Take the Lead (2006)

Director:

Liz Friedlander

Writer (WGA):

Dianne Houston (written by)

Release Date:

7 April 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

Never Follow.

Plot:

The real story of a dance teacher who believed in the talent of a group of problem kids.

Plot Keywords:

Dance | Teacher | Ballroom | Dance Teacher | Tango

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Antonio Banderas	...	Pierre Dulaine
Rob Brown	...	Rock
Yaya DaCosta	...	LaRhette
Alfre Woodard	...	Augustine James
John Ortiz	...	Mr. Temple
Laura Benanti	...	Tina
Jonathan Malen	...	Kurd
Jasika Nicole	...	Egypt
Shawand McKenzie	...	Big Girl
Dante Basco	...	Ramos
Elijah Kelley	...	Danjou
Jenna Dewan	...	Sasha
Marcus T. Paulk	...	Eddie
Brandon D. Andrews	...	Monster
Lauren Collins	...	Caitlin
Katya Virshilas	...	Morgan
Alison Sealy-Smith	...	Rock's Mom
Phillip Jarrett	...	Rock's Dad
Jo Chim	...	Gretchen
Volodymyr Vynogradsky	...	Travis (as Volodymyr Vynogradskyy)
Kevin Hanchard	...	Woodley
Joseph Pierre	...	Trey
Lyriq Bent	...	Easy
Heidi von Palleske	...	Laura
Darren Marsman	...	Taxi Driver
Kofi Payton	...	Street Kid
Sharon Matthews	...	Ms. Rosemead (as Sharron Matthews)
Frank Spadone	...	Supervisor
Yvonne Myers	...	LaRhette's Mother
Tony Craig	...	Security Guard
Ardon Bess	...	Smitty
Quancetia Hamilton	...	Parent
Alan John Armsby	...	Emcee
Natalli Reznik	...	Rude Dancer
Daniel Guajardo	...	Rude Dancer's Partner
Anna Dimitrie Melamed	...	Pierre's Partner
Piotre Derus	...	Caitlin's Partner
Reuben Thompson	...	Security Guard
Ocean L'Ecuyer-Prytula	...	Academy Dancer
Brianna Nagy	...	Academy Dancer
Anthony Berardocco	...	Academy Dancer
Liliana Berardocco	...	Academy Dancer
Dimitry Ilyushenov	...	Academy Dancer
Kamil Studenny	...	Academy Dancer
Katya Fadeeva	...	Academy Dancer
Zoia Petrossian	...	Academy Dancer
Jarek Piwowarczyk	...	Academy Dancer
Valentin Mirosh	...	Academy Dancer
Katya Kerro	...	Academy Dancer
Ron Levitt	...	Academy Dancer
Soupy Souphommanychanh	...	Detention Kid
Laura Ricketts	...	Detention Kid
Darryl Reyes	...	Detention Kid
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Philip Adkins	...	Teenager on Corner (uncredited)
Marc Gagne	...	Man in Street (extra) (uncredited)

Directed by
Liz Friedlander

Writing credits (WGA)
Dianne Houston		(written by)

Produced by
Toby Emmerich	....	executive producer
Christopher Godsick	....	producer
Michelle Grace	....	producer
Mathew Hart	....	executive producer
Mark Kaufman	....	executive producer
Ray Liotta	....	executive producer
Matt Moore	....	executive producer
Diane Nabatoff	....	producer

Original Music by
Swizz Beatz
Aaron Zigman

Cinematography by
Alex Nepomniaschy

Film Editing by
Robert Ivison

Casting by
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by
Paul D. Austerberry

Art Direction by
Nigel Churcher

Set Decoration by
Gordon Sim

Costume Design by
Melissa Toth

Makeup Department
Qodi Armstrong	....	key hair stylist: New York
Veronica Ciandre	....	key hair stylist
Sarah Craig	....	makeup artist
Brian Hui	....	makeup artist
Kelly Kavanagh	....	makeup artist
Patricia Keighran	....	key makeup artist
Fina Khan	....	second assistant hair stylist
Edelgard K. Pfluegl	....	second assistant makeup artist (as Edelgard Pfluegl)
Kelly Shanks	....	first assistant hair stylist
Nena Smarz	....	hair stylist: Mr. Banderas
Nena Smarz	....	makeup artist: Mr. Banderas

