- Notes provided by 20th Century Fox. -

Dave Ming Chang (Eddie Murphy), newly arrived in New York City, may be the ultimate fish out of water. There's something about him that's not quite right -- for starters, he seems remarkably out of place and uncomfortable in his own body. And for good reason: "Dave" is not a man at all, but a ship made in the image of its miniature-sized captain. It's little Eddie in the BIG family comedy MEET DAVE.
So let's meet Dave. He's forty-something, pleasant looking and nattily dressed, even if his attire -- an all-white suit, black tie and a neat black handkerchief tucked in his pocket -- harkens back to the disco-centric '70s. But beyond his odd apparel, there's something not quite right about Dave. He's definitely not from the neighborhood...not even close. Even the way he walks is....odd; as he makes his way through the streets of New York, one of his legs shoots out way too far with each step, like he's not comfortable in his own body.
And for good reason: inside "Dave" is a crew of well-trained miniature people -- a world within a world -- that feverishly attempts to direct Dave's every action and conversation. In each section of Dave's "body," a skilled crewperson (average height: one and three-quarters inches), sporting an insignia depicting a specific part of Dave's anatomy, mans a high tech console controlling Dave's movements.
But Dave's crew, under the direction of the Captain from whom Dave takes his appearance -- is experiencing a steep learning curve. When Dave attempts his first-ever sip of water, a tremendous wave of water rushes down, drenching everyone inside. When Dave tries on some clothing, a shirt becomes a cotton beast bent on smothering him. When he goes in for a simple medical exam, the metallic Dave must battle formidable magnetic forces from an MRI. And a banquet of processed meat tubes he learns are called "hot dogs," leads to an explosive situation inside a men's room.
As Dave -- that is, those inside Dave -- slowly navigates his way through these physical challenges, they begin to experience something with even more profound effects. A glimmer of emotion sweeps over the crew, which hails from a place that discourages emotion and individuality. Dave is changing -- from the inside-out, and from the outside-in.
For over two decades, Eddie Murphy has reigned as one of the cinema's most popular comic actors -- unsurpassed in his ability to take on multiple roles in a single project. In MEET DAVE, Murphy's prodigious physical and comedic talents are on display like never before, as he takes on two roles -- as a man-sized ship operated by 100 mini-crewpeople, and the captain who runs the ship, which had been built in the captain's likeness. "It's Eddie doing what Eddie does best," says director Brian Robbins.
But long before Murphy became "Big Dave" and "Little Dave," screenwriters Rob Greenberg & Bill Corbett came up with the idea of a world of little people within the bigger world of a ship that takes human form. The two had met in college at the Yale School of Drama before going their separate ways, each enjoying success as writers -- Corbett on the cult series "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and Greenberg on the hit sitcoms "Frasier" and "How I Met Your Mother." For years they discussed working together, and then they met "Dave."
Coming up with the wild notion of this world within a world was only the beginning. Greenberg and Corbett spent a lot of time fleshing out the premise, and making it as real as possible within its comedic and far-out context. "You can have a great, silly idea, but turning that into a good story that's funny and real is the challenge," says Corbett. "We wanted to create strong characters and personalities, each of whom is on a journey towards at least a little bit of humanization."
"Nobody's explored this idea -- at least to this extent," adds Greenberg. "We wanted to give this big crazy premise some semblance of reality -- to create believable relationships and emotion, without sacrificing the big comedy beats."
Greenberg & Corbett's family comedy story caught the attention of producer David T. Friendly, whose many credits include Twentieth Century Fox's blockbuster comedy "Dr. Dolittle" starring Eddie Murphy. "After reading the first act, I knew I wanted to make this movie," says Friendly. "The screenplay evoked fish-out-of water stories with romantic underpinnings. And it kept surprising me."
The script had also come to the attention of producers Jon Berg and Todd Komarnicki, then partners in the production company Guy Walks Into A Bar. Like Friendly, they were intrigued by the story's outrageous fish-out-of-water premise and its merging of physical comedy and emotion. "Todd [Komarnicki] read the script on a red-eye back to New York," recalls Berg, "and two hours into the flight, he was frantically writing messages that he sent as soon as he landed: 'We have to buy this, we have to do this movie.'"
Adds Komarnicki: "I know everyone says these kinds of things when touting their projects, but reading the script was a singular experience. I knew that we had to be involved and do whatever necessary to get it made."
