FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES Presents In ... - Central-Kino

FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES 

Presents 

In Association with SUCH MUCH FILMS and RHINO FILMS 

JOHN HAWKES 

HELEN HUNT 

and WILLIAM H. MACY 

N BLOODGOOD 

ANNIKA MARKS 

RHEA PERLMAN 

W. EARL BROWN 

ROBIN WEIGERT 

BLAKE LINDSLEY 

MING LO 

JENNIFER KUMIYAYA 

RUSTY SCHWIMMER 

JAMES MARTINEZ 

with ADAM ARKIN 

MOO 

WRITTEN FOR THE SCREEN 

AND DIRECTED BY ...........................................BEN LEWIN 

PRODUCED BY ...................................................JUDI LEVINE 

..............................................................................STEPHEN NEMETH 

..............................................................................BEN LEWIN 

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS .................................MAURICE SILMAN 

..............................................................................JULIUS COLMAN 

..............................................................................DOUGLAS BLAKE 

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY .......................GEOFFREY SIMPSON, ACS 

EDITOR ................................................................LISA BROMWELL, A.C.E. 

PRODUCTION DESIGNER .................................JOHN MOTT 

COSTUME DESIGNER ........................................JUSTINE SEYMOUR 

MUSIC BY ...........................................................MARCO BELTRAMI 

CASTING .............................................................RONNIE YESKEL, CSA 

Running time 95 minutes 

1

Based on the poignantly optimistic autobiographical writings of California–based 

journalist and poet Mark O’Brien, THE SESSIONS tells the story of a man who lived 

most of his life in an iron lung who is determined - at age 38 - to lose his virginity. With 

the help of his therapist and the guidance of his priest, he sets out to make his dream a 

reality. 

Fox Searchlight Pictures presents, in association with Such Much Films and 

Rhino Films, THE SESSIONS with a cast including John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, and 

William H. Macy. The film also stars Moon Bloodgood, Annika Marks, Rhea Perlman, 

W. Earl Brown, Robin Weigert, Blake Lindsley, Ming Lo, Jennifer Kumiyama, Rusty 

Schwimmer, James Martinez with Adam Arkin. The film is written for the screen and 

directed by Ben Lewin. The producers are Judi Levine, Stephen Nemeth and Ben Lewin. 

The executive producers are Maurice Silman, Julius Colman and Douglas Blake. The 

creative team includes director of photography Geoffrey Simpson, production designer 

John Mott, ACS, film editor Lisa Bromwell, A.C.E., costume designer Justine Seymour 

and music by Marco Beltrami. 

2

Director's Statement 

Mark O’Brien’s article, “On Seeing a Sex Surrogate,” was effectively the blueprint for the 

screenplay of The Sessions, but my take on the subject matter and the characters changed and 

expanded as the journey progressed. For instance, in tracking down the rights to the article, I 

came across one of the most gratifying ironies of Mark’s story – what he thought would never 

happen – did, in fact happen. 

Mark had given up hope of ever having the kind of close and enduring relationship with a woman 

that non-disabled people seemed to enjoy, and he expressed this in his article. His tone was sad, 

despondent and pessimistic, but the melancholic ending he wrote had an unexpected and joyful 

coda: her name was Susan Fernbach. 

In the last few years of his life, Susan was his lover, companion and literary collaborator. She 

described their time together as magical. Apart from the positive ending that she represented, her 

insights and intimate observations of Mark made it possible to construct a different and more 

complex screen character than I would otherwise have been able to conceive. 

The other event that significantly changed my approach to the screenplay was meeting and 

getting to know Cheryl Cohen-Greene, the original surrogate, now a grandmother and still 

practicing her craft. Her candor and the detail of her recollections helped me redefine a biopic 

into a relationship movie that I felt much more confident writing. 

I believe there is a popular assumption that filmmaking is fun. I don’t know where people get 

this idea. Certainly, the anticipation can be fun, and the result can sometimes be fun but, for me, 

the actual filming is typically very stressful, every day is peppered with conflicts and 

misunderstandings, and it is a relief to get home and go to bed. 

But The Sessions was the exception that proved the rule. Shooting this movie was a unique 

experience. It was beyond fun, it was joyful and, when it was over, it was painfully sad. 

-- Ben Lewin 

Director/Writer, THE SESSIONS 

3

“I was undressed, she was undressed, and it seemed normal. How startling! 

I had half-expected God — or my parents — to keep this moment from happening.” 

-- Mark O’Brien, On Seeing a Sex Surrogate 

THE SESSIONS is the true story of poet and journalist Mark O’Brien who, at the unlikely age 

of 38, sets out to lose his virginity – under rather challenging circumstances. Veteran actor John 

Hawkes plays O’Brien in a powerful performance that transcends the physical limitations of the role. 

Having survived a bout of childhood polio, O’Brien spends a significant part of his time in an 

iron lung for all but a few hours each week. Most would have difficulty imagining that he could lead 

an ordinary love life -- but not being ordinary did not stop Mark. Ferreting out the humor, optimism 

and even faith from his tricky situation, Mark is determined to taste all he possibly can of life, 

including the emotional and physical pleasures that had eluded him. So, he makes the bold decision to 

stop dreaming of love and hire a pro: a sex surrogate who can give him a chance at experiencing 

intimacy in his own inimitable way. 

The funny, moving and life-changing set of lessons that ensues in these surrogate sessions 

became the topic of O’Brien’s 1990 article “On Seeing a Sex Surrogate,” which he published in the 

literary magazine The Sun. The article broke wide open the taboo of talking publicly about sex and 

disability, but did it in such an honest, witty and warm way that it seemed anyone, no matter who they 

were, could relate. 

One person who related to O’Brien’s story on an especially personal level was filmmaker Ben 

Lewin. Like O’Brien, Lewin had contracted polio as a child. Like O’Brien, it didn’t keep him from a 

successful career. When Lewin stumbled upon O’Brien’s sex surrogate article on the internet, he felt 

it could be the basis of a film. Was it possible to make a dynamic, relatable and even deeply moving 

film about a man with a significant disability? Taking his cue from O’Brien’s writing, Lewin 

envisioned something humor-filled and unsentimentally true to life. He saw the script as not just about 

a guy’s middle-aged quest to end his virginity but about how a man comes to terms with his body, his 

manhood and the full measure of what makes a life worth living. 

Lewin then brought this unusual tale to life with a devoted cast in roles unlike any on screen – 

with John Hawkes portraying O’Brien, Helen Hunt taking on Cheryl Cohen-Greene, and William H. 

4

Macy as the priest who lends Mark his blessing, and his ear, as he attempts to explore life’s mysteries. 

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it took home the coveted Audience Award 

and the Jury Prize for ensemble cast. 

Ben Lewin says he always saw THE SESSIONS as a love story – albeit a different kind from 

any most people have ever seen. “It doesn’t follow the usual blueprint of love stories,” he admits. 

“But I felt if I could do with the film what Mark had done to me with the power and authenticity of his 

writing, that would be something. I think his story is something genuinely unexpected.” 

While Lewin’s own experience with polio gave him an authentic perspective, he says his first 

loyalty was to getting O’Brien’s razor-sharp and lyrical voice on the screen. “I was also in an iron lung 

when I first contracted polio, but I don’t remember the experience,” the writer-director explains. 

“Gradually I recovered the use of my upper body and some use of my lower limbs. I think Mark’s 

emotional journey was unique to him and, at the same time, I think it will be relatable to many 

people.” 

Since O’Brien himself passed away in 1999 at the age of 49, Lewin relied on his writings, 

interviews and also on O’Brien’s eventual life partner, Susan Fernbach -- whom O’Brien met after 

Cheryl Cohen-Greene. Together they created a rich, life-like portrait of a man known for his biting 

honesty and his sharp self-depreciating wit. 

“Susan was my major window into who Mark was, and was a kind of soul mate for me as the 

script and film progressed,” says Lewin. “She gave me a lot of insight into Mark and related many 

funny and harrowing events that actually happened to him. Things like the fact that the cat would 

sometimes brush past his nose and make him itch insufferably – that was from real life,” comments 

Lewin. “And Cheryl did take a mirror into one of her sessions and say to him ‘This is your body.’ 

When the power cuts out on his iron lung, that is also true. It seems these might be made up for 

dramatic purposes, but they’re not. It was just a matter of figuring out where these real events would 

work best in the narrative.” 

As he wrote, Lewin also got to know Cheryl Cohen-Greene, the woman who grew to admire 

O’Brien as she dove into new territory with him in their sessions: Cohen-Greene was direct and open 

with the writer/director. “The first meeting with Cheryl was a crucial event. At one point, she asked if I 

minded if she referred to her notes,” Lewin recalls. “‘Notes?’ I thought. They were the notes of a 

clinical therapist, not of a sex worker. For the first time, I had an insight into what a fascinating person 

she was.” 

He continues: “She really helped to transform the movie from what could have been a biopic 

into the story of relationships. Having her side of the story was a real treasure because it became a 

journey for two people.” 

5

To join these two real-life characters who so profoundly touched one another’s lives, Lewin 

invented a third – Father Brendan, a fictional parish priest who is based on the reality that O’Brien was 

a practicing Catholic who, in his angst over the moral predicament of his virginity, consulted several 

priests, at least one of whom recommended that he have sex. “Religion was a fundamental part of 

Mark’s life, and I felt it was important to reflect that, as well as his idea that sex had a spiritual 

dimension,” says Lewin. “It’s also true that he had several close relationships with priests.” 

O’Brien’s engaging descriptions of his sessions undoubtedly came in part from his expressive 

side as a poet and Lewin wanted to capture this on screen. Lewin opens the movie with an O’Brien 

poem about the act of breathing, which helps to drop the audience into his exceptional reality. 

“Breathing was a very important aspect of Mark’s life, which is something everyone else takes for 

granted,” notes Lewin. 

Lewin began working with Such Much Films producer Judi Levine -- who also happens to be 

his wife – to find support in the filmmaking world. As Levine watched the screenplay develop, she 

was sure it would inspire others. “The film works on several levels -- as the story of a guy who wants 

to lose his virginity, as a story that shows how much people are capable of enduring and as a story 

about what it’s like to have that first experience of sex, no matter who you are… I think that’s why the 

audiences who have seen it so far have universally responded to it,” she says. 

Producer Stephen Nemeth, head of Rhino Films, also had a visceral emotional response to the 

script. “I fell in love,” he summarizes. “I’ve always been intrigued by Ben Lewin’s intellect and his 

wicked sense of humor, and that is what he brought to this story. It is a story that could easily have 

been maudlin, but he nailed it tonally in all the right ways. The story has some tragedy, but you don’t 

feel sorry for anyone. The story is also hysterically funny, but it’s not quite a comedy. It’s a story 

about perceived underdogs and it is unexpectedly triumphant.” 

