-house.’ And what kid wouldn’t like to create a secret world where no parents are allowed and go on top-secret missions with their friends?  When I was young, I really loved movies in which kids became empowered, and what’s more empowering than a group of friends making their own hotel, saving dogs and ultimately creating their own family?”

From the beginning, “Hotel for Dogs” was never just a movie about dogs, adds executive producer Reitman, but really a story about family. “For me, it was really about how the kids take care of the dogs – lots and lots of dogs. People have this experience with their pets that runs very, very deep. We have serious relationships with our animals, particularly with dogs, because dogs have a way of speaking to us and being part of our family that touches us. ‘Hotel for Dogs’ tries to capture the sense of what it means to have these wonderful animals as part of our family.

“I hope the people who come to see ‘Hotel for Dogs’ are totally knocked out,” he continues. “It’s one of those films that resonates. I think it’s because of how likeable the main characters are – particularly the dog characters. It’s so much fun to watch them over and over again and it’s a great, moving, emotional experience.”

ABOUT THE CAST

EMMA ROBERTS (ANDI) starred as “Nancy Drew” in the big screen adaptation of the classic teenage detective stories for Warner Bros. The film was directed by Andrew Fleming and produced by Jerry Weintraub. Her performance was applauded by critics and featured prominently in numerous magazines, newspapers and television news programs across the world.

In February 2009, Roberts will be seen in the Universal and Working Title Films’ feature “Wild Child.” In the film, she plays a 16-year-old spoiled Malibu princess who is sent to a strict, all-girls English boarding school by her father. While there, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery. The film is directed by Nick Moore.

Roberts recently completed production in New York on the independent film “The Winning Season” opposite Sam Rockwell. She portrays a member of a local high school girls’ basketball team coached by a “has been” (Rockwell) who is seeking redemption. The comedy is directed by James C. Strouse.

Additionally, Roberts received critical praise in the Toronto Film Festival selection “Lymelife,” a “coming-of-age” drama honored with the International Critics’ Award (Fipresci Prize) at the Festival. Directed by Derick Martini, “Lymelife” also stars Alec Baldwin, Timothy Hutton, and Keiran and Rory Culkin.

From 2004-2007, Roberts starred as Addie Singer in the Nickelodeon hit comedy series “Unfabulous” created by Sue Rose. It was one of the highest rated “tween” series on television. The show tells the story of a teenage girl who must deal with the trials of growing up, fitting in and being popular. Addie relays her teen angst through writing music and singing songs.

Roberts has begun to make her mark in a short period of time. After her very first audition, she booked the role of Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz’s daughter in “Blow,” which was directed by the late Ted Demme for New Line Cinema. Soon after, she starred in the Sundance short film “Big Love” directed by Leif Tilden and starring Sam Rockwell. Roberts went on to play one of the lead roles in the independent feature film “Grand Champion” opposite Joey Lauren Adams and directed by Barry Tubb.

After the successful premiere of “Unfabulous,” she starred in the Fox 2000 film “Aquamarine.” Based on the Alice Hoffman novel of the same name, it is the story of two teen girls who discover a mermaid after their coastal town is ravaged by a hurricane. The film was directed by Elizabeth Allan and produced by Susan Cartsonis.

Roberts has appeared on the covers of Vanity Fair, Teen Vogue, Elle Girl, Teen Magazine, YM, Sweet Sixteen and Girl’s Life. She has been profiled in Time, People and The New York Times, among others. Roberts was the face of legendary handbag maker Dooney & Bourke. Her campaign ran exclusively in Teen Vogue magazine.

When not acting, Roberts enjoys singing, swimming, volleyball, or reading and playing with her friends. She is originally from Rhinebeck, New York, and now lives in Los Angeles with her family.

JAKE T. AUSTIN (BRUCE) stars as the youngest sibling, Max, who, along with his brother and sister, inherits magical powers on the sitcom "Wizards of Waverly Place." He also had a lead role in the Disney Channel Original Movie "Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board."

Austin will next be seen in "The Perfect Game," based on a true story about a group of boys from Monterrey, Mexico, who become the first non-U.S. team to win the Little League World Series.

A voice-over actor, he can be heard in several TV series and films including the lead in Nickelodeon's "Go, Diego, Go!," the feature animated films "Everyone's Hero" and "The Ant Bully," as well as the musical CDs "Diego, Dora & Friends Animal Jamboree Album" and "Dora's Fiesta Album."

Born December 12, 1994 in New York, Austin currently lives in Los Angeles with his family.

After 14 years in the entertainment business, 22-year-old KYLA PRATT (HEATHER) has already built an impressive resume with over 40 television appearances, as well as a number of feature film credits to her name.

Pratt had a major role in both “Dr. Dolittle 4” and “Dr. Dolittle 5,” reprising the character of Maya, an 18-year-old who has acquired her father’s powers to speak to animals.

Prior to the “Dr. Dolittle” sequels 1, 2 and 3, Pratt was seen as the female lead in 20th Century Fox’s feature film hit, “Fat Albert.” The film was co-written by creator Bill Cosby and co-starred SNL’s Kenan Thompson as Fat Albert, and was directed by Joel Zwick. The movie was released on Christmas Day 2004.

Pratt also starred in the lead role of Brianna in UPN’s top-rated “One-on-One,” which completed its fifth and final season and is now in syndication.

Pratt has received five NAACP Image Award nominations for her role as “Penny Proud” on the Disney Channel’s highest-rated animated series “Proud Family.” In the show, she stars opposite Tommy Davidson and Jo Marie Patton. The “Proud Family” movie-of-the-week aired on the Disney Channel in early 2005. The show was voted most popular animated series in America and is also a top favorite among kids on ABC’s Saturday morning line-up.

