Taking Woodstock (2009)

Director:

Ang Lee

Writers (WGA):

James Schamus (screenplay)
Elliot Tiber (book) ...
(more)

Release Date:

28 August 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Tagline:

"A Generation Began In His Backyard."

Plot:

A man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969. |

Plot Keywords:

1969 | Motel | Concert | Interior Decorator | Hidden Money

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Henry Goodman	...	Jake Teichberg
Edward Hibbert	...	British Gentleman
Imelda Staunton	...	Sonia Teichberg
Demetri Martin	...	Elliot Tiber
Emile Hirsch	...	Billy
Paul Dano	...	VW Guy
Kelli Garner	...	VW Girl
Clark Middleton	...	Frank
Bette Henritze	...	Annie
Sondra James	...	Margaret
Jeffrey Dean Morgan	...	Dan
Christina Kirk	...	Carol
Gail Martino	...	Town Clerk
Lee Wong	...	George the Doorman (as Takeo Lee Wong)
Adam LeFevre	...	Dave
Eugene Levy	...	Max Yasgur
Andy Prosky	...	Bob
Dan Fogler	...	Devon
Carmel Amit	...	Earthlight Player
Zachary Booth	...	Earthlight Player
Jennifer Merrill	...	Earthlight Player
Ivan Sandomire	...	Earthlight Player
Matthew Shear	...	Earthlight Player
Darcy Bledsoe	...	Earthlight Player
Halley Cianfarini	...	Earthlight Player
Jesse Kile	...	Earthlight Player
Ashley Middlebrook	...	Earthlight Player
Bec Stupak	...	Earthlight Player
Gabriel Sunday	...	Steven
Jonathan Groff	...	Michael Lang
Mamie Gummer	...	Tisha
Stephen Kunken	...	Mel Lawrence
Adam Pally	...	Artie Kornfeld
Kevin Sussman	...	Stan
Pippa Pearthree	...	Miriam
Skylar Astin	...	John Roberts
Daniel Eric Gold	...	Joel Rosenman
Leonard Berdick	...	Angry Diner Patron
Sharon J. Giroux	...	Angry Diner Patron
William B. Ward Jr.	...	Angry Diner Patron
Louisa Krause	...	Hippie Girl
Spadaque Volcimus	...	Hippie Guy
Bill Coelius	...	Inspector
Nick Taylor	...	Inspector
Michael Izquierdo	...	John Morris
Katherine Waterston	...	Penny
Will Janowitz	...	Chip Monck
Jeremy Shamos	...	Steve Cohen
Malachy Cleary	...	Wes Pomeroy
Richard Thomas	...	Reverend Don
Sebastian Beacon	...	Assistant
Kelly Klein	...	Assistant
Garett Ross	...	Woodstock Ventures PA
Darren Pettie	...	Paul
Andrew Katz	...	Hippie in Line
Patrick Cupo	...	Charlie
Boris McGiver	...	Doug
Liev Schreiber	...	Vilma
Caitlin Fitzgerald	...	Young Woman
Michael J. Burg	...	Journalist
Stefano Da Fre	...	Young Man
Taunia Hottman-Hubbard	...	Journalist
David Lavine	...	Journalist
Michael Zegen	...	Young Man #1 (Bernie)
Andrew Zox	...	Sam
Angus Hamilton	...	Hairy Pretzel
Christopher Meier	...	Hairy Pretzel
Richard Phelan McGreal	...	Hairy Pretzel
Casson Rugen	...	Hairy Pretzel
Joseph Ulmer	...	Hairy Pretzel
Harry Zittel	...	Young Guy at Phone
Alyssa May Gold	...	Young Girl at Phone
Gaston Jean-Baptiste	...	Bongo Player
Michael McGinnis	...	Flautist
Dan Knobler	...	Guitar Player
Jon Seale	...	Congo Player
David Wilson Barnes	...	News Reporter
James Hanlon	...	State Trooper AJ Hamilton
Don Puglisi	...	Dealer
Kirsten Bach	...	Bra Burner
Kevin Chamberlin	...	Jackson Spiers
Rachel Morrall	...	Bra Burner
Anthoula Katsimatides	...	Esther
Marjorie Austrian	...	St. Paul Lady
Kyle Plante	...	Interviewer
Lew Zucker	...	Worker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lee M. Cunningham	...	Georgette's Girlfriend
Jason Antoon	...	Abbie Hoffman (uncredited)
Spencer Aste	...	Parked Hippie (uncredited)
D.M. Atlas	...	Hippie (uncredited)
Seth Barrish	...	Angry Townsperson (uncredited)
David Breitenstein	...	Regional Press (uncredited)
Kevin T. Collins	...	Guy at Motel (uncredited)
Jeff Delauter	...	Documentary Soundman (uncredited)
Adam Desautels	...	Concert Staff (uncredited)
John Francis Duggan	...	Film Crew Member (uncredited)
Jordan Fish	...	Documentary Filmmaker (uncredited)
Joe Forbrich	...	Cop (uncredited)
Michael Grantland	...	Cameraman (uncredited)
Becca Greenwald	...	City Girl (uncredited)
Eugene Kim	...	Hippie (uncredited)
Damian Kulash	...	Singer (uncredited)
Aaron Lambert	...	Office worker (uncredited)
Ronete Levenson	...	Girl In Hotel (uncredited)
David MacNutt	...	Documentary Filmmaker (uncredited)
Michael Peavey	...	Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
Ian Pickus	...	Hippie (uncredited)
Steve Ricard	...	Hippie (uncredited)
Bill Richards	...	Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
Joshua Safdie	...	Documentary Cameraman (uncredited)
Skip Shea	...	Angry Townsperson (uncredited)
Nicole Signore	...	The Wandering Hippie (uncredited)
Darcy Singer	...	Hippie (uncredited)
Victoria Stankiewicz	...	Hippy Chick (uncredited)
Jay Storey	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Ray Tintori	...	Documentary Cameraman (uncredited)
Adam Van Der Voort	...	College Wannabe Hippie (uncredited)
Amber Lea Voiles	...	Political Activist (uncredited)
Bob Weisz	...	Documentary Soundman (uncredited)