“I doubted I deserved to be loved. My frustrated sexual feelings seemed 

to be just another curse inflicted upon me by a cruel God.” 


In the last couple of years, actor John Hawkes has played some of the most complex characters 

and grittiest roles in cinema and television – including his Oscar®-nominated turn as the backwoods 

meth dealer who tries to help his niece in WINTER’S BONE, the Wild West merchant Sol on 

“Deadwood,” and an alluring cult leader in MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE. In playing Mark 

O’Brien in THE SESSIONS, Hawkes takes on another memorable role capturing O’Brien’s untiring 

spirit, self-effacing wit and the significant physical challenges that take him into a very different daily 

reality. 

6

When he received the script, Hawkes had a tower of high-profile screenplays to choose from. 

But THE SESSIONS stood out from the pack. “Bottom line, it was the script that got me,” says 

Hawkes. “It was just such a beautifully drawn story. It reviews just a small piece of Mark O’Brien’s 

whole life – but in doing so, it tells us something powerful.” 

Lewin was thrilled to have Hawkes take on the role. “Here was an unbelievable actor who 

was ready to go to extraordinary and painful lengths to portray O’Brien’s true physicality so as to give 

a more genuine performance. Once you have that person, you know you have a great starting place,” 

the director says. 

The two met early on for lunch in Los Angeles. “I was as charmed by Ben as I was by his 

wonderful script,” Hawkes recalls. “We had a very interesting talk. My first concern and question to 

Ben was ‘Have you considered an actor with a disability for the part?’ He told me he spent a great deal 

of time auditioning many actors, some with disabilities and some of whom ended up in the movie in 

other roles. But there were qualities that he was looking for that he wasn’t seeing in others so he 

considered me. And I’m glad he did.” 

“After I first read Mark’s article, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to use a 

performer with a disability to play Mark. I wanted the telling of the story to feel as authentic as 

possible and this seemed to be the perfect starting point,” said Lewin. “I reached out and sent the 

script to three disability-access organizations in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, but 

without result. In the end, we hired two excellent disabled actors, Jennifer Kumiyama and 

Tobias Forrest to play the other characters with disabilities in the film. They had substantial 

speaking roles, they came with strong acting experience and had excellent comic timing. I would 

work with them again in a heartbeat.” 

Once Hawkes signed on, he began intensive preparation, which started with reading Mark’s 

poetry, articles and his autobiography, How I Became A Human Being, including the essay on which 

the film is based, getting to know O’Brien from the inside out. “I came to think of him as both a writer 

and a fighter,” he explains. “He was a guy who was interested in justice, not just for people with 

disabilities, but human justice. He was someone who wanted to fight the good fight. He was also not a 

person who felt sorry for himself very often. So, from an acting standpoint, it was important to fight 

reflecting self-pity at all times.” 

Hawkes was already familiar with the 1996 Oscar®-nominated short documentary about 

O’Brien, Jessica Yu’s BREATHING LESSONS – a 35-minute film in which the camera focuses on 

O’Brien talking openly about life, death, sex, work and poetry from inside his iron lung. The 

intonation of O’Brien’s distinct voice and the imagery of his mannerisms became an invaluable 

resource. “I think I would have portrayed Mark differently if that documentary didn’t exist,” he 

7

eflects. “It presented a chance to capture his voice, witness his determination and experiences, as well 

as understand the way the iron lung affected his breathing.” 

In addition, Hawkes consulted those who knew O’Brien well, especially his life partner Susan 

Fernbach, who emphasized Mark’s indefatigable sense of humor. “Susan told me that when she and 

Mark were together they often laughed because ‘how much worse could it be?’ They had a sense of 

humor about everything; they called themselves ‘a horizontal lover and a vertical lover.’” Hawkes 

wove that humor through his performance. He explains: “Humor that comes out of low points is 

always the most interesting to me.” 

Mark’s spirited attitude was paramount, but Hawkes also wanted to realistically address 

O’Brien’s body, which had long been an obstacle to the love he sought. While many people believe 

those with polio have no feeling in their limbs, that is far from the case. They have the same amount 

of feeling as anyone else, but lack the motor neurons to move their muscles. Hawkes wanted to 

portray O’Brien’s resulting altered physique without any kind of body double. 

“I knew I would have to contort my body,” he says. “Mark only had about 90 degrees of 

motion with his head and his spine was significantly curved so I began with that reality. You can’t just 

fake that so, along with the props department, we designed something with a soccer-sized foam ball 

that I put under the left side of my spine to curve it without any special effects make-up or CGI.” 

Hawkes admits that his own chiropractor warned him about damaging his own body with this 

body-altering device – dubbed “The Torture Ball” -- but he says what he went through to play the role 

was nothing compared to O’Brien’s lived experience minute by minute, day by day. 

Diving deeper, Hawkes would spend weeks learning to work a mouth-stick with enough 

dexterity to dial the phone and type out articles. He also explored spending time in the narrow realm 

of an iron lung. “It was quite spooky when John entered the iron lung for the first time,” admits 

Lewin. “It felt very real.” 

Yet once production began, Hawkes let go of all the rigid physical training he endured. “I 

tried to kind of forget all of it when the camera rolled,” he explains. “I tried to have it all inside me 

enough to look the other person in the scene in the eye, tell the truth and have a conversation.” 

For Hawkes there was another aspect to the challenge: allowing Mark to get as emotionally 

naked as he gets physically naked with Cheryl in their sessions. It is in those scenes – love scenes that 

break the mold in every way – that Mark’s spirit emerges. Key to this was the organic rapport Hawkes 

developed with Helen Hunt. He says of working with her: “She was very daring to accept the role in 

the first place and then she just stepped up and embodied it, physically and emotionally.” 

8

Says Hunt of working with Hawkes: “In these few weeks of shooting we got to kind of hold 

hands and go into this totally un-chartered territory. I felt so lucky to be working with somebody 

whose talent is shining so radiantly at you.” 

Lewin observes that since Hawkes and Hunt never met, that unfamiliarity only enhanced the 

precarious intimacy of their scenes together. “There was a nervousness the actors had on a personal 

level that worked very positively in the story because the whole point of the beginning of Mark and 

Cheryl’s relationship is how anxious they were, how openly fearful he was and how secretly fearful 

she was. When John and Helen got into bed for the first time, it was a blank page. Whatever they did, 

it was going to be totally fresh and new.” 

For Mark O’Brien’s life partner, Susan Fernbach, Hawkes’ transformation was a haunting 

reminder of Mark’s spirit. “When he smiled exactly like Mark; it was as if he was channeling him,” 

she says. “It gave me goose bumps.” 

“I asked Cheryl whether she thought I deserved to be loved sexually. 

She said she was sure of it.” 


While many unconventional professions have become film subjects, sex surrogacy has not 

been among them. It’s an unusual, easily misunderstood job – part psychologist, part coach, part hired 

sex partner. Mark’s ice-breaking sessions with Cheryl Cohen-Greene, the married Berkeley surrogate 

who agreed to take him on as a client despite his considerable disability, paved the way for him to 

experience true intimacy with a woman. 

To give Cheryl the open-minded, uninhibited mix of toughness and tenderness she needed to 

go on this journey with Mark, the filmmakers turned to Helen Hunt (AS GOOD AS IT GETS, “Mad 

About You”), the Academy Award® winning actress known both for her dramatic versatility and deft 

comic touch. 

“What Helen brings to the role is a real sense of Cheryl’s journey, how she not only changes 

Mark but how little by little, her own vulnerability emerges to the point that you stop seeing her as a 

surrogate and start to see her as a woman,” says Ben Lewin. “One of the things that Helen brought to 

the character is a kind of edge – an attitude of ‘I’m not a charity worker. We’re here to do a job, so 

let’s get down to business.’ But you see her vulnerability when she is undressing Mark in their first 

session. When she says to him for the second time, ‘nice shirt,’ you start to see that this woman is not 

quite as tough as she came on at the beginning.” 

It was the unique way in which the layers of the script unfolded that grabbed Hunt. She was 

intrigued by the challenge of giving Cheryl her due as a professional like any other – and one who 

9

passionately believes in the importance of sexuality to human identity. “Probably the rarest thing in 

my profession is a good story and I thought this one was beautiful,” Hunt says. “It was bold and not 

like anything I’d read before. Cheryl is someone people might think they know, but she very quickly 

defies your expectations. She fired me up with her positive extroversion, her Boston accent and the 

way she saw the world and sex in particular.” 

Hunt also found that, like Cheryl, she related to Mark under the skin. She explains: “I found 

his story to be not about what it’s like to have polio but what it is like to have a body, whatever shape 

it’s in. This is a really positive look at sexuality.” 

Hunt admits that she knew next to nothing about sex surrogacy before she took on the part and 

met Cheryl. But she quickly found that it’s a serious profession -- even if it gets into some awkward 

territory -- one that helps people heal. 

“I can only speak about the one sex surrogate I came to know, Cheryl, but I think having your 

life’s work be helping people have pleasure in their lives and not feel weird or hung up about things, 

that’s a beautiful thing,” Hunt comments. “Cheryl was very enthusiastic about the movie, very open 

and very generous of spirit . . . I asked her everything. And I found that she was someone who came 

to this profession as a kind of calling.” 

“It was a calling,” says Cohen-Greene, who was excited to share her memories and 

experiences with Hunt. “I found it the ideal work because I was on a quest of my own to feel more 

comfortable in my skin and with my own sexuality. Helen was interested in every detail of how I 

talked to Mark in our sessions. She paid a lot of attention to how I would have touched him. I was so 

happy to see she used her hands the way I would have in the film.” 

Like the real Cheryl, Hunt determined she would be forthright, fearless and completely 

unconstrained in her interactions with Hawkes’ character. Working with Hawkes, she could see how a 

surrogate walks a razor’s edge. “When you open your heart to someone, you really open your heart,” 

she muses. “I think with Mark, Cheryl tries to open her heart just enough to close it again, but she’s 

not perfect at it.” 

Their scenes were starkly, sometimes unexpectedly, emotional but Hunt also came to 

appreciate the comedy inherent in a 38 year-old having his first intimate encounter. “Being really 

scared about something and wanting it really badly at the same time can be quite poignant and funny,” 

she observes. 

Ultimately, Hunt says she hoped to capture all the shadings of Cheryl’s time with Mark by 

being as natural as possible while, at the same time, keeping things upbeat and sexy, just as Cheryl did 

in their sessions. She concludes: “Like any work that means anything, this one asked for courage and 

vulnerability. It’s just this film asked for a little more than usual.” 

