The Promotion (2008)

Director:

Steve Conrad

Writer (WGA):

Steve Conrad (written by)

Release Date:

28 August 2008 (Singapore)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Two assistant managers of a corporate grocery store vie for a coveted promotion. |

Plot Keywords:

Narration | Prologue | Motorcycle Cop | Recovering Drug Addict | Job Interview

Cast

Seann William Scott	...	Doug Stauber
John C. Reilly	...	Richard Welhner
Fred Armisen	...	Scott Fargas
Jenna Fischer	...	Jen Stauber
Chris Conrad	...	Teddy Grahams
Lili Taylor	...	Lori Welhner
Gil Bellows	...	Board Executive
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nathan Adloff	...	Pedestrian
Abby Allen	...	Christine Welhner
Chris Andre	...	Grocery Store Attendent
Michael Armon	...	Grocery Store Patron
Gina Barber	...	Grocery Shopper
Bobby Cannavale	...	Dr. Mark Timms
Brent Allen Caputo	...	Pedestrian
Robert Cilia	...	Young Man in Store
Jack Claussen	...	Shopper
Katie Claussen	...	Featured Shopper
Lori Claussen	...	Shopper
Melissa Claussen	...	Shopper
Kelli Clevenger	...	Daycare Worker
Angela Cobb	...	Community Member
Stephanie G. Conti	...	Toll Booth Lady
Charley Cross	...	Grocery Store Shopper
Kathleen Dagis	...	Doctor / Intern
Rachel Daugherty	...	Water Park Pedestrian
Tory O. Davis	...	Keith
Vicky Deckard	...	El Passenger
Ben DeCoste	...	Person in Bar
Jameson Dixon Jr.	...	Community Board Member
David Charles DuBois	...	Doctor / Intern
Matt Dworzanczyk	...	Drug Addict
Ithamar Enriquez	...	Miguel
Anastasia Esper	...	Sylvia Rojas
Joe Farina	...	Kevin Conaway - Pepsi Representative
Ellen Fliesler	...	Cashier
Andrea Frisby	...	Community Member
Dennis Frymire	...	El Passenger
Brian Gallivan	...	Real Estate Agent
Nathan Geist	...	Donnie Wahls
Rick Gonzalez	...	Ernesto
Peter Grosz	...	Guy in Windbreker
Emerald Gunther	...	Craft Maker at Party
Jaide Gunther	...	Comical Boy at Party
Krystyl Gunther	...	Partygoer
John R. Haley	...	El Passenger
Steven H. Hansen	...	El Commuter
Maestro Harrell	...	Gang Member #1
Bryanna Hartung	...	Grocery Store Shopper
Richard Henzel	...	Narrator - "The Good LIfe"
David Hernandez	...	Rafael Velazquez
Safia Jalila	...	Community Meeting Member
Randall Jones	...	Doctor
Kevin R. Kelly
Sharon Kluge	...	Pedestrian at Acrobatic Scene
Bob Kolbey	...	Supermarket Manager
Michael Kuster	...	Doctor Reid
Jake Lakomiak	...	Grocery Shopper
Debra Langland	...	Restaurant Patron
Mario Larraza	...	Edgar
Kristopher Lofton	...	Gang Member #2
Javier Lopez	...	Little Javier
Marko Mancini	...	Ricky
Olivia T. Marcukaitis	...	Grocery Store Shopper
Adrian Martinez	...	Octavio
Eddie Martinez	...	Sylvia's Husband
Guy Massey	...	Lawyer
Betsy McIntyre	...	Cute Pedestrian
Robert McLean	...	Jeff
Nikki Taylor Melton	...	Lizzie
David Moscow	...	Teddy Graham's Friend
Lindsey Nero	...	Store Patron
Masi Oka	...	Loan Officer
Brian L. Orlinsky	...	Shopper / Jeep Driver
Joshua Perdomo	...	Hispanic Employee
James Pusztay	...	El Passenger
Antonette Richmond	...	El Commuter
Phil Ridarelli	...	Man in Therapy
Janelle Rominski	...	El Passenger / Pedestrian
Charlie Scanlon	...	Commuter
Adam Schoenle	...	Grocery Store Shopper
Ashley Schoenle	...	Grocery Store Shopper
Robert F. Sempsey	...	'L' Passenger / Pedestrian
Anita Showalter	...	Cashier
Spo	...	Father at Supermarket
Brandon Spoczynski	...	Son at Supermarket
Kim Spoczynski	...	Mother at Supermarket
Logan Spoczynski	...	Son at Supermarket
January Stern	...	French Tourist
Christian Stolte	...	Gay Banjo Partner (voice)
Tristan Layne Tapscott	...	Pedestrian
Rahul Thakkar	...	Student
Giota Trakas	...	Restaurant Patron
Edwin M. Walker	...	Gang Member #4
Daniel Weaver	...	Grocery Store Shopper
Geramy Webster	...	Brendon
David Dino Wells Jr.	...	Dodgy Guy
Michael White	...	Passenger
Erik A. Williams	...	Grocery Store Shopper
Joy Yascone	...	Second Nurse
Anthony Albert Jr.	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Holly Barrett	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Jason Bateman	...	Retreat Host (uncredited)
Debbi Burns	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Fred Dial	...	Party Guest / Physician (uncredited)
Matt Dinerstein	...	Grocery Store Shopper (uncredited)
Tony Domino	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Tim Krueger	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Joseph Lazicki	...	Joe the Beer Guy (uncredited)
Jamie Louachai	...	El Passenger (uncredited)
Haley Nero	...	Store Patron (uncredited)
Yve Rojas	...	Business Woman (uncredited)
Mikki Raphael Rosenberg	...	Bus Rider (uncredited)
Paris Scott	...	Shopper (uncredited)
Toni-Marie Spera	...	El Passenger (uncredited)