Pratt began her career in 1995 after being cast in “The Babysitters Club,” and has been on a roll ever since. In 1999, she was voted “Favorite Rising Star” at the “Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.” The term “rising” was correct, by the age of 12, Pratt had appeared in almost 20 supporting, guest-starring and recurring roles on television shows such as “Friends,” “Touched by an Angel,” “Smart Guy,” “Moesha” and “Veronica Mars,” to name just a few. Television viewers may also recognize Kyla as the bold young girl from the Nike commercials who gave advice to the WNBC players.

She also has a very impressive list of motion picture credits and has worked with some of the finest directors and actors in Hollywood. Her feature film credits include “Barneys Great Adventure” directed by Steve Gomer; “Jackies Back” directed by Robert Townsend; “Mad City” starring Dustin Hoffman and John Travolta; “Love & Basketball” produced by Spike Lee; “Dr. Dolittle” and “Dr. Dolittle 2” opposite Eddie Murphy. Her roles in both of the “Dr. Dolittle” movies earned her several NAACP Image Award nominations. Kyla also received a nomination for Best Comedic Actress in an animated movie for “The Proud Family” at the NAACP Image Awards 2006.

When Pratt isn’t working, she enjoys dancing, singing, shopping, bowling and hanging out with her friends. She also participates in many charitable events including Challengers Boys & Girls Club fundraisers. She received an award for Best Comedic Performance at the 2003 NAMIC Vision Awards and in the same year she was honored with the Bethel Smith Positive Youth Image Award.

Pratt resides in Los Angeles and is enrolled in several college courses.

LISA KUDROW (LOIS SCUDDER) is an Emmy Award-winning actress who continues to bring her original sense of comedic timing and delivery to every role she takes on.

Most recently, audiences saw her star in the independent film “Kabluey,” which premiered at the Los Angeles and Hamptons Film Festivals, and in “P.S. I Love You” with Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler.

Her upcoming films include the recently completed “Powder Blue” with Forrest Whitaker and Ray Liotta, “Bandslam” for writer and director Todd Graff and “Paper Man” with Jeff Daniels.

In addition to her Emmy Award, Kudrow has received recognition for her work in film. She won the Best Supporting Actress Award from the New York Film Critics, an Independent Spirit Award nomination and a Chicago Film Critics Award nomination for her role in the Don Roos scripted and directed film “The Opposite of Sex” (1998). She won a Blockbuster Award and received a nomination for an American Comedy Award for her starring role opposite Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro in the Warner Bros. box office hit “Analyze This” (1999) for director Harold Ramis.

Kudrow’s additional film credits include starring roles in “Happy Endings” (2005) for writer/director Roos, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival; “Wonderland” (2004) with Val Kilmer, in which she portrayed Sharon Holmes, wife of porn star John Holmes, in the film based on the infamous Wonderland Avenue murders; the Warner Bros. film “Analyze That” (2002); Columbia Pictures’ “Hanging Up,” (2000) opposite Meg Ryan and Diane Keaton; Paramount’s “Lucky Numbers” (2000) with John Travolta; the critically acclaimed hit comedy “Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion” (1997) with Mira Sorvino; “Clockwatchers,” (1997) opposite Toni Collette and Parker Posey; and Albert Brooks’ comedy “Mother” (1996).

Having successfully moved beyond the role of Phoebe Buffay, the character she brilliantly portrayed on the NBC hit comedy series “Friends” for 10 seasons, Kudrow formed the production company, Is or Isn't Entertainment, in the fall of 2003 with writer/producer Dan Bucatinsky. The company, which is based at NBC/Universal, has already garnered great success. In addition to having four pilots ordered since its inception, Is or Isn't Entertainment’s first television series, the critically acclaimed HBO series “The Comeback,” garnered three Emmy Award nominations, including one for Kudrow for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

Is or Isn’t Entertainment is currently in production on a documentary series for NBC called “Who Do You Think You Are,” which traces the genealogy of a well-known person in each episode. They have also produced a webseries for called “Web Therapy,” in which Kudrow stars.

While on “Friends,” Kudrow was nominated for an Emmy five times and won once for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She has also received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, an American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a Television Series and a Golden Globe Award nomination.

KEVIN DILLON (CARL SCUDDER) is a New York native who first garnered attention for his role in Oliver Stone’s “Platoon” and “The Doors.” He also starred in the cult classic “The Blob” and the poignant “Immediate Family” opposite James Woods and Glenn Close.

Dillon landed a series regular role on “That’s Life” for CBS and recurring roles on the critically acclaimed series “NYPD Blue” and “24.”

He starred opposite Kurt Russell and Gene Hackman in the Wolfgang Peterson-directed “Poseidon” for Warner Bros. He has also received numerous nominations for his portrayal of Johnny Drama on the hit HBO comedy series “Entourage.”

Dillon resides in Los Angeles with his wife Jane and child Ava, and visits New York whenever possible.

DON CHEADLE (BERNIE) has, since being named Best Supporting Actor by the Los Angeles Film Critics for his breakout performance opposite Denzel Washington in “Devil in a Blue Dress,” consistently turned in powerful performances on the stage and screen.

Cheadle most recently starred in “Traitor,” an international thriller set in the world of covert counter-terrorism operations, opposite Guy Pearce.