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“I wanted to be loved. I wanted to be held, caressed, and valued. 

But my self-hatred and fear were too intense.” 


The person who first starts talking sex with Mark O’Brien in THE SESSIONS is an unlikely 

one: his priest, Father Brendan, who finds himself chatting openly with his parishioner not only about 

faith and conviction but the flesh-and-blood mechanics of losing his virginity. 

Taking the role is William H. Macy, whose broad range spans from his Oscar® nominated 

work as hapless Jerry Lundegaard in the Coen Brothers’ classic FARGO to his Emmy®-winning role 

as a salesman with cerebral palsy in “Door To Door” to his current role as the single father to a large 

dysfunctional brood on Showtime’s hit comedy “Shameless.” 

Macy was initially attracted by the subject matter. “It was an unusual script that was very well 

done,” he says. “I liked, first of all, that this is the story of a guy with tenacity and boldness, who says 

‘I want to experience this; I want to be in love; I want to know what sex feels like.’ And second, I 

liked that he makes this happen in a time and place when such things were possible, in the wild and 

woolly 70s and 80s in San Francisco. It’s a great story and I hope it resonates.” 

The first task for Macy was approaching Father Brendan on his own terms – as a man of the 

cloth trying to do the moral thing even if, ironically, that means helping a member of his flock to have 

paid sex, which under other circumstances could certainly be construed as a sin. “I love this priest 

because he is a good man and he makes a beautiful decision,” says Macy. “Father Brendan thinks 

about Mark’s situation and he says ‘I know in my heart that God will give you a free pass on this one. 

Go for it.’ And I adore that about him.” 

Still, Macy understood that it wouldn’t come easy to Father Brendan, especially once the shoot 

began in a real, functioning church. “Shooting in this magnificent California church, we all felt a little 

squeamish talking about sex,” he confesses. “But I think what steels Father Brendan is that he believes 

his church is a place to talk about important things and sex is important.” 

Finding a sly mix of humor and compassion in his rapport with John Hawkes also helped 

Macy to bring the role alive. “John is the real deal,” he comments. “He plays this very complex role 

with a light touch that I really enjoyed. There’s a twinkle in his eye, but he also digs deep. He doesn’t 

add anything but he doesn’t deny anything. It was such great fun to work with him in this role.” 

Most of all, Macy appreciated Lewin’s emphasis on the comedy of the situation, even amidst 

the story’s vivid emotions. “When I talked with Ben about doing this, we both agreed that it was 

important to really bring out the humor,” concludes Macy. “And I think that is what helps the 

audience want to get to know these characters so fully.” 

11

Hawkes was grateful for the chance to work so closely with Macy. “I was elated when I found 

out he wanted to play Father Brendan. I was beside myself,” he recalls. “He brings such an essential 

quality because, while Mark has a lot of humor about him, Bill brings a different kind of humor and a 

humor that is so needed in the film. It comes from his bringing the truth to it.” 

“I fear getting nothing but rejections. But I also fear being accepted and loved. For if this latter 

happens, I will curse myself for all the time and life that I have wasted.” 

-- Mark O’Brien, On Seeing A Sex Surrogate 

Joining John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and William H. Macy in THE SESSIONS is a supporting 

cast who take on the key roles of O’Brien’s friends and personal attendants as he embarks on his 

quixotic middle-aged quest to know sexual intimacy. They include Moon Bloodgood as Vera, the 

architectural student who accompanies him to his sessions; Annika Marks as O’Brien’s crush-worthy 

carer Amanda; Rusty Schwimmer as Joan, Mark’s most humorless caretaker; Jennifer Kumiyama as 

Carmen, whose sex life as a disabled woman encourages O’Brien to pursue his plan; and Adam Arkin 

as Cheryl’s husband, who watches suspiciously when she receives a love poem from O’Brien. 

They all knew that the film would be an experience different from others. “I’d never heard of 

sex surrogates for people with disabilities,” says Bloodgood. “And my character Vera isn’t like any 

I’ve played before. She doesn’t say much, but she’s a doer. At first, she thinks this is just a job, but 

she slowly starts to really care about O’Brien. She’s funny because she’s so direct, to the point, and 

no-nonsense.” 

Marks was drawn to the role of Amanda, despite the fact that she is the attendant who rejects 

his besotted affections. “She breaks his heart but that’s the catalyst for him to go on this quest for 

intimacy,” she explains. “She really does love him, but not in that way.” 

It was especially thrilling for Marks to work so closely with Hawkes. “He was so incredible, I 

don’t have words for it,” she goes on. “Despite the physical and emotional demands of the role he was 

always the most generous person on set.” 

Schwimmer had worked with Hawkes in THE PERFECT STORM, but this was completely 

different, playing the attendant least compatible with O’Brien. “What’s fun about Joan is that she’s 

assisting this man with significant disabilities who has a golden sense of humor, and she’s got squat in 

the humor department! It was interesting to play someone humorless when I’m someone who sees 

humor in everything.” 

Another important woman in O’Brien’s life is Carmen, a friend from the disability community 

with a very satisfying sex life. She is played by Jennifer Kumiyama, who makes her film debut in 

THE SESSIONS. Kumiyama, who was born with a rare birth disability and was crowned Miss 

Wheelchair-2010, says that she needed little preparation to take on the role of Carmen. “I myself don’t 

12

make any excuses for who I am or what I believe or how I feel or how comfortable I am with my body 

or my sexuality so it didn’t really take much for me to relate to Carmen,” she says. 

But Kumiyama does believe that if the film gets people talking more openly about sex and 

disability, that is a very good thing. “I hope this film will bring a lot of awareness to the non-disabled 

community because people don’t usually see those of us in the disability community in a sexual light. 

It’s never ‘hey look at that hot girl’; it’s always ‘hey, look at that hot girl in the chair.’ There is always 

the chair or the disability attached to it. So I think this story is going to open a lot of people’s minds 

and shatter myths.” 

For Adam Arkin, the role of Cheryl’s husband was also eye-opening, as he imagined what it 

would be like to have a wife who explores the mechanics of intimacy with other men as her day job. 

“I could imagine it – but I imagine that it would be filled with challenges,” Arkin confesses. “Even for 

the most evolved of people. Most people’s sexuality comes with a certain sense of attachment and 

issues of possessiveness so I think it would definitely be a challenge.” 

“My desire to love and be loved sexually is equaled by my isolation 

and my fear of breaking out of it..” 


THE SESSIONS traverses two contrasting worlds: the free-wheeling, anything goes 

atmosphere of Berkeley and Mark O’Brien’s personal realm as he leads a full life inside the narrow 

confines of his iron lung. To bring both to life, Ben Lewin worked with a creative team that includes 

cinematographer Geoffrey Simpson, editor Lisa Bromwell, production designer John Mott and 

costume designer Justine Seymour, who focused on an understated realism that allows the characters 

and their inter-relationships to be front and center. 

Simpson used the Red One digital camera to get up close with the cast even in the most 

awkward and vulnerable moments. “Geoffrey was just the most sensitive DP,” says Helen Hunt. “He 

had a sense of humor when you needed it and he gave you quiet when you needed that. He made the 

atmosphere as perfect as it could be for the very intimate scenes.” 

Mott also aimed for a subtlety in the film’s design, bringing in period details that added flavor 

to the story without ever distracting from it. “The humor of the script was really important so I didn’t 

want there to be humor in the design. The comedy had to come out of the dialogue and the situations. 

I thought these things were really crucial to the story’s appeal,” he explains. 

He contrasted Mark’s small, spare apartment which was largely dedicated to his iron lung with 

the more exotic locations where he meets Cheryl -- his disabled friend’s romantic, Japanese-inspired 

bedroom where their first sessions take place and then the typical mid-Century California motel room, 

13

which Mott built on a soundstage. As for Mark’s iron lung, Mott borrowed perhaps the last working 

machine in the state of California from the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in 

order to bring complete authenticity to Hawkes’ portrayal. 

One of the most important things Mott wanted the design to convey is that this was a time 

before instant communication, when there were major logistical challenges for someone in Mark’s 

position to live independently, with the daily help of personal care attendants. “He had real issues with 

communication,” he says. “It was important to have all the right stuff near his iron lung – such as his 

phone and his mouth stick. All these things were a real part of his life and we needed to show that.” 

Working with scenes involving a physically stationary lead character also pushed editor 

Bromwell in new directions. “Usually, you make cuts on motion,” she explains, “but on this film we 

had to throw that out, and we cut on emotion, which is very hard. But we had these extraordinary 

performances and when you have a great performance you can do almost anything with it.” 

Sums up Lewin: “I want the audience to feel that this movie is very different. That they 

haven't been through this kind of experience before and that it is something unexpected. I would like to 

think that this movie is a kind of catharsis – you see it to feel emotion and express emotion yet, at the 

same time, enjoy the experience. I hope people leave the theatre thinking about life in a broader sense, 

even if they're not philosophers, to think outside themselves.” 

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ABOUT THE CAST 

JOHN HAWKES (Mark) has been working non-stop since his critically acclaimed 

performance as Teardrop in WINTER’S BONE, the role which earned him an Independent Spirit 

Award win and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, along with 

nominations from the Screen Actors Guild and several film critic groups, also garnered him the 

Virtuoso Award from the Santa Barbara Film Festival. Next, Hawkes will be seen in Steven 

Spielberg’s LINCOLN. He has also completed production on ARCADIA and THE 

PLAYROOM. Recent releases include HIGHER GROUD with Vera Farmiga, Steven 

Soderbergh’s CONTAGION and the Sundance hit MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, for 

which Hawkes received an Indie Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. 

Hawkes previously starred in ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW which 

won a Special Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. It shared Camera d’Or honors and 

won the International Critics’ Week sidebar at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival and received two 

2006 Independent Spirit Awards nominations. He also starred in and co-produced the 

independent film, BUTTLEMAN, for which he received a Breakout Performance Award at the 

2004 Sedona Film Festival. Additional credits include AMERICAN GANGSTER, MIAMI 

VICE, IDENTITY, THE PERFECT STORM, SMALL TOWN SATURDAY NIGHT, 

HARDBALL, WRISTCUTTERS: A LOVE STORY, THE AMATEURS, FROM DUSK TILL 

DAWN, and A SLIPPING-DOWN LIFE. 

On television, Hawkes has starred in two acclaimed series for HBO. He portrayed Sol 

Star in the critically lauded drama “Deadwood” and now plays Danny McBride’s brother Dustin 

in the comedy “Eastbound and Down.” 