Directed by
Steve Conrad		(as Steven Conrad)

Writing credits (WGA)
Steve Conrad		(written by) (as Steven Conrad)

Produced by
Jessika Borsiczky Goyer	....	producer
Steven A. Jones	....	producer
Christina Varotsis	....	line producer
Bob Weinstein	....	executive producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Alex Wurman

Cinematography by
Lawrence Sher

Film Editing by
Myron I. Kerstein
Tim Streeto

Casting by
Mickie Paskal
Jennifer Rudnicke

Production Design by
Martin Whist

Art Direction by
Doug J. Meerdink

Set Decoration by
Daniel B. Clancy

Costume Design by
Susan Kaufmann

Makeup Department
Aimee Lippert-Bastien	....	assistant makeup artist
Tony Mirante	....	hair department head
Michael Mosher	....	makeup department head: additional photography
Suzi Ostos	....	makeup artist: Sean William Scott
Suzi Ostos	....	makeup department head

Production Management
Robert Bella	....	post-production supervisor
Miles Ferguson	....	post-production supervisor
Ron Cosmo Vecchiarelli	....	production manager: additional photography

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Benjamin T. Brammeier	....	second assistant director
Alisa Fredericks	....	second assistant director: additional photography
Michelle Gonsiorek	....	second second assistant director
Bill Greenfield	....	first assistant director: additional photography (as Billy Greenfield)
Bruce Terris	....	first assistant director
Katey Wheelhouse	....	second assistant director (additional photography)

Art Department
Scott Bauer	....	property master: additional photography
Caity Birmingham	....	art department intern
Frank Coronado	....	storyboard artist
Kristin Hanson	....	art department coordinator
Tuyet van thi Mach	....	art department intern
Mike Piccirillo	....	art department coordinator: re-shoots
Marquee Reno	....	product placement buyer
Derek Scouler	....	set dresser
John J. Slove Jr.	....	construction coordinator
Julie Smith	....	set decorator: Los Angeles
Oscar Thompson	....	lead man
Timothy W. Tiedje	....	property master
Kho Wong	....	art department assistant/buyer
Rob Yale	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Frank Clary	....	assistant supervising sound editor
Gary Day	....	sound recordist: additional photography
Sean England	....	foley recordist
Jim Gaudio	....	cable person
Jason Johnston	....	boom operator
Tom Myers	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brandon Proctor	....	sound re-recording mixer
Clint Smith	....	sound recordist
Scott D. Smith	....	sound mixer
Carlos Sotolongo	....	adr mixer
Daniel Sperry	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby

Special Effects by
Josh Hakian	....	special effects coordinator: reshoots

Visual Effects by
Chris Gelles	....	visual effects executive producer: & Company
David Isyomin	....	visual effects supervisor: & Company
Cristian A. Kong	....	visual effects
Bob Wiatr	....	digital compositor

Stunts
James Fierro	....	utility stunts
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator
Daniel Maldonado	....	stunts
Natalie M. Meyer	....	stunts
Justin Sundquist	....	stunts
Gary J. Wayton	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Faires Anderson	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Faires Anderson	....	steadicam operator
Joe Carpita	....	second assistant camera
Jonathan Clark	....	film loader
Jaime Dawkins	....	grip
Julie Donovan	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Sam Emerson	....	still photographer
Charles S. Hodes	....	still photographer
David Irwin	....	gaffer: additional photography
Ahnna Lee	....	camera intern
Joseph M. Lyons	....	set lighting technician
Elizabeth Miller	....	second assistant camera: additional camera
Dan Ming	....	additional first assistant camera
Tim Ryan	....	grip intern
Brian Scotti	....	electrician
Dean M. Simmon	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Stuart Slack	....	grip
Jeff Snyder	....	video assist operator
Karina Teismann	....	electrician
Rick Thomas	....	gaffer
Frank Yario Jr.	....	video playback engineer