Production Management
Erik Holmberg	....	executive in charge of production
Armand Leo	....	unit production manager
Cecilia Kate Roque	....	unit production manager: New York (as Cecilia Roque)
Frank Salvino	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Adam Bocknek	....	third assistant director (as Adam 'Bucky' Bocknek)
David Catalano	....	second second assistant director: New York
Penny Charter	....	second assistant director
Tyler Delben	....	third assistant director (as E. Tyler Delben)
Taylor Flook	....	trainee assistant director
Walter Gasparovic	....	first assistant director
Jude Gorjanc	....	first assistant director: New York
Kenyon Noble	....	second assistant director: New York
Elizabeth Parker	....	third assistant director (as Elizabeth 'Duff' Parker)

Art Department
Tory Bellingham	....	assistant property master
Martin Bernstein	....	construction coordinator: New York
Rob Bonney	....	head carpenter
J. Tracy Budd	....	lead swing
Terry Davidson	....	on-set carpenter
Dan DeTitta	....	set decorator: New York
Miro Dziwik	....	lead painter
David Evans	....	on-set dresser
Ann-Marie Ferney-Tellez	....	props buyer (as Anne-Marie Ferney-Tellez)
Kevin Forstner	....	assistant head carpenter
Sarah Frank	....	art director: New York
Jeffrey L. Glave	....	charge scenic: New York (as Jeff Glave)
James Halpenny	....	construction coordinator
Jennifer Heimpel	....	second assistant art director
Hubert Hsu	....	art department production assistant
Kevin Hughes	....	second assistant head carpenter
Mayumi Konishi	....	first assistant art director
Matthew Lammerich	....	key scenic artist
Erin Leslie	....	scenic artist
Scott Lyons	....	first assistant art director (as D. Scott Lyons)
Scott Lyons	....	graphic artist (as D. Scott Lyons)
Vinny Mazzarella	....	property master
H. Nancy Pak	....	art department coordinator
Jeff Poulis	....	property master (as Jeffrey W. Poulis)
Jamie Pounder	....	assistant lead painter
Marlene Rain	....	art department buyer
Wendie Saltarski	....	construction auditor
Ken Samaroo	....	stand-by painter (as Kenneth Samaroo)
Bruce Schluter	....	graphic designer
Jeremy Simser	....	storyboard artist
Keith Sly	....	leadman
Alex Tellnow	....	model shop foreman
Jason Detheridge	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jocelyn Caron	....	foley mixer (as Jo Caron)
Gordon Chacra	....	boom operator
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York
Paula Fairfield	....	sound effects editor
Michael Ferdie	....	adr editor
Michael Ferdie	....	dialogue editor
Guy Francoeur	....	foley artist
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer (as Alan Friedman)
David Grant	....	dialogue editor (as David A. Grant)
Catherine Harper	....	foley artist
William Jacobs	....	sound effects editor
Adam Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matthew McKenzie	....	adr recordist
Carla Murray	....	sound effects editor
Chris Navarro	....	adr recordist
Todd Niesen	....	dialogue editor
John Ross	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Ross	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Scherer	....	sound mixer (as Robert F. Scherer)
Walter Spencer	....	adr supervisor
Walter Spencer	....	dialogue supervisor
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Mathew Waters	....	sound effects editor
Dorian Williamson	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Tony Kenny	....	special effects foreman
Kaz Kobielski	....	special effects coordinator
Dean Stewart	....	special effects administrator

Visual Effects by
Cindy Bond	....	visual effects associate producer: Pacific Title
Kiley Bond	....	compositor: Pacific Title
John Campuzano	....	digital optical coordinator: Pacific Title
Ozzie Carmona	....	compositor: Pacific Title
Mike Chiado	....	digital intermediate technologist
Chris Flynn	....	compositor: Pacific Title
Mark Freund	....	visual effects supervisor: Pacific Title
David Geoghegan	....	compositor: Pacific Title
Maureen Healy	....	compositor: Pacific Title
Lisa Markou	....	visual effects coordinator: Pacific Title (as Lisa Marko)
Matthew Melia	....	compositor: Pacific Title (as Matthew Melis)
James Rim	....	compositor: Pacific Title
Matt Seckman	....	compositor: Pacific Title
Rick Sparr	....	visual effects producer: Pacific Title
Antonio Torres	....	digital artist: Pacific Title
Bob Wiatr	....	lead compositor: Pacific Title
Jennifer Law-Stump	....	digital effects artist: Pacific Title (uncredited)