Directed by
Ang Lee

Writing credits (WGA)
James Schamus		(screenplay)
Elliot Tiber		(book) and
Tom Monte		(book)

Produced by
Celia D. Costas	....	executive producer
Patrick Cupo	....	associate producer
Ang Lee	....	producer
David Sauers	....	associate producer
James Schamus	....	producer

Original Music by
Danny Elfman

Cinematography by
Eric Gautier

Film Editing by
Tim Squyres

Casting by
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by
David Gropman

Art Direction by
Peter Rogness

Set Decoration by
Ellen Christiansen

Costume Design by
Joseph G. Aulisi

Makeup Department
Liz Bernstrom	....	makeup artist
LuAnn Claps	....	makeup department head
Cheryl Daniels	....	third hair stylist
Sunday Englis	....	additional makeup artist
Craig Lindberg	....	additional makeup
Keith R. Palmer	....	additional makeup artist
Nicky Pattison	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Deb Dyer	....	production supervisor
Jennifer Lane	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Guy Efrat	....	additional second assistant director
Nicole Feder	....	additional second assistant director (day player)
Scott Foster	....	additional second assistant director
Chris Gibson	....	additional second assistant director
Michael Hausman	....	first assistant director
Tudor Jones	....	second second assistant director
Jason Rody	....	second assistant director
Peter Thorell	....	second assistant director

Art Department
I. Javier Ameijeiras	....	production illustrator
Michael Auszura	....	assistant art director
Mark Bachman	....	sign painter
Pedro Barquin	....	stand-by greensperson
Kip Bartlett	....	picture cars assistant
Kenneth Brzozowski	....	shop craftsman
Stephen Caldwell	....	painter
Alex DiGerlando	....	additional graphic artist
Liza Donatelli	....	art department assistant
Joan Finley	....	set dresser
Jonathan Graham	....	key construction grip
Sandy Hamilton	....	property master
Arlo Hoffman	....	greens
Erik Knight	....	art department coordinator
Imogen Lee	....	set decoration production assistant
Todd MacNicholl	....	key construction grip
Dawn Masi	....	graphic artist
Nick Miller	....	construction coordinator
John Pollard	....	assistant art director
Diane Rich	....	scenic artist foreman
Sarah Riggs	....	picture cars assistant
Adam Scher	....	assistant art director
Philip Schneider	....	picture cars coordinator
Ari David Schwartz	....	on-set dresser
Dick Tice	....	leadman
Nell Tivnan	....	art department production assistant
Robert Topol	....	master scenic artist
M. Tony Trotta	....	camera scenic artist
Joel Weaver	....	assistant property master
Ryan Webb	....	assistant property master
Lewis Zucker	....	picture cars assistant
Peter Regnier	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Chris Fielder	....	first assistant sound editor
Eugene Gearty	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eugene Gearty	....	supervising sound editor
Dror Gescheit	....	re-recordist
Mark Goodermote	....	boom operator
Rick Gould	....	adr recordist
Mike Howells	....	adr recordist
Kenton Jakub	....	adr editor
Bobby Johanson	....	adr mixer
Drew Kunin	....	sound mixer
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Reuben Simon	....	supervising foley editor
Kira Smith	....	sound utility
Steve F.B. Smith	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Wyatt Sprague	....	sound effects editor
Jason Stasium	....	Pro Tools operator
Reilly Steele	....	sound re-recording mixer
Philip Stockton	....	supervising sound editor
Noah Timan	....	sound mixer: second unit
Steven Visscher	....	foley editor