Concurrently, director Brian Robbins was wrapping up the comedy "Norbit," starring Murphy. Robbins, immersed in putting the finishing touches on what would become one of 2007's big hits, had not read the MEET DAVE script. But Murphy had, and the actor was spurred to move quickly. "Eddie came up to me and asked, 'What are you doing after this?' And I said, 'I don't know, you want to get some dinner?' Eddie said, 'No, not tonight -- for your next movie?!' And he handed me the MEET DAVE script."
Echoing the mandate of screenwriters Greenberg & Corbett, Robbins says, "The first thing we wanted to do was to make a funny movie. Second to that, we wanted to give the movie a sweetness and emotion. The bonds between the characters give the movie its heart, which is surrounded by the comedy."
The project's complex logistics were daunting. "MEET DAVE was a complicated movie to bring to life," says Robbins. "There's an entire world inside Dave/Eddie's head, where these mini-people exist. Then you have Dave out and about in the 'real' world. Then on top of that, you have Eddie playing a ship on the outside and the ship's captain on the inside.
"I was nervous at first, wondering how I was going to make all these elements mesh," Robbins continues. "What was Dave going to be like because he's not human and he's not a robot -- he's a ship!"
While Robbins was wrestling with these challenges, Murphy was slipping effortlessly into the shoes of Dave and the Captain. "It took Eddie maybe 45 minutes on the first day of shooting to make the characters his own," recalls the director. "He made the roles different from anything he's done before."
Producer Todd Komarnicki marveled at Murphy's prodigious comedy talents, which Komarnicki likens to those of some of cinema's most renowned comedy titans. "In MEET DAVE, Eddie is doing classical, old school physical comedy in the vein of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. As he plays this ship [aka "Dave"] moving through New York City, trying to hide the fact that he's not one of us, there's an innocence and purity to his performance that is all in the soulfulness of his eyes."
Murphy projects the stiffness of the inanimate ship, using the athleticism that has marked so many of his memorable performances. "He has a dancer's grace and a boxer's focus," says Friendly. Adds Komarnicki: "Eddie's technical precision is put on full display, as he brings to life Dave's lack of control as the character learns how to walk, throw a baseball, and how to dance. These are all things we take for granted, but Eddie as Dave makes them seem new and wondrous."
Eddie's castmates were also impressed with his embodiment of the two characters. Elizabeth Banks, who portrays Gina Morrison, a fiery and beautiful artist and single mother who literally runs into Dave early in the story, says, "We actors like to use the expression of 'being in control of our instrument,' our 'instrument' being our bodies. But I have never worked with someone who is more in control of his body than Eddie. I mean everything he does is so carefully planned and executed -- every gesture, every movement of his hands and mouth -- he's totally in control of everything."
Friendly notes that Banks, Gabrielle Union, Scott Caan, Ed Helms, Kevin Hart and the rest of the cast, brought out the best in Murphy -- as he did with them. "Eddie is better with funny people around him, and they are funnier because of Eddie," he says.
Banks, whose Gina makes a key emotional connection with Murphy's Dave, was one of the last to be cast. But, say the filmmakers, she was worth the wait. "Elizabeth is a rare comedienne," states Komarnicki. "She has that Lucille Ball quality, where she can do antic comedy but with a quick wit and impressive improvisational skills."
Banks, who describes Gina as a "downtown, artsy type who loves to dance" -- enjoyed playing the bond between Gina and Dave, especially during a scene in which the two are conversing about one of Gina's paintings. "Dave is befuddled by a strangeness he feels when looking at the painting, when Gina talks about how it came from her heart. I loved how Eddie conveyed the character's first stirrings of emotion," she says. "It's a scene of purity, simplicity and innocence -- and laughs."
Gina's 11-year-old son, Josh Morrison, is the first person to meet Dave. Josh, who is not very popular at school, makes a fast friend with Dave, introducing the strange newcomer to some local delights -- like a street fair, the aforementioned "meat tubes" and the chance to teach the ultimate unsolved physics mystery -- Einstein's Unified Field Theory -- to a class of fifth graders. "Josh believes in Dave from the beginning," says young Austyn Lind Myers, who makes his film debut.