Stunts
Matt Birman	....	stunt driver
Shelley Cook	....	stunt double
Efosa Otuomagie	....	stunt double: Rock (as Efo Otuomagie)
Derrek Peels	....	stunt double: Easy
John Stoneham Jr.	....	fight coordinator
John Stoneham Jr.	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
John Adamson	....	grip (as John R. Adamson)
Diana Alvarez	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, New York
Jonathan Billings	....	rigging key grip (as Jon Billings)
Brendan Bresnahan	....	video assist operator
Deanna Cadette	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Deanna Ivy Cadette)
Jayson Clute	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Sean Dawes	....	best boy rigging electric
Renato Di Giuseppe	....	camera operator: second unit
Renato Di Giuseppe	....	director of photography: second unit
Ray Dumas	....	Steadicam operator: second unit
William Engel	....	grip
Sophie Giraud	....	daily still photographer
Lee Guenette	....	best boy electric
Welles Hackett	....	director of photography: New York
Jason Harvey	....	camera operator: New York
Kerry Hayes	....	still photographer
Marcel Janisse	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera, New York
Robert Johnson	....	key grip
Mark Lewandowski	....	video playback operator
Marc Lougheed	....	assistant camera
Adam McDonald	....	grip
Tim Merkel	....	Steadicam operator
Tim Merkel	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Jim Nolan	....	best boy grip: New York
Marcus Paletta	....	grip
Emily Patterson	....	camera loader
Jeff Petro	....	technician: Pictrovision XR
Danny Piva	....	electrician
Marc Purdy	....	best boy grip
Graeme Rivers	....	lighting board operator
Dave Samuel	....	gaffer: New York (as Dave Samuels)
Ronald Schlueter	....	video assistant: splinter unit
Sean Sheridan	....	best boy electric: New York (as Shaun Sheridan)
Owen Smith	....	dolly grip
Paul Spaven	....	rigging gaffer
Kurt Swatz	....	key grip: New York
John Sztejnmiler	....	generator operator
Franco Tata	....	chief lighting technician
Tom Taylor	....	electrician
Frank Teunissen	....	rigging grip best boy
Mark Willis	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Ian C. Harris	....	rigging electrician: daily (uncredited)

Casting Department
Lisa Baylin	....	casting assistant
Kim Coleman	....	casting associate
Robin D. Cook	....	casting: Canada (as Robin Cook)
Donna Dupere	....	extras casting
Brad Gerstl	....	extras casting coordinator
Stephanie Gorin	....	casting: Canada
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Kathleen Howell	....	casting assistant
Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson	....	adr voice casting (as Caitlin McKenna)
Eve Streger	....	casting assistant
Aaron Unrau	....	extras casting assistant
Candice Vernon	....	extras casting associate
Karen Williams	....	casting assistant
Leeba Zakharov	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ciara Brennan	....	costumer: Antonio Banderas
Natalie Bronfman	....	costume buyer
Cori Burchell	....	assistant costume designer: Toronto
Kim Child	....	costume supervisor
Maureen J. Curtin	....	extras costume supervisor
Isabel De Biasio	....	costume set supervisor
Natalie Gysel	....	costume buyer (as Nathalie Gysel)
Leah Katznelson	....	assistant costume designer: New York
Trelawnie Mead	....	assistant costume set supervisor
Diana Pappas	....	costume production assistant: New York

Editorial Department
Toni Allen	....	negative cutter
Dylan Carter	....	on-line editor
Rick Downey	....	negative cutter
Majda Drinnan	....	apprentice editor
David Feldman	....	digital intermediate producer: Company 3
Gary Fluxgold	....	first assistant editor: Toronto
Ally Garrett	....	assistant editor: Los Angeles (as Allyson Garrett)
Dave Hussey	....	colorist
Chris Jackson	....	first assistant editor
Jackie Lee	....	digital intermediate producer: Company 3
Jody Levin	....	executive in charge of post-production
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Nicole Sears	....	post-production assistant: Los Angeles
Salvatore Catanzaro	....	assistant on-line editor (uncredited)
Ian Turpen	....	digital intermediate scanner: Company 3 (uncredited)