Additional film credits include the following: “Talk to Me” directed by Kasi Lemmons and co-starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, about the Washington D.C. radio personality Ralph "Petey" Greene, an ex-con who became a popular talk show host and community activist in the 1960s; the 2006 Oscar®-winning Best Picture, “Crash,” which Cheadle also produced; “Hotel Rwanda,” for which he was nominated for an Academy Award®, a Golden Globe Award, a Broadcast Film Critics Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor; “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Ocean’s Twelve” and “Ocean’s Thirteen,” all directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney; Mike Binder’s “Reign Over Me” with Adam Sandler; Brett Ratner’s “After the Sunset” with Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek; “The Assassination of Richard Nixon” with Naomi Watts and Sean Penn; the Academy Award®-winning “Traffic,” and the George Clooney/Jennifer Lopez-starrer “Out of Sight,” both also directed by Soderbergh; Paul Thomas Anderson’s critically acclaimed “Boogie Nights” with Julianne Moore and Mark Wahlberg; “Volcano” with Tommy Lee Jones; “Bulworth,” directed by and starring Warren Beatty; “Swordfish,” co-starring John Travolta and Halle Berry; “Mission to Mars” with Tim Robbins and Gary Sinise; John Singleton’s “Rosewood”; “Family Man,” also directed by Ratner and starring Nicolas Cage; and the independent features “Manic,” “The United States of Leland” and Allison Anders’ “Things Behind the Sun.” Cheadle was recently honored at ShoWest as Male Star of the Year.

Cheadle is also well-recognized for his television work. He received a Golden Globe Award for his remarkable portrayal of Sammy Davis Jr. in HBO’s “The Rat Pack,” a performance for which he was also nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Emmy. That same year, he received an Emmy nomination for his starring role in HBO’s adaptation of the critically-acclaimed best seller A Lesson before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines, in which Cheadle starred opposite Cicely Tyson and Mekhi Phifer. He also starred for HBO in “Rebound: The Legend of Earl ‘The Goat’ Manigault,” directed by Eriq La Salle.

Well known for his two-year stint in the role of District Attorney John Littleton on David E. Kelley’s critically-acclaimed series “Picket Fences,” Cheadle’s other series credits include a guest starring role on “ER” (a performance that earned him yet another Emmy nomination), a series regular role on “The Golden Palace” and a recurring role on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Cheadle was also part of the stellar cast of the thrilling live CBS television broadcast of “Fail Safe,” in which he starred opposite George Clooney, James Cromwell, Brain Dennehy, Richard Dreyfuss and Harvey Keitel.

An accomplished stage actor, Cheadle originated the role of Booth in Suzan-Lori Parks’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Top Dog/Underdog” at New York’s Public Theatre under the direction of George C. Wolfe. His other stage credits include “Leon, Lena and Lenz” at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis; “The Grapes of Wrath” and “Liquid Skin” at the Mixed Blood Theater in Minneapolis; “Cymbeline” at The New York Shakespeare Festival; “’Tis a Pity She’s a Whore” at Chicago’s Goodman Theater; and Athol Fugard’s South African play “Blood Knot” at The Complex Theater in Hollywood.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Cheadle later relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska, and Denver, Colorado, before he finally settled in Los Angeles. He attended the prestigious California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. With the encouragement of his college friends, Cheadle auditioned for a variety of film and television roles while attending school and landed a recurring role on the hit series “Fame.” This led to feature film roles in “Colors,” directed by Dennis Hopper; the John Irvin-directed “Hamburger Hill,” opposite Dylan McDermott; and “Meteor Man,” directed by Robert Townsend.

A talented musician who plays saxophone, writes music and sings, Cheadle is also an accomplished director with the stage productions of “Cincinnati Man” at the Attic Theater, the critically-acclaimed “The Trip” at the Friends and Artists Theater in Hollywood, and “Three, True, One” at the Electric Lodge in Venice, California.

In addition to his many acting honors, Cheadle was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Spoken Word Album for his narration/dramatization of the Walter Mosley novel Fear Itself.

Cheadle resides in Los Angeles.

JOHNNY SIMMONS (DAVE) is set to become one of the most sought-after young actors in Hollywood. Hailing from Texas, it did not take long for Simmons to get his first role opposite Steve Carrell in the Universal feature film, “Evan Almighty.” Soon thereafter, Simmons booked the Lion’s Gate feature film, “The Spirit,” based on the graphic novel of the same name. Simmons worked opposite Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Mendes and Scarlett Johansson in the role of the Young Spirit in this visionary film, which opened Christmas Day in 2008.

Simmons can also be seen later this year playing the lead role of Chip in “Jennifer’s Body,” Academy Award® winner Diablo Cody’s follow up to “Juno.” Produced by Academy Award® nominee Jason Reitman and directed by Karyn Kusama, the film also stars Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried. This dark comedy tells the perilous tale of teenage life in a small town where a zombie disguised as the most popular girl in school eats and kills the student body.

Simmons recently wrapped production on the independent character drama “The Greatest” opposite Susan Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan.

He currently resides in Los Angeles.

TROY GENTILE was born in Boca Raton, Florida, on October 27, 1993, and broke into acting shortly after he moved to Los Angeles.  Clearly, fate and Hollywood had plans for Gentile. He booked his first job on his first audition on his second day of representation by landing the role of wheelchair-bound Matthew Hooper in Paramount Pictures' remake of “The Bad News Bears” with Billy Bob Thornton.   Since his first big break in 2005, Gentile has demonstrated an innate comedic brilliance, perfectly capturing a young Jack Black twice: first in Paramount's “Nacho Libre,” then in the recent New Line release, “Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny.” Showcasing his uncanny ability to imagine and enliven the young spirit of well-known personalities, Gentile embodied a young Craig Ferguson with hilarious precision on “The Late Late Show.” Gentile has also guest starred on TV shows including the Disney Channel hit “The Suite Life of Zach & Cody” and, more recently, on HBO’s tour de force, “Entourage.” Following a celestial career trajectory at breakneck speed, he was also seen in Lionsgate's “Good Luck Chuck” with Dane Cook, MGM's “I Could Never Be Your Woman” with Michelle Pfeiffer and in Paramount's “Drillbit Taylor” as a lead opposite Owen Wilson.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

THOR FREUDENTHAL (DIRECTOR) was born and raised in Berlin, Germany. His knack for visual storytelling showed early. While still in high school, he wrote and illustrated a series of comics for German publisher Carlsen, the publisher of the Tintin series.