Born and raised in rural Minnesota, Hawkes moved to Austin, Texas, where he began his 

career as an actor and musician. He co-founded the Big State Productions theater company and 

appeared in the group’s original play, In the West at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He 

also starred in the national touring company production of the play Greater Tuna, including 

extended engagements in Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. Hawkes wrote and performed 

the solo play Nimrod Soul at the Theatre at the Improv and appeared on Broadway in 24 Hour 

Plays alongside Sam Rockwell. 

Hawkes has penned several songs featured in films and television shows. His song ‘Bred 

and Buttered’ appears on the WINTER’S BONE soundtrack. With his band King Straggler he 

performed at the Sundance Film Festival, SXSW Music Festival and numerous clubs across the 

15

United States. He is currently writing and recording a new full-length album due for release in 

2012. 

HELEN HUNT (Cheryl) has enjoyed a diverse career not only as an award-winning 

actress, but more recently as an accomplished writer, director and producer. As an actress, her 

extensive and diverse body of work includes roles in film, theater, and television. Most recently, 

Hunt completed work on Steven Bernstein’s DECODING ANNIE PARKER with Samantha 

Morton. 

Other film credits include: SOUL SURFER, EVERY DAY, BOBBY, THEN SHE 

FOUND ME (which Hunt also co-wrote, produced, and directed), AS GOOD AS IT GETS, 

WHAT WOMEN WANT, CASTAWAY, A GOOD WOMAN, Woody Allen’s THE CURSE OF 

THE JADE SCORPION, Robert Altman’s DR. T AND THE WOMEN, PAY IT FORWARD and 

TWISTER. Early career film credits are: THE WATERDANCE, KISS OF DEATH, MR. 

SATURDAY NIGHT, PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED, NEXT OF KIN, GIRLS JUST WANNA 

HAVE FUN, PROJECT X and MILES FROM HOME. 

Some of Hunt’s television work includes “Mad About You” and the critically acclaimed 

HBO Miniseries “Empire Falls.” For her role as Jamie Buchman in “Mad About You,” Hunt 

garnered four Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe® Awards (three as lead actress and one as 

Producer for Best Comedy), and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She also won the Best Actress 

Award at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild and the Oscars for her role in the film AS 

GOOD AS IT GETS. 

Hunt has directed television episodes of “Mad About You,” “The Paul Reiser Show” and 

most recently an upcoming installment of Showtime’s “Californication.” In 2007, she directed 

her first feature film THEN SHE FOUND ME based on a novel by Elinor Lipman. Hunt also cowrote, 

produced and starred in this critically acclaimed and commercially successful film 

opposite Colin Firth, Matthew Broderick, and Bette Midler. 

Hunt is an equally accomplished theater actress who most recently reprised the role of Stage 

Manager in David Cromer’s latest production of Our Town at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica 

this past January and February. Hunt first played the role of Stage Manager in the 2010 New 

York production of Our Town at the Barrow Street Theater. Additional theater credits include 

Twelfth Night (Viola) at Lincoln Center and Life X Three at Circle in the Square Theater. Other 

theatre credits are The Taming of the Shrew at NYSF-Shakespeare in the Park; Been Taken at 

EST; Much Ado About Nothing (Beatrice) at the Shakespeare Center L.A;, The Guys and 

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Methusalem with the Actor’s Gang; The Value of Names at the Skylight Theatre; and Love Letters 

in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston. 

A Los Angeles native, Hunt grew up in an artistic environment. Her father Gordon Hunt is a 

director and respected acting coach. Hunt currently lives in Los Angeles with her partner, Matthew 

Carnahan, her daughter Makena Lei and her stepson Emmett. 

WILLIAM H. MACY (Father Brendan), an Oscar and Golden Globe nominee and 

Emmy and SAG Award winner, is one of the most distinguished talents of his 

generation. Macy currently stars in the Showtime series “Shameless,” which premiered on 

January 9, 2011. He is currently in production on the third season of the series, which will return 

in January 2013. 

He was recently seen in The Weinstein Company’s THE DIRTY GIRL, which was 

released on October 7, 2011. The cast includes Juno Temple, Milla Jovovich and Mary 

Steenburgen. He was also seen in the Lionsgate film LINCOLN LAWYER based on the novel by 

Michael Connelly and starring Matthew McConaughey and Marisa Tomei. 

In 2007, Macy appeared in the global blockbuster WILD HOGS opposite John Travolta, 

Martin Lawrence and Tim Allen. In 2006, Macy appeared in the independent feature BOBBY, 

based on fictionalized events leading up to the assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. 

In 2005, he starred in the independent film EDMUND, an adaptation of the David Mamet play 

and THANK YOU FOR SMOKING opposite Aaron Eckhart. The same year, Macy appeared in 

the marine-based action adventure SAHARA, which also starred Matthew McConaughey and 

Penelope Cruz. In 2004, he appeared in CELLULAR starring opposite Kim Basinger. 

Macy received critical acclaim for his role in the romantic drama THE COOLER. The 

supporting cast included Alec Baldwin, Maria Bello, Shawn Hatosy and Ron Livingston. Macy 

was also seen stealing scenes in the critically-acclaimed feature SEABISCUIT, the American epic 

of triumph and perseverance set during the Great Depression. Macy was nominated for a Golden 

Globe for his role as Tick Tock McLaughlin and the film was nominated for Best Picture. 

Macy may be best known for his portrayal of Jerry Lundergaard in FARGO, for which he 

received an Oscar Nomination and won an Independent Spirit Award as Best Supporting Actor. 

Macy's distinguished film credits include THE DEAL, SPARTAN, IN ENEMY HANDS, 

MAGNOLIA, PLEASANTVILLE, HAPPY TEXAS, STATE AND MAIN, JURASSIC PARK 3, 

FOCUS, WELCOME TO COLLINWOOD, PSYCHO, A CIVIL ACTION, BOOGIE NIGHTS, 

WAG THE DOG, AIR FORCE ONE, GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI, MR. HOLLAND’S OPUS, 

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THE CLIENT, SHADOWS AND FOG, MURDER IN THE FIRST, SEARCHING FOR BOBBY 

FISCHER, RADIO DAYS and PANIC. 

On the small screen, Macy received a 2007 Emmy nomination for his role in “Umney’s 

Last Case,” 2005 Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG Award, Writers Guild Award nominations for “The 

Wool Cap,” 2004 Emmy nomination for his performance in “Stealing Sinatra,” 2000 Emmy 

nomination for his guest role on “Sports night,” 2000 Emmy nomination for “A Slight Case of 

Murder,” and a 1997 Emmy nomination for his guest role on “ER.” Additionally, in 2002, Macy 

received critical acclaim for his role as Bill Porter in “Door to Door” which he also co-wrote. The 

film was nominated for 12 Emmys and won six including Outstanding Made for Television 

Movie. Macy won the Outstanding Lead Actor category and Outstanding Writing for a Television 

Movie category with Steven Schachter. 

His movie of the week credits include "Reversible Errors," "A Murderous Affair," "Heart 

of Justice," "Standoff at Marion," and the miniseries' "Andersonville," "The Murder of Mary 

Phagan" and "The Awakening Land." In addition to the politically charged BBC telefilm "The 

Writing on the Wall," Macy also appeared in two Mamet vehicles, "The Water Engine" and 

Showtime's "Texan." Also with Steven Schachter, Macy has written several television scripts, 

including an episode of "Thirtysomething," the HBO movie "Above Suspicion" and the USA 

Networks movie "The Con" starring Macy and Rebecca DeMornay. He also was seen on the 

small screen in a regular guest role in the Showtime original series "Out of Order," also starring 

Eric Stoltz, Felicity Huffman, Kim Dickens and Justine Bateman. 

In 1972, Macy co-founded the St. Nicholas Theater along with David Mamet, and Steven 

Schachter in Chicago. Macy originated roles for several of Mamet's classic original productions, 

among them, Bobby in American Buffalo, and Lang in The Water Engine, soon establishing his 

feature film presence with writer/director Mamet. He continued with Mamet as a Mafioso driver 

in Things Change, a Marine in House of Games and an FBI agent in Wag the Dog. Moving to 

New York in 1980, he continued to build his reputation in theater as an originator of new roles, in 

such off-Broadway productions as Baby with the Bathwater, The Dining Room (later filmed for 

PBS - "Great Performances") Life During Wartime, Mr. Gogol and Mr. Preen, Bodies, Rest and 

Motion, and Mamet's Prarie du Chen, Oh Hell and Oleanna. His stage credits, approaching 50 

during his 10 years in New York, also include the Broadway production of Our Town, Tony® 

Award winner for Best Ensemble. Macy was also seen on the London stage in the spring of 

2000, where he co-starred in the revival of David Mamet's American Buffalo at the Donmar 

Warehouse. Following the run in London, the play moved to the Atlantic Theater Company in 

New York for a record breaking run. 

18

daughters. 

Macy is married to actress Felicity Huffman. They reside in Los Angeles with their two 

MOON BLOODGOOD (Vera) is an exotic actress from Korean, Dutch, and Irish 

decent, who is quickly becoming known for her work in all aspects of film and television. 

Bloodgood started her career as a professional dancer and at a young age, landed a coveted spot 

to join the Los Angeles Lakers Girls team. Her love for hip-hop led to touring gigs with Prince, 

Brandi and the rock band The Offspring. Her striking beauty bedazzled many photographers 

who encouraged her to expand her outlets of expression and pursue modeling. A trip to New 

York proved to be lucrative, when Bloodgood found herself modeling for cosmetic giants Revlon, 

L’Oreal and Avon. Famed photographer David LaChapelle shot her Diesel campaign and soon 

after, she was featured in both the Adidas and Nike Woman campaigns. Bloodgood was also 

featured in People Magazine’s World’s Most Beautiful issue in 2006 and 2009. 

The Dreamworks film WIN A DATE WITH TODD HAMILTON was Bloodgood’s first 

feature film debut, playing opposite Josh Duhamel. Soon after, she was starring opposite Ashton 

Kutcher in Disney’s A LOT LIKE LOVE, and STREET FIGHTER as a tough Thai detective on a 

mission to bring down an evil empire. Other film roles include WHAT JUST HAPPENED? Costarring 

Robert DeNiro, the 20 th Century Fox fantasy film PATHFINDER from director Marcus 

Nispel, the independent film MOONLIGHT SERENADE opposite Amy Adams and the highly 

acclaimed independent drama A BEAUTIFUL BOY opposite Maria Bello and Michael Sheen. 

In television, Bloodgood has starred in the ABC series “Daybreak” opposite Taye Diggs, 

“Burn Notice” opposite Jeffrey Donovan, and as the female lead in the NBC series “Journeyman” 

opposite Kevin McKidd. 

Bloodgood currently stars in the Steven Spielberg-produced television series “Falling 

Skies” opposite Noah Wyle, which had the highest-rated series debut in 2011 on TNT in network 

history. The show is currently in production for its third season. 

