Day Zero (2007)

Director:

Bryan Gunnar Cole

Writer:

Robert Malkani (written by)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Drafted... 30 Days to Report For Duty. What would you do?

Plot:

The military draft is back. Three best friends are drafted and given 30 days to report for duty. In...

Plot Keywords:

Duty | Courage | Friend | Honor | Military Draft

Cast

Elijah Wood	...	Feller
Chris Klein	...	Rifkin
Jon Bernthal	...	Dixon
Ginnifer Goodwin	...	Molly
Elisabeth Moss	...	Patricia
Ally Sheedy	...	Dr. Reynolds
Sofia Vassilieva	...	Mara
John Rothman	...	Rifkin's Father
Daniel Oreskes	...	Gus (as Daniel Orskes)
Tinashe Kajese	...	Rifkin's Secretary
Robert Hogan	...	Senior Partner (as Bob Hogan)
Adam LeFevre	...	Client (as Adam Le Fevre)
Amir Arison	...	Lawyer
Ian Kahn	...	Liberal Man at Party
Jordin Ruderman	...	Liberal Woman at Party (as Jordan Ruderman)
Annie Rohling	...	First Woman at Party
Clark Middleton	...	Porn Clerk
Charlene Biton	...	Peep Show Girl
Alexandra Rose	...	Rifkin's Niece (as Alexandra Rose Sullivan)
Janelle Anne Robinson	...	Bar Waitress (as Janelle Robinson)
Malachy Cleary	...	Oncologist
Michelle DiBenedetti	...	Prostitute (as M.J. Di Benedetti)
Jon David Casey	...	Pimp
Jamison Stern	...	First Gay Man
Phil Burke	...	Second Gay Man
Malina Linkas	...	Lounge Woman
Beth Beyer	...	Taxi Customer
Michael Shapiro	...	News Announcer (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Avondolio	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Aran Bertetto	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Amelia Randolph Campbell	...	Jewish Woman (uncredited)
Turhan Caylak	...	Doorman (uncredited)
Tanya Clarke	...	Mara's Mom (uncredited)
Scott Conner	...	Fertility Guy (uncredited)
David Lee Denny Jr.	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Joey Duke	...	Bodybuilder (uncredited)
Theresa Fowler	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Jayson Gladstone	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Melissa Goodwin	...	Rifkin's Sister (uncredited)
Celestial Hakim	...	Jessica's Daughter (uncredited)
Zoe Lister Jones	...	Jessica Hendricks (uncredited)
Jody Kay Litman	...	Party Woman (uncredited)
Cynthia Loebe	...	Streetwalker (uncredited)
Kasey Marr	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Victor Medina-San Andrés	...	Bar Brawler (uncredited)
Bradley Miles	...	Streetwalker (uncredited)
Lee Miller	...	Streetwalker (uncredited)
Susan Molloy	...	Rifkin's Sister (uncredited)
Kal Parekh	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Craig Pollack	...	Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
Rodney Roldan	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Anna Swanson	...	Girl in Office (uncredited)
Ronald Thomas	...	Neighborhood Observer (uncredited)
TonyaTko	...	Bar Bombshell (uncredited)

Directed by
Bryan Gunnar Cole

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Robert Malkani		written by

Produced by
Robert Malkani	....	executive producer
Anthony Moody	....	producer
Daniel Sollinger	....	line producer

Original Music by
Erin O'Hara

Cinematography by
Matthew Clark		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Bryan Gunnar Cole

Casting by
Judy Henderson

Production Design by
Laurie Krupp

Art Direction by
A.R. Brook Lynn		(as Alex Brook Lynn)

Set Decoration by
Melissa B. Miller

Costume Design by
Andrea Huelse

Makeup Department
Lisa DelleChiaie	....	key hair stylist
Michelle Kearns	....	additional makeup artist
Lauzanne Nel	....	additional makeup artist
David Presto	....	key hair designer
David Presto	....	makeup department head
Leo Won	....	additional makeup artist
Loretta Alston	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Loretta Alston	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Csaba Bereczky	....	production manager
Kimberly K. Ferraro	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bruce Hall	....	second assistant director (as Brtuce Edward Hall)
Jolyon Reese	....	first assistant director
Joe Wehmeyer	....	second second assistant director
Neil Daly	....	first assistant director: pre-production (uncredited)

