Project Nim (2011)

Director:

James Marsh

Writer:

Elizabeth Hess (book)

Release Date:

12 August 2011 (Ireland)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

Tells the story of a chimpanzee taken from its mother at birth and raised like a human child by a family in a brownstone on the upper West Side in the 1970s.

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 10 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Nim Chimpsky	...	Himself (archive footage)
Stephanie LaFarge	...	Herself
Herbert Terrace	...	Himself
Wer LaFarge	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jenny Lee	...	Herself
Laura-Ann Petitto	...	Herself
Bill Tynan	...	Himself
Joyce Butler	...	Herself
Renne Falitz	...	Herself
Bob Ingersoll	...	Himself
Alyce Moore	...	Herself
James Mahoney	...	Himself (as Dr. James Mahoney)
Henry Herrmann	...	Himself
Cleveland Amory	...	Himself (archive footage)
Marion Probst	...	Herself
Chris Byrne	...	Himself
Bern Cohen	...	Dr. William Lemmon: re-enactment unit)
Reagan Leonard	...	Stephanie LaFarge: re-enactment unit
Anna May Marsh	...	Signing Girl: re-enactment unit
Mike Lepera	...	Wer LaFarge: re-enactment unit (as Michael LePera)
Sarah Sakaan	...	Renee Falitz: re-enactment unit
Dennis Lauricella	...	Beefy Guy: re-enactment unit
Robert J. Nesi	...	Beefy Guy: re-enactment unit

Directed by
James Marsh

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Elizabeth Hess		book "Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human"

Produced by
Prudence Arndt	....	archive producer
John Battsek	....	executive producer
George Chignell	....	co-producer
Simon Chinn	....	producer
Nick Fraser	....	executive producer
Hugo Grumbar	....	executive producer
Jamie Laurenson	....	executive producer
Rosemary Lombard	....	line producer: re-enactment unit
Andrew Ruhemann	....	executive producer
Maureen A. Ryan	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Dickon Hinchliffe

Cinematography by
Michael Simmonds		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jinx Godfrey

Makeup Department
Vera Lee Stabell Stromsted	....	hair stylist: re-enactment unit (as Vera Stromsted)
Vera Lee Stabell Stromsted	....	makeup artist: re-enactment unit (as Vera Stromsted)

Production Management
Kate George	....	post-production manager
Fiona Morham	....	head of production: UK Film Council

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Scott Bowers	....	second assistant director: re-enactment unit
Jamund Washington	....	first assistant director: re-enactment unit

Art Department
Kinda Akash	....	graphic designer
Thomas Carrera	....	art department production assistant: re-enactment unit
Joe Chiofalo	....	swing: re-enactment unit
Stephane Coedel	....	additional graphic artist
Gonzalo Cordoba	....	art director: re-enactment unit
Jeffery Dundas	....	carpenter: re-enactment unit
Jack Falanga	....	set decorator: re-enactment unit
Pauline Fowler	....	sculptor: re-enactment uit
Mark Gebel	....	leadman: re-enactment unit
Markus Kirschner	....	production designer: re-enactment unit
Adam Merritt	....	carpenter: re-enactment unit
Sarah Moessner	....	art department production assistant: re-enactment unit

Sound Department
Nicholas Ashe	....	foley editor
Nicholas Ashe	....	sound re-recording assistant
Claire Ellis	....	dialogue editor
George Foulgham	....	sound re-recording mixer
George Foulgham	....	sound supervisor
Lisa-Marie McStay	....	sound effects editor (as Lisa McStay)
Peter Miler	....	sound recordist: documentary unit
Steven Robinson	....	sound recordist: documentary unit
James Shannon	....	dolby sound consultant (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Gordon Arkenberg	....	first assistant camera: re-enactment unit
Olivier Bernier	....	grip: documentary unit
Dan Carling	....	digital imaging technician: documentary unit
Patrick Cecilian	....	additional digital imaging technician: re-enactment unit
Nicholas D'Agostino	....	best boy electric: re-enactment unit
David Dilley	....	still photographer: re-enactment unit
Alvah Holmes	....	first assistant camera: re-enactment unit
Aric Jacobson	....	dolly grip: re-enactment unit
Aric Jacobson	....	key grip: re-enactment unit
Chan Jeon	....	grip: documentary unit
Mark Koenig	....	gaffer: documentary unit
Mark Koenig	....	gaffer: re-enactment unit
Daniel Lam	....	second assistant camera: re-enactment unit
Ryan Minelli	....	best boy grip: re-enactment unit
Michael Mortel	....	electrician: documentary unit
Robert Yutaka Omura	....	second assistant camera: re-enactment unit
Matt Platts-Mills	....	camera data supervisor: documentary unit
Darin Quan	....	video playback: re-enactment unit
John Spicer	....	best boy grip: re-enactment unit
Walter Strafford	....	electrician: re-enactment unit
Chris Varga	....	electrician: documentary unit