Bloodgood currently resides in Los Angeles. 

ANNIKA MARKS’ (Amanda) film work includes Columbia Pictures’ MONA LISA 

SMILE, IFC’s THE UNDESERVED and the award winning shorts HARD TO COME BY and 

THE MUSHROOM SESSIONS. Annika has worked extensively in theatre, most recently 

appearing in the leading role of Lulu in the world premiere of Nicholas Kazan’s Mlle. She also 

appeared in God for Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA for which she was the 2011 LA StageScene 

winner for Best Actress/Comedy-Drama. In 2010, she won the LA StageScene award for Best 

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Actress/Drama for her work as Bethany in the world premiere of Wendy Graf’s play Behind the 

Gates. She has performed in over a dozen other plays in LA and NYC. In television, she was a 

recent guest star on “Southland” and starred in the pilot presentation “Mama and Son.” She coadapted 

and produced the short film ME, YOU, A BAG & BAMBOO which had a successful 

film festival circuit run, was distributed by Shorts International and is available on iTunes. 

Annika is attached to the upcoming films JOE’S MOUNTAIN written and to be directed by 

Chuck Rose, A GREAT EDUCATION written and to be directed by Chris Keyser, and 

ANYTHING written and to be directed by Tim McNeil, which she is also producing alongside 

Micah Hauptman, Ofrit Peres and Mark Ruffalo. Marks is a graduate of the Circle in the Square 

Theatre School. She is a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre-Los Angeles and Safehouse, a 

writers/actors collaborative created by Jim Uhls. 

RHEA PERLMAN (Mikvah Lady) has been a star of television, stage and film for 

more than 30 years. Perlman is a four-time Emmy winner for her role as Carla on the NBC hit 

“Cheers.” She was nominated an unprecedented 10 times during the 11-year series and appeared 

in all 273 episodes. 

In 2010 Perlman appeared onstage with her daughter, Lucy, in Norah and Delia Ephron’s 

Broadway hit Love, Loss and What I Wore at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. The pair 

previously performed together in the Broadway edition of the same play. 

Perlman starred in the Broadway production of The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, the Off- 

Broadway play The Exonerated and the London West End revival of Boeing-Boeing. Her 

performance as the forbearing housekeeper, Bertha, earned rave reviews. 

Perlman recently starred in LOVE COMES LATELY, earning praise for her role as the 

long-suffering lover Reisel and in the family film BEETHOVEN: THE REEL STORY for 

Universal Home Entertainment. Other feature film credits include SUNSET PARK, CANADIAN 

BACON, CARPOOL and MATILDA, which was directed by and also starred her husband, 

Danny DeVito. 

Perlman has starred in more than 15 television movies, including Hallmark’s “Oliver’s 

Ghost,” “The Christmas Choir,” “Houdini,” “Secret Cutting” and “How to Marry a Billionaire.” 

Her other television credits include the role of Zena in “Taxi,” a recurring role as Tanya in HBO’s 

“Hung,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Kate Brasher” and “Pearl,” which she both starred in and 

executive produced. 

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Perlman began writing children’s books in 2005, producing a six-book series entitled 

Otto Undercover, about a precocious kid who is a racecar driver and secret agent who loves 

wordplay and palindromes. 

Born in Brooklyn, Perlman graduated from Hunter College in New York with a Theatre 

degree and was later awarded an honorary doctorate in Fine Arts. She is a mother of three and a 

well-known children’s advocate recognized for her involvement in a variety of charities, 

including Los Angeles’ Best, Children’s Action Network, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles 

Diabetes Center. Perlman regularly blogs on Huffington Post, introducing kids in Los Angeles 

County foster care who are eligible for adoption. In 2010 she received the National Angel Award 

from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s Angels in Adoption. She also 

successfully campaigned for the passage of California Fostering Connections to Success Act (AB 

12), which allows children who turn 18 the option to remain in the foster care system until the age 

of 21. A champion of children’s literacy, Perlman supports public libraries. 

Perlman lives with her family in Los Angeles. 

W. EARL BROWN (Rod) comes from a long line of bootleggers and used car dealers— 

the perfect lineage for becoming a writer and actor. Born in Golden Pond, Kentucky, Brown 

grew up performing for his family on the front porch and playing Lone Ranger in the backyard 

with his Fanner Fifty cap guns and his vast Johnny West and G.I Joe collection. It wasn’t until he 

moved to Chicago many years later that he truly pursued his dreams. 

Brown received his Master of Fine Arts from DePaul University’s Theatre School in 

1989. After graduation, he performed in numerous plays around Chicago, but it was his 

performance in A View from the Bridge at the Steppenwolf Theatre that catapulted his career into 

television and film. Brown’s Chicago resume included BACKDRAFT, THE BABE, 

EXCESSIVE FORCE, and ROOKIE OF THE YEAR along with several television roles. 

Having hit the proverbial glass ceiling by 1993, Brown moved to Los Angeles. 

Auditioning for Wes Craven was a landmark for Earl as he was cast in Wes Craven’s NEW 

NIGHTMARE, which led to A VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN, which, in turn, led to the hit 

SCREAM. Two years later, Earl played the breakout role of Cameron Diaz's mentally challenged 

brother Warren in THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY. Other past films credits include the 

Oscar nominated BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, VANILLA SKY, DANCING AT THE BLUE 

IGUANA, THE ALAMO, and THE BIG WHITE. 

His numerous guest star roles on television include shows such as “Luck,” “American 

Horror Story,” “Justified,” “Six Feet Under,” “NYPD Blue,” “X-Files,” “The Mentalist,” “CSI: 

21

Crime Scene Investigation,” and “Seinfeld” as well as lead roles in three pilots. His starring role 

in VH1’s “Meatloaf: To Hell and Back” was amongst the several television movies with which he 

has been involved. 

Brown played Dan Dority in HBO’s “Deadwood.” During the show’s second season, the 

show’s creator David Milch invited Brown to join the show’s writing staff. In 2007, Earl earned a 

WGA nomination for writing on a drama series and a SAG nomination for best drama ensemble 

acting. Establishing himself on a show as critically lauded as “Deadwood” opened doors for other 

writing projects. In 2011, Sony released BLOODWORTH, a film produced and written by 

Brown. Along with his producing partner, Shane Taylor, he is currently developing BOMBERS, 

the true story of the 1956 Frederick Oklahoma Bombers who are the only high school football 

team enshrined in the Jim Thorpe Sports Hall Of Fame. 

Brown is also set to appear in the highly anticipated Paul Thomas Anderson film THE 

MASTER, starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, which explores the formation of a science fiction 

based religion in post-war America. 

July 4, 2013, will see Brown’s life come full circle with the release of Disney’s THE 

LONE RANGER in which Brown gets to wear a real badge, fire a real pistol, and die in the first 

big action sequence. 

Whereas it's often easy for actors to get quickly categorized in the industry, Brown has 

managed to escape typecasting. His career runs the gamut from television to film, music, and 

theatre — from comedy to drama to musical. Brown considers himself very lucky to have had the 

many opportunities to play so many varied and diverse characters, with such an array of talented 

people. 

Before moving to Los Angeles to join the cast of HBO's “Deadwood,” ROBIN 

WEIGERT (Susan) enjoyed an almost decade-long stage career in New York where she 

performed both on and off Broadway, received nominations for Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel 

awards for her work in Richard Nelson's Madame Melville and had the great pleasure of sharing 

the stage with some of her favorite actors, including Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken, Cherry 

Jones, Patti Lupone and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, to name a few. 

Weigert recently returned to New York to play the eponymous Angel in Tony Kushner's 

Angel's in America, which had a much celebrated (and many times extended) run at the Signature 

Theater. This wasn't her first encounter with Kushner's epic masterpiece; she had also, a decade 

before, played the part of the Mormon Mother in Mike Nichols' Emmy Award winning HBO 

mini-series “Angels in America,” starring Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson and Al Pacino. 

22

Weigert's first break in film came when Stephen Soderbergh cast her as the platinum 

blonde Teutonic hussy Hannelore in THE GOOD GERMAN, starring George Clooney and Cate 

Blanchett. Suzanne Bier (who recently won the Academy Award for best foreign film) cast her 

as Brenda in THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE, a movie that starred Benicio del Toro and Halle 

Berry. FRAGMENTS, which followed, had a marvelous ensemble cast that included Forrest 

Whitaker, Kate Beckensale, Dakota Fanning, Guy Pierce and Josh Hutcherson. Weigert played 

the controlling neurotic sister to Renée Zellweger in MY ONE AND ONLY and fifteen pounds 

lighter and covered in tattoos, she played the strung out stripper Olive in Charley Kaufman's 

SYNECHDOCHE, NEW YORK. Rebecca Miller cast her as Julianne Moore's kind but clueless 

lover Trish in THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE. 

2012 has been an eclectic year so far. One diverse part Weigert tackled recently is the 

lead role in the low budget film CONCUSSION, currently in post-production at the Tribeca Film 

Lab. CONCUSSION is a smartly scripted character study about a sexually frustrated lesbian 

suburban housewife who sustains a head injury and becomes a prostitute for women. 

In her latest endeavor Weigert is playing a congresswoman running a far from traditional 

campaign for reelection in a clever new series for the web called "Chasing the Hill", co-starring 

West Wing's Matthew Del Negro. 

Weigert is also continuing her recurring role as the stiletto heeled power house attorney 

Ally Lowen on the hit FX series "Sons of Anarchy." 

BLAKE LINDSLEY (Dr. Laura White) was born and raised in Los Angeles and 

educated at Yale University. She began performing as a teenager doing voiceover for animation 

and singing at the Aspen and Salzburg music festivals. Early film work includes Doug Liman’s 

GETTING IN and SWINGERS. Immediately upon receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Theater 

from Yale, Lindsley shot STARSHIP TROOPERS with Paul Verhoeven and DOGTOWN with 

George Hickenlooper. Lindsley has performed extensively with the Pasadena Playhouse and 

South Coast Repertory, among other regional theaters, in such roles as Amanda in Private Lives 

and the title roles in The Countess and Hedda Gabler, as well as the lead in the world premiere of 

The Ice-Breaker at the Magic Theater in San Francisco. She has guest starred on many popular 

television series, including “Criminal Minds,” “Without A Trace,” “CSI: Crime Scene 

Investigation,” “Cold Case,” “Crossing Jordan,” “Frasier” and “NYPD Blue,” among others. 

Of her many roles in television movies, her favorite, Quincy Quince in Wendy 

Wasserstein’s “An American Daughter” opposite Christine Lahti and Tom Skerritt, was described 

as “gloriously played by Blake Lindsley” by the New York Times. 

