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阿Sir�薯蛩痐H谷
The School of Rock

老師係Jam王 班房變Band房　
《豬兜有情人》積伯克　Rock出音樂真蒂

肥阿Sir係搖滾狂　將班房變Band房
模範小學生　轉搞搖滾樂
各位家長　學校今次真大Rock

美國傳媒勁讚　影評通通俾A

故事大綱
卅幾歲的杜威 (積伯克飾演)，自命是樂與怒信徒，擅玩重搖滾結他。可惜，杜威的狂熱不受同儕認同，他夾Band時越位搶咪之餘，更大玩台上笨豬Jump台下，結果Band友齊齊踢他出局。

更弊�麉Y，今個月又無錢交租……

正於此時，屋企電話響起，原來是附近名門小學找同房史尼特(邁克韋特飾演)，杜威靈機一觸，冒充是史尼特，還答應去做代課老師。

對小孩子毫無頭緒的杜威，返學後被巫婆校長穆露絲(鍾古錫飾)日夜監視。一次偶然機會下杜威聽到自己的一班小五學生在音樂堂上演奏，他的樂與怒細胞因而再次沸騰起來。杜威決定要將班房變Band房，教這班小朋友夾Band玩高壓搖滾，更教曉他們音樂可以改變人生。

製作花絮

肥Rock友x怪編劇　兩大奇人創奇蹟
這部極具創意，以另類教師透過「樂與怒」刺激起名校呆板小學生的思維、膽色兼藝術細胞的電影，在美國公映以來，贏得影評及觀眾一致好評，當中更以扮演主角杜威的積伯克(Jack Black)風頭最勁。在《失戀排行榜》憑瘋狂CD店店員嶄露頭角，其後在《豬兜有情人》擔正做桂莉芙白德露肥情郎的伯克，本身亦是搖滾Band友，且跟主角杜威一樣，既是唱作人，也是結他手。唯一不同之處是，伯克是自己樂隊Tenacious D的靈魂人物，杜威卻被自己樂隊拋棄。

編劇邁克韋特(Mike White)坦言，今次劇本是為伯克度身訂造的。原來私底下，他跟伯克做了三年多的鄰居，一直覺得應該寫一個故事去表現伯克的奇人本色：「伯克是一個表現天才、音樂好手，更擁有完美的『反英雄』形象。」韋特於是將伯克搞笑而又帶有邊緣性的Rock友形象，放入一班模範小朋友堆，讓他們透過組band， jam出一幕幕幽默又感人的場面。而韋特本人其實亦是近年在獨立製作中爆出的紅人，他於2000年憑自編自演獨立片《Chuck & Buck》在辛丹斯影展一鳴驚人，今次在片中兼演杜威的同屋史尼特。

獨立名導　來自新音樂都市
伯克與韋特這個全新搞笑配搭，本足已令觀眾興奮，再加上著名導演李察連利達(Richard Linklater)操刀，肯定影片更有深度。以捕捉年青人微妙情感而疾走獨立製作圈子的連利達，創作過《偶遇半日情》(Before Sunrise)、《意亂情迷》(Dazed and Confused)、《城市遊牧民族》(Slacker)等多部青春Cult片，今次則完成了他多年的心願，拍攝一個有關樂與怒的故事。原來連利達乃生於美國德薩斯州，並在州內的Austin起家拍電影。眾所周知，Austin乃音樂新人的聚腳之地，連利達說：「伯克的角色，是一個為求達到夢想而不惜一切，掙扎求存的音樂人，這令我想起自己初出道當電影人的日子。」除了對搖滾樂有興趣，相信導演亦是因為與音樂人一起走過的日子，而希望刻劃出每一個人對夢想的熱情。

小學Band友　全是音樂高手
至於飾演小學Band友的演員，導演連利達為追求真實感，堅持參演的小朋友懂玩樂器兼且識唱歌。結果，他跟監製史葛魯汀(Scott Rudin)、音樂總監蘭度保士達(Randall Poster)等人在紐約、洛杉磯、三藩市、西雅圖等城市找演員，足足花了五個月才埋班。保士達說：「我們終於做到了最好的平衡，起用了很多非職業演員。他們的面孔新鮮又自然可愛，每個人都在影片散發出獨待的氣質。」最後，樂隊主要成員如下：

結他手阿塞──祖兒基度士(Joey Gaydos Jr)飾
基度士的父親是專業音樂人，１歲時收的聖誕禮物就是結他。正式開始玩結他是8歲，跟朋友組Band參加美國最大的兒童暑期音樂計畫Dayjams時被發掘擔任本片主角。現在讀六年級的基度士說，自己的音樂是受Led Zeppelin、Jim Hendrix和The Beatles影響。

鼓手弗迪──奇雲卡拉克(Kevin Clark)飾
現年14歲的奇雲是在芝加哥的試鏡時被選為反叛鼓手一角。他三歲就開始與社區內的樂隊夾Band打鼓，當時已經懂得在台上玩solo，贏得全場起立鼓掌。五年級起正式攻讀敲擊樂課程，另懂鋼琴、小提琴、大提琴及結他。

低音結他手姬蒂──慧碧嘉布朗(Rebecca Brown) 飾
11歲的慧碧嘉是古典結他手，她在播放年輕古典音樂人的電台節目"From the Top"被發掘飾演今次角色。４歲開始學樂器的慧碧嘉，最愛的音樂人是古典結他手John Williams和The Beatles。

鍵盤手羅倫斯──蔡羅拔(Robert Tsai)飾
12歲的美國華僑蔡羅拔是古典鋼琴好手，跟慧碧嘉一樣，是在"From the Top"演奏時被本片的選角指導發掘。蔡羅拔6歲才開始學琴，因為被老師認定有特殊天份，得以拜新澤西著名鋼琴家Julia Lam博士為師，自此在美國贏得多項大賽。