Special Effects by
Harshal Bhujbal	....	special effects
Doug Coleman	....	special effects technician
John Stifanich	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Mathieu Archambault	....	digital compositor
Sarah Barber	....	visual effects coordinator: Mr. X Inc.
Barb Benoit	....	digital compositor
Dennis Berardi	....	visual effects producer
Cheyenne Bloomfield	....	visual effects producer: Tantrum Visual Effects and Design
Dominik Bochenski	....	digital compositor: Tantrum Visual Effects and Design
Mathew Borrett	....	matte painter
Mike Borrett	....	visual effects production manager: Mr. X Inc.
Branden Bratuhin	....	visual effects editor
Zac Campbell	....	digital compositor
Kris Carson	....	sequence lead: Mr.X
Richard Chiu	....	digital compositor
Ovidiu Cinazan	....	compositor
James Cooper	....	digital compositor: Tantrum Visual Effects and Design
Tommaso Corona	....	compositor
Molle DeBartolo	....	digital intermediate qc
Jeremy Dineen	....	visual effects animator
Thai Son Doan	....	digital compositor
Amélie Dubois	....	digital compositor
Danny Duchesneau	....	compositor
Mike Duffy	....	flame artist: Mr X Inc
Nick Fairhead	....	digital compositor: Tantrum Visual Effects and Design
David Fix	....	senior systems administrator: Mr. X Inc
Tommy Gervais	....	visual effects production assistant
Parth Ghatge	....	visual effects artist
Jason Gougeon	....	digital artist: Mr. X Inc.
Matt Greenwood	....	digital compositor: Tantrum Visual Effects and Design
Colleen Jenkinson	....	visual effects producer: Mr. X Inc.
Anna Joukova	....	digital compositor: Tantrum Visual Effects and Design
Sushil Kalyanshetti	....	visual effects artist
Dushyant Kashyap	....	visual effects
Mike Kwan	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Isabelle Langlois	....	digital effects producer: Mr. X Inc.
Jackson Li	....	digital artist
Alex Lipschultz	....	visual effects production assistant
Chris MacKenzie	....	smoke artist
Ken McCuen	....	matte painting artist
Claire McLachlan	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Daniel Mizuguchi	....	animation supervisor
Jaideep Mohan	....	digital compositor
Jessica Nolet	....	digital artist
Pete O'Connell	....	visual effects artist
Hojin Park	....	digital compositor
Rob Phillips	....	visual effects production assistant
Sebastien Proulx	....	compositor
Kevin Quatman	....	lead compositor
Matt Ralph	....	animator
Dominic Remane	....	lighting supervisor
D'Ippolito Roberto	....	digital compositor
Vishal Rustgi	....	rotoscope artist
Paul Saint-Hilaire	....	digital compositor nuke
Carolyn Shelby	....	digital compositor
Kyle Sim	....	digital compositor: Tantrum Visual Effects and Design
Ben Simons	....	senior technical supervisor
Brendan Taylor	....	visual effects supervisor
Bridget M. Taylor	....	senior compositor: Mr. X
Abu Thahir	....	digital compositor: anibrain
Sebastien Veilleux	....	digital compositor
Gwen Zhang	....	compositor
James Takashi Higuchi	....	digital artist: Tantrum Visual Effects and Design (uncredited)