23

Lindsley lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband, producer Stephen Nemeth and 

their son Lincoln. 

MING LO (Clerk) has worked with accomplished directors such as Sam Mendes, Clint 

Eastwood, Gabriele Muccino, Robert Zemeckis and John Avnet. 

His work includes THE CHANGE UP, THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, JARHEAD, 

MILLION DOLLAR BABY, and RED CORNER. 

Most recently, Lo guest starred on “Political Animals” in a recurring role. 

California native, JENNIFER KUMIYAMA (Carmen), is a professional singer and 

actress who was born with Arthrogryposis (AMC). Though doctors said she would never have the 

use of any limbs, she proved them wrong by learning to write, stand, swim, and surf. Kumiyama 

is an original cast member of Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular and is the first and only 

wheelchair user ever to perform in a Disney theme park show. On stage, she was also in For 

Colored Girls Who've Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf at the Stella Adler Theatre 

in Hollywood. Kumiyama’s television credits include the Warner Brothers show “Popstars” and 

MTV's “Awkward.” In 2010, she was crowned Ms. Wheelchair California, and was the first 

runner-up to Ms. Wheelchair America. 

RUSTY SCHWIMMER (Joan) was raised in Chicago where she grew up a fan of the 

theatre, music and the Chicago Cubs, Bears and Bulls. In her formative years, she endeavored to 

be a singer but quickly found her way to acting and was soon drawn from the world of theatre in 

Chicago to the land of opportunity in Los Angeles. 

Schwimmer quickly found work in film and television. Some of her favorite film roles 

were A LITTLE PRINCESS, TWISTER, ED TV, PERFECT STORM, THE RUNAWAY JURY 

and NORTH COUNTRY. She also enjoyed her role in the television film “The Man Who 

Captured Eichmann” for HBO and the series “The Guardian,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Picket Fences” 

and “Ned Blessing,” as well as a guest starring role on “Six Feet Under.” 

Schwimmer’s more recent work includes the feature THE HAWK IS DYING opposite 

Paul Giamatti and Michelle Williams, the television mini-series “Broken Rail” opposite Robert 

Duvall and THE INFORMANT, directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Matt Damon. 

She recently relocated from Los Angeles to Chicago. 

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JAMES MARTINEZ (Matt) was a Series Regular on the FX Series, “Gravity” and has 

also guest starred on “Fairly Legal,” “A Gifted Man,” “Leverage,” “NCIS,” “Numbers,” 

“Breaking Bad,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” and “Law & Order: 

Criminal Intent.” 

Other feature supporting roles include BROTHER TO BROTHER, LOST 

REVOLUTION, B-GIRL, BEARCITY 1, BEARCITY 2: THE PROPOSAL and most recently, 

THE BITTER PILL for director Steven Soderbergh. 

On stage, Martinez originated roles in the Manhattan Theatre Club production of Itamar 

Moses’ Back, Back, Back, US Drag for director Trip Cullman and the Melinda Lopez play, Sonia 

Flew. 

He is a graduate of The Julliard School. 

ADAM ARKIN (Josh) has appeared in countless television series including “Chicago 

Hope,” “Northern Exposure,” “Law and Order,” “The West Wing,” “Frasier,” “Boston Legal” 

and “Monk,” receiving two Emmy nominations for his acting. 

Film appearances include A SERIOUS MAN, directed by the Coen brothers, HITCH, 

and HALLOWEEN H2O: 20 YEARS LATER. Arkin has also appeared in Broadway and Off- 

Broadway productions including the world premiere of Donald Margulies' Brooklyn Boy, Guys 

and Dolls and I Hate Hamlet for which he received a Tony Award Nomination. 

In addition, Arkin is known for his directing work, which includes episodes of 

“Justified,” “Sons of Anarchy,” “Grey's Anatomy,” “Boston Legal,” “Chicago Code,” “The 

Riches” and the Showtime television film “My Louisiana Sky,” for which he won an Emmy 

Award. 

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ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS 

BEN LEWIN’S (Written for the Screen and Directed by/ Produced by) career as a 

writer and director is spread across three continents and includes award-winning documentaries, 

feature films, TV movies, mini-series and episodic programs. Born in Poland, he migrated to 

Australia with his family at the age of three. As a young man, Lewin showed great passion for 

photography and creative writing, and also studied and practiced law. He left his work as a 

criminal barrister when he was offered a scholarship to the National Film School in England. 

After graduating, he joined BBC Television as a director on the Nation-wide program, followed 

by other documentary and current affairs programs for Thames, Granada and Channel Four 

Television. His breakthrough project as a writer/director was “The Case of Cruelty to Prawns,” a 

comedy-drama that won the Best Television Film Award at the prestigious Melbourne Film 

Festival. 

Some of Lewin’s notable credits include the murder mystery feature GEORGIA starring 

Judy Davis, which won eight Australian Film Institute nominations; the much-honored and multiaward 

winning “The Dunera Boys” starring Bob Hoskins – the true story of 2,000 English Jews 

who were mistakenly suspected as Nazi spies and transported to Australia in 1940; the awardwinning 

“Matter of Convenience,” a tele-movie about marriages of convenience with Jean-Pierre 

Cassel; and PLEAD GUILTY, GET A BOND, about a tribal aboriginal woman and her conflict 

with the Australian legal system. 

Lewin is best known in the United States as the writer and director of comedy features; 

PAPERBACK ROMANCE, a love story about slightly damaged people starring Anthony 

LaPaglia and Gia Carides, and the messianic farce THE FAVOR, THE WATCH AND THE 

VERY BIG FISH, starring Bob Hoskins, Jeff Goldblum and Natasha Richardson. More recently, 

Ben Lewin brought his distinctive mix of the preposterous and the perceptive to HOLLYWOOD 

GOLD, a personal documentary of his misadventures in the Beverly Hills jewelry trade at Oscar 

time. His episodic television work includes the season’s highest-rated episode of “Ally McBeal” 

(“Let’s Dance”) and “Touched By An Angel,” as well as a number of episodes of the most 

popular drama series in Australia, Change.”   

“Sea 

Lewin has been living and working in California since 1994 with his three children and 

his wife, producer Judi Levine. 

26

JUDI LEVINE (Produced by) is an accomplished producer who has worked in Europe, 

Australia and the United States. Her work reflects an inclination towards stories with a sense of 

humor, although her unique wit and sense of irony has not confined her to the field of comedy. 

She produces eye-opening documentaries as well as dramas and, whatever the field, her passion is 

for stories that are both compelling and honest. 

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Levine began her producing career after graduating with a 

Bachelor’s degree in film and drama, and working her way up the production ladder. As her 

choice of projects reveals, part of Levine’s charm is her acute awareness of vital issues. Her 

documentary, YARRABAH - A TEEN ODYSSEY, is the moving story of a life-changing 

experience for 15 Aboriginal teens. The film follows their journey towards achieving an 

impossible dream and captures an experience with far-reaching consequences. 

Levine’s producing credits include the critically acclaimed comedy feature 

PAPERBACK ROMANCE starring Anthony LaPaglia and Gia Carides and PLEAD GUILTY, 

GET A BOND, which won an AFI award for Best Screenplay in a Short Film. Her broad 

production experience also includes the UK feature SACRED HEARTS, European co-production 

THE FAVOR, THE WATCH AND THE VERY BIG FISH starring Jeff Goldblum and Bob 

Hoskins, and numerous award-winning Australian mini-series, among them “Waterfront,” 

starring Greta Scacchi and “The Dunera Boys,” starring Bob Hoskins and Warren Mitchell. Of 

her documentary work, “The Migrant Experience,” a six-hour series examining Australia as a 

migrant nation, is a highlight. The documentary HOLLYWOOD GOLD, which was made for The 

Discovery Channel, is a wry insider’s look at the jewelry trade of Beverly Hills and Hollywood 

that guarantees audiences will never view the Oscars the same way again. 

In addition to her producing career, Levine has mastered the art of networking in the 

toughest movie town in the world. As a result, she has presented at various forums and 

conferences, and was a panel-member at the 2004 Los Angeles Writers Conference talking about 

independent production and “working the independent scene from a networking perspective.” 

Expanding on her experiences in Los Angeles, Levine developed the seminars “Jump Start to 

Hollywood” aimed at helping young hopefuls find an easier path to establishing themselves in the 

US. In addition to lecturing in the US, she toured with her seminars around Australia. 

Levine is married to writer-director Ben Lewin and together they are the proud parents of 

three children whose strongest genetic trait is their eccentric sense of humor. 

STEPHEN NEMETH (Produced by) formed and heads up Rhino Films, the 

independent film company that originated as a division of iconoclastic record label Rhino 

27

Records. He has produced and executive produced dozens of films. His producer credits include 

FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS, WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE, DOGTOWN 

AND Z BOYS and RADIO FREE ALBEMUTH (the last Philip K. Dick novel). He is in postproduction 

on SNAKE AND MONGOOSE about a legendary drag-racing rivalry and is in preproduction 

on C.O.G. (a David Sedaris adaptation). Nemeth's documentary credits include 

WAR/DANCE which was nominated for a 2008 Academy Award for Best Documentary, FUEL 

(Audience Award Sundance '08), FLOW (Sundance '08), PICK UP THE MIC (Toronto '05), 

CLIMATE REFUGEES (Sundance '10), MR. BITCHIN’ about artist Robert Williams, UNDER 

THE BOARWALK: THE MONOPOLY STORY and PATRIOCRACY, and is in production on 

A NUCLEAR FAMILY, RIDE WITH LARRY and STATE OF CONTROL. He is on the board 

of numerous non-profit organizations including Friends of the Earth, Children Uniting Nations 

and the International Documentary Association and is on the dean's board of the UC Santa Cruz's 

School for the Arts. 

MAURICE SILMAN (Executive Producer) has almost 30 years of experience in 

industrial property development and has consulted on and invested in diverse projects including 

the development of sustainable technologies. One of Silman’s special interests has been fostering 

innovation in watering systems that will have a long-term impact on Australian and international 

farming methods. In addition to his commitment to the more pragmatic aspects of development, 

Silman has been a passionate patron of education, music and the visual arts. 

JULIUS COLMAN (Executive Producer) and Ben Lewin have been friends since 

childhood. Like Lewin, Colman was born in Poland and grew up in Melbourne, Australia. They 

attended Melbourne University Law School together and went on to practice law. Lewin then 

went into film while Colman and his partners in the law firm established a funds management 

business. 

Colman holds the degrees of Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws, from Melbourne 

University, and is a Bachelor of Arts and a Fellow of the Australian Property Institute. He is the 

founder and director of the Colman Foundation which works with the State Government to help 

in the education of socially disadvantaged children. 

