Flubber (1997)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1996 - 1997
Running Times: 94 mins
Length: 2694 metres
Format: Technicolor 35mm
Ratio: 1.85:1
Sound: DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Great Oaks Entertainment / Walt Disney Pictures
Executive Producers: David Nicksay, William Ryan (uncredited)
Producers: John Hughes, Ricardo Mestres
Co-Producer: Michael Polaire
Associate Producer: Nilo Rodis-Jamero
Unit Production Manager: Michael Polaire
Assistant 2nd Unit Coordinator: Wayne Billheimer

SCRIPT
Script: John Hughes, Bill Walsh
Short Story: A Situation of Gravity by Samuel W. Taylor

DIRECTION
Director: Les Mayfield
Basketball Sequence Director: Mickey Moore
Assistant Director: Matthew Rowland

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Dean Cundey
Camera Operator: Casey Hotchkiss
Basketball Unit Camera Operator: Rexford L. Metz
1st Assistant Camera: William Coss
Basketball Unit Camera Loader: John Metz
Key Grip: Jon Guterres
Rigging Grip: G. Anthony Phillips (uncredited)
Rigging Gaffer: Bobby Powell
Electrician: Mark A. Lewis
Rigging Electrician: John Lacy
Best Boy Electric: Terry Sullivan
Basketball Sequence 2nd Unit Best Boy: Joseph Emanuele
Stills: Phil Bray
Video Assist Operator: Bryce Shields
24 Frame Video Operators: Mark Gilmore, Marty Brenneis

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editors: Harvey Rosenstock, Michael A. Stevenson
Assistant Editor: Adrian Kays
1st Assistant Editor: Christopher S. Capp
Assistant Lightworks Editor: Joseph Jett Sally
Negative Cutter: Doug Jones

MUSIC
Music: Danny Elfman
Orchestrators: Conrad Pope, Mark McKenzie
Score Mixer: Shawn Murphy
Music Editor: Kenneth Karman
Preview Music Editor: Andrew Silver
Additional Music Editor: Jennifer Nash

SOUND
Sound Designer: Michael A. Reagan
Sound: Agamemnon Andrianos
2nd Unit Sound Mixer: Fred Runner
Re-Recording Mixers: Dean A. Zupancic, Terry Porter
Pre-Dub Re-Recording Mixer: Michael Keller
Supervising Sound Editor: Wylie Stateman
Sound Editor: Michael D. Wilhoit
ADR / Dialogue Editor: Richard Dwan Jr
Foley Mixer: David W. Alstadter
Foley and Sound Effects Editor: Chris Hogan
Sound Effects Editors: Andrew M. Somers, Christopher Assells, Dino Dimuro

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Key Make Up: Cheri Minns
Make Up: Kris Ravetto
Head Hair Stylist: Carol A. O'Connell
Costume Designer: April Ferry

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects Technical Director: Felix Balbas
2nd Unit Special Effects / Special Effects Foreman: Frank W. Tarantino
Effects Director of Photography (Mambo Sequence) / Motion Control Live Action Camera Operator: Ray Gilberti
Live Action Animatronic Puppets: Gary Platek
Puppeteer: Don Bies

VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects: Vision Crew Unlimited
Blue Screen Compositing / Paint Work / Rotoscoping: The Computer Film Company
Visual Effects Supervisors: Douglas Smith, Peter Crosman, Tom Bertino
Visual Effects Producers: Lynda Ellenshaw Thompson, Daniel Chuba
Visual Effects Coordinator: Laura Schultz
Visual Effects: David W. Allen
Unit Production Manager (Additional Visual Effects Unit): Patrick Burns
Special Visual Effects: David Wainstain
Additional Gaffer: Mark H. Weingartner
Visual Effects Editor: Christer Hokanson
Visual Effects Editing Assistant: Kerry Bailey
Visual Effects Compositor: Kelly Granite
Visual Effects Art Director: Scott Leberecht
Visual Effects Artist: Mark Intravartolo (uncredited)
Visual Effects Concept Artist: Tim Lawrence
2nd Unit Visual Effects Accountant: Charles W. Francis
Visual Effects Previsualization: David Wallace Allen
Hammerhead / Lead Animator: Sean Dever