As Dave makes his way through the Big Apple, with the support of Josh and Gina, the miniature crew inside Dave is undergoing some big changes. The ship's second in command -- the aptly named #2 -- is making moves to wrest the top slot from the captain. Producer Jon Berg notes that Ed Helms, who takes on the role, gets to do a movie "first": "He pilots Eddie Murphy," jokes Berg. "And Ed gets to play egomania run wild like no one has done before."
Helms had a lot of fun playing the micro-sized but macro-ambitious #2. "His name signifies his rank on the ship, which is number two, which is not number one," the actor deadpans. "Which means he's second in command of the entire crew, except for one other person."
And that would be the captain, whose journey guiding Dave through New York City, brings out strange sensations known as emotions in him and in many of those he commands. But #2 is immune to all this. "#2 thinks the captain is weak and susceptible to human frailties," says Helms. "He must take action."
Much more sympathetic to the captain is #3, the ship's cultural officer, played by Gabrielle Union. #3's long-suppressed feelings for her commander are brought to the fore after she, through the ship that houses her, makes contact with Gina, Josh and a slew of strange human behaviors -- including, but not limited to, says Union, "happiness, sadness, jealousy, alternative life styles, and the consumption of a strange substance known as pizza."
About her more official shipboard duties, Union notes with a laugh that #3's key tasks include "figuring out what Doritos are and explaining Barack Obama to the rest of the crew." And her chief tools in researching the outside world's cultural and historical references? "Google, Yahoo...and Perez Hilton."
Another key crewman inside Dave is #17, who handles key, well, "internal" matters. Played by Kevin Hart, #17 figures prominently in a third act scene, in which he leaps out of Dave's ear, splashing down into a mug of coffee belonging to police officer Dooley (played by Scott Caan), who has been investigating the strange events surrounding Dave's journey through New York. Luckily for #17, Dooley's coffee is not too hot and is enriched with cream and sugar. Separated from his captain and crew mates, #17 makes his way through the Big Apple...in Dooley's shirt pocket.
Much of the film's humor and emotion comes as Dave and company encounter the city's unique features and energy. The city is a key element of the story, so as producer David T. Friendly points out, critical scenes had to be shot on location in the Big Apple. "One of the heroes of the movie is the City of New York with all its chaos and color and craziness," he says. And it's only fitting that some of those scenes are set on Liberty Island -- the welcoming beacon for so many newcomers to the U.S.
Like Dave.
DESIGNING DAVE
MEET DAVE production designer Clay A. Griffith faced a unique challenge: design a ship's interior that had to structurally resemble the inner workings of the human body. Griffith has been inspired by such buildings as Eero Saarinen's futuristic-looking TWA Flight Center at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. "It looks very skull-like and has no right angles in it," Griffith explains. "It is compound curves that meld into other ones. I thought that was a good place to start because the human body doesn't have a lot of right angles."
Griffith also studied the work of Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, who designed the Milwaukee Art Museum. "It looks like a living thing," he says. "It's very organic. We created the spinal column as an elevator shaft to go from different levels of the spaceship. You get off at any floor and are at a certain rib cage."
The ship's bridge, which is inside Dave's head, was built on a Los Angeles soundstage. The bridge set measured 30-feet high, 30-feet wide, and 30-feet long.
Griffith patterned the ship's corridors after human-like vascular tubing, using vein and artery-hued blues and reds.
Oscar®-winning visual effects supervisor Mark Stetson ("Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring") helped create some of the film's big set pieces, one of which sees the micro-sized Captain and #3 (remember, they're about one and three-quarters inches tall) on the loose in the streets of New York. They must navigate the strange, foreboding -- and to them, jumbo-sized -- world known as Times Square. (When a dog relieves itself against a fire hydrant, the Captain and #3 must flee from the tsunami-like effects.)
For these visual effects-intensive scenes, Eddie Murphy, again, rose to the occasion. His director, Brian Robbins, wasn't surprised. "Well Eddie is amazing," marvels Robbins. "I mean, he can act to anything -- even a C-stand and tennis ball [which, on-set, stand in for visual effects to be added later]. He doesn't need much to play off of. You just say, 'Action,' and he's there."