At one time, Lewin and Colman also comprised two-thirds of a classical music trio that 

gave Christmas concerts at aged care facilities, particularly those specializing in the profoundly 

deaf. 

28

In the last few years DOUGLAS BLAKE (Executive Producer) has been very 

busy. 2008 and 2009 had Blake as one of the producers and co-director on a documentary about 

the artist Robert Williams entitled MR. BITCHIN’ which premiered at the Los Angeles County 

Museum of Art in June, 2010. 

In 2009 he managed the American unit and post-production on a $3 million European 

co-production that was shot in Budapest and Los Angeles entitled BETRAYAL and directed by 

Hawk Gundersun. In October 2010, he produced another low-budget film for Hawk entitled 

CODEX. 

In March 2010, Blake went to Geneva, Switzerland, to produce a documentary on a 

successful record-breaking, around-the-world flight by a private jet. That film premiered at the 

Moscow Film Festival in October 2011. 

Blake then went to Thailand to produce ANGELS, an English-language, Asian-based 

action film starring Dustin Nguyen (21 JUMP STREET), Gary Daniels and Sahajk Boonthankit, 

directed by Wych Kaosayrananda (BALLISTIC: SEVER VS. EKS). The film is now in post and 

will premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2012. 

In March 2012, Blake was the line producer and unit production manager on the $3 

million feature film entitled SNAKE & MONGOOSE. The film was directed by Wayne 

Holloway and shot by John Bailey and is now in post-production. 

In July 2012, Blake was the line producer and unit production manager on a microbudget 

feature titled COHERENCE directed by Jim Byrkit (the writer of RANGO and the 

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN trilogy) and is now in post-production. 

GEOFFREY SIMPSON, ACS (Director of Photography) has had a prolific career in 

both Australia and internationally. His work in 2011 included SATELLITE BOY directed by 

Catriona McKenzie and shot in the Kimberley area of Western Australia. In the first months of 

2010 Simpson photographed SLEEPING BEAUTY, the R rated feature for first time director 

Julia Leigh and, at the end of 2009 he photographed THE LAST DRAGON, the first Chinese- 

Australian co-production, for director Mario Andreacchio. 

Melbourne provided the locations for filming THE TENDER HOOK for director 

Jonathan Ogilvie, staring Rose Byrne and Hugo Weaving. Prior to that, Simpson photographed 

ROMULUS MY FATHER for director Richard Roxburgh, starring Eric Bana and Kodi Smitt 

McPhee. He has also worked as a cinematographer on the US TV mini-series “The Starter Wife” 

with Debra Messing, Judy Davis and Miranda Otto. Simpson’s work also includes LAST 

HOLIDAY for director Wayne Wang, starring Queen Latifah and Gerard Depardieu, and 

29

UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN starring Diane Lane and directed by Audrey Wells. Throughout 

his career Geoffrey has worked on projects such as LITTLE WOMEN and THE LAST DAYS 

OF CHEZ NOUS for director Gillian Armstrong, Peter Weir's GREEN CARD, Jon Avnet's 

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES, Anthony Minghella's MR. WONDERFUL, Scott Hick's SHINE, 

John Seale's 'TIL THERE WAS YOU and THE NAVIGATOR directed by Vincent Ward. 

A recipient of numerous accolades, Simpson has won Australian Film Industry Awards 

for OSCAR AND LUCINDA (1998), SHINE (1996), THE NAVIGATOR (1988) and was 

nominated for SLEEPING BEAUTY (2011), THE TENDER HOOK (2008), ROMULUS MY 

FATHER (2007) and THE LAST DAYS OF CHEZ NOUS (1992). ROMULUS MY FATHER 

also won him the National ACS Golden Tripod in 2008. In 1985, Simpson won the Golden 

Tripod ACS Award and Milli Award as Cinematographer of the Year for the feature film 

PLAYING BEATTIE BOW. 

LISA BROMWELL, A.C.E. (Editor) has worked in both features and television. Her 

television credits include “Weeds,” the pilot and first season of “In Treatment” and the Peabody 

Award winning series, “Nothing Sacred.” She worked with Randa Haines on the Showtime 

movie, “The Outsider” and with David Carson on “In His Life: The John Lennon Story” for 

which she was nominated for an ACE Eddie Award. 

Bromwell edited the Academy Award winning short film LIEBERMAN IN LOVE for 

Christine Lahti. In feature films she was associate editor on THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS 

and SHE-DEVIL. Her editing credits include THE LAWNMOWER MAN, SPRUNG, and with 

writer/director Sebastian Gutierrez, RISE, WOMEN IN TROUBLE and GIRL WALKS INTO A 

BAR. 

JOHN MOTT (Production Designer) is an accomplished production designer working 

in the United States and internationally on feature films, television, commercials and music 

videos. Recent feature credits include SNAKE AND MONGOOSE, COFFEE TOWN, ATLAS 

SHRUGGED, and THE ONE. His network television credits include the “2011 Emmy Awards,” 

the post-apocalyptic CBS drama “Jericho,” and the Discovery series “Moments in Time” for 

which he was nominated for an Art Directors Guild award for Excellence in Production Design. 

Mott has extensive experience in concept generation and execution, in both the film and 

digital worlds. He was the keynote speaker on Production Design for Digital Capture at the NAB 

Show in Las Vegas, and has been an invited speaker on Production Design at the AFI. 

30

Memberships include the American Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the Art 

Directors Guild and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. 

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Mott grew up in Sydney, Australia, where he graduated 

from Sydney University. 

He is a US citizen and lives in Los Angeles. 

JUSTINE SEYMOUR (Costume Designer) is a costume and production designer 

whose work has been seen in feature films such as A NEW YORK HEARTBEAT, 1,001 WAYS 

TO ENJOY THE MISSIONARY POSITION, THE TREE, THE WAITING CITY, BLACK 

WATER, WEST, SON OF THE MASK, A MAN’S GOTTA DO, YOU CAN’T STOP THE 

MURDERS, AVOCA, SWEET DREAMS, and GLORY DAYS. 

Seymour’s television credits include the series “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant,” the 

made-for-television movie “Left at the Altar,” the series “Born on a Bad Day” and the mini-series 

“Mary Bryant.” 

MARCO BELTRAMI (Music by) received Academy Award nominations for his iconic 

scores to 3:10 TO YUMA and THE HURT LOCKER. He has lent his voice to such unique hit 

films as LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD, TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES, I, 

ROBOT, and the SCREAM series. His recent scores include THE WOMAN IN BLACK, SOUL 

SURFER and DEADFALL. Next up is Brad Pitt’s apocalyptic zombie drama WORLD WAR 

Z, SNOWPIERCER by director Joon-ho Bong and WARM BODIES for Summit Entertainment. 

Born in New York, Beltrami studied music at the Yale School of Music, then in Italy, 

before apprenticing with legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith in Los Angeles. 

31

IN MEMORY OF 

Mark O'Brien 

AND 

BASED ON HIS ARTICLE 

"On Seeing A Sex Surrogate" 

