Movie reviews, production notes, and more! - "The Wild Thornberrys Movie"

Movie Production Notes: The Wild Thornberrys Movie

Notes provided by Paramount Pictures The Thornberrys From the Serengeti Plain of Africa to a proper London boarding school, Eliza Thornberry -- television's favorite 12-year-old who can communicate with animals -- embarks on an epic adventure like no other in her first film odyssey, "The Wild Thornberrys Movie." Bringing the precocious young globetrotter face-to-face with evil poachers who are endangering the lives of nature's wild creatures, this thrilling new animated feature is based on the Emmy-nominated (2000-01) Nickelodeon hit series "The Wild Thomberrys." "The Wild Thomberrys Movie" delves even deeper into the multidimensional characters and free-spirited, action-packed lives of the extraordinary Thornberry family of nature documentary filmmakers. Featuring the guest celebrity voices of Brenda Blethyn, Rupert Everett, Lynn Redgrave, Marisa Tomei and Alfre Woodard, along with voices of series regulars Michael Balzary (AKA Flea), Jodi Carlisle, Lacey Chabert, Tim Curry, Danielle Harris and Tom Kane, "The Wild Thornberrys Movie" is a full-fledged family experience and a vicarious adventure for all ages. In the film, as greedy poachers descend upon the jungles of Africa, Eliza arrives at one of the most decisive moments she'll ever face and alone holds not only the fate of the entire Thornberry clan in the balance, but also that of her unique extended family of animals. As she stands to lose the two things that have made her life every kid's dream -- her ability to talk with animals and her experiences in traveling around the world -Eliza must find the strength and courage to save the ones she loves ...and time is running out! Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present a Klasky Csupo Production "The Wild Thornberrys Movie." Directed by Jeff McGrath and Cathy Malkasian, the film is produced by Arlene Klasky and Gabor Csupo and written by Kate Boutilier. The executive producers are Albie Hecht, Julia Pistor, Eryk Casemiro and Hal Waite, and the co-producers are Terry Thoren, Tracy Kramer, Norton Virgien and Sean Lurie. The music supervisor is George Acogny and the music is by Drew Neumann. Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc., one of the world's largest entertainment and media companies and a leader in the production, promotion and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and music. Nickelodeon Movies is the feature film development and production division of Nickelodeon, which produces movies for kids and their families in association with its sister Viacom company, Paramount Pictures. Nickelodeon Movies was created in 1993 to develop and produce several types of films, which include star-driven family event movies, kids-first movies and animated features, all of which bring extraordinary events, characters and situations into everyday contemporary life. Nickelodeon feature film releases include the Academy Award,-nominated "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius," "Rugrats," "Snow Day" and "Rugrats in Paris," among others. Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon Movies and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. This film is rated PG by the MPAA for some adventure peril. ABOUT THE STORY World-traveling documentary filmmakers Nigel and Marianne Thornberry (Tim Curry and Jodi Carlisle) have come to Africa with their family -- precocious Eliza (Lacey Chabert), rebellious Debbie (Danielle Harris) and adopted wild child Donnie (Flea) -- to record a miraculous event. Once every few hundred years, as the moon obscures the sun, native legend has it that thousands of elephants emerge from the safety of the forest to watch the solar eclipse. But this time, as they stand exposed in this wide-open Congo valley, these. magnificent creatures will be in grave danger. Evil poachers Sloan and Bree Blackburn (Rupert Everett and Marisa Tomei) plan to ambush the elephants for their rare ivory tusks ...and they will not let humans or any other animals stand in their way. One day, Eliza and her chimpanzee friend Darwin (Tom Kane) witness the poachers kidnapping a cheetah cub to the horror of its mother, Akela (Alfre Woodard). Desperate to save the innocent cub, fearless Eliza grabs the rope ladder of the poachers' helicopter, and escapes injury when the poachers cut her loose, only because her horrified family below manages to catch her on the roof of their customized recreational vehicle. As a consequence of her recklessness, however, Eliza's grandmother, Cordelia Thornberry (Lynn Redgrave), convinces her parents that Eliza should be sent to a boarding school in London run by headmistress Mrs. Fairgood (Brenda Blethyn). There, supposedly, Eliza won't be able to get into any trouble. But Eliza is like a fish out of water at the boarding school. Miserable and feeling responsible for not saving the cub, she is desperate to go back to Africa when the same Shaman who gave her the gift of communicating with animals tells her in a dream that the cub is still alive! With the help of her roommate, Eliza finally manages to get a ticket to Africa, but upon her return, she discovers that the poachers have an even more wicked plan than she imagined. What can one freckle-faced 12-year-old with pigtails and braces do against this kind of evil? How will Eliza be able to warn the elephants if she suddenly loses her gift of communicating with animals? Let's just say that in "The Wild Thornberrys Movie," the excitement, suspense and adventure will have audiences young and old squawking, barking, braying, trumpeting, growling, howling and roaring for more! THE VOICES BEHIND THE CHARACTERS As much of a rarity in the movies as on television, "The Wild Thornberrys" is a true family show, with a character that each age group can relate to. Like any kid talking to a pet, 12-year-old Eliza appeals to everyone who imagines that those animals can talk back. Clamping earphones on her head to drown out everything that doesn't pertain to boys or shopping, 16-year-old Debbie is the virtual embodiment of teenage angst. And the inquisitive wild child Donnie, who can't sit still for a second, strikes a chord with energetic four-year-olds everywhere. Even the Thornberry parents, Nigel and Marianne, as different as night and day, simply adore each other as they pursue their life's work of documenting wildlife. In so doing, they set a fine example of how independent thinking and respect for all life can make for happy, healthy relationships. Moreover, Eliza's aristocratic Grandmumsy Cordelia Thornberry is a more traditional, proper family voice who attempts to give her grandchildren a more structured, boarding school environment, while their free-spirited Grandpapa, Colonel Thornberry, embraces life day by day. "Our original idea was to create a show with an animal psychologist who could communicate with animals and help them with their problems," says producer Gabor Csupo. "Then, since our primary audience was going to be children, we remolded the concept, giving the power to talk to animals to Eliza so that kids could live vicariously through her." "We decided to change Nigel Thornberry's profession from psychologist to documentary maker and give him a smart wife to collaborate with so we'd have a reason to send them exploring around the world, documenting all kinds of exciting animals and cultures," adds Csupo's partner and producer Arlene Klasky. "What we ended up with was a loving, normal family, experiencing all the things a lot of families go through -- sibling rivalry, disciplinary issues, etc. -- but they do it in extraordinary places around the world." To say the least, as people, the Thornberrys are just as flawed as they are wonderful. Even when squabbling, they're working as a team, and one of the key people responsible for bringing that team together is casting director Barbara Wright, who Csupo and Klasky have relied on to voice their characters almost from the beginning of their creation. "Casting voices is like putting together a bunch of instruments -- each with a different resonance -- and having them come out with a harmonious melody," explains Wright, who cast all the "Rugrats" movies as well as every Klasky Csupo production since 1993. "Keep in mind, just because you don't see the actors on the screen doesn't mean that the characters they portray shouldn't have their own distinct sound." One of the most distinct and difficult voices to cast was that of the show's star, Eliza Thornberry. According to Wright, it took well over 400 auditions before finding "the fresh, exuberant quality" in the voice of Lacey Chabert, who was 13 at the time she began playing her 12-year-old counterpart. Best known for her role as Claudia on the popular series "Party of Five," Chabert finds voiceover work more challenging than performing in front of the camera because "the entire range of emotion must come through the voice without the benefit of facial expressions or body language." No stranger to animation, having voiced characters in "Anastasia," "Babes in Toyland" and "The Lion King 11: Simba's Pride," Chabert feels that Eliza is one of the most fully developed, well-rounded characters she's ever portrayed onscreen or off. "Eliza looks at the world with wide eyes and everything piques her innocent curiosity," observes Chabert. "To me, that's so important because kids who watch the television show, and now the movie, can live vicariously through her adventures and learn something in the process." Like Lacey Chabert, Danielle Harris, who portrays Eliza's pouty sister Debbie, a quintessential teenager, also began her role on "The Wild Thornberrys" when she was close