As a student at the Berlin Academy of Arts, Freudenthal discovered his passion for film. His self-produced short films, “mind the gap!” and “Monkey Business,” quickly garnered awards and accolades on the European film festival circuit.

His work landed him a scholarship at the California Institute of the Arts. His first American short film “The Tenor,” about a zoo ostrich who dreams of a career in opera, went on to win the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences First Prize Student Emmy. It also toured the world with “Spike and Mike’s Festival of Sick & Twisted Animation.”

He then joined Sony Pictures’ Imageworks and the creative team on the films “Stuart Little” and “Stuart Little 2.” Working closely with director Rob Minkoff, he shaped the digital characters for the films and took on the complex task of pre-visualizing the scripts and supervising the team of storyboard artists. “Stuart Little” subsequently earned an Academy Award® nomination for Best Visual Effects.

Freudenthal next made the leap into commercial directing and has worked for a wide roster of clients both in the American and European markets, including Nike, Reebok, Nabisco, Burger King, Florida’s Natural, Popsicle and Philadelphia. In his spot advertising work, he combines his expertise in visual effects with a flair for offbeat humor and whimsical storytelling.

Freudenthal applied his comprehensive knowledge to the world of feature filmmaking as second unit director on Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion” starring Eddie Murphy.

JEFF LOWELL (SCREENPLAY) began his career as an extremely disloyal television writer, moving from “The George Carlin Show” to “Drew Carey” to “Cybill” to “Spin City” to “Sports Night” to “Just Shoot Me.”

On the feature side, he wrote “John Tucker Must Die” and wrote and directed “Over Her Dead Body.” Lowell fled Los Angeles a few years ago and lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with his wife, two kids and three dogs.

BOB SCHOOLEY & MARK McCORKLE (SCREENPLAY) are currently executive producers of the Nickelodeon/Dreamworks series "The Penguins of Madagascar," a TV spin-off from the hit DreamWorks features. They also recently adapted their Simon and Schuster young adult novel, Liar of Kudzu, for Disney Channel.

Previously, the team dove into the life of a high school cheerleader to create their first original series, "Disney's Kim Possible." The hit Disney Channel show has garnered Primetime and Daytime Emmy nominations. The pair also worked as producers and story editors on the acclaimed "Disney's Hercules," which was hailed as one of TV Guide's "10 Best New Series" of 1998 and, in 2000, as one of the magazine's top-ranked shows for adults to watch with their children.

           Schooley and McCorkle also earned story editor credit on the "Aladdin" television series and writer/story editor credits on Disney's first-ever video premiere, "The Return of Jafar," which stands as one of the top five best-selling direct-to-video animated films ever released. They also wrote the subsequent video release, "Aladdin and the King of Thieves," which received a 1997 Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Home Video Production.

            The pair penned and story edited the two-time Emmy-nominated "Great Minds Think for Themselves," one of the original interstitial segments of "Disney's One Saturday Morning" in 1997. They re-teamed with the "Great Minds" creative crew in 2000 to produce the "Find Out Why" interstitial series in conjunction with the National Science Foundation and Discover Magazine, and also wrote the heralded "Toy Story Treats," a series of interstitials for ABC's Saturday morning line-up and Disney Channel.

The Temple University graduates initially met while working as entertainment managers at Sesame Place, a "Sesame Street"-themed play park in Langhorne, PA. They made their foray into Hollywood through the mailroom of DIC Entertainment, where they quickly advanced to staff writing positions.

LAUREN SHULER DONNER (PRODUCER) has, in the past two decades, established herself as one of the most successful and versatile producers in Hollywood.  Her producing skill has enabled her to partner with top directorial talents including Nora Ephron, Oliver Stone, Bryan Singer, Richard Donner, Joel Schumacher, Ivan Reitman and John Hughes.  To date, her films have grossed more than $2.5 billion worldwide.  

In October 2008, both Shuler Donner and her husband Richard Donner were each awarded stars right next to each other on the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame.  They were also awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Ojai Film Festival in November of 2008.  In 2001, Shuler Donner was recognized for her body of work by Premiere magazine with the Producer Icon Award, and was recognized by Daily Variety with a Billion Dollar Producer special issue.  In June 2006, she received the prestigious Crystal Award from Women in Film along with other honorees Jennifer Lopez, Dianne Warren and Geena Davis. Also, she and her husband Richard were honored by The American Cancer Society in June of 2006, and by Lupus L.A. in 2008.

In 2008, Shuler Donner enjoyed a particularly prolific year with four highly-anticipated films in production, including  “X Men Origins: Wolverine” starring Hugh Jackman, which is the next chapter in the successful “X Men” film franchise. The film, directed by Gavin Hood, was shot in New Zealand and Australia.  20th Century Fox will release the film in May 2009. Also upcoming is “Cirque du Freak,” a Universal film written by Paul Weitz, who also directed the adaptation of the bestselling young adult's book series by Darren Shan. 

Her most recent release was the hit drama “The Secret Life of Bees” for Fox Searchlight. It was written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and starred Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo and Paul Bettany.  

In 2000, Shuler Donner began a new franchise with “X Men” and followed up in 2003 with "X2."   The second film broke box office records with an opening weekend total of $86 million dollars nationwide.  Not only did the film gross $406 million dollars internationally, it is also the only sequel of 2003 to receive critical acclaim as well.  “X Men: The Last Stand” was released in May, 2006 and a month later it was on its way to the half billion dollar mark worldwide.  