主音湯美嘉──瑪麗恩漢珊(Maryam Hassan)飾
只得10歲的瑪麗恩負責扮演怕羞的主音，她在紐約試鏡時憑一曲"Dreamgirls"贏得導演心。在學校演過話劇的瑪麗恩今回是首次在電影演出及獻唱。

樂隊經理森瑪──美蓮達歌絲高芙(Miranda Cosgrove)飾
今年只得10歲的美蓮達，彈琴、唱歌皆精，以往曾在多個廣告演出，包括可口可樂、麥當勞及AT&T。最近，則接拍了電視片集《Drake and Josh》。

Sonic Youth猛將　指揮小學兵團
選齊所有童角後，音樂總監保士達馬上召集一班小演員入營，接受為期十星期的特訓，務求他們能夠一起夾歌兼練好各自的樂器。同時，保士達特別邀請了Sonic Youth的Jim O'Rouke來教導各位小band友玩出不同角色的風格來。而負責創作影片純音樂主題曲的Craig Wedren亦入了這個音樂營，親自與一班小演員綵排。結果，一班小band友都大有進步，且愈夾愈High。尤其是一直只接觸古典音樂的蔡羅拔及慧碧嘉，最後他們都能擺脫了自己的風格，而彈奏出一份搖滾味來。

至於小樂隊的歌曲，則大部分由伯克及韋特包辦，除了影片結尾時的主題曲"The School of Rock"是特別找來紐約新進樂隊The Mooney Suzuki作曲。

演員及編導簡介
搞笑肥佬Rock友──積伯克
身高5呎6，既是搞笑演員又是搖滾樂手的積伯克(Jack Black)，在主演《阿Sir�薯蛩痐H谷》之後，人氣急升，成為肥佬萬人迷，且緊急籌備個人樂隊Tenacious D的自傳式影片《Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny》，希望趕及在05年上畫。其他即將公映的新作則包括有，與班史迪拿(Ben Stiller)合作的兄弟因財失義喜劇《Envy》。

曾於洛杉磯加州大學攻讀的伯克，1989年在愛丁堡藝術節初踏舞台，參演了由添羅賓斯(Tim Robbins)製作公司創作的戲劇。伯克自此與羅賓斯結緣，在其導演的諷刺政治片《Bob Roberts》獲得首次演出電影的機會，之後在羅賓斯執導的《死囚168小時》、《Cradle Will Rock》均有演出。但入行而來，伯克始終做配角俱多，在《衰鬼線人》(The Cable Guy)、《火星人玩轉地球》(Mars Attacks!)等多片演過小腳色。

直至2000年，伯克在《失戀排行榜》內扮演CD店店員，以超級音樂迷身分同老板尊古錫(John Cusack)作對，令人留下深刻印象。伯克更憑演出獲美國喜劇獎提名最佳男配角。在《阿Sir�薯蛩痐H谷》一片中，校長一角則是由尊古錫的家姐鍾古踢(Joan Cusack)飾演，想不到她與伯克一樣擦出新火花。

2001年，伯克首度擔正做荷里活大片主角，與影后桂莉芙白德露合演了喜劇《豬兜有情人》，之後又主演了由邁克韋特編劇的《Orange County》。本片則是兩人第二度合作。

新進編劇兼演員──邁克韋特
現年34歲的邁克韋特(Mike White) 2000年憑自編自演喜劇《Chuck & Buck》在辛丹斯影展冒出頭來。影片繼而在法國多維爾影展、西雅圖國際電影節及獨立精神獎贏得多個獎項，更被美國權威娛樂雜誌「Entertainment Weekly」選為「2000年最佳電影」。自此，韋特展開其電影編劇生涯，在2002年推出了由珍妮花安妮絲頓(Jennifer Anistion)主演的《The Good Girl》，影片為韋特帶來獨立精神獎最佳編劇殊榮；同年，他撰寫的《Orange County》由積伯克主演，兩人旋即擦出創作火花，今次共同炮製《阿Sir�薯蛩痐H谷》，便出奇制勝。

最愛在幕前過戲癮的韋特，編劇時大都會安排自己粉墨登場，本片中他演杜威同屋史尼特，在其他自編作品如《The Good Girl》、《Orange County》等均有演出。

以獨立影人打入影圈前，韋特乃人氣青春電視劇《Dawson's Creek》及《Freaks and Geeks》的編劇及監製。

放浪獨立導演──李察連利達
自學電影起家的李察連利達(Richard Linklater)乃美國90年代獨立電影復興期最重要的一員。他的電影故事大都設定於24小時內發生，用一日的流程去探索年青人細膩的情感、反叛的躍動，亦執著於他們交往的遊戲規則。

在老家美國德薩斯州城市Austin邊拍邊學的連利達，在1991年完成了首部長編電影《城市遊牧民族》(Slacker)，作品在辛丹斯影展大獲好評，「Slacker」一字自此廣為用作「憤世、放浪青年人」之意。1993年，他編導的《意亂情迷》(Dazed and Confused)以中學畢業最後一天為背景，成為新一代青春喜劇典範。1995年，找來伊雲鶴堅(Ethan Hawke)及茱莉黛庇(Julie Delpy)主演《偶遇半日情》(Before Sunrise)。這部浪漫作不但令觀眾心醉，更讓連利達奪得柏林影展最佳導演獎。至於萬眾期待的《偶遇半日情》續集，亦已定於2004年公映，兩位主角９年後在巴黎重逢，延續他們的一日情。