to her character's age. Now 24, Harris bases Debbie on her own 17-year-old sister and her friends. "When you are a teenager, the world begins and ends with what happens within your close knit group of friends at school," says Harris. "The writers have Debbie's teenage angst down perfectly. Here she is away from that group, away from boyfriends, away from the mall; it's no wonder she's miserable. She's the perfect contrast to Eliza, who embraces each moment as an adventure to savor to the fullest." Michael Balzary, alias Flea, the bass player of a popular band, portrays the 'Thornberrys' adopted wild child Donnie in the --cries and the movie. He is proud to be involved with the project's ongoing theme of preserving wildlife and respecting nature. He also believes that Eliza is a good role model for his own 13year-old daughter, and that his character Donnie's take on life is something he'd like to emulate. "I just love Donnie," says Flea. "He's never looking at the big picture of fear and anxiety that others often see. Instead, he's always able to find the fun, playful side of life. He's a beautiful little guy who lives completely within I he moment, and that's how I wish I could be in real life." If Donnie takes after anybody, it's his (lead-in-the-clouds adopted father, Nigel Thornbcrry, the patriarchal head of this wacky family. Portrayed to zany perfection by English-born Tim Curry, best known for his role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the cult classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," Nigel is perhaps more childlike thin his offspring. "That's what's so wonderful about the Thomberrys," says Curry. "The adult characters can learn from the children, and the kids can teach the parents a thing or two." Performing for the Royal Shakespeare Company in London and appearing in the original stage production of "Hair," Curry admits that he loves doing voiceover work because it allows for such an over-the-top performance, perfect for the exuberant character he plays. "Nigel is what this film and the TV show is all about -- enthusiasm for nature," says Curry. "He's totally enraptured by the natural world, and he loves not only what he does, but his entire family as well." According to casting director Wright, finding an actor to be the "straight woman" to play off Nigel's good-natured lunacy wasn't easy. Since he is the parent who encourages the children to float free on a sea of adventure, she has to be the parent who provides the anchor of stability they need to grow into responsible adults. "We needed Nigel's wife to be absolutely centered and practical," says Wright. "She had to have comic timing, too, which is key to making her witty one-liners zing. Essentially, we were looking for an actor who could combine the perfect balance of toughness and kindheartedness that's important to being a good maternal figure." Because of her dry, deadpan delivery, the filmmakers selected another Klasky Csupo voiceover veteran, Jodi Carlyle, who did voice work in their Emmy-nominated series "Duckman." Just right for the no-nonsense Thornberry mom, Carlyle describes Marianne as a Renaissance woman - part mother, part career woman, part loving wife - and a great role model for young girls. "My character is really the only one of the Thornberrys whose voice, for the most part, isn't exaggerated," observes Carlyle. "I think the filmmakers felt it was important for her to give a down-to-earth impression to stabilize the `wild' in `The Wild Thornberrys.' That's not to say that she's not as adventurous as the rest of the family; it's just that she views their travels as giving her children a unique education of different cultures, languages and species." Rounding out the Thornberry family is a member of a different species, a neurotic chimpanzee named Darwin, who is Eliza's best friend and protector. With his English accent and impeccable grammar, the prissy primate is often times as the cowardly lion is to Dorothy: fearful throughout, but able to find the courage in his heart whenever Eliza's life is on the line. "Basically, Darwin is a chicken," says Tom Kane, whose versatile voice work ranges from playing Yoda in the "Star Wars" videogames to the professor in the television series, "The Powerpuff Girls." "But when something truly life-threatening happens to Eliza, he finds his spine. He's melodramatic, fastidious, neurotic, and a real blast to portray." Kane,: who began doing silly voices as a kid, adds that the filmmakers do a great job taking the Thornberry saga to another level in the movie. "They have a grand new canvas to paint on," he observes. "With the film, they can expand some of their ideas, introduce interesting new characters and thereby make Eliza and the other ongoing characters grow even more." Known for introducing well-known actors as well as prominent figures into the TV series (renowned chimpanzee expert Dr. Jane Goodall portrayed herself in an April 2001 episode that aired on Earth Day), "The Wild Thornberrys" producers brought some amazing star power to light up the feature film. In fact, each of the stars lending his/her voice to the movie has either won or been nominated for an Academy Award, or a Golden Globe. Academy Award, nominee and two-time Golden Globe Award winner Lynn Redgrave was tapped to portray Nigel's tightly wound British mumsy, Cordelia Thornberry. It was her second time doing voiceover work, the first being her portrayal of The Wicked Witch of the East in the animated feature "Lion of Oz." "I'm afraid that once again I'm playing somewhat of a crabapple, but at least I'm acting out of good intentions on Eliza's behalf," says Redgrave. "Cordelia is just fearful that her grand- daughter is going to get hurt, but in the end, I'm glad to say that the old lady learns something from the child. It's just a delightful story." Villains Sloan and Bree Blackburn are played to the ruthless hilt by two-time Golden Globe nominee Rupert Everett and Academy Award, winner Marisa Tomei. "What makes these villains particularly great is that they're not the obvious moustache twirling bad guys," says voice director Charlie Adler. "Even though neither actor had ever done voiceover work before, they managed to capture the perfect subtlety and both delivered wonderfully understated performances." "It's a real challenge not to have body language to back up your performance," says Everett, whose dashing good looks and fine acting brought him critical acclaim in the independent comedy "An Ideal Husband." "Still, if you have a good script like this movie has, you have the material to create something special." Marisa Tomei, whose distinctive voice brought her instant fame as Mona Lisa Vito in "My Cousin Vinny," for which she garnered an Academy Award agrees with her co-villain's assessment. Says the recent Oscar, nominee ("In the Bedroom"), "If your dialogue is topnotch, you don't need to be in front of the camera. What's so fabulous about this movie is that not only are the characters very real, but the storyline is extremely compelling." Although two-time Academy Award, nominee Brenda Blethyn ("Little Voice," "Secrets & Lies") appears only briefly as the haughty boarding school mistress Mrs. Fairgood, she really threw her voice into the part. "I just loved playing this old biddy," says Blethyn. "I only wish she were onscreen more so I could have participated in this lovely film on a larger scale. It was my first time doing voiceover work, and I'd happily do it again." Having recently created the voice of an animal in "Dinosaur," Academy Award, nominee Alfre Woodard was familiar with the voiceover process when she stepped up to the microphone to portray Akela, the cheetah mother who watches helplessly as poachers snatch her cub. "Playing an animal mother is no different than playing a human mother," says Woodard. "The emotions are the same when it comes to protecting your offspring. I'm so proud to be part of a film like this for the sake of my own children and all children. It imparts a heightened sense of wonderment about the world and nature that is just beautiful." ABOUT THE PRODUCTION "The Wild Thornberrys Movie" was not filmed on location in the jungles of Africa or in the civilized boarding schools of London, but it may as well have been. As with every episode of the celebrated series, the film crew made a study of every location, learning all they could about its tribal peoples, jungle creatures and their habitats. In fact, all the depictions of cultures and ecosystems in "The Wild Thomberrys Movie" are based on fact and rooted in respect for those who actually live in the environment. This habit of meticulous research and regard for flora and fauna alike won the TV show two coveted Genesis Awards (1999, 2000), given by the nonprofit animal protection organization, Ark Trust, to members of the news and entertainment media for positive portrayals of animal issues. Now on the big screen, the film, like the enormously popular TV show, features all the favorite characters audiences have come to love. Together with an exciting lineup of stars and with animation as fresh and spirited as the witty dialogue, this wonderful cast brings to the big screen an epic wild adventure that takes feature animation to new heights. "This' is our first real family adventure comedy, and we are extremely proud of its quality both in terms of the story and the extraordinary animation," says Albie Hecht, President of Film and TV Entertainment for Nickelodeon. "It's a film with true family appeal and a fantasy fulfillment like no other. I mean, who hasn't dreamed about what it would be like to communicate with animals? And now, here's a film in which you can experience nature though the eyes of a 12-year-old who can do