Casting Department
Adine Duron	....	casting director: re-enactment unit

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tamara Cepeda	....	wardrobe assistant: re-enactment unit (as Tamara E. Cepeda)
Kim Madalinski	....	wardrobe assistant: re-enactment unit
Kathryn Nixon	....	costume designer: re-enactment unit

Editorial Department
Mike Andrews	....	digital intermediate technician
Michelle Cort	....	digital intermediate technician
Tim Drewett	....	digital intermediate technician
Justin Eely	....	digital intermediate editor
Matt James	....	digital film supervisor
François Kamffer	....	digital intermediate technician (as Francois Kamffer)
Mark Keady	....	assistant editor
Steve Knight	....	digital intermediate technician
Anne Monnehay	....	assistant editor
Jana Novosad	....	digital intermediate technician
Andy Richards	....	operations manager
Shrihari Sathe	....	assistant editor
Gareth Spensley	....	senior colorist
Jamie Welsh	....	digital intermediate technician
Jateen Patel	....	digital intermediate technician (uncredited)
Katelin Westwood	....	data transfer (uncredited)

Music Department
Philip Bagenal	....	music mixer
Philip Bagenal	....	music recordist: drums
Rupert Coulson	....	music recordist: orchestra
Liz Gallacher	....	music supervisor
Dickon Hinchliffe	....	arranger
Dickon Hinchliffe	....	music producer
Al Macaulay	....	musician: drums
Lisa-Marie McStay	....	music editor (as Lisa McStay)
Sam Navel	....	music mixer assistant
Richard Sidwell	....	music preparation
Steve Sidwell	....	conductor
Lucy Wilkins	....	orchestra contractor
Lucy Wilkins	....	orchestra leader

Transportation Department
Joe Chiofalo	....	driver: re-enactment unit

Other crew
Kinda Akash	....	title designer: Superfad
Geraldine Atlee	....	senior business affairs executive: UK Film Council
Sayuj Banerjee	....	legal services: US, SDD Global Solutions
Jonathan Blair	....	legal services: Michel Simkins
Natasha Boyd	....	insurance broker: Media Insurance Brokers
Josh Braun	....	distribution advisor: North America, Submarine Entertainment
Jessica Brown	....	insurance broker: Ventura Insurance (as Jessica Brown)
Jessica Spring Brown	....	insurance broker: Ventura Insurance (as Jessica Brown)
Len Brown	....	consultant
Zoe Brown	....	legal and business affairs: BBC Films
James Buckler	....	delivery coordinator: BBC Films
Anthony Buckner	....	head of sales: Icon
Serena Catapano	....	production assistant: London
Moyra Chestnutt	....	additional archive researcher
Chris Collins	....	senior production executive: UK Film Council
Victoria Cook	....	legal services: US, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz
Tom Corcoran	....	animal trainer: Comet, re-enactment unit
Laird Criner	....	insurance broker: Film Emporium
Johnny Davenport	....	production assistant: re-enactment unit
Anne Davin	....	production accountant: 101 Film Production Accountants
Peter Elliott	....	primate choreographer: re-enactment unit
Peter Elliott	....	vocal and movment artist
Kurt Enger	....	location scout: re-enactment unit
Renne Falitz	....	subtitles
Tina Foster	....	pupperteer dresser: re-enactment unit
Nicholas Greene	....	assistant to director: re-enactment unit
Andrew Hauser	....	production intern: re-enactment unit
Jane Hawley	....	production executive: BBC Films
Elizabeth Hess	....	consultant
Vince Holden	....	head of production finance: UK Film Council
Bob Ingersoll	....	subtitles
Bassem Jabawi	....	production assistant: re-enactment unit
Sarah Karas	....	production assistant: re-enactment unit
Tom Kelly	....	production assistant: re-enactment unit
Johanna Kovitz	....	transcription services
Tobey List	....	production assistant: re-enactment unit
Perry Mallas	....	caterer: re-enactment unit
David Menkin	....	archive voice-over
Omari Miller	....	production assistant: re-enactment unit
Sara Neuffer	....	key production assistant: re-enactment unit
Veronica Nickel	....	craft services: re-enactment unit
Estelle Overs	....	general counsel: Icon
Becky Phillips	....	production assistant: re-enactment unit
Geoffrey Quan	....	production coordinator: re-enactment unit
Sofia Santana	....	production assistant: re-enactment unit
Tanya Seghatchian	....	head of film fund: UK Film Council
Chloe Sizer	....	head of development: Icon
Russell Smith	....	legal services: US, Smith Dehn
Nicole Stott	....	production executive: Passion Pictures
Jean-Marceau Sécheret	....	production intern: re-enactment unit
Jodie Alexandra Taylor	....	script supervisor: re-enactment unit
Jan Tomolin	....	legal services: UK, Media Law Consultancy (as Jan Tomalin)
David Velasco	....	location scout: re-enactment unit
Debbie West	....	animal trainer: Dusty, re-enactment unit
Nick Williams	....	chief puppeteer: re-enactment unit
Will Yates	....	researcher
Leonard Crooks	....	head of new cinema fund: UK Film Council (uncredited)
Amanda Pyne	....	production finance: UK Film Council (uncredited)