連利達其他作品還包括《浪族色彩》(Waking Life)、《Tape》、《The Newton Boys》、《SubUrbia》等。

美國傳媒勁讚　影評科科�隹

A "唔識講套戲有幾好，總之俾佢玩晒！"──E! Online

A "節奏流暢、氣氛十足，更意想不到地動人心弘。"──Peter Hartlaub　三藩市新聞

A "積伯克大出風頭，影片大搖滾！"── Eleanor Ringel Gillespie亞特蘭大記者協會

"占基利扭爛塊面，都不及積伯克在銀幕上帶來的狂熱震撼。"
A- ──Stephen Holden, 紐約時報

"想笑餐飽的話，我們推薦《我阿Sir�薯蛩痐H谷》"─Mike Clark　USA Today
"證明俾你睇合家歡電影都可以精彩絕倫、演技超班、有腦、有見地、有笑料…仲搖滾味十足。"── Roger Ebert 芝加哥太陽時報

"可愛到極"── Ty Burr 波士頓世界報

"令你於88分鐘內捧腹大笑、會心微笑、忍唔住跟住音樂腳「印印」。睇完之後，即係想睇多次。"──Mark Caro 芝加哥論壇赧

Other reviews:

"積伯克是樂與怒的搞笑天王，上佢堂，包你笑到停唔到口。"
──Peter Travers, ROLLING STONE雜誌

"出奇制勝。講直接一點是，今年無第二套戲令我笑得咁辛苦，積伯克夠勁，全片無冷場，創意十足，令人透唔過氣。"
──David Ansen, 新聞週刊

"積伯克rock出新天地。導演李察連利達罕有地成功創作了一部小朋友同家長都會拍爛手掌的電影。"
──Leah Rozen, 《人物》雜誌

"本年度最佳影片之一。積伯克應該�奎矕等d。"
──Dana Kennedy, MSNBC

"勁搞笑，勁感人，啟發人心同時又富娛樂性。積伯克是一個充滿愛心的小丑。" ──David Sheehan, CBS新聞

Directed by
Richard Linklater

Produced by
Scott Rudin

Starring
Jack Black
Joan Cusack
Mike White

"THE SCHOOL OF ROCK"

Production Information

"And if you want to be the teacher's pet

Baby, you just better forget it

Rock got no reason - rock got no rhyme

You better get me to school on time . . ."

-- Lyrics from the song, "The School of Rock"

Hell-raising guitarist Dewey Finn (Jack Black) is anti-establishment to the hilt, irreverent to the max, and he worships the power of rock and roll. With a penchant for stage-dives and 20-minute solos, Dewey is determined to lead his rock group to victory at the local Battle of the Bands…but his band mates fire him instead.

Down-and-out, in need of rent money and wallowing in his apartment strewn with take-out containers, Dewey picks up a phone call intended for his roommate Ned (Mike White), and impulsively accepts a job as a substitute teacher at the prestigious Horace Green Elementary School. There, by-the-book Principal Mullins (Joan Cusack) watches his every move like a hawk. But while Dewey might not have a clue how to teach, he does know how to inspire confidence in his young fifth graders. And when he accidentally overhears them performing in an orchestra class, he decides to mold these young musical prodigies into a high-voltage rock band, which will change their lives forever.

Paramount Pictures Presents a Scott Rudin production starring Jack Black, "The School of Rock." Directed by Richard Linklater, the film is produced by Scott Rudin, written by Mike White and also features Joan Cusack, Mike White and Sarah Silverman. The executive producers are Steve Nicolaides and Scott Aversano, the director of photography is Rogier Stoffers, N.S.C., the production designer is Jeremy Conway, the editor is Sandra Adair, and the costume designer is Karen Patch. Randall Poster serves as the music supervisor and Craig Wedren composed the musical score.

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.

This film has been rated "PG-13" by the Motion Picture Association of America for some rude humor & drug references.

ABOUT THE STORY

As far as Jack Black and Dewey Finn are concerned, the actor and the character he portrays couldn't be more similar or different. Black is the singer, songwriter, guitarist of his own band Tenacious D, and Finn is a singer, songwriter and guitarist of his own band No Vacancy…except they kick him out. And, while rock 'n' roll is a significant part of Black's life, rock 'n' roll is the only thing in Finn's life.

"I just love the way Mike writes," admits Black. "Not only does he have that funny edge that suits me, but also he knows how to get into my voice."

Screenwriter White, who lived next door to Black for three years, had been wanting to write a film geared specifically to Black's unique personality.

"Jack is a great performer, a terrific musician and the perfect antihero," says White. "He's kind of unhinged in that fun way that Willie Wonka is, and I kept having this idea about him jamming around with a bunch of kids."

With the genius of Black's stellar comedic style and White's clever script, "The School of Rock" already exceeded the parameters of a traditional comedy, but when the filmmakers recruited director Richard Linklater, they knew they had someone at the helm of the film who could take it even further. Known for such landmark independent films as "Slacker" and "Dazed and Confused," Linklater also happens to have a penchant for making movies with a heavy influence of rock 'n' roll.

"I'm a big fan of Jack, both as a musician and as an actor," says Linklater. "And Jack's character, a struggling musician willing to do almost anything to help realize his dreams, reminded me of my formative years as a filmmaker."

"Rick (Linklater) brings reality, honesty and believability to the film," explains Black. "He reins me in, which is important because I'm always going 10 miles too far over the top. So when I go a little too crazy, he brings me back to reality."

Not unlike the actor who portrays him, the fiery Dewey Finn is on the verge of exploding throughout "The School of Rock." First, he gives a volatile performance with his band, launching into a long guitar solo and stage-diving into the crowd with no one there to catch him. Next, while masquerading as his roommate, substitute teacher Ned Schneebly (Mike White), Dewey discharges lectures on the wonders of rock and the evils of "The Man" to a wide-eyed class of fifth graders. And finally, in the end, he ignites his students into giving the performance of their lives at the Battle of the Bands.