Stunts
Gene Harrison	....	additional stunt coordinator
Kimberly Shannon Murphy	....	stunt performer
Brian Smyj	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Ethan Borsuk	....	key second assistant camera
Andrew Cavagnet	....	additional video assist
Glenn Davis	....	rigging electrician
Julian J. Delacruz	....	assistant camera
Jon Delgado	....	camera operator
Jon Delgado	....	director of photography: second unit
David Elwell	....	lighting technician
Colin Felth	....	camera production assistant
Stanley Fernandez Jr.	....	first assistant camera
Richie Ford	....	electrician
Fernando Gayesky	....	additional camera operator
Fernando Gayesky	....	first assistant camera
Kevin Gilligan	....	grip
Michael Grantland	....	camera operator
Katie Greaves	....	additional film loader
James Gregory	....	best boy electric
Joel Holland	....	key video assist operator
Frank La Frazia	....	electrician
Alex Lipschultz	....	camera production assistant
Sean McCardell	....	lighting technician
Steve McNally	....	lamp operator
Maritza Norr	....	camera loader
George Patsos	....	key grip
Louis Petraglia	....	grip (as Louie Petraglia)
Antonio Ponti	....	first assistant camera
Ken Regan	....	still photographer
Guillaume Renberg	....	remote camera operator
Chris Reynolds	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Eric Robbins	....	additional camera operator
Phil Testa	....	generator operator

Animation Department
Saxena Abhishek	....	animator

Casting Department
Jolanda Anthony	....	extras casting assistant
Sophia M. Costas	....	extras casting director
Lois J. Drabkin	....	casting associate
Matthew Honovic	....	casting assistant
Spencer Mondshein	....	extras casting assistant
Lindsey Roberts	....	background casting assistant
Robert Wedge	....	extras casting
Leeba Zakharov	....	casting associate
Kimberly Ehrlich	....	casting intern (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Anzalone	....	assistant costume designer
Valentina Aulisi	....	set costumer
Danielle Cadorette	....	costume shop co-supervisor
Nina Cinelli	....	costumer
David Davenport	....	costume supervisor
Troy David	....	costume ager/dyer
Laura Downing	....	costumer
Kevin Draves	....	costume supervisor
Nicole Greenbaum	....	set costumer
Rebecca Hofherr	....	assistant costume designer
Cheryl Kilbourne-Kimpton	....	additional costumer
Joseph La Corte	....	set costumer
Jared B. Leese	....	costume shop co-supervisor
Olivia Mori	....	costume shopper
David Paulin	....	head costume ager/dyer
Jessica Pitcairn	....	costume coordinator
Meredith Markworth Pollack	....	costume shopper
Autumn Saville	....	additional assistant costume designer
Lauren Schad	....	costumer
Michelle Elaine Teague	....	costumer
Tina Ulee	....	key background costumer

Editorial Department
Leslie Bautsch	....	post-production coordinator
Mike Fay	....	first assistant editor
Joe Gawler	....	digital intermediate colorist
Patrick Gerrity	....	post-production technician
Gardner Gould	....	post-production assistant
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer
John Potter	....	video mastering
Darrell R. Smith	....	digital intermediate coordinator

Music Department
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearance
Jim Bruening	....	music copyist
Lawrence Manchester	....	music engineer
Eric Paul	....	assistant music editor
Tim Starnes	....	auricle programmer
E. Gedney Webb	....	music editor

Other crew
Ramona Adair	....	production assistant
Mara Alcaly	....	location assistant
Matt Anderson	....	office production assistant
Jodi Arneson	....	production secretary
Jack Bavaro	....	first assistant production accountant
Seth Blackman	....	assistant location manager
Scott Bowers	....	production assistant
Marcos Bueno	....	office production assistant
Cristal Calderon	....	production assistant
Abby Coon	....	accounting clerk
Mary Cybulski	....	script supervisor
Ethan Duffy	....	production assistant
John Edmundson	....	production assistant
Guy Efrat	....	key assistant location manager
Abby Eon	....	location scout
Emily Evashevski	....	production assistant
D.R. Farquharson	....	project manager: Deluxe Digital Cinema
James Ferrera	....	unit publicist
Sarah Follett	....	set location assistant
Scott Foster	....	production assistant
Michael M. Franklin	....	location assistant
Jason Fritz	....	location scout
Emily Gannett	....	product placement
Bill Garvey	....	location scout
Duck Grossberg	....	data wrangler
Joe Guest	....	location manager
Joyce Hsieh	....	production accountant
Harry Israelson	....	production intern
JoAnn Fregalette Jansen	....	choreographer
Timothy S. Kane	....	production assistant
Matthew Kania	....	prep assistant location manager
Ashley Kravitz	....	rights and clearances
Steven Lafferty	....	set production assistant
Yana Collins Lehman	....	post-production accountant
Jesse Liotta	....	assistant: Celia Costas
Tom Lombardi	....	asset production assistant
Lisa Madden	....	second assistant accountant
Casey Madigan	....	background production assistant
David M. McGuire	....	location scout
Tim Monich	....	dialect coach
Robert Noonan	....	location assistant
Will O'Dwyer	....	accounting clerk
Sean Oliver	....	adr loop group
Phuong-Thuy Pham	....	location assistant
Christine Putnam	....	assistant production coordinator
Bill Richards	....	aerial coordinator
Howard Samuelsohn	....	dialect coach
Catherine Shao	....	assistant: Ang Lee
Catherine Shao	....	post production assistant
David Silver	....	historical consultant
Jay Storey	....	stand-in
Felipe Tewes	....	assistant: James Schamus
Bill Timoney	....	adr voice group
Jill Vaupen	....	travel coordinator
Patty Willett	....	production coordinator
Carlos David Rivera	....	set production intern (uncredited)