Music Department
Rob Bertola	....	music playback: ProTools
Bob Boykin	....	musician
Paul Broucek	....	executive in charge of music: New Line
Stephen Coleman	....	music arranger: songs
Jessica Dolinger	....	music clearances
Josh Evans	....	assistant score engineer
Christy Gerhart	....	music coordinator
Bonnie Greenberg	....	executive music producer
Simon James	....	music contractor
Michael Jay	....	additional music editor
Kory Kruckenberg	....	scoring assistant engineer
Mateo Laboriel	....	electronic music programmer
Debra Mannis-Gardner	....	music clearances (as Deborah Mannis-Gardner)
Jeffrey Potokar	....	music editor
Robert Puff	....	additional music preparer
Satnam Ramgotra	....	musician: percussion
Angie Rubin	....	supervising music editor
David Sabee	....	music contractor
Erin Scully	....	music executive
Lori Silfen	....	music business affairs executive
Michael Stern	....	music scoring mixer
Michael Stern	....	music scoring recordist
Eric Vargas	....	music scoring mixer (as Eric 'Erik' Vargas)
Eric Vargas	....	music scoring recordist (as Eric 'Erik' Vargas)
Jesse Voccia	....	composer: electronic music
Jesse Voccia	....	electronic music programmer (as Jessie Voccia)
John F.X. Walsh	....	music business affairs executive
Aaron Zigman	....	conductor

Transportation Department
G. Baxter	....	driver
James Beaudrow	....	transportation captain
John Brunt	....	driver
Whitney Byron	....	driver
Dave Cotton	....	driver
Lowell Greenspoon	....	picture vehicle coordinator
Dana Howes	....	transportation coordinator
Glenn Hughes	....	picture car captain
Wayne Ireland	....	transportation co-captain
Michael K. Jones	....	driver: Antonio Banderas
Don Morley	....	driver (as Donald B. Morley)
John Muir	....	driver
Reg Reynolds	....	driver: honeywagon
Jean Ritchie	....	driver
Brian Travers	....	driver

Other crew
Craig Alexander	....	business affairs executive: Baker Street Media Finance
Mikhael Antone	....	production coordinator: New York
Samantha Armstrong	....	script supervisor
Lynell Bangs	....	production accountant
Allison Barber	....	publicity intern
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances: Entertainment Clearances Inc.
John 'Frenchie' Berger	....	armorer
Stephanie Lee Berger	....	weapons handler
Kevin Berman	....	consultant
John Blacker	....	assistant location manager
Judy Blinick	....	post-production accountant
Kate Bogle	....	production assistant: New York
Laurel Bresnahan	....	education liaison
Laurie Cartwright	....	risk management
Jas Chima	....	assistant: Ms. Friedlander, Toronto
David M. Chisholm	....	assistant production coordinator
Rick Coffee	....	first assistant accountant
Connie Contardi	....	production office assistant
Christopher Corona	....	production assistant
Hakan Coskuner	....	stand-in: Mr. Banderas
Jon Davidson	....	production controller: Canada
Terri Dean	....	assistant craft service
Tina Dean	....	assistant craft service
Marco Di Flaviano	....	location production assistant
Dianne Doyle	....	set medic
Leon Dudevoir	....	production executive
Pierre Dulaine	....	dance consultant
Ava DuVernay	....	promotional services
Jeff Egan	....	production safety
Laurie Farrance	....	studio teacher
Emily Glatter	....	supervising production coordinator
Jeanette Hill-Yonis	....	production attorney
Richard Hughes	....	location manager
JoAnn Fregalette Jansen	....	choreographer (as JoAnn Jansen)
Ronan Keane	....	third assistant accountant
Kyle Limkilde	....	stand-in
Giovanni Lopes	....	adr loop group
Vair Macphee	....	production coordinator (as Vair MacPhee)
Dino Mangos	....	location production assistant
Ginny Martino	....	contract administrator
Roy McKay	....	stand-in
Anthony McKeon	....	security officer
Trelawnie Mead	....	truck supervisor
John Mendes	....	assistant location manager
Tony Meredith	....	dance coach
Ryan Miningham	....	assistant: New Line Cinema
Althea Morgan-Taylor	....	stand-in (as Althea Taylor)
Natan Moss	....	assistant: Ms. Friedlander, Los Angeles
Mark Nicholson	....	assistant: Ms. Nabatoff
Shannon Nowak	....	stand-in
Ralph Pellegrini	....	location assistant: New York
Julie Pereira	....	production secretary
Tracey Phillips	....	second assistant accountant
George Ploszczansky	....	security advisor
Yolanda J. Polonio	....	assistant: Mr. Banderas (as Yolanda Polonio)
Paul Prokop	....	executive in charge of finance
John Rakich	....	location scout
Joshua Ravetch	....	production resources
Knickoy Robinson	....	stand-in
Julianna Selfridge	....	risk management (as Juliana Selfridge)
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances: Entertainment Clearances Inc.
Michelle K. Smith	....	production secretary (as Michelle Smith)
Sue Sparling	....	payroll accountant
Jay Steckel	....	production assistant
Joe Steele	....	production resources
Daniel Strol	....	location manager: New York
Erik Sudmals	....	first assistant accountant
Anthony Talauega	....	choreographer: hip hop (as Tone Talauega)
Richmond Talauega	....	choreographer: hip hop (as Rich Talauega)
Jesse Thompkins III	....	office production assistant
Sarah Turner	....	production office assistant
Karen Tyrell	....	unit publicist
Allen Walls	....	assistant choreographer