CFX
Compositing Supervisor: Nelson Sepulveda
Visual Effects Editor: Kosta Saric

DIGITAL EFFECTS
Digital Effects: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures; Dream Quest Images; Industrial Light and Magic ; Mobility, Inc; POP Film; Computercafe
Digital Effects Supervisors: Darin Hollings, Kenneth Littleton, Karen Ansel
Digital Production Manager: Thomas Clary
CG Artists: Michael Guy Jackson, Raul Essig
Digital Effects Artist: Jeffrey Benedict
Character Animator: Ken Satchel King (uncredited)
CGI Animator: Constance Bracewell
Computer Graphics Designer For Weebo: Gregory Aranaga
Digital Compositors: Brigitte Bourque, John Rauh, Karen Idelson, Adam Howard (uncredited), Brandon McNaughton, Candice Scott
Digital Effects Technician: Kyle J. Healey (technician)
Digital Matte Painter: Craig Mullins
Digital Modeler: David B. Mooy (uncredited)
Digital Paint/Rotoscope Artist: Katharine Baird
Lead Technical Animator: Philip Edward Alexy
Scanning and Recording Technicians: Rick Lopez, Doug Delaney

Centropolis Effects
Digital Effects Coordinator: James D. Tittle
Compositing Supervisor: Mitchell S. Drain

Computercafe
Executive Producer: Jeff Barnes
Visual Effects Producer: Vicki Weimer
Digital Effects Supervisors: David Ebner, Tom Williamson
Digital Artists: Bryant Reif, Glenn Hiramatsu
Animators: Bryant Reif, Jesse Newman, Kama Moiha, Mike Bozulich, Oliver Hotz
Art Director: Ron Honn

DreamQuest Images
Visual Effects Executive Producer: Keith Shartle
Digital Compositing Supervisor: Marlo Pabon
Digital Compositors: John Huikku, Kevin Willmering
Motion Control Director of Photography: Michael Talarico
Visual Effects Animator / Visual Effects Artist / CG Animation, Lighting: Jessi Chan

Industrial Light and Magic
Animators: Andrew Doucette, Tony Hudson
Digital Effects Artist: Marc Cooper
Visual Effects Production Assistant: Amanda K. Montgomery

POP Film
Digital Visual Effects Producer: Andrea D'Amico
Inferno Compositor: David Crawford
Scanning and Recording Technician: Brian Begun (uncredited)

Rainmaker Digital
Visual Effects Executive Producer: Mark Franco

X.O. Digital Arts
Digital Effects Animator: Todd Staples

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Andrew McAlpine
Art Director: James E. Tocci
Set Designers: Beat Frutiger, Erin Kemp
Set Decorator: Daniel May
Construction Coordinator: Chris Kelly
Construction Foremen: Steve Boswell, Larry Hunter
Set Painter: Tom Richardson
Storyboard Artists: Gabriel Hardman, Daren Dochterman (uncredited)
Graphic Designer: John Beuttler
Lead Scenic Artist: Dale Haugo
Title Designer: Kyle Cooper

MISCELLANEOUS
Script Supervisor: Carol DePasquale
Assistant To Robin Williams: Rebecca Erwin Spencer
Craft Service: David 'Cajun' Guilbeau
Engineer Machinist: Kelly Lepkowsky
Science / Technical Advisor: Jeff Cruzan
Science Consultant: Bill Nye
Unit Publicist: Michael Umble

LOCATIONS
Locations: Alameda, California, USA; San Jose, California, USA; Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA; Treasure Island, California, USA; University of the Pacific, Stockton, California, USA
Location Manager: Rory Enke
2nd Unit Location Manager: Thomas M. Harrigan

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Freddie Hice
3rd Unit Stunt Coordinator: Chuck Waters
Stunts: Mike Mitchell, Charles Romano, Dustin J. Meier, Jim Waters, Patrick Romano, Robert Brown, Craig Davis, Heather Burton, Richie Gaona, Scott Workman, Shawn Robinson, Steve Kelso, Troy Brown, Troy Gilbert, Troy Robinson

CASTING
Casting: Laura Folger, Nancy Foy
Extras / Location Casting: Beau Bonneau

CAST
Robin Williams (Professor Philip 'Phil' Brainard)
Marcia Gay Harden (Dr Sara Jean Reynolds)
Christopher McDonald (Wilson Croft)
Raymond J. Barry (Chester Hoenicker)
Clancy Brown (Smith)
Ted Levine (Wesson)
Wil Wheaton (Bennett Hoenicker)
Edie McClurg (Martha George)
Jodi Benson (voice of Weebo)
Leslie Stefanson (Sylvia)
Malcolm Brownson (father)
Benjamin Brock (window boy)
Dakin Matthews (minister)
Zack Zeigler (teenage boy)
Samuel Lloyd (Willy Barker)
Scott Michael Campbell (Dale Jepner)
Bob Greene (referee)
Bob Sarlatte (Rutland coach)
Tom Barlow (Medfield basketball player)
Scott Martin Gershin (voice of Flubber)
Julie Morrison (voice of Weebette)
Peter White (Mr Sylvan)
Scott Bowe (garbage man)
Nancy Olson (secretary at Ford Company - uncredited)
Tony Sommers (wedding guest - uncredited)
Dan Trimble, Scott Trimble (basketball fans - uncredited)
Bernadette Humphrey (basketball crowd extra - uncredited)
Adryenn Ashley (Fan (scenes deleted))

PLOT SUMMARY

Absent minded professor Phillip Brainard and his assistant Weebo create Flubber, a new source of energy that could save his ailing college in Medfield. Flubber allows the user to fly through the air and it inevitably gets Brainard into all sorts of trouble.

