Soldier's Girl (2003) (TV)

Director:

Frank Pierson

Writer (WGA):

Ron Nyswaner (written by)

Release Date:

31 May 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

She was the only man he ever loved.

Plot:

The true story of a young soldier beaten to death for falling in love with a transgendered nightclub performer. |

Plot Keywords:

What Happened To Epilogue | Gay Interest | Hate Crime | Transgender | Discrimination

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Troy Garity	...	Barry Winchell
Lee Pace	...	Calpernia Addams / Scottie
Andre Braugher	...	Sergeant Carlos Diaz
Shawn Hatosy	...	Justin Fisher
Philip Eddolls	...	Calvin Glover
Merwin Mondesir	...	Henry Millens
Dan Petronijevic	...	Collin Baker (as Daniel Petronijevic)
Mike Realba	...	Edgar Martinez
Jeanie Calleja	...	Ashley Martinez
Barclay Hope	...	Sergeant Howard Paxton
Tulsi Balram	...	Ginger
Vince Corazza	...	Lester
Kathryn Zenna	...	Female guard
Kent Staines	...	Mistress of Ceremonies
Sofonda	...	Midnight Express
Jeffrey Murray Johnston	...	Typhoon
Kendall Knights	...	Waiter
Nina Arsenault	...	Trendy woman
Brian A. Bowman	...	NCO Staff duty
J.C. Kenny	...	TV news anchor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Mota	...	Bar patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Frank Pierson

Writing credits (WGA)
Ron Nyswaner		(written by)

Produced by
Doro Bachrach	....	producer
Lena Cordina	....	line producer
Linda Gottlieb	....	producer
Ron Nyswaner	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Jan A.P. Kaczmarek

Cinematography by
Paul Sarossy		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Katina Zinner

Casting by
Douglas Aibel

Production Design by
Lindsey Hermer-Bell

Art Direction by
Peter Emmink

Set Decoration by
David Edgar

Costume Design by
Patrick Antosh

Makeup Department
Alan D'Angerio	....	hair designer (as Alan Dangerio)
Alan D'Angerio	....	makeup designer (as Alan Dangerio)
Etheline Joseph	....	hair stylist
Stephen Lynch	....	makeup artist
Matthew Monzon	....	hair designer
Matthew Monzon	....	makeup designer
Marilyn O'Quinn	....	assistant makeup artist
David Scott	....	prosthetic sculptor
Josie Stewart	....	assistant hair stylist
Victoria Wood	....	wig maker
Russell Cate	....	prosthetic makeup artist (uncredited)
Raymond Mackintosh	....	prosthetic makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
David Bailey	....	post-production supervisor
Joan Boorstein	....	executive in charge of production
Avi Federgreen	....	production manager
Jay Saywell	....	video post-production supervisor
Chad Tomasoski	....	post-production supervisor
Steve Wakefield	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joel Hay	....	third assistant director
Catherine Lew	....	second assistant director
Neesha Patki	....	third assistant director
Patrick Tidy	....	first assistant director

Art Department
John Archbell	....	property master
Garth Brunt	....	set buyer
Jeff Helgason	....	key scenic painter
Peter Hudecki	....	storyboard artist
Ken Innes	....	set dresser (as Ken Innis)
Stephen J. MacDougall	....	set dresser
Brent McGillivray	....	first assistant art director
Sean Scoffield	....	third assistant art director
Michael Smith	....	set dresser
Peeter Tammemagi	....	assistant property master
Tom Thompson	....	on-set dresser
Scott Thom	....	head carpenter
Marcello Torres Barreras	....	head painter
Dave Watt	....	construction manager
Mitsu Yano	....	assistant head carpenter
Ron Zarosiak	....	lead set dresser (as Ronn Sarosiak)