just that." Senior Vice President of Nickelodeon Movies Julia Pistor credits Arlene Klasky and Gabor Csupo for the success of the television series as well as for what she believes is one of the best forms of entertainment for young people: one that helps them -explore and learn without hitting them over the head with facts. "The team of Klasky and Csupo is, in a word, genius," says Pistor. "They manage to educate and entertain in the same moment, and they do it with such light-hearted fun that kids aren't even aware they're learning something. Parents love it too, not only for that reason, but because all the characters and every storyline is truly engaging." Hecht couldn't agree more. "Arlene Klasky and Gabor Csupo are true pioneers in the field," he says, "and right up there at the top of the list of the most brilliant people I know. Their innovative mix of creativity and authenticity is what gives the sense of wonderment that's at the core of everything connected with the Thomberrys." Always focused on the three A's of the show -- authenticity, accuracy and adventure -which they have translated into the feature film, both Arlene Klasky and Gabor Csupo remain steadfast about maintaining high quality and always being true to nature and the various cultures their characters explore. "We decided that if we're going to take young people to all these marvelous places and expose them to such a wide variety of nature, we'd better portray every indigenous plant, every animal and all the natives as accurately as possible," says Klasky. "Authenticity is what gives the Thornberrys a special edge," adds Csupo. "In addition, we've always had an amazing cast and crew of creative individuals who have enhanced our original creation and taken it to new heights." At the helm of the film are animation directors Jeff McGrath and Cathy Malkasian, responsible for how the characters move in their environment, and voice director Charlie Adler, in charge of getting the actors to sound and emote like their animated counterparts. "Animating characters is a fascinating process, and in this particular film, the visuals are really intense," says McGrath. "We've got Eliza and her family running through some very intricate jungle foliage, and there's also an astonishing assortment of animals: rhinos, elephants, gorillas, cheetahs and countless others. Each has to be researched and accurately drawn right down to the color of a zebra's stripes to the shape of the spots on a leopard." "The backgrounds of every scene in which the characters and animals interact also have to be carefully researched," adds co-animation director Cathy Malkasian. "We read all about exactly how the trees and grasses would look on the Serengeti Plain and what a dorm room would look like at an English boarding school. Then, remaining true to the animals and environs we've researched, we stylize the animation to give the film a rich and compelling look." Even before the animators put pencil to paper and the actions they are to make are mapped out, voice director Charlie Adler takes the cast through the dialogue, having them grunt when they fall, scream when they're frightened and huff and puff when they're running ...not to mention speak and carry the storyline. "My job is to get the actors to emote and show their actions through an inflection in their voice," explains Adler. "I set them up so they understand what their character's body is doing physically, then I give them their emotional state at the time -- agitated, gleeful, or whatever -- and then they run through the line. For example, if Nigel Thornberry is raising his eyebrow, I have to get Tim Curry to sound like he's raising an eyebrow. Luckily, I'm working from an amazing script, which takes each character, animal or human, to amazing levels of depth and insight with great touches of humor, irony and compassion." The Emmy-nominated producer of Klasky Csupo's popular animated series as well as one of the scriptwriters of their animated feature "Rugrats in Paris: The Movie," Kate Boutilier says that having worked on 84 episodes of "The Wild Thornberrys" television series as either a writer, story editor or producer, she was up for the challenge of creating an even bigger, wilder adventure for this wonderful, nature-loving family. "I spend a lot of time watching the Discovery Channel and crying over reports from the World Wildlife Fund in order to really get into writing about endangered species," admits Boutilier. "I also made it a point to live up to Klasky Csupo's standard of accuracy when writing about the cultures and various tribes featured in the film." To maintain the high level of authenticity, casting director Barbara Wright brought in experts on African folklore to serve as consultants on the film and to voice the parts of the tribesmen. Animal rights activist and Emmy and Tony-nominated actor Obba Babbatunde ("Dreamgirls"), who appeared opposite Alfre Woodard and Laurence Fishburne in "Miss Evers' Boys," and has guest-starred in such popular series as "Soul Food" and "Dawson's Creek," portrays Boko, the friendly tribesman who finds Debbie and acts as her guide and protector. "Having been a consultant in African folklore to schools in New York, I consider it a distinct pleasure to be able to lend my expertise, knowledge and experience to a project as worthwhile as this film," says Babbatunde. "Also, as an animal rights activist, it is an honor to be taking part in a movie that highlights the plight of endangered species." A professor of African culture at San Francisco State University, Malonga Casquelourd was brought aboard "The Wild Thornberrys Movie" to translate the dialogue spoken by the tribesman from English to their actual native tongue, Lingala. According to Casquelourd, who helps sustain African culture through his performing arts camp for kids, every non-English word spoken by African characters in the film is completely accurate and true to the Lingala dialect. "In the past there's been a lot of misinformation about African cultures," says Casquelourd. "It's a privilege to be involved with a film like this one that really strives to get it right." In addition, Harvard professor, Dr. Alvin Poussaint, an expert on race relations in America and a consultant to numerous government agencies and corporations, was called in to review several drafts of the script. "Dr. Poussaint made important observations and comments that helped us focus our awareness and sensitivity toward African culture issues," says the film's executive producer, Hal Waite. "Living in a world where being white has implied privileges, Dr. Poussaint's input was an invaluable guide in elevating the role of Boko, giving his character the respect it deserved." For writer Boutilier, having her words translated into the actual language spoken in the Congo was an honor. She feels that all of the research that she and others conducted to make sure everything in "The Wild Thornberrys Movie" is as authentic as possible has been a worthwhile endeavor. "Writing this film was a true labor of love," says Boutilier. "If one young person walks out of the theater feeling a greater sense of his or her own place in the world and a responsibility to the creatures on this earth, I will feel the movie has succeeded." THE SUCCESS STORY OF KLASKY CSUPO Defined by twin commitments to artistic integrity and creative responsibility, Klasky Csupo, Inc. has emerged in the last decade as the leading independent animation company in the industry. A boldly eccentric and privately owned entity founded by graphic designer Arlene Klasky and Hungarian-born animator Gabor Csupo, the studio is staffed by a who's who of creative and production professionals and is much more than a 21st century cartoon factory. With divisions devoted to music, film, TV, video, the Internet, publishing and commercial production, Klasky Csupo is a multi-media enterprise at the forefront of entertainment. The story behind Klasky Csupo is as fascinating and lively as the creations that have come out of this innovative pair. World-renowned animation artist Gabor Csupo was born in Budapest, Hungary. He studied music for eight years and attended art school for four years, before commencing his professional training in animation at Hungary's famed Pannonia Studios in 1971. Leaving Communist Hungary (with nothing but his record collection) in 1975 for artistic opportunities in the West, Csupo and four fellow artists and musicians escaped into Austria through a darkened train tunnel. With few resources and no passport, he traveled first to West Germany, then to Denmark and ultimately to Stockholm, Sweden, where a friend employed him in an animation studio and where he helped create Sweden's first animated feature. In 1978, Csupo met and fell in love with an American graphic designer by the name of Arlene Klasky, who was vacationing in Sweden. Having learned English in order to understand the lyrics of Frank Zappa, his favorite musician, Csupo moved to Hollywood in 1979, where he and Klasky were married. In 1981, Csupo and Klasky formed their own animation company in a spare room of their apartment. Combining their respective talents in graphic design and character animation proved to be a long-lasting successful formula. During nearly 20 years of operation, Klasky Csupo has created, developed, animated and produced era-defining television programming such as Nickelodeon's "Rugrats," "The Wild Thornberrys," "Rocket Power," "As Told By Ginger," along with "The Simpsons," "Duckman," "Stressed Eric" and the Lily Tomlin-voiced "Edith Ann." As a natural offshoot of television, Klasky Csupo moved into feature films in 1998, making a big splash with "The Rugrats Movie" and following with another hit, "Rugrats in