Art Department
Aysi Amdjadi	....	art intern
Matt Bronshvag	....	additional set dresser (as Mathew Bronschvag)
Daniel	....	carpenter
Kley Gilbuena	....	additional set dresser (as Kiley C. Gilbuena)
Paul Matamoros	....	art intern
Mark McElligot	....	art intern
Anita Paccione	....	art intern
Illya Radysh	....	carpenter
Elizabeth Ralston	....	on-set dresser
Andrea Seidel	....	property master
Mark Sonderskov	....	carpenter: breakaway prop
Adriano Valle	....	additional set dresser
Paul Wielonsky	....	art intern
Victor Medina-San Andrés	....	art consultant (uncredited)
Victor Medina-San Andrés	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Carmen Borgia	....	foley artist: Du Art
Mike Guarino	....	additional on-set sound mixer
Mike Guarino	....	boom operator
Matt Gundy	....	sound effects editor: Du Art
Jack Hutson	....	sound mixer
Ken Jackson	....	additional on-set sound mixer
Kevin Wilson	....	final sound mixer: Du Art
Kevin Wilson	....	supervising sound designer: Du Art
John Sember	....	additional production sound mixer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Mike Nuget	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Damian Achilles	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gabriel Hansen	....	stunts (uncredited)
Derrick Simmons	....	stunts (uncredited)
Manny Siverio	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sam Applebaum	....	electric intern
Mark Beattie	....	electrician
Jess Fogel	....	electrician
Shawn Greene	....	gaffer (as Shawn Green)
Sebastian Mlynarski	....	still photographer
Jeff Niggemeyer	....	key grip
Anwar Payne	....	key rigging grip
Linda Slater	....	first assistant camera
Walter Strafford	....	rigging grip
Sean Taylor	....	best boy grip
Vance Tucker	....	grip
Jon Unjang	....	grip
Ryan Webb	....	best boy
Joy Weber	....	best boy electrician
Zoe White	....	second assistant camera
Mark Beattie	....	assistant chief lighting technician (uncredited)
Olivier Bernier	....	additional grip (uncredited)
James McCusker	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Matthew Mendelson	....	key grip (uncredited)
Marialuisa Ramirez	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Stewart Resmer	....	grip and electric truck (uncredited)
Meg Schrock	....	assistant chief lighting technician (uncredited)
Meg Schrock	....	lamp operator (uncredited)
Simon Shen	....	lamp operator (uncredited)
John Shim	....	additional grip (uncredited)
Josh Taylor	....	assistant chief lighting technician (uncredited)
Travis Tips	....	lamp operator (uncredited)
Zenfeek	....	first company grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Kimberly Graham	....	casting associate
Katie Matulonis	....	extras casting
Janelle Anne Robinson	....	casting assistant (as Janelle Robinson)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Osomede Ayinde	....	wardrobe intern
Mark Richard Caswell	....	wardrobe intern (as Mark Caswell)
Cameron Cooper	....	wardrobe intern
Gracie Cox	....	wardrobe assistant
Christine Edwards	....	wardrobe intern
Martina Melendez	....	wardrobe intern
Olivia Mori	....	assistant costume designer
Sarah Shears	....	wardrobe assistant
Chrissy Stewart	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Saleem Aziz	....	first assistant editor
Roger Doran	....	colorist
Ned Thorne	....	edit room assistant

Music Department
Catherine Bent	....	musician
Jim Black	....	music supervisor
Peter DeBoer	....	additional scoring mixer
Emery Dobyns	....	music arranger
Emery Dobyns	....	musician
Emery Dobyns	....	orchestrator
Emery Dobyns	....	score producer
Emery Dobyns	....	scoring engineer
Emery Dobyns	....	scoring mixer
Tom Gavin	....	musician
Matt Gundy	....	music editor: Du Art
Graham Hawthorne	....	musician
Erin O'Hara	....	musician
Tony Shanahan	....	music arranger
Tony Shanahan	....	musician
Tony Shanahan	....	orchestrator
Tony Shanahan	....	score producer
Megan Weeder	....	musician
Jimi Zhivago	....	musician (as Jimmy Zhivago)
Jason Diamond	....	music consultant (uncredited)
Jason Diamond	....	music editor (uncredited)
Josh Diamond	....	music consultant (uncredited)
Josh Diamond	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Matthew Reedy	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Katri Billard	....	script supervisor
Kate Borne	....	adr loop group
Stefano Cargnel	....	office intern
Elisa Castaneda	....	production assistant
Mark Andrew Clark	....	acquisitions executive
Chris Cloud	....	unit production assistant
Harriet Steel Durkes	....	assistant: Mr. Moody (as Harriet Durkes)
Elijah Estes	....	parking production assistant
Drew Evans	....	production assistant
Jonathan Gray	....	legal counsel
Preston Greenwood	....	parking production assistant
Paul Irwin	....	assistant location manager
Sondra James	....	loop group coordinator
Vanessa Kai	....	adr loop group
Louis Katz	....	production physician (as Louis A. Katz)
Evan Krauss	....	legal counsel
Kirk A. Lewis	....	parking production assistant
Selenis Leyva	....	adr loop group
Hector Linova	....	child welfare manager
Arthur Louis	....	office intern
Marcus Maurice	....	adr loop group
Nicholas McManus	....	craft service production assistant (as Nickholas McManus)
Ramon Morillo	....	location assistant
Sean Nelson	....	adr loop group
Carninal O'Hara	....	office intern
Mary Patterson	....	production coordinator
Dan Seery	....	office intern
R. Zachary Shildwachter	....	key set production assistant (as Zach Shildwachter)
Joleen Small	....	office intern
Jeffrey R. Stimmel	....	location manager (as Jeff Stimmel)
Ned Thorne	....	assistant: Mr. Cole
Miriam Tielmann	....	production assistant
Bill Timoney	....	adr loop group
Ed Trucco	....	adr loop group
Nathan Weinstein	....	web intern
Jason Wingo	....	parking production assistant
Melinda Ziyadat	....	production assistant
Jesse Beller	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Katie Matulonis	....	background production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Mikhail Baryshnikov	....	very special thanks
Jason Diamond	....	very special thanks
Josh Diamond	....	very special thanks
Justin Feldman	....	very special thanks
Jonathan Gray	....	very special thanks
Evan Krauss	....	very special thanks
David Kwok	....	very special thanks
Jeannie Moody	....	very special thanks
Erin O'Hara	....	very special thanks
Kathleen Thorne	....	very special thanks
Tom Touchet	....	very special thanks
Joanne Wiles	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• Indalo Productions

