Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
A Little Friendship Never Killed Anyone.
Country
Production
Budget
$8 000 000
Box office
$9 074 749
Director
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Actors
Scenario
Producer
Camera operator
Composer
Artist
Gerald Sullivan, Edward Bursch, Nathan O. Marsh
Audition
Editing
David Trachtenberg
Whole Team (40)
Whole Team (40)
Short description
Greg is coasting through senior year of high school as anonymously as possible, avoiding social interactions like the plague while secretly making spirited, bizarre films with Earl, his only friend. But both his anonymity and friendship threaten to unravel when his mother forces him to befriend a classmate with leukemia.
What's left behind the scenes
- The lead role is played by Thomas Mann. Thomas Mann was also the name of the German writer and author of the novella 'Death in Venice' (1912), the film adaptation of which Greg and Earl parodied.
- Greg's father's cat is named Cat Stevens. This is also the stage name of a British singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He was born Steven Demetrios Georgiou, but changed his name to Yusuf Islam in 1978.
- The teacher mentions the song “Ding-a-dong.” This song, performed by Teach-In, won first place in the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest.
- The first film in Olivia Cooke's acting career that does not belong to the science fiction or horror genres.
- Emma Roberts was initially considered for the role of the main character.
- At the 2015 Sundance Film Festival (Park City, Utah), Fox Searchlight Pictures acquired the film for $12 million. To date, this is the most expensive purchase in the festival's history.
- The film mentions Werner Herzog's "Fitzcarraldo" (1982). The surname Fitzcarraldo is borne by a character played by Thomas Mann (playing Greg) in the 2010 film "It's Kind of a Funny Story" directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. The film "Me, Earl and the Dying Girl" references either the film "It's Kind of a Funny Story" itself, or the fact that it contains a reference to "Fitzcarraldo".
- On Greg's paper bag in the cafeteria, it says “Romanian Poison” and below it “Otrava,” which means “poison” in Romanian.
- The film mentions Werner Herzog's movie "Fitzcarraldo" (1982). The name Fitzcarraldo is borne by the character Thomas Mann (played by Greg) in the 2010 film "This Is a Very Bad Idea" directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. In the movie "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl," there is a reference either to the film "This Is a Very Bad Idea" itself, or to the fact that it contains a reference to "Fitzcarraldo."
- In one of the books Greg sees in Rachel's room, the words 'parks' and 'recreation' can be read. Greg's father was played by Nick Offerman, who played the role of Ron Swanson in the TV series 'Parks and Recreation' (2009-2015).
- The board game played by supporting characters in one of the film's episodes is called "Dominion".
- In the scene where Greg calls Rachel for the first time, Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” (1976) is playing on television – specifically the moment where Travis calls Betsy and asks her out. In this mise-en-scène from “Taxi Driver,” the camera pans to the right, revealing an empty hallway. Scorsese intended this to show how awkward his characters feel during the phone call. By including this episode in “Me, Earl and the Dying Girl,” director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon sought to convey that Greg is experiencing the same feelings.
- Actress Olivia Cooke shaved her head to play the role of Rachel.
- Emma Roberts was initially intended to be cast in the lead role.
- The film is based on the novel of the same name by Jesse Andrews.
- In the episode where Greg calls Rachel for the first time, Martin Scorsese's film 'Taxi Driver' (1976) is playing on the television—specifically the moment where Travis calls Betsy and asks her on a date. In this scene from 'Taxi Driver,' the camera pans right to show an empty hallway. Through this, Scorsese intended to show how awkward his characters feel during the phone call. By including this clip in 'Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,' director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon attempted to show that Greg feels the exact same way.
- Olivia Cooke’s first film role that does not fall into the genres of “science fiction” or “horror.”
- The teacher mentions the song "Ding-a-dong." This song, performed by the group Teach-In, took first place at the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest.
- The first feature film by RJ Syler.
- One of the books Greg saw in Rachel’s room contained the words “parks” and “recreation areas.” Greg’s father was played by Nick Offerman, who played Ron Swanson in the television series “Parks and Recreation” (2009-2015).
- The film contains mentions of several other movies—for example, a poster for George A. Romero's "Night of the Living Dead" (1968) in a store, and a patch on Greg's jacket for "Dawn of the Dead" (1978) by the same director.
- The scene in Rachel's bedroom, where she and Greg discuss prom and her illness, lasts 5 minutes and 5 seconds. Throughout this entire time, the camera moves only once – in the last 2 seconds of the scene.
- To play the role of Rachel, actress Olivia Cooke shaved her head.
- The film is based on the novel of the same name by Jessie Andrews.
- The film's screenplay appeared on the so-called “Black List” of 2012 – a list of the most potentially successful unproduced screenplays.
- The film features references to other films – for example, a poster for George A. Romero's "Night of the Living Dead" (1968) in a store, and a patch on Greg's jacket for the same director's "Dawn of the Dead" (1978).
- A.R. Syler's first feature film.
- The main character is played by Thomas Mann. Thomas Mann was a German writer, author of the novella "Death in Venice" (1912), a film adaptation of which was parodied by Greg and Earl.
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