Cirque du Freak (film)

Infobox film
name = Cirque du Freak


caption =
director = Paul Weitz
producer = Lauren Shuler Donner
writer = Brian Helgeland
Darren Shan (novel)
starring = Chris Massoglia
Josh Hutcherson
John C. Reilly
Michael Ceveris
editing = Leslie Jones
distributor = Universal Pictures
released = February 19, 2009 [ [http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll allmovie ] ]
runtime =
country = USA
language = English
budget = $80,000,000 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450405/business
gross =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0450405

"Cirque du Freak" is the film adaptation of the first three books of the book series, "The Saga of Darren Shan", by author Darren Shan. The movie began filming on February 18,2008 in New Orleans and ended June 3rd, 2008. [ [http://blog.nola.com/mikescott/2008/02/slew_of_stars_set_to_come_to_t.html Slew of stars set to come to town - Mike Scott - Times-Picayune Movies - NOLA.com ] ] The film is distributed by Universal Pictures.Some of the movie was filmed on a set constructed within New Orleans City Park, approximately 1000 feet off of the side of the road, along Harrison Avenue.

Plot

"Cirque du Freak" tells the frightening tale of a boy who unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires. Pulled into a fantastic life of misunderstood sideshow freaks and grotesque creatures of the night, one teen will vanish from the safety of a boring existence and fulfill his destiny in a place drawn from nightmares...

14-year-old Darren (Chris Massoglia) was like most kids in his suburban neighborhood. He hung out with his best friend Steve (Josh Hutcherson), got decent grades and usually stayed out of trouble. But when he and his buddy stumble upon a traveling freak show, things begin to change inside Darren. That’s the exact moment when a vampire named Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly) turns him into something, well, bloodthirsty.

Newly undead, he joins the Cirque Du Freak, a touring sideshow filled with monstrous creatures from a snake boy (Patrick Fugit) and a wolfman (Tom Woodruff Jr.) to a bearded lady (Salma Hayek) and a gigantic barker (Ken Watanabe). As Darren flexes his newfound powers in this dark world, he becomes a treasured pawn between the vampires and their deadlier counterparts. And while trying to survive, one boy will struggle to keep their brewing war from devouring what’s left of his humanity. [ [http://www.universalpictures.com/index.html?__source=USMN.GNAV Universal Pictures ] ]

Cast

;Vampires
* John C. Reilly as Larten Crepsley
* Chris Massoglia as Darren Shan [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450405/ Cirque du Freak (2008) ] ]
* Willem Dafoe as Gavner Purl [ [http://movies.ign.com/articles/876/876991p1.html IGN: The Green Goblin Freaks Out ] ]

;Vampaneze
* Ray Stevenson as Murlough [ [http://movies.ign.com/articles/855/855338p1.html IGN: Exclusive: Frank Castle Speaks ] ] [ [http://darrenshan.com/monthly/index.html Shanville Monthly 91 ] ] [ [http://www.universalpictures.com/index.html?__source=USMN.GNAV Universal Pictures ] ]
* Brandon Molale as Vampaneze
* Troy Brenna as Vampaneze 1

;Humans
* Michael Cerveris as Desmond Tiny
* Josh Hutcherson as Steve "Leopard" Leonard
* Don McManus as Mr. Shan
* Morgan Saylor as Annie Shan
* Jessica Carlson as Rebecca (movie version of Debbie Hemlock)
* Christy Hutcherson as Mrs. Leonard
* Patrick Fulton as Kid
* Daniel Newman as Pete
* Maureen Phelan as Mourner
* Geraldine Glenn as Teacher
* Cynthia LeBlanc as Funeral Mourner
* Elton LeBlanc as Funeral Mourner
* Ritchie Montgomery as Pastor
* Beau Holden as Trucker
* Henry Robin as Cool Kid
* Martha Twombly as Uptight Townsfolk
* Beth Burvant as Singing Mom
* Trey Burvant as Singing Dad
* Evelyn Burvant as Singing Girl #1
* Anna Irene Dawson as Singing Girl #2
* Dewayne Bateman as Audience member (uncredited)

;Cirque du Freak members
* Salma Hayek as Madame Truska
* Orlando Jones as Alexander Ribs
* Ken Watanabe as Mr. Tall
* Jane Krakowski as Cormac Limbs (female version) [ [http://www.universalpictures.com/index.html?__source=USMN.GNAV Universal Pictures ] ]
* Patrick Fugit as Evra Von [ [http://www.universalpictures.com/index.html?__source=USMN.GNAV Universal Pictures ] ]
* Kristen Schaal as Gertha Teeth
* Frankie Faison as Rhamus Twobellies
* Jonathan Nosan as Hans Hands
* Tom Woodruff Jr. as Wolfman
* Wayne Douglas Morgan as Merman
* Sam Medina as Madame Truska's man
* Gino Galento as Madame Truska's Man
* Natasha "Sasha" Angelety as Cirque Freak
* Michael Dean Baker as Mr. Piercing
* Nokomis Callender as Cirque Freak
* Rose Lamarche as Cirque Freak
* Stefanie Oxmann Mcgaha "Steff" as Cirque freak

;Additional
* Erika Jensen as Rain Girl
* Leah Kahn as Arcuaørius Firen
* Armal J. Perkins as Mr. Pipps
* Drew Rin Varick as Loafhead
* Tim Parati as Mullet Guy
* Michael Arnona as Pigpen
* Jay Oliver as The Kid (uncredited)
* Shelby Temples as Boy at Funeral (uncredited)
* Shawn Knowles as Mr. Kersey

Production

"Cirque du Freak" will be shot in New Orleans, the village of Folsom and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Some of the characters required a great deal of prosthetics and makeup led by Steve Koch, Brian Sipe and Mark Garbarino.
Prosthetics did not quite add the height needed on certain shots for the character of Mr. Tall played by Academy Award-nominated Ken Watanabe [ [http://www.oscars.org/76academyawards/nomswins.html 76th Academy Awards Nominees and Winners | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ] ] . Although Watanabe’s height of 6ft is tall a body double was cast for certain shots. Trevon Flores, a local basketball player, stands at 6-foot-10, 210-pounds and was used for certain shots to show the abnormal height of Mr. Tall. Additionally Ken Watanabe utilized in Pre-Production and Production, Dialogue coaches Kathleen S Dunn and Francie Brown respectfully to further enhance his performance as the circus barker. [ [http://www.dailynews-record.com/sports_details.php?AID=16358&CHID=3 The Daily News Record: College Sports ] ]

The filmmakers will be taking advantage of computer-generated imagery to portray other fantasy elements.

The movie will be released on February 19th, 2009.

References

External links

*
* [http://www.darrenshan.com/ Darren Shan's Official Website]
* [http://darrenshan.com/monthly/index.html Shanville Monthly]