There to constantly snuff out Dewey's fuse is straight-laced Rosalie Mullins (Joan Cusack), the always uptight -- unless she's had a few beers -- principal of the prestigious private school where Dewey is substitute teaching.

"I'm Dewey's nemesis, and I could blow the whistle on him at any moment," explains Cusack. "It's a great role because, down deep, Rosalie Mullins really wants to let loose and be wild. So in a way, I guess she sort of admires Dewey."

Black, who appeared with Cusack and her brother, John, in the critically acclaimed "High Fidelity," says working with Joan again was a blast. "She's very funny," observes Black. "It was great watching her character crack."

"Joan is awesome," agrees White. "She usually plays these sort of blithe spirits, so it's funny to see her as the uptight, buttoned-down principal. It's also great to watch her and Jack go at it."

Rounding out the principal cast with her portrayal of Ned Schneebly's bossy girlfriend, Patty, is former "Saturday Night Live" writer/comedienne Sarah Silverman, who says that while her role in the film wasn't comedic, she was glad to play the foil for a change.

"Once I read Mike White's script, I just had to be in the film," remembers Silverman. "I don't usually get to play the 'bad guy,' so it was a great chance for me to do something a little different. Besides, let's face it: If you're in a film with Jack Black, right from the start you know it's going to be pretty damn funny."

ABOUT THE KIDS

Once the principal cast members were in place, the real challenge was to fill the classroom with musically talented kids. Producer Scott Rudin, director Richard Linklater, casting director Ilene Starger and music supervisor Randall Poster all shared the same thoughts about authenticity.

"We cast children who could actually play these instruments and sing," explains Starger, who saw several thousand children in cities that included New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Seattle throughout the five-month casting process.

"In the end, we struck a great balance, mostly choosing kids who are not the classic Hollywood actors," says Poster. "All of them have a fresh sweetness about them, and each definitely brings something special to the film."

Two members of "The School of Rock" band, 11-year-old classical guitarist Rebecca Brown (bass player Katie) and 12-year-old classical pianist Robert Tsai (keyboard player Lawrence), were found through "From the Top," a Public Radio International program featuring performances from young classical musicians. "From the Top," which originates from WGBH Boston, provides information, entertainment and education for pre-college-age musicians, their parents and teachers, and Rebecca and Robert were real finds.

Joey Gaydos Jr., who portrays Zack, the lead guitarist, is a resident of Belleville, Michigan. Now 12, he began playing the guitar at eight, and started his own band in Michigan. He was found through Dayjams, a summer program that provides the opportunity for kids between the ages of nine and 15 to study guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals. Founded by the National Guitar Workshop (NGW), Dayjams is the nation's largest summer music program.

Kevin Clark who portrays Freddy, the rebellious drummer, was discovered at an open casting call in Chicago. He started playing drums with local community bands at the age of three, at which time he would wander up on stage and break into a drum solo to standing ovations. He began formal percussion lessons in fifth grade and has been drumming ever since.

"Many of the kids in our cast had never auditioned before, let alone been in a movie," says casting director Ilene Starger. "In fact, one of the great things about this project was watching their progress."

For example, 10-year-old Maryam Hassan, who plays shy Tomika, had appeared only in school plays, but when she heard about an open call in New York through the Internet, she and her mother drove into the city from Long Island for the auditions. Maryam belted out her version of Jennifer Holliday's solo from "Dreamgirls" and the role was hers.

Being a musician/singer himself, Jack Black recognized the talent in his costars immediately. "These kids were amazing musicians from the start and they took direction really well," says Black. "I mean, the performances Rick [Linklater] drew from them were really something."

Because auditions took place in more than 10 U.S. and Canadian cities, the cast of talented kids came from diverse locations, but soon after gathering in Manhattan to begin working on the film, they became a tight-knit unit. From veterans Angelo Massagli (Frankie, head of band security), who plays Bobby Jr. in "The Sopranos," and Aleisha Allen (Alicia, the backup singer), who appeared in "The Best Man" and "Finding Forrester," to newcomers Maryam Hassan (Tomika) and Robert Tsai (Lawrence), who had never stepped foot on a movie set in their lives, all the kids quickly adapted to their busy schedules of practicing the music, filming and regulated classroom time. In the end, they became so comfortable with performing that, during the final weeks of filming, two young cast members, Joey Gaydos Jr. and Kevin Clark, actually appeared at a local club with their teacher, Amanda Kaupousouz, a talented Irish fiddler.

MAKING MUSIC

While the casting was under way, music supervisor Randy Poster, who had worked with director Richard Linklater previously on "SubUrbia," set out to build a musical team. The first thing he did was to bring in a ringleader for the kids -- Jim O'Rourke, who produces and plays with Sonic Youth.

"One of the great advantages of this movie is that we had 10 weeks where we basically put the kids in rock-and-roll boot camp," says Poster. "In that way -- both before and during production -- the kids became very comfortable with their instruments and all aspects of the story."

Jack Black was glad to see Jim O'Rourke on board to help his young costars prepare for their roles and truly have a good time during the entire filmmaking process.

"Jim is a great musician, a good producer, and he even has some albums out on his own," observes Black. "He rehearsed with the kids till their chops were really up and their rock licks were nice and shimmy-shammied."

O'Rourke, who in addition to performing with Sonic Youth has produced for the bands Stereo Lab and Wilco, explains that first he needed to find out what the kids could do before he knew exactly what areas each had to work on.

"I needed to find out what they were used to playing, what style they liked to play in and what their strengths and weaknesses were," says O'Rourke. "After I gathered that information, it was my job to make it all blend."