Paris: The Movie," just two years later. Today, with "The Wild Thornberrys Movie," scheduled for release December 20, 2002, the company has grown to house more than 400 artists and creative workers in its state-of-the-art animation facility located in the heart of Hollywood. For its many contributions to the animation industry and to quality, albeit off-kilter children's television, Klasky Csupo has received five Emmy awards and two Cable Ace trophies along with honors in commercial, art, production and humanitarian arenas too numerous to list. With respect to the community beyond its walls, Klasky Csupo is a member of the Animation Consortium for Child Rights, which produces 30-second public service announcements intended to raise awareness of children's rights. In addition, Klasky Csupo also dedicates time and energy to volunteer and charity organizations in the Hollywood community such as The Hollygrove Orphanage, the Children's Hospital, The Teen Canteen and LACER Afterschool Programs. ABOUT THE MUSIC Complementing the film is a soundtrack released by Nick/Jive CDs and Cassettes featuring some of the most respected artists in the music world, including Grammy winners Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel, as well as Brandy, P. Diddy and Bow Wow, to name a few. "It was important for us to create a soundtrack that complements the cinematic backdrops, majestic visions and the wild fun of `The Wild Thornberrys,"' says Albie Hecht. "By combining Grammy-winning artists, today's biggest pop stars and African world musicians, this soundtrack will attract a very broad audience." Leading off the soundtrack is Paul Simon's "Father and Daughter," the first song he has written for a feature film in 15 years. Also featured is Peter Gabriel's original song "Animal Nation," as well as an updated version of his classic "Shaking the Tree," with additional vocals by Youssou N'Dour and Shaggy. The complete track listing is as follows: Paul Simon Angelique Kidjo featuring Dave Matthews P. Diddy and Brandy featuring Bow Wow Peter Gabriel Sita Hugh Masekala Youssou N Dour featuring Sting Baha Men Reel Big Fish Peter Gabriel and Youssou N Dour featuring Shaggy The Pretenders Las Hijas del Sol Nick Carter Wes The musical score of "The Wild Thornberrys Movie" is composed by Drew Neumann, known for incorporating a world of sounds into his music by including his enormous collection of exotic, acoustic, and electronic instruments. Music supervisor George Acogny, who also supervised the music for Klasky Csupo's "Rugrats in Paris: The Movie," couldn't be happier with the artists lined up to work on "The Wild Thornberrys Movie." "This is the kind of film that attracts major talent, not just because it stems from such a wildly popular TV series, but also because of its ecological, anti-poacher and animal rights leanings - all worthwhile for kids to see," says Acogny. "Also, because the movie is set in such an exotic location, it evokes a real eclectic mix of music that makes for a fantastic soundtrack all ages can eniov." "Father and Daughter" "Iwoya" "Dance With Us" "Animal Nation" "Happy" "Moth Le Pula (The Rainmaker)" "Don t Walk Away" "Accident" "Monkey Man" "Shaking The Tree (02 Remix)" "Get Out Of London" "Africa" (Ila Re Waisco "End Of Forever" "Awa Awa" "We're really proud of the integrity of the music and how it not only supports the emotional and dramatic moments of the film, but also how it elevates the viewer's experience and puts them right into the heartbeat of Africa," adds executive producer Hal Waite. "The songs are well integrated with the film and fit the score, and we credit George Acogny for pulling this all together. As a native from Senegal, George was able to bring absolutely the right musical sensibilities to this project, blending African chants and percussion with a nontraditional orchestral approach." Three songs will also be featured in the film but will not appear on the soundtrack. They are "This Dream," by Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour with Peter Gabriel; "Don't Walk Away," featuring Youssou N'Dour in a duet with Sting; and "She's A Lady," by popular Welsh singer Tom Jones. ABOUT THE CAST BRENDA BLETHYN (Mrs. Fairgood) has just completed production on the indie feature "Sonny," directed by Nicolas Cage and starring opposite Mena Suvari and James Franco, "Tortoise vs. Hare," directed by Richard Goleszowski and "Plots With a View," directed by Nick Hurran. Blethyn returns to the theater October 10, 2002 in the Peter Hall directed revival of George Bernard Shaw's "Mrs. Warren's Profession," which opens at the Strand Theater in London. She was recently seen starring in the critically acclaimed "Pumpkin," with Christina Ricci and "Lovely and Amazing," directed by Nicole Holofcener. Prior to those films, Blethyn worked on "The Sleeping Dictionary," directed by Guy Jenkin and "Yellow Bird," directed by Faye Dunaway. Blethyn is a two-time Oscar@ nominee for her performances in "Little Voice" and "Secrets & Lies." In addition to the Oscar@ nomination for "Secrets & Lies," she was the winner of the Best Actress Award at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival, the Golden Globe Award, the Los Angeles and London Film Critics' Award and a BAFTA from the British Academy. She also reaped praise from critics and fans alike for her performance in "Saving Grace," which led to another Golden Globe Award nomination in the category of Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for the year 2000. Her other film credits include "The Witches" and Robert Redford's "A River Runs Through It." Blethyn was last seen on television in the four-hour miniseries, "Anne Frank," and received an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries for her portrayal of Auguste Van Pels. Her other television credits include the British television series "Outside Edge," "GrownUps," "The Buddha of Suburbia," the Emmy Award- winning "The Bullion Boys," "Rumpole," "Yes Minister" and "The Imitation Game." Following her early stage experience, Blethyn joined the Royal National Theater in 1975 and went on to work with some of the United Kingdom's most acclaimed theater directors in "Bedroom Farce" and "Tamburlane" for Sir Peter Hall. She also appeared in Alan Ayckbourn's "Wildest Dream" for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Blethyn has won numerous awards for her theater work, including the 1991 Theater World Award for Outstanding New Talent for the Broadway production of Alan Ayckbourn's "Absent Friends." RUPERT EVERETT (Sloan Blackburn) has attained international stardom due to a memorable array of both comic and dramatic film roles. He is currently in negotiations to star in a sitcom titled "Mr. Ambassador" for "Legally Blonde" producer Marc Platt. The show, which Everett will executive produce, revolves around a British ambassador stationed in Washington D.C. In film, Everett was most recently seen in the classic' Oscar Wilde tale, "The Importance of Being Earnest," directed by Oliver Parker and starring Judi Dench, Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon. Later this summer he can be seen opposite Kathy Bates, Julie Andrews, Lynn Redgrave and Jonathan Pryce in "Who Shot Victor Fox." The comedy reunites Everett with "My Best Friend's Wedding" director P.J. Hogan. Everett has recently completed production in London on Mike Barker's "Cromwell & Fairfax," in which he plays King Charles I. Set in 17th century England, the film also stars Tim Roth and Dougray Scott. He also just completed a French miniseries, which is a remake of "Dangerous Liasons," directed in English and French by Josee Dayan and starring Catherine Deneuve, Nastassja Kinski and Leelee Sobieski. In 1999, Everett was nominated for a Golden Globe for his memorable portrayal of Lord Arthur Goring in Oscar Wilde's classic tale, "An Ideal Husband," written and directed by Oliver Parker and starring Cate Blanchett, Jeremy Northam and Julianne Moore. That same year, he starred opposite Madonna in "The Next Best Thing" directed by John Schlesinger, for Paramount Pictures and Lakeshore Entertainment. In 1997, Everett earned an additional Golden Globe nomination for his performance opposite Julia Roberts in "My Best Friend's Wedding." His additional film credits include Nicholas Hytner's highly acclaimed "The Madness of King George," Robert Altman's "Pret-A-Porter" ("Ready to Wear"), "Inspector Gadget," "William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Nights Dream," Mike Newell's "Dance with a Stranger," Andrei Konchalovsky's "Duet For One," Richard Marquand's "Hearts of Fire" and Paul Schrader's "The Comfort of Strangers," among others. On the London stage, Everett has appeared in "Another Country," Tennessee Williams' "The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Hear Anymore," Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Ernest," "Some Sunny Day," "Mass Appeal," "Don Juan" and "Chinchilla." In Glasgow, he has appeared in "The Vortex," "Heartbreak House," "A Waste of Time," "Private Lives," "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "The White Devil." Everett is also the author of two successful novels, Hello Darling Are You Working? and The Hairdresser of St. Tropez. He resides in New York. LYNN REDGRAVE (CordeliaThornberry) was born in London, one of five generations of actors in the Redgrave family and the youngest child of Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson. Garnering a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress as well as her second Academy Award, nomination for her performance in "Gods and Monsters," opposite Ian McKellen, Redgrave is one of seven family members, along with sister Vanessa and brother Corin, still acting today. Redgrave