Shuler Donner was bound for success from the beginning, as the first feature film she produced was the smash hit comedy “Mr. Mom,” one of the top ten grossing films of the year.  She then went on to produce “Ladyhawke” starring Matthew Broderick, Michelle Pfeiffer and Rutger Hauer and “St. Elmo’s Fire” and “Pretty in Pink,” both of which garnered platinum records for their soundtracks.

In the early ‘90s, Shuler Donner produced the box office smash hits “Dave” and “Free Willy,” two of the top ten films of 1993. The critically acclaimed “Dave” was nominated for both an Academy Award® (Best Original Screenplay) and a Golden Globe (Best Picture-Comedy).  She went on to produce “You’ve Got Mail,” “Any Given Sunday,” “Radio Flyer,” “3 Fugitives” and a sequel to “Free Willy.”  As head of The Donners’ Company, she has executive-produced “Volcano,” "Bulworth,” “Just Married” and “Semi-Pro.”   Shuler Donner’s other recent productions include “Timeline” with Paul Walker and Gerard Butler, “Constantine” with Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz, “She’s The Man” with Amanda Bynes and “Unaccompanied Minors” with Lewis Black and Tyler James Williams.

Shuler Donner is a dedicated philanthropist who thrives on giving back to the community.  She was on the board of directors for Hollygrove Children’s Home until it merged with EMQ in 2006.   She has been on the advisory board of Women in Film, the advisory boards of TreePeople and Planned Parenthood and the executive committee of the Producer’s Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.  She is currently serving on the advisory board of the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, the advisory board of the Natural Resources Defense Council and the board of directors for the Producers Guild of America. 

JONATHAN GORDON (PRODUCER) is an independent producer who, through his Jon Gordon Productions is also producing (with Peter Guber's Mandalay Pictures and Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes) a remake of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" under his first-look deal with Universal Pictures. Prior to setting up Jon Gordon Productions, Gordon was president of production at Universal Pictures, where he oversaw the development and production of "The Kingdom" starring Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner and "The Bourne Ultimatum," starring Matt Damon.  He moved to Universal after a 16-year career at Miramax Films, where he began as assistant to Harvey Weinstein and ultimately served as co-president of production. During his tenure at Miramax, Gordon oversaw the development and production of over 50 films. He served as executive producer on more than a dozen Miramax movies, including multiple Oscar® winner "Good Will Hunting," "Flirting With Disaster" (directed by David O. Russell and starring Ben Stiller), "Derailed" (directed by Oscar® nominee Mikael Hafstrom and starring Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston), "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" (George Clooney's directorial debut, starring Sam Rockwell, Julia Roberts and Drew Barrymore) and "The Yards" (Official Competition, Cannes Film Festival 2000, starring Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix and Charlize Theron), as well as several films by writer/director Kevin Smith, including "Chasing Amy" and "Dogma".

Some of Gordon’s current projects in development are "Side Effects," a thriller written and to be directed by Scott Burns ("Ocean's 12", "The Bourne Ultimatum") and produced with Lorenzo di Bonaventura ("Transformers") at Miramax; an untitled comedy starring Jennifer Aniston, who will also co-produce; "Killing Ground" (a "Deliverance"-style thriller to be directed by Hafstrom and produced with Nick Wechsler; "Turbulence" and "Columbian Gold" (both in collaboration with Mirage Productions); "The State Within" (a film adaptation of the Golden Globe-nominated BBC mini-series); "The Brigade," based on Howard Blum's best-selling non-fiction book; and "Exoneration" (a drama in the vein of "Erin Brockovich" based on the true story of a woman who spent 8 years trying to overturn her husband's life sentence for the murder of her mother).

Gordon is a graduate of Northwestern University, and sits on the National Advisory Council for Northwestern's School of Communications.  He is also the founder of the Kenny Gordon Foundation, a charity that raises money for the prevention of sudden cardiac arrhythmias, as well as for full four-year scholarships to Skidmore College for economically and educationally disadvantaged young men and women who desire to attend college and to provide inner-city children the opportunity to attend summer camp.

EWAN LESLIE (Writer/Producer) has been president of production for The Donners’ Company since 2003. In addition to “Hotel for Dogs,” he recently produced “Cirque du Freak” for Universal Pictures, written by Brian Helgeland and Paul Weitz (based on the best-selling series of books), directed by Weitz and starring John C. Reilly, Salma Hayek, Ken Watanabe and Josh Hutcherson; and co-produced “The Secret Life of Bees” for Fox Searchlight Pictures, based on the best-selling book, and written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and starring Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keyes. He also wrote and produced “She’s the Man” for Dreamworks Pictures (2006) starring Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum and directed by Andy Fickman. Other projects in development include a western TV series based on the Pony Express at AMC starring Robert Duvall and written by Eric Jendresen; and an adaptation of the comic book “Metal Men” for Warner Bros.

Leslie graduated from Pepperdine Law School before beginning his career in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency. He moved up to an executive position at the 20th Century Fox-based Fox 2000, where he worked on such films as “Never Been Kissed” starring Drew Barrymore; “Soul Food” starring Vanessa L. Williams and Vivica A. Fox; and “Best Laid Plans” starring Reese Witherspoon.

Leslie then held the post of vice president of production for John Wells Productions. Returning to Fox 2000, he bought/developed such film projects as “Fever Pitch,” “DragonBall Z,” “Roll Bounce,” “Flicka,” “Aquamarine” and “The A-Team.”

Leslie, the owner of two rescued Pit Bulls, is very active in Dog Rescue in Los Angeles as a board-member of Karma Rescue. Incidentally, Karma is the group that rescued “Chelsea,” the three-legged dog featured in “Hotel for Dogs.” While in New Orleans filming “Cirque du Freak,” he also volunteered with ARNO, the Animal Rescue of New Orleans.