According to Craig Wedren, who composed the film's instrumental score and jammed with the kids during numerous band rehearsals, the set truly turned into a music camp and a safe haven for the kids to just rock out. "It took me back to when I was 12 years old and in my first band," recalls Wedren. "It was a time you could just wail on your guitar or bang on your drums and make great music with your friends, and that's what happened on the set with these kids."

Joey Gaydos Jr., the lead guitarist, remembers when they began rehearsals. "The first time we actually played together, we were real sloppy, you know, because it was our first time," admits the 12-year-old. "But when we began really practicing, we started to sound pretty good."

While some kids were already familiar with the style of music they were going to play in "The School of Rock," others were not. Twelve-year-old Robert Tsai, for example, who had been playing the piano since the age of five, was strictly a classical musician.

"Robert didn't really know anything about rock music, so when rehearsals first began it was quite a mystery to him what we were doing," remembers O'Rourke. "I'd put a piece of sheet music in front of him and he'd play it, but always in a very classical style. In the end, though, he was jamming with the rest of us."

Rebecca Brown got into the swing of things, too. A guitar player since the age of four, the 11-year-old not only learned how to play bass guitar for the film, but she also had her first introduction to the cello, which she plays in the Horace Green Elementary School orchestra.

"All the kids are extremely talented and they really worked together as a team" observes director Richard Linklater. "Their experience mirrors the experience of the kids in the story. They started out playing in a comfortable musical environment, then basically, we just tried to make it fun for them -- just like Dewey Finn did in the film."

While the young band of "The School of Rock" rehearsed, the filmmakers reached out to musicians and lyricists for the key songs. In the end, however, it was Jack Black and Mike White who wrote a lot of the songs, including several solos that are performed in the classroom.

"They're not really songs so much as nuggets of songs," explains Black. "I could stretch them out and turn them into songs. But they're more like little comedy nuggets."

Mike White adds, laughing, "We were trying to write lyrics, and I thought, What would AC/DC do? I don't think I've ever been in a script meeting where I was thinking what would AC/DC do."

The song, "The School of Rock," which is performed by Black and the kids in concert at the finale of the film, was written by the New York band The Mooney Suzuki.

"They opened in New York for The Strokes and I met them afterwards," remembers Black. "So I asked them if they'd be into writing a song for the movie, and they said they'd give it a crack. Mike White gave them some lyrics; they worked on them and eventually made a really good song out of it."

"I was totally psyched because, at one time, my entire life revolved around a Battle of the Bands," admits songwriter and lead vocalist for The Mooney Suzuki, Sammy James Jr. "In fact, I'm in a band right now because I wanted to be in a Battle of the Bands in high school. That's probably why the song came pretty easily. I just sat down to write, and within an hour I made a little four-track demo in my apartment."

No Vacancy, the band that dumps Dewey Finn at the start of the movie, is fronted by singer/actor Adam Pascal, who starred in the original Broadway production of "Rent" and currently stars in the Broadway production of "Aida." Their first song was written by Warren Fitzgerald, who plays with a band called The Vandals in Los Angeles, and their second song, performed at the Battle of the Bands, entitled "Heal Me, I'm Heartsick," was written by Craig Wedren. George Drakoulias was the music producer who worked with the artists in the recording studio.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

Filmed in the New York metropolitan area, "The School of Rock" began production at Wagner College in Staten Island, which provided the gothic architectural exteriors for the Horace Green Elementary School, the interiors of which were shot at a private school on Long Island. The cast and crew then traveled to Franklin Lakes and Rahway, New Jersey. In Rahway, the production shot exterior scenes in front of an old movie palace that draws major musical acts and theatrical productions to the area.

Although the exteriors of the school were primarily filmed at Wagner College, the scenes in the cafeteria, faculty rooms and Rosalie Mullins office were shot during Christmas holiday break at Long Island's prestigious Buckley Country Day School. Founded in 1923, the school relocated in 1955 to the former estate of the Shearson family in Roslyn, Long Island.

Following several months of filming on location, the production settled into the Broadway stages in Queens to film the interiors of the classrooms and the apartment that Dewey shares with Ned and Ned's girlfriend, Patty. Production Designer Jeremy Conway and his team built the interior of the apartment, making it a funky, brick-walled space full of vinyl albums, miscellaneous guitars and a used drum set. Orderly on the side where Ned and Patty live, the apartment definitely has the messy crash-pad look, with a mattress on the floor and take-out food containers strewn everywhere, on Dewey's side.

The film's exciting Battle of the Bands finale brought the production back to Staten Island's St. George Theatre, a magnificent former vaudeville palace and opera house built in 1928. When the movies came into vogue in the early 1930s, a projection booth was built upstairs, and it flourished for a long time as one of the great American, art deco movie palaces -- a perfect place to stage "The School of Rock" winning performance.

All the Battle of the Bands performances were enhanced by celebrated lighting designers Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, whose theatrical work on Broadway has garnered literally dozens of awards, including a Tony they shared in 1996 for "Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk" and six additional Tony awards for Fisher. In addition to lighting all the numbers in the Academy Awarda-winning musical "Chicago," Fisher and Eisenhauer's studio, Third Eye, designs lighting for a myriad of entertainment venues, including film, ballet, opera, television and rock 'n' roll.

ABOUT THE CAST

JACK BLACK (Dewey Finn) has appeared in such motion pictures as Stephen Frears' critically acclaimed comedy "High Fidelity," in which he played Barry, John Cusack's sarcastic music store employee. That breakout role garnered him nominations for a 2001 American Comedy Award and Blockbuster Entertainment Award in the supporting actor category. Black co-hosted the 2002 MTV Movie Awards with Sarah Michelle Gellar, which was the highest-rated MTV Movie Awards ever and the top-rated cable program of that year.