made her stage debut in 1962 in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and later became a founding member of Britain's National Theater at the invitation of Laurence Olivier. She made her film debut a year later in "Tom Jones," and just three years later was already enjoying worldwide acclaim (and her first Oscar, nomination) in 1966 when she played Georgy in "Georgy Girl," a role that also won her a Golden Globe for Best Actress. With over 75 movies in her impressive filmography, Redgrave has made many notable films, some of which include the multiple-awardwinning "Shine," "The Girl with the Green Eyes," "The Virgin Soldiers," "Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sex," "Getting It Right" and "The Next Best Thing." Her More recent films include, "How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog," "Deeply," "Unconditional Love," "Spider," "Anita and Me" and "Hansel & Gretel." She has just completed the film "Charlie's War," and will soon be working on the feature film "Peter Pan." Redgrave's many television credits include the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations of "My Sister's Keeper" and "A Season For Miracles" as well as "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" (co-starring her sister Vanessa), "Different," "Varian's War" and the Showtime series, "Rude Awakening." Her numerous Broadway and West End (London) stage credits include "Black Comedy," "My Fat Friend," "Mrs. Warren's Profession," which brought Redgrave her first Tony nomination, "Aren't We All," "Born Yesterday," "Three Sisters" (co-starring her sister, Vanessa) and "Noises Off." In 1993, she performed her one-woman homage to her father, "Shakespeare for My Father," which garnered her a second Tony nomination, and she received critical acclaim for "The Mandrake Root," a play she wrote and starred in. MARISA TOMEI (Bree Blackburn) received an Academy Award@ for Best Supporting Actress for what was her second major film role in the hit comedy "My Cousin Vinny." Possessing the ability to play both dramatic and comedic roles with astonishing reality, she also received an Oscar@ nomination this year for her supporting role in the critically acclaimed drama, "In the Bedroom." Tomei will next be seen in Fisher Stevens' dark comedy "Just a Kiss" for Paramount Classics and in the comedy "The Guru," and she is currently filming "Anger Management" opposite Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler. Tomei's diverse film credits include "What Women Want," "Slums of Beverly Hills," "Welcome to Sarajevo," "The Perez Family," "Untamed Heart," "Equinox," "Chaplin," "The Paper," "A Brother's Kiss" and "Unhook the Stars," for which she was honored by her peers with a Screen Actors Guild nomination. On stage, Tomei was recently seen in Nobel Prize-winning playwright Dario Fo's "We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay!" Her previous theater credits include Clifford Odet's "Waiting for Lefty" and "Rocket to the Moon," both directed by Joanne Woodward, as well as the premiere of Tony Kushner's "SLAVS" at the New York Public Theater Workshop. Her additional stage work includes "Comedy of Errors," for the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park, "What the Butler Saw" at the Manhattan Theater Club, work at the Second Stage Theater, Playwrights Horizons, Williamstown Theater Festival, among many others. A member of the Naked Angels Theater Company and Blue Light Theater Company in New York City, Tomei made her Broadway debut in "Wait Until Dark." ALFRE WOODARD (Akela, the mother cheetah) will soon be seen in Jon Amiel's science fiction thriller, "The Core," opposite Aaron Eckhart and Hilary Swank, and she was recently seen in lain Softley's "K-PAX" opposite Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey. Previously, Woodard starred in such films as Gurinder Chadha's "What's Cooking," Showtime's "Holiday Heart" and HBO's "Miss Evers' Boys," for which she won both an Emmy and Golden Globe as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries. Her additional credits include "Love & Basketball," Lawrence Kasdan's "Mumford" and the Wesley Snipes production of "Down in the Delta" directed by Dr. Maya Angelou. Always the versatile performer, Woodard is no stranger to lending her voice to animation, having recently been featured in the summer blockbuster "Dinosaur" In addition, she was the narrator and Polly in the "John Henry" portion of "Legends," a collection of classic stories about American heroes. MICHAEL BALZARY (AKA FLEA) (Donnie) was born in Melbourne, Australia, and is best known as a bass player for a popular band, although he has become increasingly active as an actor. Amidst his busy recording and touring schedule, he has found time to work in many popular films with notable directors such as Gus Van Sant's "Psycho"" and "My Own Private Idaho," Terry Gilliam's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," Joel Coen's "The Big Lebowski" and Robert Zemekis' "Back to the Future Il & III," just to name a few. As a composer and/or musician, his work has appeared in such films as "Traffic," "Orange County," "Private Parts," "Beavis and Butthead Do America," "Twister," "Basketball Diaries," "Coneheads," "Wayne's World," "Pretty Woman," "Say Anything..." and "Less Than Zero." JODI CARLISLE (Marianne Thornberry) was born in Joliet, Illinois. She began her career in the entertainment industry in 1982 doing voiceover work in the TV series "Pac-Man" and has since been the voice behind numerous characters including the original Marianne on "The Wild Thomberrys" pilot and subsequent series, as well as several voices on "Rock 'N' Wrestling," "Tale Spin," "Duckman," "Bonkers," "Raw Toonage" and "Wild West Cowboys from Moo Mesa." In front of the camera, Carlisle has made several guest appearances on such shows as "Night Court," "Mad About You," "7th Heaven," "Judging Amy" and "Malcolm in the Middle." In addition, she played Aphrodite in the television movie "Medusa: Dare to be Truthful" and Debbie Dallas in "National Lampoon's Attack of the 5' 2" Woman." In 1994, Carlisle appeared in her first feature film, "Speechless," directed by Ron Underwood and starring Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Christopher Reeve and Bonnie Bedelia. LACEY CHABERT (Eliza Thornberry) is fast becoming one of the best young actresses of her generation. Born in Purvis, Mississippi, she began her career in entertainment doing drama and music performances in and around her hometown, and was a finalist in Star Search `91. She got her big break on the Broadway stage playing young Cosette in "Les Miserables," after which she became most known as Claudia on the hit television series "Party of Five." In 1998, Chabert made her feature film debut as Penny Robinson in "Lost in Space" and has gone on to appear in "Balto II: Wolf Quest," "Not Another Teen Movie," "Hometown Legend" and "The Scoundrel's Wife." She is currently filming Steve Carr's "Daddy Day Care," with Eddie Murphy and Anjelica Houston. On the small screen, Chabert has appeared as Bianca in "All My Children" as well as in several made-for-TV movies including "Gypsy," starring Bette Midler and "A Little Piece of Heaven," with Kirk Cameron and Cloris Leachman: ,She also starred in the 1996 After School Special "Educating Mom." The voice behind numerous animated films and TV shows, Chabert not only originated the role of Eliza in "The Wild Thornberrys," but she has also lent her voice to the popular TV series "Hey Arnold!" and "Stories From My Childhood," as well as such films as "An American Tale: The Treasure of Manhattan Island," "The Lion King Il: Simba's Pride," "Babes in Toyland," "Redux Riding Hood" and "Anastasia." TIM CURRY (Nigel Thornberry) studied drama and English at Cambridge as well as Birmingham University. His success began on the London stage in "Hair," followed by numerous performances for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Glasgow Civic Repertory Company and the Royal Court Theater, the latter of which where he created the role of Dr. Frank N. Furter in "The Rocky Horror Show." He later recreated the role in the Los Angeles and Broadway productions of the play and starred in the screen version entitled "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Curry's theatrical career continued to flourish on the New York and London stages with starring roles in "Travesties," "Amadeus," "The Pirates of Penzance," "The Rivals," "Love for Love." "Dalliance," "The Three-Penny Opera," "The Art of Success," and "My Favorite Year." He also starred in the U.S. tour of "Me and My Girl." He has received two Tony Award nominations for Best Actor and won the Royal Variety Club Award for Stage Actor of the Year. On screen, Curry has developed an impressive filmography, portraying a wide range of comedic characters in such films as "Annie," "Clue," "Pass the Ammo," "Oscar," "Passed Away," "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," "National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1" and "Scary Movie 2." Showing a flair for drama and action films as well, Curry has appeared in "The Shout," "The Ploughman's Lunch, "The Hunt for Red October," "The Three Musketeers," "Congo" and "The Scoundrel's Wife." His distinctive voice has lent itself to play the demon in Ridley Scott's "Legend," and it has served him well in numerous animation voiceover projects including the pilot and the series for "The Wild Thornberrys," "Peter Pan and the Pirates," which won him an Emmy, "The Little Mermaid," "The Rugrats Movie," "Rugrats in Paris: The Movie" and numerous other film and television classics. A composer and singer, Curry toured the United States and Europe with his own band