JASON CLARK (PRODUCER) is recognized as a hands-on creative producer and industry innovator in the world of live-action/CGI features. He currently heads the task force assigned to the mission of incorporating state-of-the art 3-D at Dreamworks Animation. By 2009, DreamWorks Animation is slated to produce and release all animated features in 3-D.

Clark is also currently producing a feature length animated version of Jay Ward's classic “Mr. Peabody and Sherman” for DWA. He executive-produced Academy Award®-nominated “Monster House,” working with Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg for the Columbia Pictures release. “Monster House,” a live action/CGI hybrid motion picture utilizing groundbreaking 'Performance Capture' technology, was simultaneously released in 3-D in July 2006. Clark also executive-produced the box office hits “Stuart Little” and “Stuart Little 2.”

Independently, Clark produced and financed the critically acclaimed film “Killer Diller,” released in early 2006. Clark partnered with director Rob Minkoff (“The Lion King,” “Stuart Little,” “Stuart Little 2”) to create Sprocketdyne Entertainment, based at Columbia Pictures. Previously, Clark executive-produced “Happy Texas,” an award-winning 1999 Sundance Film Festival official entry, which was acquired by Miramax for distribution for a record-breaking amount. Clark's other production credits include: the cult classic “Homegrown” (Tri-Star); film festival winner “Sink Or Swim” (Lionsgate); Columbia Picture's “Maximum Risk”; Universal's “Sudden Death” and “The Quest.” Clark has extensive experience in physical production and has filmed in a multitude of diverse locations worldwide. Clark got his start working for director Walter Hill. He is a member of the Director's Guild of America and received his degree in economics from UCLA.

Director/Producer IVAN REITMAN (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) has been the creative force behind films beloved by audiences around the world. From raucous comedies like “Animal House,” “Stripes” and “Ghostbusters,” to more sophisticated delights like “Dave,” “6 Days/7 Nights” and “Twins.”

The career that has brought about so many laughs began in Canada, where his family emigrated from Czechoslovakia when he was four years old. Reitman studied music at McMaster University, but soon turned his talents to film and theater.

Shortly after graduation, Reitman delved into film production – first with the extremely low-budget horror comedy “Cannibal Girls” starring Canada’s Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin, followed by the live television show “Greed” with Dan Aykroyd as its announcer. Reitman then headed to New York City and produced the Broadway hit “The Magic Show” starring McMaster friend Doug Henning. He continued producing for the stage with the Off-Broadway hit “The National Lampoon Show,” where he brought together for the first time the then-unknown John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Joe Flaherty. Reitman returned to Broadway to produce and direct the musical “Merlin,” earning him Tony nominations for directing and producing. While in New York, Reitman reapplied his talents to filmmaking when he joined forces with National Lampoon and brought us the groundbreaking sensation “Animal House.” Following the success of that film, Reitman returned home to Canada to direct “Meatballs,” still considered one the most successful films ever made in Canada.

The string of hits continued with “Stripes” and the “Ghostbusters” series, which teamed Bill Murray with Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis; “Dave” starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver; “Legal Eagles” starring Robert Redford and Debra Winger; “6 Days/ 7 Nights” with Harrison Ford and Anne Heche; “Evolution” starring David Duchovny and Julianne Moore; and a series of films that revealed an untapped comic persona for action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger: “Twins,” “Junior” (both co-starring Danny DeVito) and “Kindergarten Cop.”

Reitman’s list of producing credits is equally extensive. He produced the family features “Beethoven” and “Beethoven’s 2nd,” as well as the HBO telefilm “The Late Shift,” which received seven Emmy nominations. Other producing endeavors include “Heavy Metal,” Howard Stern’s “Private Parts,” the animation/live action film “Space Jam,” which teamed Michael Jordan with the Looney Toons characters; and the teen comedy hits “Road Trip,” “Eurotrip” and “Old School” starring Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and Luke Wilson.

In 1984, Reitman was honored as Director of the Year by the National Association of Theater Owners and the next year received a Special Achievement Award at the Canadian Genie awards. In 1979, and again in 1989, for the films “Animal House” and “Twins,” Reitman was honored with the People’s Choice Award. In November of 1994, Reitman became the third director honored by Variety with a special “Billion Dollar Director” issue. At the end of 2000, Reitman’s films “Animal House” and “Ghostbusters” were honored as two of this past century’s funniest movies by the American Film Institute. He currently heads The Montecito Picture Company, a film and television production company with partner Tom Pollock, in association with DreamWorks, SKG.

Reitman also directed “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” and is the executive producer of the smash Canadian comedy “The Big Dirty” starring the comedy troupe Trailer Park Boys. He was also the executive producer on the DreamWork’s thriller “Disturbia,” which opened nationwide in April 2007.

Reitman has been married to former Quebec film actress Genevieve Robert for over 30 years. Together, they have three children and live in Santa Barbara, California.

During the tenure of TOM POLLOCK (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) as chairman of the Motion Picture Group, Universal released over 200 films that grossed in excess of $10 billion worldwide, including “Jurassic Park,” “Parenthood,” “Cape Fear,” “Twins,” “The Flintstones,” “Kindergarten Cop,” “Back to the Future” 2 and 3, “Casper,” “Waterworld,” “Backdraft,” “Beethoven,” “Beethoven’s 2nd,” “Do the Right Thing,” “Fried Green Tomatoes,” “Sneakers” and “Lorenzo’s Oil.” Also during his tenure, Universal received seven Academy Award® Best Picture nominations, including one for “Schindler’s List,” which won the top honor in 1993. Other Best Picture nominees include “Field of Dreams,” “Born on the Fourth of July,” “Scent of a Woman,” “In the Name of the Father,” “Apollo 13” and “Babe.” Further, Pollock was responsible for bringing numerous creative talents to the studio, including Ivan Reitman, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment, Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, George Miller, Jon Avnet, Martin Brest, Rob Cohen, Phil Alden Robinson, Jim Sheridan, James Cameron and Larry Gordon. He was also the executive producer on recently released films including “The Uninvited” and “I Love You, Man” for Dreamworks, as well as the upcoming “Post Grad” for Fox Atomic.