Besides "The School of Rock," Black will also star opposite Ben Stiller in the Barry Levinson-directed "Envy" for DreamWorks SKG. The comedy follows Black and Stiller as lifelong friends whose relationship takes a nasty turn when one of them (Black) becomes filthy rich by selling an invention. It drives the other (Stiller) crazy with jealousy. Rachel Weisz, Christopher Walken and Amy Poehler round out the cast.

Black was last seen on the big screen in two hit comedies. In the Farrelly brothers' comedy "Shallow Hal" he had his first starring role opposite Gwyneth Paltrow. He played Hal, a man who is given the gift of seeing people's inner beauty as their outside appearance. In "Orange County," for director Jake Kasdan ("Zero Effect") and writer Mike White ("Chuck & Buck"), Black starred alongside Colin Hanks as his loving, older stoner brother.

He also starred in "Saving Silverman" with Jason Biggs and Steve Zahn and in 2000's independent drama "Jesus' Son" with Billy Crudup. He made his feature film debut in Tim Robbins' "Bob Roberts."

Black is also the lead singer for the rock-folk comedy group Tenacious D, whose self-titled album was released in the fall of 2001 on Epic Records. They recently completed a headlining tour, followed by an opening gig with Weezer and Kid Rock. Tenacious D also had a variety series on HBO that aired in 1999.

JOAN CUSACK (Rosalie Mullins) began acting while still in her teens, appearing in such comedies as "My Bodyguard" and "Sixteen Candles," the latter of which also featured her brother, John Cusack. Gaining critical and audience attention for such films as "Broadcast News" and "Married to the Mob," Cusack had her screen breakthrough in "Working Girl," earning a Best Supporting Actress Oscara nomination for her role as Melanie Griffith's street-smart best friend. More strong notices followed her work in the drama "Men Don't Leave."

She has costarred in such films as "Addams Family Values," "Corrina, Corrina," "Nine Months" and "Grosse Pointe Blank," but it was her performance as a would-be bride who gets left at the altar that earned her second Best Supporting Actress Oscara nomination, for "In & Out." Cusack's subsequent credits include "Arlington Road," "Runaway Bride," "Cradle Will Rock," "High Fidelity" and "Where the Heart Is." She also voiced Jessie, the cowgirl in "Toy Story 2."

MIKE WHITE (Ned Schneebly) gained attention for writing and starring in the independent comedy/drama "Chuck & Buck," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and went on to win awards at the Deauville Film Festival, the Seattle International Film Festival and the Independent Spirit Awards. It was also deemed the "Best Film of 2000" by Entertainment Weekly.

Last year saw two feature films penned by White. The first was the drama "The Good Girl," starring Jennifer Aniston, Jake Gyllenhaal and John C. Reilly. Opening to notable acclaim at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, the film that smartly re-teamed White with director Miguel Arteta from "Chuck & Buck" fame also garnered White the Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay. The second film by White that was released in 2002 was the comedy "Orange County," starring Jack Black and Colin Hanks for Paramount Pictures and Scott Rudin Productions.

Raised in the Los Angeles suburb of Pasadena, White attended Wesleyan University in Connecticut and planned on writing plays in New York upon graduation. When a fellow Wesleyan alumnus offered him a job in Hollywood, White moved back West, eventually becoming a supervising producer on the young adult drama series, "Dawson's Creek" and then the critically acclaimed drama series "Freaks and Geeks." In 2001, White created the television drama "Pasadena," which aired on Fox.

SARAH SILVERMAN (Patty), actress and stand-up comic, portrays Ned Schneebly's opinionated girlfriend, Patty. A former writer and performer on "Saturday Night Live" and a veteran of comedy clubs in New York and Los Angeles, Silverman numbers among her TV credits "Greg the Bunny," "Crank Yankers," HBO's "Mr. Show with Bob and David" and "The Larry Sanders Show." Her film work includes "Evolution," "Heartbreakers," "There's Something About Mary" and "Bulworth," among others.

JOEY GAYDOS JR. (Zack, the lead guitar player) is a sixth grader from Belleville, Michigan, who is making his film debut. The son of a professional musician, Gaydos got his first guitar for Christmas at the age of one, but it was not until he was eight that he took a serious interest in music and began taking private lessons.

A participant in Dayjams, a well-known summer rock-and-roll camp, Gaydos formed a band called Badd Racquette with a friend, and they have since produced their own CD with nine original songs. Gaydos' musical influences include Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles.

MARYAM HASSAN (Tomika, the shy singer) is 10 years old and lives in Far Rockaway, New York. Although she played the lead role of Dorothy in her school's production of "The Wiz" as a second grader, Hassan is making her professional acting and singing debut in "The School of Rock."

KEVIN CLARK (Freddy, the drummer) was raised in Highland Park, Illinois. He is now 14 years old, but he had natural rhythm at the age of three and would drum along at community band concerts. He has since studied piano, violin, cello and guitar.

Clark, a member of his school's jazz band and advanced band, also pursues private music lessons. He and a friend from camp started a band together called Blind.

REBECCA BROWN (Katie, the bass player) is 11 years old and a native of Chicago. A natural musician, who began playing music at the age of four, Brown has since taken weekly lessons in classical guitar. She has appeared on "From the Top," the national radio program that features outstanding young musicians.

Brown is also interested in computers, drawing, art and writing. Among her favorite musicians are classical guitarist John Williams and The Beatles.

ROBERT TSAI (Lawrence, the keyboard player) is 12 years old and lives in Wilmington, New Jersey. He began piano lessons when he was almost six and practiced diligently for two years. After a local teacher told his parents about his strong potential, they found a renowned New Jersey pianist and teacher named Dr. Julia Lam. Under her tutelage, Tsai began entering competitions and winning most of them. In the summer of 2002, he performed at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center.