and released four albums for A&M Records. In addi- tion, he is a.sought-after actor for CD-ROM productions and audio books. DANIELLE HARRIS (Debbie), altho- ugh only in her twenties, is practically a veteran in film and television, having starred in over twenty movies and made numerous television guest appearances. She began acting in 1985, and just two years later landed the part of series regular Sammi Garretson on the hit soap "One Life to Live." She then moved on to star in such horror movies as "Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers" and "Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers," roles that got her the moniker of "scream queen" of the 80s when she was only 11 years old. In 1991, Harris got rave reviews for her performance in the black comedy "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead," opposite Christina Applegate and "The Last Boy Scout," starring Bruce Willis. She then went on to guest star in many well-known television shows, including "Eerie, Indiana," "Roseanne," and "Boy Meets World." In between, she landed roles in such feature films as the family hit "Free Willy," the thriller "Daylight" and the comedy "Wish Upon a Star." Since then, Harris' career highlights include guest roles in the highly rated series "Charmed" and "Brooklyn South," as well as in the smash horror hit "Urban Legend." Her additional films include the indie "Em and Me," "Killer Bud" and "Poor White Trash." TOM KANE (Darwin) has been doing voiceovers professionally for over 20 years. Born in Kansas City, he did his first commercial at age 16 for The American Cancer Society and has since done well over 10,000 commercials, cartoons, TV promos and movie trailers to date. A graduate of the University of Kansas with a degree in Film and Television, Kane not only originated the voice of Darwin in "The Wild Thomberrys," but he has also portrayed numerous other characters in the series. In addition, Kane has lent his voice to numerous other hit television series including "The Powerpuff Girls," "Angry Beavers," "Iron Man," "Duckman," "Spider-Man" and "The Incredible Hulk." Kane is the voice behind several characters (including C-3P0 and Jedi Master Yoda) in several video games based on "Star Wars." OBBA BABATUNDE (Boko) is one of Hollywood's busiest actors today, successfully juggling work in film, television and theater. Most recently, he appeared in "John Q," starring Denzel Washington, as well as in the made-for-television movie "Redeemer," opposite Matthew Modine and Michele Greene. Lauded for his fine performances, he got rave reviews for his portrayal of Berry Gordy in "The Temptations," and he has been nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Special for his role as Willie Johnson in "Miss Evers' Boys" and for an Image Award for his role as Harold Nicholas in the critically acclaimed television drama "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge." An accomplished stage actor, Babatunde has often appeared on Broadway, starring in such shows as "Dreamgirls," for which he was nominated for a Tony Award, "Grind," "Liza in Concert," "Timbuktu," "It's So Nice to be Civilized" and "Reggae." Off-Broadway, he appeared in the hit "Jelly's Last Jam" at the Mark Taper Forum and "Blues in the Night," for which he won a Dramalogue Award and an NAACP Award, among many others. Besides making numerous guest appearances on such hit TV series as "Dawson's Creek," "Soul Food," "Family Law," "Any Day Now," "The Outer Limits," "Touched by an Angel," "Sisters," "Sliders," "Chicago Hope," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Tales from the Crypt," "Hanging with Mr. Cooper," "Matlock" and "A Different World," Babatunde has been in such films as "That Thing You Do," "Multiplicity," "Soul of the Game," "Carpool," "Born to be Wild," "A Reason to Believe," "Philadelphia," "Undercover Blues," "The Silence of the Lambs," "Dead Again," " miwni Blues" and Married to the Mob." ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS JEFF MCGRATH (Co-director) worked for many years as a designer/director in TV ;;taphics and commercials after graduating from Pale University and attending UCLA Film School in animation. Switching to character animation in 1 ooll, he found a home at Klasky Csupo working ,,ti "The Simpsons." He started to direct on the "Rugrats" in 1992, then went on to direct on "Duc kman," after which he was named creative lttxiucer of "The Wild Thomberrys" series. He feels that "The Wild Thornberry Movie" is a logical evolution of the TV show, providing a suitable and visually satisfying format for bigger themes and more complex characterizations. CATHY MALKASIAN (Co-director) is :e lt-taught in the visual arts with an educational b;t,:k~,round in Music and Theater. A director at hlaskv Csupo since 1997, she has brought her unique storytelling abilities to "The Wild Thornberrys" pilot (with co-director Jeff NicGrath) and to the series, as well as to "Stressed Eric," "Duckman," "Rugrats" and "As Told By G imer." GABOR CSUPO (Producer) is a worldrenowned animation artist and the chairman and co-founder of Klasky Csupo Studios, the entertainment industry's leading independent animation company. A fiercely independent artist, Csupo is a Renaissance man, who, in addition to his film, TV and commercial animation career, is an acclaimed musician, the founder of two record labels, a noted restaurateur, a devoted father and an engaged member of the arts community in Los Angeles. Born in Budapest, Hungary, Csupo studied music and art for many years, before commencing his professional training in animation at Hungary's famed Pannonia Studios. Leaving Communist Hungary in 1975 for artistic opportunities in the West, Csupo and four fellow artists and musicians escaped into Austria through a train tunnel. With few resources and no passport, he traveled first to West Germany, then to Denmark and ultimately to Stockholm, where he was employed in the animation studio of a friend and contributed to the production of Sweden's first animated feature. In 1978, Csupo met an American graphic designer by the name of Arlene Klasky. Having learned to speak English in order to understand the lyrics of Frank Zappa, his favorite musician, Csupo moved to Hollywood in 1979 where he married Klasky and became an animator at Hanna Barbera Studios. In 1981, the couple formed their own animation company, Klasky Csupo, and he presided over all aspects of the studio's business, designing, supervising and animating commercials, company logos, TV station promos, motion picture trailers, on-air network promotions and industrial films. In 1988, director James L. Brooks asked Klasky Csupo to animate a cartoon strip called "The Simpsons" that was to be shown on "The Tracy Ullman Show." The enormous success of those early episodes led to Klasky Csupo's work on the series, which the studio animated for the first three years of distribution, earning Klasky Csupo worldwide recognition and two Emmys. Continuing to break new ground, Klasky Csupo developed, produced and animated the phenomenally successful "Rugrats" series, one of the most popular children's shows in the United States, as well as "Duckman," "Aaahh! ! ! Real Monsters," "Santo Bugito" and "As Told by Ginger." Tireless and inventive, Csupo has expanded Klasky Csupo's product offerings to all areas of entertainment media, launching Klasky Csupo Publishing, CLASS-KEY CHEW-PO COMMERCIALS and the Global Tantrum web-entertain- ment division. In 1998, Csupo, along with Arlene Klasky, produced the company's first venture into feature filmmaking, the enormously successful "The Rugrats Movie," (the first non-Disney animated film to gross over $100 million) as well as its hit sequel, "Rugrats in Paris: The Movie." As an expression of his lifelong passion for music, he founded the record labels Tone Casualties and Casual Tonalities in 1994. Both are dedicated to discovering new artists within the genre of ambient electronica and to exploring the convergence of technology, electronics and music. His involvement with the music division is all-encompassing, ranging from artist relations and recording to jacket design and marketing. Csupo himself has released two CDs on the Tone Casulaties label. In addition, Csupo's artwork is featured on the cover of his idol and friend Frank Zappa's latest release entitled "The Lost Episodes." ARLENE KLASKY (Producer) is one of the television industry's leading advocates for quality animated programming that entertains children. In 1999, she was named one of the "Top 25 Women in Animation" by the industry's leading publication, Animation Magazine. Klasky and her partner, Gabor Csupo, formed Klasky Csupo, Inc. in 1981. Combining their respective talents in graphic design and character animation proved to be a long-lasting successful formula. The creative force behind the box-office hits "The Rugrats Movie" and "Rugrats in Paris: The Movie," Klasky continues to work on new project development for television and features, and she oversees the studio's projects in broad strokes on a daily basis along with Csupo. Playing a major role as co-creator and executive producer on the Emmy Award-winning "Rugrats," Klasky designed several of the series' major characters. In addition, her vision has inspired other distinctive productions including, "Aaahh!!! Real Monsters," "Santo Bugito," "Rocket Power" and "The Wild Thomberrys." Klasky's diverse career shares common origins with the special effects/film graphics industry. A graduate of California's Chouinard Art Institute (Now California Institute of the Arts), Klasky gained her first professional experience as a designer of signage and logos for architectural projects. She entered the music industry as a designer