Sound Department
Ulrika Akander	....	dialogue editor (as Ulrika Akander-Bristow)
Paul Berolzheimer	....	sound effects editor
Tom Bognar	....	assistant sound editor
Barbara J. Boguski	....	dialogue editor (as Barbara Boguski)
Ryan Darden	....	assistant sound editor
Russell DeWolf	....	dialogue editor
John Edwards-Younger	....	sound effects editor (as John S. Edwards-Younger)
William Freesh	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nathan Hankins	....	assistant sound editor
Howard London	....	adr recordist
Anthony Mazzei	....	supervising sound editor
Bill McMillan	....	sound recordist
Gus Medina	....	foley recordist (as Gus Madina)
Ian Morgan	....	supervising sound editor
Todd Murakami	....	sound effects editor
Bryan Pennington	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as Brian Pennington)
R. Russell Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matthew Stark	....	boom operator
Alek Bromke	....	adr recordist: Toronto (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Brock Jolliffe	....	special effects supervisor

Stunts
Taryn Ash	....	stunts
Ermes Blarasin	....	stunts
Brad Bunn	....	stunts
Curtis Hibbert	....	stunts
Angelica Lisk	....	stunts
Regan Moore	....	stunts
Billy Oliver	....	stunts
Edward A. Queffelec	....	stunts (as Ed Queffelec)
Bryan Renfro	....	stunt coordinator
Mary Ann Stevens	....	stunts
Len Wagner	....	stunts
Ron Webber	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Cynthia Barlow	....	key grip
Jonathan Brown	....	electrician
Randy Brown	....	generator operator
Deanna Cadette	....	second assistant camera
Zachary Case	....	camera trainee
Bob Davidson	....	gaffer
Christian Drennan	....	best boy grip
Tyler Faulkner	....	grip
Cy Fawcett	....	grip
Lee Guenette	....	rigging gaffer
Patrick Hales	....	dolly grip
Reni Hoz	....	first assistant camera
Don LeClaire	....	grip
Mike Macauley	....	best boy (as Mike Macaulay)
Kelly Richardson	....	electrician
Omid Vahid	....	electrician
Mark Willis	....	camera operator
Ken Woroner	....	still photographer
Ramesh Yogendran	....	electrician

Casting Department
Jon Comerford	....	casting: Canada
Donna Dupere	....	extras casting
Brad Gerstl	....	extras casting representative
Larissa Giroux	....	casting associate
Cindy Tolan	....	casting associate
Millie Tom	....	casting associate
Aric Dupere	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)
Aaron Unrau	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
David C. Robinson	....	costumes: Lee Pace (as David Robinson)
Kimberly Memory Stanley	....	assistant costume designer (as Kimberley Memory Stanley)

Editorial Department
Darren Achim	....	dailies telecine assistant
Patrick S. Clark	....	post-production assistant (as Patrick Clark)
Lee Garrison	....	post-production assistant
Peter King	....	post-production coordinator (as Peter J. King)
Tim King	....	executive in charge of post-production
Sam Komaromi	....	video post-production coordinator
Renay McGowan	....	post-production coordinator
Anthony Miller	....	additional editor
Janice Papadaki	....	negative cutter
Stephen R. Sheridan	....	color timer (as Steve Sheridan)
Trevor White	....	telecine colorist: dailies

Music Department
Ernie Mannix	....	music editor
Marek Szpakiewicz	....	orchestrator
Robin Urdang	....	music supervisor
Chris McGeary	....	music editor (uncredited)
Brandon Walker	....	on-set music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Rick Anglin	....	driver
Jim Ballantine	....	driver
Don Chan	....	transportation coordinator
Darrell Gibson	....	head driver
Tom Latto	....	driver
Samarroo Llalchan	....	driver: honeywagon
Robert MacLean	....	driver (as Bob MacLean)
Jerome McCann	....	transportation supervisor
Glen McGugan	....	transportation captain
Tom Pinteric	....	driver
Andres Vosu	....	driver
Glen Weller	....	driver