Thanks
Phil Sauers	....	thanks
Martin Scorsese	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Focus Features

Distributors

• Focus Features (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Focus Features (2009) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Forum Film Poland (2009) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2009) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Argentina Video Home (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2009) (Switzerland) (all media)
• BIM Distribuzione (2009) (Italy) (all media)
• D Productions (2009) (Turkey) (all media)
• FS Film Oy (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• Kino Swiat (2008) (Poland) (all media)
• Odeon (2009) (Greece) (all media)
• Tobis (2009) (Germany) (all media)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Valentim de Carvalho Multimédia (2009) (Portugal) (all media)

Special Effects

• Mr. X

Other Companies

• C5  post-production sound services
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Murphy PR  publicity
• Pivotal Post  Avid HD Editing Equipment Provided By
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities
• Rhino Records  soundtrack
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  junxion box rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  modem card rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  walkie rentals

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic nudity, some sexual content, drug use and language.

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45200) | New Zealand:R16 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Portugal:M/16 | Ireland:16 | Hong Kong:III | Singapore:R21 | Germany:6 | Australia:MA | Netherlands:12 | Mexico:B15 | Ireland:15 (DVD rating) | Norway:A | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Cherry Plain State Park, New York, USA

Company:

Focus Features

Trivia:

In the end of the film Michael Lang says he's going to San Francisco to organize a free concert with the Rolling Stones. He's referring to the infamous Altamont Free Concert where four people ended up dead, one of them by homicide. Because of these violent events the concert was later on viewed as the end of the hippie era.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Billy talks about beating Monticello High School and catching 3 touch down passes. Monticello High School had no football team at that time nor did it have one for decades prior to the festival. Also, if Billy was from White Lake or Bethel, he would have attended Monticello High School and would not have been playing against them.

Quotes:

[the Chamber of Commerce discussing tourism ideas]
Frank: Well, okay. We got a lot of dairy farms around here, right? And a fair number of bulls. Okay, you've all heard of the running of the bulls in that town in Spain, Pampoona.
Elliot Tiber: Pamplona.
Frank: Well, no one's doing one in the Catskills. Seems to be a big draw over there.
Annie: It would be very amusing to see all those Jews from Levitsky's summer colony, you know, the ones with the black top hats and the curls, running for their lives chased by our local livestock. Wouldn't that be a wonderful sight!

Movie Connections:

References Topaz (1969)

Soundtrack:

Freedom (2009)

Enjoyable but music is missing

I saw this movie being very attracted by the trailer which seemed to offer fun and deep involvement. Now I have seen it, and I can say that it is enjoyable, but not fully convincing. Obviously, Ang Lee drifts attention from the concerts and the music of those three epic days in 1969 to focus on the personal story of a young man and his odd family who worked and lived in the background of this great event. The characters are engaging, very well interpreted, but in the end I missed the real protagonist, music, being it the powerful means through which these young people gave voice to their need for change and revolution and which was revolutionary, indeed. The atmosphere of those days is rendered vividly, we get many physical perceptions, of naked bodies, mud, rain, sun, but not acoustic ones, and I perceived this as a flaw throughout the movie. In the end you ask yourself: wasn't Woodstock mainly a three-day concert? Where is music? The movie is solidly directed, the director knows perfectly what kind of product he wants to offer, and in the end we get fun and reflection around, but never inside an event, which never comes to be explicit. Very good actorial interpretations (Imelda Staunton playing the mother is simply wonderful), although the characters themselves appear to be looking for a soundtrack which lacks till the end.