Argentina
Theatrical Distributor: Buena Vista International
Video Distributor: Gativideo

Finland
Theatrical Distributor: Buena Vista International Finland

Germany
Theatrical Distributor: Buena Vista International
DVD Distributor: Walt Disney Home Video (34521)

Portugal
Theatrical Distributor: Lusomundo

Spain
Theatrical Distributor: Buena Vista International

UK
DVD Distributor: Walt Disney Home Video (D034521)

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Laserdisc Distributor: Disney (12865 AS); Disney (14687 AS)
DVD Distributor: Walt Disney Home Video (14249)

Argentina
Rating: Atp

Belgium
Rating: KT

Chile
Rating: TE

Finland
Rating: K-8/5

France
Rating: U

Germany
Rating: U (w)

Hong Kong
Rating: I

Mexico
Rating: A

Netherlands
Rating: AL

Portugal
Rating: M/6

Singapore
Rating: PG

Spain
Rating: T

Sweden
Rating: 7

Switzerland
Rating: 7

UK
Rating: PG

USA
Rating: PG (for slapstick action and mild language)

1998
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, USA
Favorite Actor / Actress: Family (Robin Williams) - winner

Bogey Awards, Germany
Bogey Award - winner

TIMELINE

1996
October
8: USA - production begins

1997
November
26: Canada, USA - theatrical release
28: Singapore - theatrical premiere

December
4: Thailand - theatrical release
11: Singapore - theatrical release
12: Brazil - theatrical release
19: Mexico - theatrical release
20: South Korea - theatrical release
25: Argentina - theatrical release
26: Australia, New Zealand - theatrical release

1998
January
28: Hong Kong - theatrical release
30: Poland - theatrical release

February
5: Hungary - theatrical release
6: UK - theatrical release
12: Netherlands - theatrical release
13: Iceland - theatrical release

March
5: Slovakia - theatrical release
10: Spain - theatrical release
13: Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway - theatrical release
19: Germany - theatrical release
20: Estonia, Sweden - theatrical release
27: Portugal, Switzerland (German speaking region) - theatrical release

April
1: Belgium, France - theatrical release
3: Greece - theatrical release
5: Kuwait - theatrical release

May
6: USA - laserdisc release (Disney (12865 AS))

June
16: USA - DVD release (Walt Disney Home Video (14249))

July
7: USA - laserdisc release (Disney (14687 AS))

October
30: Russia - theatrical release

December
21: UK - DVD release (Walt Disney Home Video (D034521))
30: Germany - DVD release (Walt Disney Home Video (34521))

1999
March
10: UK - television broadcast (on Sky Box Office)

October
9: UK - television broadcast (on The Disney Channel)

2001
December
24: UK - television broadcast (on BBC1)

POSTER TAGS

The stuff dreams are made of.

The Absent Minded Professor - working title
Disney's Flubber: The Absent Minded Professor - promotional title
Flubber y el profesor chiflado - Spanish title
Flubber - maailman mahtavin mönjä - Finnish title
Plaxmol - French Canadian title
Flubber - Un professore tra le nuvole - Italian title
O Professor Distraído - Portugese title

LINKS

REMAKE OF
The Absent-Minded Professor (1961)
The Absent-Minded Professor (1988)

INCLUDES FOOTAGE FROM
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Cinderella (1950)
Copacabana (1947)
Donald's Better Self (1938)
Dumbo (1941)
Goofy's Glider (1940)
How to Be a Sailor (1944)
Simpsons (1989)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Some Came Running (1958)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

MAGAZINES

Empire March 1998 p.39 (UK)
review (by Caroline Westbrook)

Film Review March 1998 p.19 (UK)
review (by Jason Caro)

Total Film March 1998 p.97 (UK)
review (by Yael Shuv)

NEWSPAPERS

Aftonbladet 20 March 1998 (Sweden)
review (Williams som uppfinnare - dubbad och dum by Jens Peterson)

Diário de Notícias, DNmais 28 March 1998 (Portugal)
review (by José De Matos-Cruz)

inventors; scientists; weddings; robots; remakes; basketball; students; colleges; chemistry; flying cars