Distributors

• First Look International (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Be Best in DVD (BBI-DVD) (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Be Best in DVD (BBI-DVD) (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Laptv (2009) (Argentina) (TV)
• New Films International (2007) (non-USA) (all media)
• One Movie (2009) (Italy) (all media)
• Studio S (2010) (Sweden) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Abel Cine Tech  cameras and lenses
• Fastlights.com  lighting (as Fast Lights)
• Froots and Roots  catering
• Gray Krauss Des Rochers  legal services
• Hobo Studios  score recording facility
• MBS Productions  additional sound facility
• Maid's Room  additional sound recording
• NPI Production Services  cast payroll
• NPI Production Services  extras payroll
• Postworks New York  editorial facility (as Postworks NY)
• Precision Marketing Consultants  transportation services
• Truman Van Dyke Company  insurance (as Truman Van Dyke)

Also Known As:

"Día cero" - Argentina (cable TV title)
"Dia Zero" - Portugal (imdb display title)
"Mehri tin teleftaia mera" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"Nollpunkten" - Sweden (imdb display title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, sexual content, some violence and drug use

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Black and White (archive footage)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:MA | Argentina:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Indalo Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: Aaron has his head completely shaved, but too soon afterward, he has more hair growth than he should have had.

Movie Connections:

References Joanna's Angels (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Voice of a Gun

A Most Enjoyable Thought-Provoking Film with First-Rate Ensemble Acting

I saw "Day Zero" twice during its run at the Tribeca Film Festival and would have welcomed a third viewing. From seeing the trailer at the film's website (http://www.dayzerothemovie.com/) I knew the story dealt with future reinstatement of the military draft in the United States and how three friends spent the thirty days between receiving draft notices and reporting for duty. I was immediately drawn into the film and the lives of these men; I cared about them and what they were going through. The film is character driven and director Bryan Gunnar Cole succeeds brilliantly in getting inspired performances from the talented, but mostly not well-known (to me, at least) cast.

Chris Klein very convincingly plays George, an upwardly mobile New Yorker, who at a young age, has recently made partner in a prestigious law firm. He does not want to jeopardize his career, does not support the war still playing out in the Mideast and diligently searches for ways to dodge the draft. He considers everything from seeking the help of his influential father to self-mutilation – an edge-of your-seat scene. Nor does he want to leave his wife (Ginnifer Goodwin) who has just been declared cancer-free after a five-year battle.

Jon Bernthal is excellent as Dixon, a street-smart cab driver who willingly defends his friends with his fists, but is the solid, caring anchor in the life of a young girl in his building who prefers spending time with him to dealing with her drug addled mother. Sofia Vassilieva is marvelous as the young Mara and I fully expect to see more great work from her in the future. Dixon is eager to serve, which causes friction with his friends' opposing beliefs, but falling in love (Elizabeth Moss) suddenly complicates his life.

The very talented Elijah Wood (and best-known cast member) once again displays the amazing versatility we've seen in all his post-"Lord of the Rings" films. His character, Aaron, is the most interesting and complex. He's a young writer with a successful book who is working against a deadline on his second book. He's clueless, out of shape, bewildered, estranged from his family and in his seventh year of sessions with an apathetic, inept psychiatrist (well done by Ally Sheedy.) He's also certain his draft notice is a death sentence. As Aaron attempts to toughen up and complete his 10-item "to do" list before going off to war, Wood provides some wonderful moments of comedy, which appear in all the right places.

"Day Zero" is ensemble acting at its best and cinematographer Matthew Clark's extensive use of a hand-held camera is perfect for creating a you-are-there empathy with the characters. This is a terrific film that pulls you in and makes you wonder, "What would I do?" It is not a political film; it's a perfectly cast people film and you will love these people. I hope it gets a distributor and the wide release it deserves.