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema
• Tiara Blu Films

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Eagle Pictures (2006) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Golden Scene (2006) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Pandasia Entertainment (2006) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• Net5 (2008) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Pacific Title (visual effects)
• Pacific Title (opticals)

Other Companies

• 424  post-production sound services provided by
• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance provided by
• Bastyr University  score recorded at
• By Davids' Enroute Catering  catering
• Cast & Crew Entertainment Services  payroll (as Cast and Crew Entertainment Services)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Clairmont Camera  camera systems
• Company 3  digital intermediate
• Donna Dupere Casting  extras casting (as Dupere Casting)
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Monza Studios  score recorded at
• Northwest Sinfonia  score performed by
• Nu-Mark  electronic music programming
• Ocean Cities Entertainment  music production services
• Panavision Canada  remote cranes and heads
• Panavision Remote Systems  remote cranes and heads
• Pictorvision  Pictorvision XR provided by
• Republic Records  soundtrack
• Right Lobe Design Group  title design
• Star Grazing  craft service
• Tattersall Sound  picture editing facilities
• Universal Records  soundtrack
• William F. White International  Chapman camera dollies (as William F. White International Inc.)
• Wilshire Stages, The  ADR recording facility

Also Known As:

Держи ритм (Russia) [ru]
Déjate llevar (Spain) [es]
Dance with Me (France) [fr]
Dance! (Germany) [de]
Entrez dans la danse (Canada: French title) [fr]
Niose to rythmo (Greece) [el]
Rütm kisub kaasa (Estonia) [et]
Ritmo e Sedução (Portugal) (literal title) [pt]
Ritmo y seducción (Argentina) [es]
Ti va di ballare? (Italy) [it]
Vem Dançar (Brazil) [pt]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, language and some violence.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | Ireland:PG | Hong Kong:IIA | Argentina:Atp | Malaysia:U | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Sweden:7 | Finland:K-11 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Australia:PG | Iceland:10 | Netherlands:6 | South Korea:12 | New Zealand:PG | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Dante Basco plays the high school boy, Ramos, when in fact at the time of the movie he is 31 years old.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In a lot of the scenes in the cellar in which they keep the bad students, a microphone that appears to be on a track shows in most of the shots.

Quotes:

Eddie: Yo son, who died?
Pierre Dulaine: Apparently your manners...

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Dancing with the Stars: Series 4 Grand Final (#4.12)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Fascination

Not what you've expected.

There are so many good films being released and so many formulaic films like these are released that it seems like we can do without a film like TAKE THE LEAD.But guess what,this ain't your average coming-of-age inspiring story.This is rather more fun and effective drama powered by fantastic dance sequences,with the aid of Benderas who leads the kids.

The entire film depends on Benderas' energy and wit.He fills the film with energy and wit and excites everyone in the film.I really enjoyed the superbly choreographed dance sequences as it brings about different cultures together and shows how much fun it could be.It's really enthralling.

A finely made entertaining film with a different treatment to an old formula.Surprise is on their side.