Unit Production Manager 

DOUGLAS BLAKE 

First Assistant Director 

DAVID DWIGGINS 

Second Assistant Director 

BEN BYWATER 

Made in Association with DUNE ENTERTAINMENT 

CAST 

Mark 

Cheryl 

Father Brendan 

Vera 

Amanda 

Josh 

Mikvah Lady 

Rod 

Susan 

Dr. Laura White 

Clerk 

Joan 

Carmen 

Greg 

Tony 

Matt 

Young Mark 

Girl on Beach 

Unicyclist 

Waiter 

Man in Elevator 

E.R. Doctor 

Ambulance Driver 

Cat 

JOHN HAWKES 

HELEN HUNT 

WILLIAM H. MACY 

MOON BLOODGOOD 

ANNIKA MARKS 

ADAM ARKIN 

RHEA PEARLMAN 

W. EARL BROWN 

ROBIN WEIGERT 

BLAKE LINDSLEY 

MING LO 

RUSTY SCHWIMMER 

JENNIFER KUMIYAMA 

TOBIAS FORREST 

JARROD BAILEY 

JAMES MARTINEZ 

PAUL MACLEAN 

PHOEBE LEWIN 

JONATHAN HANRAHAN 

JASON JACK EDWARDS 

J. TEDDY GARCES 

DANIEL QUINN 

B.J. CLINKSCALES 

TERRY 

32

Stand-Ins 

HOLDEN BURK 

NATHAN DAVIES 

CHRISTOPHER FRANCE 

JOE LASALLE 

RICHARD PARKER 

JENNIFER PERRY 

CHRISTIE PESICKA 

STEVEN ROUGHAN 

JOHN SINAIKO 

KATHERINE YERVES 

PRODUCTION 

Production Supervisor 

Production Coordinators 

Script Supervisor 

2nd 2nd Assistant Directors 

Production Accountant 

Key Set PA 

PAs 

Assistant to Mr. Lewin 

Production Executive 

Production Attorney 

Special Consultants 

REBEKAH SINDORIS 

NICOLETTA LINGROSSO 

JOSH MCCLINTIC 

TECIA ESPOSITO 

JAKE WORDEN 

BILLY GREENFIELD 

REBEKAH SINDORIS 

JUDD GREENER 

JAKE ALINIKOFF 

CHRISTOPHER BRACKEN 

EAMON BRENNAN 

JAIME CORBACHO 

SHAUNA FRONTERA 

MAIREAD GAFFNEY 

CAITLIN SMITH 

PÁTRECE SMITH 

JOSHUA WEVER 

SHAWNA HOPPES 

BETSY STAHL 

MATT FLADELL 

CHERYL COHEN GREENE 

SUSAN FERNBACH 

33

Associate Producers 

Set Decorator 

Lead Men 

Set Dressers 

Prop Master 

Prop Assistants 

Swing Gang 

Carpenter 

Construction 

Scenic Painters 

Camera Operator 

1st Assistant Camera 

2nd Assistant Camera 

Digital Imaging Technician 

Still Photographer 

1st Assistant Camera - B Unit 

2nd Assistant Camera - B Unit 

Behind-the-Scenes Videography 

Gaffer/Key Grip 

Dolly Grip 

Best Boy Electric 

ALEXANDRA LEWIN 

DARLENE WINTER 

ABID SYED 

SOFIA ELENA JIMENEZ 

NILES PADILLA 

EDWIN HERNANDEZ 

NATHAN OWEN ROTHENSTEIN 

MIRIAM DAFFORD 

JEREMY RUND 

MAX WEBB 

CHRISTINA BRENTON 

BIANCA BARETI 

BEN MONSTREY 

JOSE LUIS CRUZ 

GARRETT FLAMIG 

GILES AUGUSTINE 

BENJAMIN BRUGGER 

ERIC CANTLEY 

JASON CRONBURG 

JOE SKIFF 

STEPHEN ANDREWS 

ERIN MCKENNA 

LISA WALKER 

GEOFFREY SIMPSON 

ISAIAH FORTAJADA 

ARLENE MULLER 

LAURA CREECY 

SARAH GOLONKA 

CHRISTINE HODINH 

MATT LIM 

EZRA SILMAN 

RYAN MEYER 

MICHAEL CRONIN 

JASON “EVIL” MCGUIRE 

34

Electricians 

Grips 

Remote Head Technician 

Balloon Operator 

MATTHEW BODA 

BRANDON FLOHR 

WILL NOVY 

KENDRICK CAMAK 

MIKE DIRICCO 

NIKOLAS GARFF 

ERIK RODGERS 

DARRYL ST. JUSTE 

NOAH FLIPPO 

CHRIS BARNETT 

WYATT DENNY 

DERRICK ESPERONZA 

KOSTA RIGOPOULOS 

DEREK TOUVELL 

MIKE URSETTA 

JOHN BRUMET 

TIM HERRMAN 

JOE WEBB 

STEVEN NOLAN 

BRIAN FLETCHER 

Lead Make-Up Artist/Hair 

Assistant Make-Up Artist/Hair 

Ms. Hunt's Make-Up Artist/Hair 

Set Costumers 

Sound Mixer 

Boom Operator 

Location Manager 

Location Scout 

Caterer 

Craft Services 

Massage Therapist 

NATALIE WOOD 

STEPHENIE IRISH 

DIMITRY KIRILLOV 

ELISSA PRAGER 

COCO YUON 

DARRELL FIELDER 

MICHELE MARIN 

XIMENA DAVALOS 

MARTY KASPARIAN 

BRAD KALPAKOV 

JARED PARSONS 

DAN EASON 

TERI GOODEN 

In Good Taste, L.A. 

DAVID KNIPP 

RAQUEL STEINBERG 

HANRAHAN 

Transportation Coordinator JONATHAN “JOHNNY 5” 

35

Transportation Captain 

Driver 

Picture Car Coordinator 

Water Truck Driver 

Casting Assistant 

Extras Casting 

Animal Trainers 

Choreographer 

Studio Teachers 

Police Officer 

Security 

Fire Safety Officer 

Travel Coordinator 

Website Consultant 

DREW TIASACAN 

DOMINGO BUSTAMANTE 

HELENA TORGERSEN 

CHRIS PEDERSEN 

VIRGINIA SIEGLER 

CAROL GRANT CASTING 

SHERI APARICIO 

KELLI BROWNELL 

Paws for Effect 

INETRI BRAZEL 

PHIL EISENHOWER 

GUY FLINT 

Stella Pacific Management 

GEORGE HOFFSTETTER 

MICHAEL BALOG 

BRADLEY MCINTYRE 

VICKY CHOY 

GILLI MOON 

POST PRODUCTION 

Post Production Supervisor 

Post Production Coordinator 

Post Production Assistants 

Assistant Editors 

Music Supervisor 

JOHN PORTNOY 

ALEXANDRA LEWIN 

CHLOÉ HAMILTON 

JAIME CORBACHO 

CASSANDRA LEIGH 

ARABELLA STUBBS 

ERIC BRODEUR 

T.J. YOUNG 

SHARON SMITH 

Digital Intermediate Provided by 

COMPANY 3 

Executive Producer for Company 3 

STEFAN SONNENFELD 

36

DI Colorist 

Additional Colorist 

Senior DI Producer 

DI Producer 

Digital Conform Editor 

DI Account Executive 

DI Technologist 

Head of Production, Company 3 

SIGGY FERSTL 

TRAVIS FLYNN 

NICK MONTON 

ANGEL ASKINS 

DAN GOSLEE 

JACKIE LEE 

MIKE CHIADO 

DEVIN STERLING 

Sound Post Production Provided by 

SONIC MAGIC STUDIOS 

Sound Mixed by 

Supervising Sound Editor 

Sound Effects Editors 

Dialogue and ADR Editor 

ADR Assistant 

ADR Mixers 

Foley Mixer 

Foley Artist 

Assistant Sound Editors 

ADR Facility Coordinator 

Sound Studio Manager 

JONATHAN WALES, CAS 

STEVEN IBA 

JOSHUA ADENIJI 

TREVOR GATES 

ANGELA HEMINGWAY 

KELLY VOCKEL 

JASON “FRENCHIE” GAYA 

CHRIS TERHUNE 

SCOTT BREWSTER 

DEREK DEITZ 

GINGER GEARY 

MATT CULBREATH 

SPENCER SCHWIETEMAN 

ASHLEY MCENTEE 

ROBERT DEHN 

Main Title Design 

Title Animation 

DEBORAH ROSS 

DEBORAH ROSS FILM DESIGN 

ROBERT VEGA 

37

End Titles 

JOHN PORTNOY 

Legal Sales Representative 

Sales Representative 

CRAIG EMANUEL 

CAA 

Score Recording Engineer 

Digital Recordist 

Score Co-Producer 

Music Editor 

JOHN KURLANDER 

TYSON LOZENSKY 

BUCK SANDERS 

SHARON SMITH 

Payroll Companies 

Camera Cranes, Dollies 

& Remote Camera Systems by 

CAPS UNIVERSAL PAYROLL 

MEDIA SERVICES 

CHAPMAN / LEONARD STUDIO 

EQUIPMENT, INC. 

Grip & Electric Equipment 

Cameras by 

HEYWHATSYOURFACE.COM 

QUIXOTE 

EVIDENCE PRODUCTIONS 

INDIE RENTALS 

DALE LAUNER 

SIM VIDEO 

ARLENE MULLER 

EVS 

POEMS 

“MRS. GARCIA” 

The Man in the Iron Lung 

Poems by Mark O’Brien 

“TRACY WOULD’VE BEEN A PRETTY GIRL” 



“BREATHING” 



“LOVE POEM FOR NO ONE IN PARTICULAR” 

38

y Mark O’Brien 

love & baseball: poems on America’s favorite pastimes 

Mark O’Brien & Susan Fernbach 

“GRADUATION DAY” 

by Mark O’Brien 

SONGS 

“FINE WINE TASTING FOR TWO” 

Written by Bradley P. Hatfield 

Performed by Brad Hatfield Quintet 

Courtesy of Heavy Hitters Music Group 

“CLOSER” 

Written by Steven R. Galloway 

Performed by Steve Galloway 

Courtesy of ZNCA Publishing Co. 

“CMP231 RUSSIAN ROMANCE” 

Written and Performed by Udi Harpaz 

Published by Netrax Music 

Courtesy of Crucial Music Corporation 

“CMI3317 SHEARING LOUNGE” 

Written and Performed by Steven Michael Yeager 

Published by Music Expressions 

Courtesy of Crucial Music Corporation 

“I GO ALL TO PIECES” 

Written by Jeffrey S. Meegan 

Performed by Jeff Meegan 

Courtesy of Heavy Hitters Music Group 

THE PRODUCERS EXTEND THEIR 

SPECIAL THANKS TO 

Michael Lewin 

Laura Fitzsimmons 

Boris Liberman 

The Earl of March 

Sig Shonholtz 

Brian Burdekin 

Tracy & Duncan MacLean 

Jeremy & Roz Ruskin 

Angelo Garzieri 

Marilyn & Barry Braun 

Laura Innes & Dave Brisbin 

Elizabeth Delaney 

Louise Green 

Sam Gubieski 

Susan & Gary Hearst 

Marie Kennedy 

Barbara Kamler & Greg Levine 

Michael Liffman 

Helen & Larry Light 

Tom Lowenstein 

Pauline Orly 

Robert Richter 

39

Deborah Absler 

Kris Bergen 

Marcus Rose 

John Schuster 

THANKS ALSO TO 

Peter Levine 

Caroline Libresco 

Michael Lewis 

Fazal Kahn 

Jenni Baird 

Robbie Conal 

Gemma Bishop 

Josh Blau 

Mara Herbkersman 

Samantha Levenshus 

Jessica Emmons 

Sasha Koziak 

Laura Laser 

Susan Linville 

Cody LaScala 

haRa beck 

Ernie-the-Cat 

Sandy Kroopf 

Oliver Lewin 

Guy Orly 

Britt Ringer 

Charles Arthur 

John Wesley Whitton 

Daniel Bernato 

Jenni Gold & Jeff Maynard 

Jack Haddox 

Rex Glensey 

Seth Harris 

Paddy & Jerra Spence 

Jonathan Salk 

Stephanie & Harold Bronson 

Barbara Lindemann 

Monique Clerie 

Bradford Schlei 

Valerie Ann Nemeth 

Lincoln Nemeth 

Henry Eshelman 

Hilary Morse 

40

Caroleen Feeney 

Karl Spoerri 

Viviana Vizzani 

Avid 

Badcock Apparel 

Chapman/Leonard 

Ethan Persoff 

Icelandic Glacial Natural Spring Water 

Longshot Coffee 

Runway, Inc. 

Screen Actors Guild (SAG) 

Zevia All Natural Soda 

Iron Lung generously supplied by 

RANCHO LOS AMIGOS NATIONAL REHABILITATION CENTER 

LOGOS: 

MPAA #47329 

SAG 

Dolby 

SDDS 

Datasat 

AHA 

American Humane Association monitored the animal action. No animals were harmed®. 

(AHAD 02887) 

This motion picture is based on actual events. Some incidents, characters, and timelines may 

have been changed for dramatic purposes. Certain characters may be composites, or entirely 

fictitious. 

This motion picture is protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America and other 

countries. Any unauthorized duplication, copying or use of all or part of this motion picture may 

result in civil liabilities and/or criminal prosecution 

in accordance with applicable laws. 

© 2012 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and Dune Entertainment III LLC in all 

territories except Brazil, Italy, Japan, Korea and Spain. 

© 2012 TCF Hungary Film Rights Exploitation Limited Liability Company, Twentieth Century 

Fox Film Corporation and Dune Entertainment III LLC in Brazil, Italy, Japan, Korea and Spain. 

©2012 TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

PROPERTY OF FOX. PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS 

TO REPRODUCE THIS TEXT IN ARTICLES PUBLICIZING THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE 

41

MOTION PICTURE. ALL OTHER USE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, INCLUDING SALE, 

DUPLICATION, OR OTHER TRANSFER OF THIS MATERIAL. THIS PRESS KIT, IN 

WHOLE OR IN PART, MUST NOT BE LEASED, SOLD, OR GIVEN AWAY. 

42

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