Casting Department
Annette D'Ariano	....	extras casting
Matt Miller	....	casting associate
Wendy O'Brien	....	casting: Los Angeles
Vanessa Portillo	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gretchen Gain	....	assistant costume designer
Rachael Ohman	....	set costumer
Gina Panno	....	costume supervisor
Jamie Rush	....	key costume assistant
Daphne Vardakis	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Hannah David	....	assistant editor
Kimberly K. Ferraro	....	post-production coordinator
Perri B. Frank	....	assistant editor
Kate Hickey	....	post-production assistant
Kelley Whitis	....	post-production coordinator
Sharon Zurek	....	post-production services

Music Department
Julianne Freund	....	assistant to Alex Wurman
Bronwen Jones	....	orchestrator
Angela Leus	....	soundtrack coordinator
Ernie Mannix	....	music editor
Tracy McKnight	....	music supervisor
Robert Puff	....	music preparation
Ellen Segal	....	music editor
T. Colby Trane	....	music coordinator

Transportation Department
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car, re-shoots
Thaddeus E. Larkowski	....	transportation coordinator
Richard C. Ryan	....	transportation captain: additional photography

Other crew
Jeremy Alter	....	location manager: additional photography
Jeremy Beiermann	....	assistant production office coordinator
Adam Boor	....	set production assistant
Chad Bryant	....	production assistant
Korey Budd	....	office production assistant: additional photography
Chris-Teena Constas	....	location sets
Matt Dworzanczyk	....	stand-in
Nick Ferrin	....	stand-in
Jennifer Zolten Freed	....	post-production accountant
Thomas J. Glynn	....	assistant to director
Liz Goldsmith	....	location scout
P.J. Haines	....	caterer
Amy Holliday	....	script supervisor
Jim Jaffe	....	product placement
Nicholas Jamison	....	location intern
Jonathan Jansen	....	key assistant location manager
Jonathan Kinnas	....	extras coordinator
Ross L. Kulma	....	first aid medic
Michael Kuster	....	stand-in: John C. Reilly
Joseph Lazicki	....	stand-in: Seann William Scott
Alex Lee	....	production assistant
Jenne Lee	....	set production assistant
Christie Leensvaart	....	stand-in: Jenna Fischer
Yana Collins Lehman	....	post-production accountant
Matthew F. Leonetti Jr.	....	production supervisor
Michael J. Linowes	....	legal counsel
Sean Lynn	....	assistant chef
Sean Lynn	....	caterer
Scott Markus	....	production assistant
John Mason	....	intern set production assistant
Patrick Muldoon	....	location manager
Natasha Parker	....	production assistant
Ian J. Putnam	....	production assistant
Moheen Ramsey	....	production secretary
Stefan Rand	....	set production assistant
Amy Rising	....	assistant to producers
Jess W. Royall	....	office production assistant: additional photography
Jackie Saygan	....	first assistant accountant
Ericka N. Shane	....	payroll accountant
Andy Spellman	....	key set production assistant
James Thomas	....	key production accountant
Margaret A. Thomas	....	production office coordinator
Kat White	....	clearance coordinator
Nicole Willared	....	product placement
Richard Wolgemuth	....	production assistant
Mark N. Woods	....	remote head technician
Andrew Yeager	....	production assistant: additional photography

Thanks
James Dean Robinson	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• Dimension Films

Distributors

• Prorom Media-Trade (2007) (Romania) (all media)
• Third Rail Releasing (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Weinstein Company, The

Special Effects

• & Company

Other Companies

• American Roadshow Motion Picture And Television Catering  catering
• Chicago Audio Works  production sound
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Trevanna Post  post-production accounting

Also Known As:

Quebec (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language including sexual references, and some drug use.

Runtime:

USA:85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

S. Greenwood Avenue between 54th & 55th Streets, Hyde Park, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

Though Donnie Wahls (Nathan Geist) is referred to as a bit too "junior" in the film, in actuality Geist had to pluck gray hairs before each day of filming during production.

Quotes:

Richard: [to Donnie Wahls] Hey, good luck... because you're gonna' need it.

The Promotion Movie Review

There's nothing overly spectacular about The Promotion, and yet it has an odd way of succeeding at every little joke it makes. Peculiarly satisfying, the film showcases key hilarious scenes interspersed with occasionally mediocre, but generally entertaining, bits of gross-out humor and creative cursing. A combination of the best elements of Waiting and Office Space applied to the grocery business, The Promotion uses dry, bitingly dark humor and abrasive sarcasm to muster up many quality laughs.

Doug Stauber (Seann William Scott) works as an Assistant Manager for Donaldson's, a generic grocery store that demonstrates the basic horrors of any retail store. While he tolerates the many nuisances and hazards of grocery store life, he envisions a more luxurious life when a new Donaldson's is set to open up nearby. Considered the "shoe-in" for the position of Manager, Doug finally decides to buy a house with his wife Jennifer (Jenna Fischer), counting on the huge increase in pay.

But just as Doug rejoices at the position he believes is his, Richard Welhner (John C. Reilly) transfers to the store from Canada. Richard is secretly recovering from a drug and alcohol problem, but he has an outstanding service record that presents Doug with some serious competition for the new Manager spot. With the pressure of trying to