for major record labels such as A & M Records. After stints as a magazine and advertising art director, she made the transition into film, joining the legendary Robert Label & Associates where she did special effects and graphics for movies. That experience under her belt, she quickly moved up to do freelance title design for New World Pictures and then for Marks & Marks and California Film, the later of which is another company she co-founded, designed on-air promos, station ID's and graphic titles. Today, Klasky's main goal continues to be to produce television and feature film projects, which engage and entertain young people and adults. KATE BOUTILIER (Writer) has been involved in a variety of projects at Klasky Csupo, including functioning as the co-writer and co-producer of the Rugrats 10th Anniversary television special, "All Growed Up," which garnered an Emmy nomination. She has been one of the creative forces behind the success of "The Wild Thornberrys," serving as story editor on the first 40 episode and co-producing the most recent forty-three. In fact, "The Wild Thornberry" episodes produced under Boutilier's guidance have earned her another Emmy nomination and won an Environmental Media award as well as The Ark Trust's Genesis Award two years in a row for their strong storylines devoted to environmental and animal rights issues. Having written episodes for Klasky Csupo's "As Told By Ginger," Boutilier then went on to be a producer on the show as it developed into a popular television series, which brought her a 2001 Emmy nomination for Best Animated Series. Prior to this, she was co-producer on a season of the "Rugrats," a highly popular series that has earned numerous Emmy nominations. In addition, Boutilier was the co-writer for "Rugrats in Paris: The Movie." Prior to her work at Klasky Csupo, Boutilier was the story editor on such popular television series such as "Lois and Clark," "Just the Ten of Us" and "Growing Pains."Her additional television writing credits include "Family Ties," "The Amazing Jett Jackson" and "Northern Exposure." ALBIE HECHT (Executive Producer) has been President, Film and TV Entertainment for Nickelodeon since 1997. In this capacity, Hecht is responsible for leading Nickelodeon's worldwide production and development activities in television as well as in feature films through Nickelodeon Movies, based at Paramount Pictures. In 2000, Hecht's role expanded to include TNN and TV Land. Under Hecht's leadership, Nickelodeon Movies has released an impressive slate of live-action and animation projects, achieving the division's goals of creating star-driven family movies and animated features that bring extraor- dinary characters and situations to everyday contemporary life. Hecht is currently working on "The Rugrats Meet The Wild Thomberrys" (Summer 2003) the first movie based on the collaboration of two of Nickelodeon's top-rated television series, "The Rugrats" and "The Wild Thomberrys." In addition, Hecht is developing a feature film version of the best-selling book series "A Series of Unfortunate Events" by Lemony Snicket (Holiday 2003) produced by Nickelodeon Movies and Scott Rudin with Barry Sonnenfeld to direct. Hecht served as producer on the December 2001 release of the Academy Award,-nominated "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius," and as executive producer on the live-action sci-fi adventure, "Clockstoppers," the animated adventure, "Rugrats in Paris: The Movie" and the mega-hit, "The Rugrats Movie." Hecht also served as producer on the successful family comedy, "Snow Day." A 20-year production and development veteran, Hecht has been responsible for expanding Nickelodeon Productions into the third largest TV studio in the United States. His creative leadership and expertise have produced many of the biggest successes the network has enjoyed, including "SpongeBob SquarePants," "The Secret World of Alex Mack," "All That," "The Wild Thomberrys," "Caitlin's Way," "Nick News," "Keenan and Kel," "100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd," "SNICK House," "TEENick," "Taina," and "The Brothers Garcia." JULIA PISTOR (Executive Producer) is Senior Vice President of Nickelodeon Movies, a position she has held since 1994. In this capacity, she oversees development and production for Nickelodeon's feature films based at Paramount Pictures. Pistor is currently working on "The Rugrats Meet The Wild Thomberrys" (Summer 2003) the first movie based on the collaboration of two of Nickelodeon's top-rated television series, "The Rugrats" and "The Wild Thornberrys." In addition, Pistor is developing a feature film version of the best-selling book series "A Series of Unfortunate Events" by Lemony Snicket (Holiday 2003) produced by Nickelodeon Movies and Scott Rudin with Barry Sonnenfeld to direct. Most recently, she served as executive producer for the December 2001 release of the Academy Award,-nominated "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius," which has grossed more than $100 million to date. Pistor served as executive producer for Nickelodeon's "Rugrats in Paris: The Movie," which grossed more than $100 million worldwide and was a producer for Nick's sci-fi adventure, "Clockstopper$" and the live-action hit, "Snow Day." Additionally, she co-produced the company's first animated feature in 1998, "The Rugrats Movie," which grossed more than $150 million worldwide. Pistor was integral to the early success of Nick Movies, having served as executive producer of the 1997 Nickelodeon movie "Good Burger," starring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell; and associate producer of the company's first feature in 1996, "Harriet the Spy," starring Rosie O'Donnell and Michelle Trachtenberg. ERYK CASEMIRO (Executive Producer) began his career in the entertainment industry while working in game show development and production. He joined Lorne Michael's Broadway Video in 1988 as a director of development and went on to participate in the development and production of Paramount Picture's highly popular comedy, "Wayne's World." In 1991, Casemiro was transferred to Broadway Video's New York headquarters where he focused on the company's television division, working on such projects as "Frosty Returns" as well as a "Lassie" retrospective that coincided with the 40th anniversary of the much-loved series. Throughout the mid 90s, Casemiro served as a production executive on "Kids in the Hall," a Toronto-based production, and he also developed and produced a holiday television special for children's entertainers Sharon, Lois and Brain. The premiere of CBS's "Candles, Snow and Mistletoe" garnered the highest rating in three years for its time slot and went on to receive a Genesis Award nomination as Best Children's Series or Special. The soundtrack, for which he served as producer, was certified with "gold" status by the Canadian recording industry. ' In 1996, Casemiro joined Klasky Csupo as vice president of creative affairs to oversee all television and feature film development and production. Since that time, he has executive produced 90 episodes of "Rugrats" and has developed and produced 91 episodes of "The Wild Thomberrys," 65 episodes of "Rocket Power" and 5 episodes of "As Told By Ginger." As a writer, he has penned multiple episodes of "As Told By Ginger" and co-authored "All Growed. Up," the Rugrats 10th Anniversary Special, and he has shared numerous Emmy nominations for "Rugrats" and- "The Wild Thornberrys." In features, Casemiro.has developed and produced "The Rugrats Movie" as well as "Rugrats in Paris: The Movie." Currently he is producing the much-anticipated project in which the animated characters from both "Rugrats" and "The Wild Thornberrys" will meet in an up coming animated feature film. A native of Boston, Casemiro is at the forefront of Klasky Csupo's continued success and brings his humor and keen creative instincts to help usher in original, smart and character-driven projects to the studio. HAL WAITE (Executive Producer) is senior vice president of feature animation at Klasky Csupo. He joined the company in 1996 and is credited with setting up their feature film division. During his tenure, Waite has co-produced "The Rugrats Movie," executive-produced "Rugrats in Paris: .The Movie" and is currently in production as executive producer on "The Rugrats Meet The Wild Thomberrys." Waite began his animation career in 1984 with Filmation Studios, where he was .involved with the financing of syndicated TV such as "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" and "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids," as, well as low-cost feature film projects such as "Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night" and "Happily Ever After." In 1991, Waite joined Steven Spielberg's Amblimation, Universal Pictures' and Amblin Entertainment's former London-based feature animation studio as the production manager on "We're Back, a Dinosaur's Story." Waite went on to serve as associate producer for Nickelodeon's "The Ren & Stimpy Show" in 1993. Committed to producing films that entertain and convey responsible social messages, Waite has earned both an MBA and an MA in psychology. He is active in the community, volunteering as a counselor at the Hollywood YMCA and Le Conte Middle School, and is also a member of Teenline's Community Counsel, a youth help hotline based at Cedars-Sinai Hospital. TERRY THOREN (Co-producer), recognized by the Los Angeles Times as one of the most important figures in the marketing and promotion of independent animated films in the United States, has served as CEO/President of Klasky Csupo since 1994. During his tenure, the company has grown from 75 to 350 employees and diversified into a