Thanks
Joyce Butler	....	special thanks (as Dr. Joyce Butler)
Bob Ingersoll	....	special thanks
Stephanie LaFarge	....	special thanks
Laura-Ann Petitto	....	special thanks (as Dr. Laura-Ann Petitto)
Herbert Terrace	....	special thanks (as Professor Herbert Terrace)
Bill Tynan	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Red Box Films
• Passion Pictures (in association with)
• BBC Films

Distributors

• Roadside Attractions (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Icon Film Distribution (2011) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Icon Film Distribution (2011) (UK) (theatrical)
• Le Pacte (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2011) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Against Gravity (2012) (Poland) (all media)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2011) (USA) (TV)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (India) (all media)

Special Effects

• Animated Extras (animatronic chimpanzee: re-enactment unit)
• Baboo Color (digital image scanning) (as Baboo)
• DiJiFi (digital image scanning)

Other Companies

• 101 Film Production Accountants  production accounting
• 4K London  edit facilities
• Air Studios London  music recording facility: orchestra
• American Entertainment Insurance Services  production insurance
• Digital Media Services (DMS)  digital marketing asset management
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Eastcote Studios London  music mixing facility
• Eastcote Studios London  music recording facility: drums
• Film Emporium  insurance
• Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz  legal services: US
• Freeway CAM B.V.  world receipts collection
• Hands On Productions  production services: New York
• Intelligent Media  international monitoring agency
• Kon Gulerod Film  edit facilities
• Media Insurance Brokers  insurance
• Media Law Consultancy  legal services: UK
• Michael Simkins  legal services
• Molinare Studio  post production facilities
• Offhollywood Digital  camera equipment provided by (2nd unit)
• SDD Global Solutions  legal services
• SDD Global Solutions  legal services: US
• SmithDehn  legal services
• SmithDehn  legal services: US (as Smith Dehn)
• Submarine Entertainment  distribution advising: North America
• Superfad  graphic design and title design
• Union Editorial  edit facilities
• William Berloni Theatrical Animals  animal supplier: re-enactment unit

Also Known As:

"Le Projet Nim" - France (imdb display title)
"Projekt Nim" - Poland (imdb display title)
"Proyect Nim" - Israel (Hebrew title) (imdb display title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some strong language, drug content, thematic elements and disturbing images

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Ireland:12A | USA:PG-13 | UK:12A | South Korea:12

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company:

Red Box Films

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Maltin on Movies: The Vow (#1.62)" (2012)

Sad for the Chimp, Angry at the Prof

Greetings again from the darkness. It is rare that we find a movie so unsettling to watch, yet admire the expertise with which it is made. Such is the case with award-winning documentarian James Marsh and his presentation of Project Nim. This is the story of Nim Chimpsky, the chimp from the 1970's who was taught sign-language and raised by humans.

The chimp's name is taken from Noam Chomsky, the famous MIT linguist. Unfortunately, the linguistic side of this story actually is quite minor compared to what really occurred. Columbia professor Herbert Terrace wanted to conduct an experiment on a baby chimp to see if it could be raised like a human baby and learn to communicate with people. He started the project by snatching the baby from its mother at two weeks of age, and then plopping it right into a large, free-spirited family with no scientific or primate-training background. Heck, no one in the family even knows sign language! The film shows how quickly Nim adapts to the pampered lifestyle and is even breast-fed by Stephanie, the mother. Nim is also exposed to smoking pot, drinking alcohol and even has limited success being potty trained. All of this is explained away with "it was the seventies". I was already bouncing between sadness and anger.

Admittedly, I am no scientist. I do know that a true science experiment or project would involve specific records and at least some type of plan ... not to mention the recording of actions, tests and progress. Instead, Professor Terrace shows up periodically for some photo ops and a hug from Nim. Poof! He is gone again. While this is never really explained in the film, one can only assume he was benefiting nicely from a huge grant, not to mention "close" relationships with a couple of his assistants. The other thing left unexplained was how Nim's mother had other babies taken from her in a similar manner. We get no detail on those "experiments".

As Nim gets older, guess what ... he gets bigger and stronger. He is difficult to control and even lashes out periodically at his caregivers, once quite violently. He is bounced from home to home and person to person. He does adapt, but he is just too strong and unpredictable to be part of human society. Finally, he is sold off to an animal rescue farm. That's just great, except initially there are no other chimps. Not a good thing for a social primate.

The whole thing is just painful to watch. I couldn't help but feel sympathy for the chimp and anger at the people ... especially Professor Terrace. His selfish, ill-conceived project negatively impacted the life of a chimp and the safety and well-being of many good-hearted people along the way.

While there was proof that Nim learned approximately 125 signs, the question remains ... did he really understand these words and phrases? Did he instead learn behavior that led to his reward? One of Nim's later day caregivers (Bob Ingersoll) visited him often at the rescue farm until at the age of 26, Nim passed away. The average lifespan of a chimp in the wild is about 45 years. So, it would appear neither the chimp or the people really benefited from Project Nim. It is, however, a well made documentary.