Other crew
Tessa Abdull	....	production coordinator
Darlene Bargetto	....	third assistant accountant
John 'Frenchie' Berger	....	armorer
Brian A. Bowman	....	military consultant
Jeff Brush	....	on-set craft service
Ruth Brush	....	on-set craft service
John Charles	....	software engineer: TriCoast Studios
Melanie Claveau	....	office assistant: DGP
Robbie David	....	production assistant
Sheri Davis	....	animal wrangler (as Sherri Davis)
Donna Demers	....	production accountant
Prudence Emery	....	unit publicist
Clarence Ford	....	choreographer
Terri Frank	....	truck supervisor
Donna Gardon	....	script supervisor
Linda Gillespie	....	post-production accountant
Dede Gilsher	....	receptionist: DGP (as Dede Gilser)
Stacey Knocker	....	client services
David Korchok	....	assistant location manager
Stephanie Lees	....	extras coordinator
Jordana Lieberman	....	production assistant
Trevor McTavish-Smith	....	assistant to producers
Paul Saban	....	building manager: DGP
Kevin Saffer	....	assistant production coordinator
Lianne Seal	....	first assistant accountant
Ann Steel	....	set supervisor
Sheelagh Stewart	....	office coordinator: DGP
Thomas Vencelides	....	location manager (as Tom Vencelides)
Duff Warren	....	location production assistant
John Weber	....	chief financial operator
Joshua Wilder	....	assistant: Mr. Pierson
Kate Wilson	....	voice coach: Lee Pace

Thanks
Barry Winchell	....	in memoriam

Production Companies

• Bachrach/Gottlieb Productions

Distributors

• Showtime Networks (2003) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• DEJ Productions
• Showtime Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Showtime Entertainment (2004) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Apple/Final Cut Pro  edited with
• By David's  catering
• Caligari Studio  prosthetics
• Capers on Location  catering
• Dufferin Gate Productions  production services provided by
• F-Stop Film & Video  titles and opticals
• Ipostini  post-production facilities
• Manta Digital Sound & Picture  video post-production
• Miles O' Fun Sound  sound editing (as Miles of Fun)
• Scarlet Letters  typesetting
• Sony Pictures Studios  re-recording services provided by
• Sounds Great!  walla group
• Starcraft  craft service
• Technicolor Sound Services  audio post-production

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content, a scene of strong violence and language.

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Barrie, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Bachrach/Gottlieb Productions

Trivia:

The patch worn on the shoulder of every soldier in the film is not the patch of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). The only time the actual 101st patch is shown is during the stock footage of soldiers marching across the parade ground at Ft Campbell. The patch can be seen on the large banner.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Pvt. Barry Winchell reports to SSG Diaz he is told by Diaz that he will be assigned as the assistant gunner for the 40mm grenade launcher. This could be a reference to the Mk-19 40mm belt fed grenade launcher. However, we later see Pvt Winchell carrying an M-203 40mm grenade launcher. The M-203 is not a crew served weapon, it is operated by a single soldier and therefore doesn't need an assistant to operate it.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mistress of Ceremonies: Ladies and gentlemen, and all of the rest of you... Welcome to the Miss Tennessee Entertainer of the Year Pageant.
[applause]
Mistress of Ceremonies: If you take a girl home tonight, and you find that her clitoris is just a touch too prominent and her ovaries are hanging really low, you might have ended up with one of our contestants.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Soldiers' Secrets (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

The Consequences of Falling

For it's faults, a very good film.

Without knowing the precise details of the actual events that this film is based on, it's difficult to say how faithful it stays to them. If it were fiction I'd have been inclined to critisise it for stereotyping a transgender woman as a nightclub performer, as it is, this part seems to be accurate.

Performances are generally strong, particularly Shawn Hatosy as the dangerously unhinged Justin Fisher. Lee Pace is very good as Calpernia Addams, but I don't see why the part couldn't have been played by a woman, trans or otherwise.

There are a couple of jarring scenes where Winchell and Addams are discussing her military background almost with an attitude of comraderie, and also some uncomfortable (for a non American) reflections on the US military. I also find offensive a notion that the film more than hints at several times (and which is made explicit in the DVD extras) that Winchell was somehow experimenting with his sexuality. If he loved Addams as a woman, this is a non-issue, but the film makers and actors (and Winchell's mother in the extras) don't seem to be able to understand that.

That aside, it's still a good film, and the subject matter is treated as well as we might expect for this point in time.