He was selected to play on Public Radio International's "From the Top" radio program, which is how he came to the attention of the film's casting directors.

CAITLIN HALE (Marta, the backup singer) is a resident of Ansonia, Connecticut, and has performed in regional theater, playing the lead role in "Annie," presented by Sacred Heart University.

Performing since the second grade, Hale, now 12, has sung the national anthem at University of Connecticut men's and women's basketball games, and she performed the song at the New York State Republican convention. Her father Gary was a Connecticut State senator for four years and her mother is a school administrator.

ALEISHA ALLEN (Alicia, the backup singer) was born and raised in the Bronx, and has been modeling for print and television ads since the age of four. As a six-year-old she appeared on the series "Blue's Clues," and later she became a series regular on the popular Disney TV show "Out of the Box."

A singer and ballerina, Allen, now 12, has also appeared in the feature films "The Best Man" and "Finding Forrester."

MIRANDA COSGROVE (Summer, the band manager) is a resident of Downey, California. She has appeared in numerous national ad campaigns including those for Coke, McDonald's and AT&T, and she will soon be a series regular on the upcoming Nickelodeon series "Drake and Josh."

Cosgrove, age 10, who sings and plays the piano, also enjoys horseback riding and art lessons.

BRIAN FALDUTO (Billy, the band stylist) is a resident of Pequannock, New Jersey, and has been taking music and voice lessons since the age of seven. He loves jazz and ballet and has performed in Livingston, New Jersey, production of "The Nutcracker." A chance meeting on a family vacation led to Falduto's film debut at age 11 in "The School of Rock." His favorite musical performers include Britney Spears, O-Town and Faith Hill.

ZACHARY INFANTE (Gordon, the special effects wiz) was born in New York City and resides in Roselle Park, New Jersey. Now 12 years old, Infante was interested in acting as early as five. A talented singer, he has numerous commercials under his belt, including those for Nickelodeon and Disney. "The School of Rock" marks his movie debut.

JAMES HOSEY (Marco, the computer genius) was born in the Bronx and lives in Larchmont, New York. Hosey, now 11, drew attention at an early age because of his striking red hair and friendly face. He has since worked in almost 10 commercials, including an Office Depot spot that features astronaut Sally Ride. "The School of Rock" marks his motion picture debut.

ANGELO MASSAGLI (Frankie, the band's head of security) began his career in commercials at the age of four, but it was his casting in CBS' new "Bill Cosby Show" that gave him the acting bug.

Most recently, Massagli, now 11, has been seen as Bobby Jr., a recurring character on the HBO megahit "The Sopranos." He had a role in "Stuart Little 2" and has also made guest appearances in the television series "Third Watch" and "The Job."

COLE HAWKINS (Leonard, band security) was discovered at the age of five as he distributed french fries to pretty women in an Old Navy store. At 11, Hawkins is considered "the veteran" by other kids in the cast because "The School of Rock" marks his seventh film. Hawkins' additional movie credits include "Music of the Heart," "Big Daddy," "Kate & Leopold," "Meet the Parents" and "Changing Lanes."

In addition, Hawkins has made guest appearances on "Third Watch" and "Law & Order" and has filmed numerous commercials including those for Verizon, AT&T, Chrysler, Cheerios and Kool-Aid. A sixth grader at Manhattan East, he memorized the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority's subway and bus routes when he was four and can give anyone directions for New York's transportation system. Hawkins wants to be an entertainment lawyer when he grows up.

VERONICA AFFLERBACH (Eleni, the groupie) was born in Atlantic City and lives in Somers Point, New Jersey. A cheerleader who has participated in school plays and a local theater workshop, Afflerbach, now 11, has done national commercials for Macy's and Lowe's, in addition to print ads for Pepsi, Target and the Gap. "The School of Rock" marks her film debut.

JORDAN-CLAIRE GREEN (Michelle, the groupie) was born in an exotic locale -- Terceira, one of the islands of the Azores, off the coast of Portugal. Her father, a physician and Air Force General, was stationed there, and has since moved with his family to bases in Florida, Idaho, Colorado and Missouri.

Green, now 11, began violin lessons at the age of four and also takes piano and voice lessons, along with a full menu of dance classes, including tap, ballet, jazz and hip-hop. She has appeared in the film "Miracle Dogs" and also had a role in "Power Rangers.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

RICHARD LINKLATER (Director), one of the most successful and unique talents to emerge from the independent film movement of the 1990s, made his feature film debut with "Slacker," an insightful look at disaffected youth culture.

The Texas-based filmmaker's other films include the hit comedy "Dazed and Confused," which Linklater also wrote, "Before Sunrise," which garnered him the Best Director Award at the Berlin International Film Festival, the comedy ensemble film "SubUrbia," based on Eric Bogosian's play, "The Newton Boys," starring Matthew McConaughey, Skeet Ulrich and Ethan Hawke, the critically acclaimed animation fantasy "Waking Life," from Linklater's original screenplay, and "Tape," based on Stephen Belber's provocative one-act play and starring Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard and Uma Thurman.

Linklater also serves as the Artistic Director for the Austin Film Society, which he founded in 1985 to showcase films from around the world that were not typically shown in Austin. In 1999, the Austin Film Society received the first National Honoree Award from the Directors Guild of America in recognition of its support of the arts.