Pollock played a key role in the creation of United Cinemas International (UCI), a joint venture with Paramount Pictures, which has become the largest exhibitor outside North America, with nearly 700 multiplex screens. He also formed Gramercy Pictures with Polygram in 1992.

During his tenure as vice chairman of MCA, Pollock forged its alliance with DreamWorks SKG, and the interactive arcade venture Gameworks among Sega, DreamWorks and MCA.

In 1998, Pollock and director/producer Ivan Reitman formed The Montecito Picture Company. Montecito produced “Road Trip,” “Evolution,” “Old School,” “Eurotrip” and “Disturbia.” In 2006, Pollock and Reitman then set up Cold Spring Pictures with Merrill Lynch and other financial partners, which will co-finance pictures produced by Montecito.

Tom Pollock has a BA from Stanford University (1964) and received a JD from Columbia University (1967). He is a member of the California Bar Association, the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American Film Institute, a trustee of the American Museum of the Moving Image, Adjunct Professor of Film at the University of California at Santa Barbara, and a former trustee of the Los Angeles Music Center. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of MCA INC. and Cineplex-Odeon Corporation. Pollock was a founding partner in the law firm of Pollock, Bloom and Dekom.

JEFFREY CLIFFORD (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) runs production for The Montecito Picture Company – the partnership between Ivan Reitman and Tom Pollock. Clifford is producing “Post Grad” for Fox Atomic and is currently serving as executive producer on both “Hotel for Dogs” and “I Love You, Man” starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segal.

Prior to working at Montecito, Clifford served as vice president of production at Warner Bros., where he oversaw “Firewall” with Harrison Ford and “The Fountain” directed by Darren Aronofsky.  Before that he was the vice president of production at Walt Disney/Touchstone Pictures for six years.  While there he oversaw “The Royal Tennenbaums” directed by Wes Anderson, “The 25th Hour” directed by Spike Lee, “Unbreakable” directed by M. Night Shyamalan, “The Last Shot” directed by Jeff Nathanson and “Ladykillers” directed by The Coen brothers, among others.

Clifford started his career as an independent producer in New York, where he produced “Safe Men” directed by John Hamburg.

MICHAEL GRADY’s (DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY) feature work includes 2003’s “Wonderland” directed by James Cox, with Val Kilmer, Lisa Kudrow, Kate Bosworth, Josh Lucas, Dylan McDermott, and Eric Bogosian and released by Lionsgate. He shot Warner Independent’s “Around the Bend” directed by Jordan Roberts, starring Christopher Walken, Josh Lucas and Michael Caine. “Around the Bend” was released in 2004 and won the Special Grand Jury Prize and Best Actor at the Montreal World Film Festival, as well as best feature at the San Diego Film Festival and The Sao Paulo International Film Festival.  Grady also shot “Neverwas” starring Aaron Eckhart, Brittany Murphy, Ian McKellen, William Hurt, Nick Nolte and Jessica Lange.

Released by Lionsgate in 2007, “Bug” directed by William Friedkin and starring Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon and Harry Connick Jr. was his next project. “Bug” won the Director’s Fortnight Critics Award in the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Following that was “Factory Girl,” which was released in February 2007 by the Weinstein Company.  “Factory Girl” stars Sienna Miller, Guy Pierce and Hayden Christensen. Also released in February 2007 was “The Dead Girl” with Toni Collette, Marcia Gay Harden, Brittany Murphy, Josh Brolin, James Franco, Rose Byrne, Mary Beth Hurt, Kerry Washington and Giovanni Ribisi. “The Dead Girl” won the Special Grand Prize at the 2007 Deauville Film Festival and was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards including Best Feature, Best Director and Best Supporting Female. Grady’s most recent movie is Fox Searchlight’s “Notorious,” a biography of The Notorious B.I.G. starring Derek Luke, Anthony Mackie, Angela Bassett and Jamal Woolard. “Notorious” was directed by George Tillman. Commercials and music videos also are a current focus.

Grady’s early film work and background included graduating from the American Film Institute in 1995 and subsequently shooting many short films, music videos and numerous independent features that enjoyed success at film festivals worldwide including Sundance, Cannes, South by Southwest, Avignon and Chicago Underground. Grady’s documentary feature work includes the Academy Award® finalist and DGA nominee, “Beyond the Mat” from Imagine. “Beyond The Mat” was released in 2000 and won Best Documentary Feature at SXSW and the Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award. Further, between 1999 and 2002, Grady was director of photography on over 60 hours of narrative television series and pilots for Warner Bros, CBS, Fox, USA/Sci-Fi, Universal and Paramount.

WILLIAM SANDELL (PRODUCTION DESIGNER) first received critical acclaim for his contributions to the sci-fi hit “Robo-cop,” directed by Paul Verhoeven. In 1989, he re-teamed with Verhoeven on the blockbuster sci-fi thriller “Total Recall” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Originally an artist who created kinetic sculptures, Sandell was encouraged by his friends to transfer his talents to the film business. His first credit was an art department assistant on Martin Scorsese’s “Mean Streets.” He assisted the art department in various capacities on a number of Roger Corman-produced films before becoming art director on Jonathan Demme’s “Fighting Mad.”

Since then, as a production designer, he has contributed to the look of Anthony Page’s “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden,” Gilbert Cates’ “The Promise,” Bill Persky’s “Serial,” Jeffrey Blon’s “Blood Beach,” Ken Finklemans’ “Airplane II: The Sequel,” Art Linson’s “The Wild Life” and Joel Schumacher’s “St. Elmo’s Fire.”