full service entertainment and media entity. Klasky Csupo, Inc. was the first to produce the TV series "The Simpsons," "Aaahh! ! ! Real Monsters" and "Duckman," and is cultivating the skyrocketing success of the Rugrats characters across all media venues. The Klasky Csupo television division is currently in production on a slate of top-rated series for Nickelodeon, including "The Wild Thomberrys," the Emmynominated "As Told By Ginger," "Rocket Power" and two "Rugrats" spin-offs: "The Rugrats All Grow'd Up" and "Pre School Daze." As CEO of Klasky Csupo, Thoren has overseen the growth of the movie division responsible for the development and production of two blockbuster-animated features: "The Rugrats Movie" and "The Rugrats in Paris: The Movie." "The Rugrats Movie" marked the first time a non-Disney-animated feature grossed over $100 million. Currently, Klasky Csupo is in production on its fourth movie, "The Rugrats Meet the Wild Thomberrys," featuring all of the popular characters from both television series. Simultaneously, Thoren is overseeing the extraordinary growth of Klasky Csupo's two global commercials divisions and the successful new broadcast design division responsible for producing the title sequences for ten new TV series, including "The Osbournes," "The Anna Nicole Smith Show" and "The Wayne Brady Show." He has also provided vision, direction and financial oversight for Klasky Csupo's two specialized record labels (Tone Casualties and Casual Tonalities), guided the creation of an art-oriented publishing division and skillfully exploited the many merchandising opportunities that present themselves to the makers of America's most beloved children's programming. As he directs Klasky Csupo's move into live-action feature production and presides over the consolidation of all Klasky Csupo operations into one state-of-the-art facility in the center of Hollywood, Thoren balances his leadership role within the animation industry against the day to day demands of challenging and developing Klasky Csupo's crack team of creative professionals. TRACY KRAMER (Co-producer) serves as president of Toltec Artists, a multifaceted talent and literary management company that was founded in 1992. In that capacity, he is responsible for managing the careers of an eclectic group of artists, writers, producers and animation companies. Toltec Artists represents Klasky Csupo, as well as numerous talented artists, including Peter Hannan, the creator of Nickelodeon's series "Catdog," Todd Kessler, the co-creator and executive producer of Nickelodeon's "Blue's Clues" and Jhonen Vasquez, the creator of the animated series "Invader Zim" on Nickelodeon and three comic book series: Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, Squee and 1 Feel Sick. Toltec Artists' literary clients include best-selling author Carlos Castaneda, and his colleagues Florinda Donner-Grau and Taisha Abelar. Dr:, Castaneda is the author of over thirteen books, all of which have tremendous success in worldwide publication. Kramer also represents actor/comedian/producer Chris Tucker, who most recently co-starred with Jackie Chan in the smash hit comedy "Rush Hour 2." Additional films he has worked on are "Rush Hour," "Friday," "Dead Presidents," "Jackson Brown," "The Fifth Element" and "Money Talks." Prior to forming Toltec Artists, Kramer started his career at The William Morris Agency and served as an agent at Triad, where his primary focus was in television packaging. NORTON VIRGIEN (Co-producer) began his animation career as a .creative producer with his own small Los Angeles studio, creating the CBS prime time special "Faeries" in 1979. He followed that success in 1980 with an animation/live action sequence for the hit comedy film "9 to 5," in which cartoon birds and critters helped Lily Tomlin imagine murdering her boss. In the early eighties Virgien joined with an all-star U.S. animation team that went to Japan to collaborate with Hiyao Miyazaki and other Anime luminaries on what was meant to be a grand meeting of East and West for the feature "Little Nemo." Trading in his producer's hat for a direc- tor's pencils, Virgien traveled next to the New York, crafting commercials for Mark Zander Productions, and in the late eighties, he developed and directed a Nickelodeon "Nicktoon" short called "The Weasel Patrol." Coming full circle, Virgien returned to Los Angeles in 1990 as part of the original directing team for Nickelodeon's "Rugrats." A two-time Emmy winner for "Rugrats," Virgien also directed episodes of the critically acclaimed "Duckman" series and the CBS series "Santo Bugito," before joining with Igor Kovolyov to direct 1998's "The Rugrats Movie," which became the first non-Disney animated film to gross more than $100 million dollars. After a brief stint at Dreamworks Animation, Virgien returned to Klasky Csupo as Vice President, Feature Creative Affairs. There he served as a co-producer on the "Rugrats In Paris: The Movie." After his work on "The Wild Thomberrys Movie," he will co-direct "The Rugrats Meet The Wild Thomberrys," feature, scheduled for release in 2003. CHARLIE ADLER (Voice.Director) is of the hottest and most sought after voice directors in the entertainment business and a two-time Annie Award nominee. Named one of the -top thirteen all time voice-over artists by Animation Magazine, Adler was also deemed the `Voice of the Decade' by Animation World News. Connected with multiple Emmy-winning/nominated shows as either an actor or a director, Adler has voice-directed over 100 episodes of "The Wild Thomberrys," four seasons of "Rocket Power," four seasons of "The Rugrats" TV series, two Rugrats features, "Rugrats Live" at Radio City Music Hall, "100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd" and many pilots, videos and CD Rom games. He has starred in the "Cow and Chicken" show as the voice of Cow, Chicken and The Red Guy; and as a regular, voiced over eighty series including the role of Buster Bunny in "Tiny Toon Adventures," Ickis in "Aaahh! ! ! Real Monsters" and Ed and Bev Bighead in "Rocko's Modern Life," to name a few. As a stage actor, Adler starred on Broadway and in the first National Tour of "Torch Song Trilogy," earning him a Helen Hayes Award Nomination as Best Actor. In addition, he has starred in many off-Broadway and regional theater productions, including a role opposite Imogene Coca and Rita Rudner in "Once Upon a Mattress." On television, Adler was a regular on the "Redd Foxx Show," assumed the roles of three generations of sons in "Then and Now" and played an obsessive photographer in "First & Ten." He has also been a familiar face in over 100 commercials for Coca-Cola, McDonalds, IBM, G.E. Big Red Gum and Safeguard Soap. Winner of a Dramalogue Award for his one-man show "There Used To Be Fireflies," which he co-wrote, Adler is currently racking up awards and accolades for his short film, "No Prom For Cindy" which he directed, co-wrote and stars in. GEORGE ACOGNY (Music Supervisor) began blending his musical talents with a career in the entertainment industry when he produced the score and was the composer for the 1985 Bob and Harvey Weinstein comedy "Playing For Keeps." He then went on to build an impressive filmography, producing and writing songs for such films as "Street Fighter, "Virtuosity," "Judge Dredd," "Crossworlds" and "Save the Last Dance." Later, he served as music supervisor, executive music producer or music consultant on numerous films, including "The Ghost and the Darkness," "The Crow: City of Angels," "Jungle 2 Jungle," "The Saint," "Spawn," "City of Angels," "Under Suspicion," "I Dreamed of Africa," "The Bone Collector," "Big Momma's House" and "Rugrats in Paris: The Movie." Most recently, Acogny served as executive music producer on the hit French film "Asterix & Obelix Mission Cleopatra" and he is the music supervisor on the Phillip Noyce film "Rabbit Proof Fence," scheduled for release later this year, and "The Rugrats Meet The Wild Thornberrys," scheduled for release in 2003. DREW NEUMANN (Composer) has written music for 84 episodes of the hit Nickelodeon series "The Wild Thomberrys" and 52 episodes of the series "Aaahh! ! ! Real Monsters" for the award-winning animation studio Klasky Csupo. He is also currently co-scoring new episodes of "The Wild Thornberrys" for Nickelodeon and "Evil Con Carne" (part of the "Grim & Evil Show") for Cartoon Network with Gregory Hinde. In addition, Neumann composed the music and designed and recorded the voices and sound effects for episodes of "Aeon Flux" shorts from the cutting-edge animation series "Liquid Television" on MTV and went on to score 10 half-hour episodes of "Aeon Flux" when it was picked up as a series. Neumann's credits also include sound design and composition for numerous bumpers, trailers, icons, closes and promos for feature films and television. His work with Disney Feature Animation is highlighted by sound effects and sound effects design for "Beauty and the Beast," "Rollercoaster Rabbit" and "Off His Rockers." He has composed music for Disney Television Animation, E! Entertainment Television's "Talk Soup," and for leading advertising agencies including Daily and Associates (California Lottery and Honda) and Widen and Kennedy (Sega). In addition, he has contributed sound design and music composition for a variety of software and computer products. Neumann has an enormous collection of exotic, acoustic and electronic instruments which have found their way into his soundtracks over the years. From Koto to Djembe, Chapman Stick to Moog, native flutes to digeridu, Neumann has blended the world of sounds into his music. Official Web Site: http://www.wildthornberrys.com Back to main movie page Showing Today at: Click here for other showings