SCOTT RUDIN (Producer) most recently produced "The Hours," directed by Stephen Daldry. Nominated for nine Academy Awards (including Best Picture), the film won the Golden Globe for Best Picture (Drama) and starred Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman (who won the Oscara for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf). Rudin's credits include: "Changing Lanes," "The Royal Tenenbaums," "Orange County," "Zoolander," "Rules of Engagement," "Wonder Boys," "Shaft," "Sleepy Hollow," "Angela's Ashes," "Bringing Out the Dead," "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut," "The Truman Show," "A Civil Action," "In & Out," "Ransom," "Mother," "Marvin's Room," "The First Wives Club," "Twilight," "Clueless," "Sabrina," "Nobody's Fool," "The Firm," "Searching for Bobby Fischer," "Sister Act," "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit," "The Addams Family," "Addams Family Values," "Little Man Tate," "Regarding Henry," "Pacific Heights," "Flatliners," "Jennifer Eight," "Mrs. Soffel" and "He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin'" (Academy Awarda -- Best Documentary).

Among his credits as a theatrical producer are "Passion," which won the Tony Award for Best Musical, "Indiscretions," "Hamlet," "Seven Guitars," "Skylight," "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "On the Town" (with the New York Shakespeare Festival), "The Chairs," "The Judas Kiss," "Stupid Kids," "The Blue Room," "The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told," "Closer" (London and New York), "Amy's View," "The Wild Party" (with the New York Shakespeare Festival), "The Ride Down Mt. Morgan," "Copenhagen," which won the Tony Award for Best Play, "The Designated Mourner," "The Caretaker" (London) and "The Goat," which also won the Tony Award for Best Play.

Rudin's upcoming films are: "The Stepford Wives," starring Nicole Kidman; David O. Russell's "I c Huckabee's," starring Jude Law, Naomi Watts, Mark Wahlberg and Dustin Hoffman; M. Night Shyamalan's "The Woods," starring Joaquin Phoenix, Bryce Dallas Howard and Adrien Brody; Wes Anderson's "The Life Aquatic," starring Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett and Anjelica Huston; "The Manchurian Candidate," directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep; Trey Parker and Matt Stone's "Team America," "Margaret," written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan, Mike Nichols' "Closer" and Jim Carrey in "A Series of Unfortunate Events."

STEVE NICOLAIDES (Executive Producer) has produced an impressive string of films, including "Shaft," "The Deep End of the Ocean," "A Few Good Men," "Misery," "When Harry Met Sally," "Little Big League," "Buddy" and the John Singleton films "Boyz N the Hood" and "Poetic Justice."

Nicolaides began his career in television, where he was production manager on over 20 prestigious telefilms, including "Roe vs. Wade," "The Ordeal of Patty Hearst" and the Frances Farmer biography "Will There Really Be a Morning?" He entered films as a production manager with Rob Reiner's "The Sure Thing" and continued with Reiner on "Stand by Me" and "The Princess Bride" as associate producer, until he moved into co- producing and eventually executive-producing.

SCOTT AVERSANO (Executive Producer) previously worked as director of development at Paramount Pictures. He is currently President of Scott Rudin Productions, where he served as producer on the comedy "Orange County" and co-producer on "Changing Lanes."

Prior to entering the film business, Aversano taught English literature at the University of Michigan while working on his doctorate.

A native of Holland, ROGIER STOFFERS (Director of Photography) was the cinematographer on Mike van Diem's "Character," which won the Oscara for Best Foreign Film in 1997. His subsequent credits include "Quills" and "John Q."

JEREMY CONWAY (Production Designer) has a versatile career that spans television, stage and screen. Working as the production designer for HBO's award-winning "Sex and the City," Conway helped define the glamorous New York backdrop for the lives of four independent career women in Manhattan and has three Emmy nominations for his work. He also won an Emmy each for his production design work on the 2000 Olympic Summer Games in Australia and the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Other notable work in New York City includes the "Today" show studios for NBC at Rockefeller Center and MTV's Times Square Studios.

His feature film credits include "Chill Factor" and "Up Close & Personal," and as an art director he worked on "The War," "That Night," "The Super," "Sabrina," "Angel Heart" and "Jacob's Ladder."

SANDRA ADAIR (Editor) teams with Richard Linklater for the seventh time on Paramount Pictures' "The School of Rock," having worked as Linklater's editor on "Dazed and Confused, "Before Sunrise," "SubUrbia," "The Newton Boys," "Waking Life" and "Tape."

While living in Los Angeles, Adair started editing independent films in the mid-1980s and, in 1990, served as second editor on Mike Figgis' "Internal Affairs." Moving to Austin, Texas, in 1991, she continued to establish herself as a feature and documentary editor, also teaming with Hector Galan on the PBS award-winning documentaries "The Hunt for Pancho Villa" and "Songs of the Homeland."

KAREN PATCH (Costume Designer) has an award-winning body of work that ranges from "The Royal Tenenbaums" (Costume Designers Guild -- Best Costumes) to the Kate Spade campaign featured in the book Fashion Icon: The Power and Influence of Design. Her motion picture credits also include "Rushmore" and "Bottle Rocket."

RANDALL POSTER (Music Supervisor) teams up with Scott Rudin for the third time, having worked with him previously on "The Royal Tenenbaums" and "Zoolander." A veteran of critically acclaimed independent films as well as big studio movies, Poster includes in his credits "Rushmore," "Old School," "Meet the Parents," "Kids," "Boys Don't Cry," "Velvet Goldmine," Richard Linklater's "SubUrbia" and many others.

CRAIG WEDREN (Composer) began his musical career as the singer, songwriter and founding member of the widely acclaimed avant-punk band Shudder to Think. With the band, Wedren wrote and performed music for films, including "High Art," "Velvet Goldmine" and "First Love, Last Rites." After leaving Shudder in 1999, he has actively continued to build his success as a film composer, receiving recognition for his work on "Roger Dodger," "Laurel Canyon," "The Secret Lives of Dentists" and "Wet Hot American Summer."

In addition to his work as a film composer, Wedren also sings, writes, produces and performs with his new band BABY, which will release a full length CD of new original music this year.

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