In 1988, Sandell teamed up with “Airplane’s” Jim Abrahams for Touchstone Pictures’ “Big Business” starring Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin. He then worked on the Warner Bros. comedy “Nothing But Trouble” starring Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Demi Moore and John Candy.

Sandell teamed with director/choreographer Kenny Ortega for Disney’s turn of the century musical “Newsies.” In 1992, he re-teamed with Kenny Ortega for the highly stylized sets of “Hocus Pocus” starring Bette Midler and, a year later, served as production designer on Universal’s blockbuster “The Flintstones.”

In 1994, Sandell completed work on director Wolfgang Petersen’s biological action thriller “Outbreak” starring Dustin Hoffman and Morgan Freeman, then designed the sets for the Steven Segal action film “The Glimmer Man,” Petersen’s “Air Force One” and “The Perfect Storm,” the Renny Harlin hit summer film “Deep Blue Sea,” “Dr. Dolittle 2” and “The First $20 Million is Always the Hardest,” based on the best-selling book.

Sandell’s design work for Peter Weir’s “Master and Commander” earned him an Academy Award® nomination and won him the BAFTA Award for production design. Sandell subsequently designed the John Woo film “Paycheck” starring Ben Affleck and Uma Thurman. Then, back with Wolfgang Petersen for “The Poseidon Adventure,” filling Warner Bros.’ soundstages with some of the largest stage sets ever built for a film. Sandell also designed the sci-fi thriller “Next” starring Nicolas Cage and Julianne Moore.

SHELDON KAHN, A.C.E. (EDITOR) won the BAFTA Award and received an Academy Award® nomination for co-editing “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” and earned a second Oscar® nomination for co-editing “Out of Africa.” He was associate producer of Ivan Reitman’s “Legal Eagles,” “Ghostbusters II,” “Twins,” “Kindergarten Cop,” “Junior,” “Beethoven’s 2nd” and “Six Days, Seven Nights.” He was also co-producer of “Casual Sex.”

Kahn’s many feature editing credits also include “My Super Ex-Girlfriend,” “Be Cool,” “Evolution,” “Father’s Day,” “Dave,” “The Electric Horseman,” “Absence of Malice,” “Private Benjamin,” “Same Time Next Year” and “La Bamba.”

BETH PASTERNAK’s, C.D.G. (COSTUME DESIGNER) credits include “Killshot,” “Where the Truth Lies,” “A Home at the End of the World” and “Knockaround Guys.” She received the Genie Award for Best Achievement in Costume Design for her work on the film, “Ararat.”

Her other credits include “Committed,” “St. Jude,” “The New Jersey Turnpikes,” “Dirty Work,” “Curtis Charm,” Dance Me Outside” and “The Top of His Head.” She was nominated for a Genie Award for her work on the film “The Sweet Hereafter.”

JOHN DEBNEY (MUSIC) has built a solid reputation scoring films in all genres. His nearly 100 film credits include “The Passion of the Christ,” for which he received an Oscar® nomination; “Idlewild,” a Prohibition-era musical starring Outkast and featuring famed trumpeter Arturo Sandoval; the animated films “Barnyard” and “Chicken Little,” the comic-book inspired “Sin City,” and the comedies “Elf” and “Liar, Liar.”

In addition to an Academy Award® nomination, Debney has received numerous Emmy nominations, a Dove Award and Gold Record for “The Passion of the Christ” and a CUE award for the videogame score for “Lair.” He is the youngest recipient of the prestigious ASCAP Henry Mancini Award for Career Achievement.  Other film music awards include the Ubeda Spain International Film Music Conference, Turks & Caicos International Film Festival and the Ischia Italy Film Festival. As a conductor, Debney has performed concerts of his music with leading orchestras throughout the United States and Europe. His Passion Symphony in Rome was attended by dignitaries of the Vatican.

  John Debney’s ability to deliver the perfect score has allowed him repeat performances with many directors. For Garry Marshall, Debney scored the black comedy “Georgia Rule,” as well as “Princess Diaries 1 & 2” and “Raising Helen;” for Tom Shadyac, he scored “Evan Almighty” and “Bruce Almighty.”  Upcoming, Debney returns to work with Robert Rodriguez – for whom he scored “Spy Kids 1 & 2,” “The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl” and “Sin City” – to score “Sin City 2 & 3.”  His recent score to Lionsgate’s “My Best Friend’s Girl” marks his third collaboration with Howard Deutsch, for whom he scored “The Whole Ten Yards” and “The Replacements.” 

In addition to repeated performances with major directors, Debney continues to expand his repertoire, which is apparent on the Rob Cohen-directed “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.”

MARK FORBES (ANIMAL COORDINATOR) grew up in Southern Oregon. He moved to Los Angeles in 1984 to attend the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program at Moorpark College. After graduating, he worked in the Dolphin & Sea Lion show at Knott’s Berry Farm for a year and a half. In 1987, Forbes started working for Birds & Animals Unlimited as an animal trainer in the Universal Studios Animal Actors Show, which he later managed for four years.

Forbes quickly began television and film work. He trained and worked Dreyfuss, the long-running character on the television show “Empty Nest.” His first major character in a feature film was Pongo in “101 Dalmatians.”

Forbes has displayed his skills as head trainer on films such as “Dr. Dolittle,” “102 Dalmatians,” “Homeward Bound II” and “Wonder Boys.” He has also been the animal coordinator, overseeing all of the animal work, on “Dr. Dolittle 2,” “Hidalgo,” “Because of Winn Dixie,” “The Shaggy Dog,” ”Evan Almighty,” “Prince Caspian” and the upcoming “Marley & Me.”

Forbes is currently the General Manager of Birds & Animals Unlimited and lives in the San Fernando Valley.

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