ABOUT THE CAST
EDDIE MURPHY (Dave) is the most commercially successful African-American actor in the history of the motion picture business, and is one of the industry's top-five box-office performers overall. Murphy is on the very short list of actors who have starred in multiple $100 million pictures over the past three decades, from "Beverly Hills Cop" to "Daddy Day Care." He was also the voice of Donkey in the Oscar®¬winning animated film "Shrek" and its sequel, "Shrek 2," which is the top-grossing animated film of all time. Murphy won an Annie Award and earned BAFTA and MTV Movie Award(tm) nominations for his performance in the first "Shrek." He reprised the role of Donkey in the next installment, "Shrek the Third," and was then seen in the romantic comedy "Norbit."
Murphy began his career as a stand-up comedian 25 years ago. In 1980, at the age of 19, he joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live," and has since gone on to establish a successful career on the big screen.
His films have been among the highest-grossing comedies in the industry, including "48 Hrs.," "Trading Places," "Dr. Dolittle," "Coming to America" and the "Beverly Hills Cop" franchise. Murphy garnered Golden Globe® Award nominations for Best Actor in a Comedy for his performances in "Beverly Hills Cop," "Trading Places" and "48 Hrs."
In 1989, Murphy made his directorial debut with "Harlem Nights," a period comedy he also wrote and starred in, opposite Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx. In addition, Murphy starred in and produced the hit comedy "Life," co-starring Martin Lawrence, and starred opposite Steve Martin in the comedy "Bowfinger." He was also the voice of Mushu the Dragon in the successful animated epic "Mulan."
In 1996, Murphy portrayed seven different characters in the worldwide box office smash "The Nutty Professor," for which he received another Golden Globe Award nomination. He added a character to play a total of eight roles in the sequel, "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps," co-starring Janet Jackson. His more recent films include "Dr. Dolittle 2," "Daddy Day Care" and "The Haunted Mansion."
ELIZABETH BANKS (Gina) is one of Hollywood's most sought after young actresses. This year, Banks has a number films in various stages of production including "W," "Zach and Miri Make a Porno," "Mentors" and "Uninvited." Banks has also taken on a new role as producer. She already has several films on the slate of her company, Brownstone Productions, which she founded with her husband, Max Handelman.
Banks is currently in production on Oliver Stone's "W" in which she portrays First Lady Laura Bush opposite Josh Brolin's George W. Bush. The impressive cast includes James Cromwell and Thandie Newton. Lionsgate will release the film on October 17, 2008.
Banks then stars opposite Seth Rogan in Kevin Smith's "Zack and Miri Make a Porno." Banks (Miri) and Zack (Seth) play two broke friends who decide to cure their financial ills by making an X-rated movie. The Weinstein Company will distribute the film which is scheduled for release on October 31, 2008.
In January 2009 Banks will be seen starring in the horror remake, "Uninvited" for Paramount. The film follows two sisters who return home after living in a mental institution. Banks portrays their cruel stepmother who is haunted by an interfering ghost. The film is scheduled for release on January 30, 2009.
Banks has also wrapped Universal's "Mentors," opposite Paul Rudd and Sean William Scott. Additionally Banks has completed production on "Lovely, Still," an independent film which stars Ellen Burstyn and Martin Landau.
Banks was recently seen in the Working Title/Universal romantic comedy "Definitely Maybe" opposite Ryan Reynolds, Abigail Breslin, Rachel Weisz and Isla Fisher. She also appeared in the Greenstreet independent comedy "Bill," starring Aaron Eckhart and Jessica Alba.
Banks' production company, Brownstone Productions, has several films upcoming. The company's first film "Surrogates," a sci-fi feature starring Bruce Willis and directed by Jonathan Mostow is currently shooting in Boston. The film is based on the graphic novel of the same name and is being co-produced with Mandeville. Banks will produce and star in the Universal comedy "What about Barb," about a socialite who must allow her crazy cousin to be maid of honor in her wedding so her rich uncle will pay for the wedding. Universal has acquired the rights to "Too Far From Home," a Chris Jones book about three astronauts who were stranded on the international space station. Also on their slate is the Universal comedy "Pitch Perfect."
In 2007, Banks was seen in the Warner Bros. holiday comedy "Fred Claus" opposite Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti. Banks was also seen reprising her role as journalist Betty Brant in "Spider-Man 3," having appeared in both of the previous films in the role which director Sam Raimi created for her.
In 2006, Banks starred in the Disney blockbuster "Invincible," opposite Mark Wahlberg and Greg Kinnear. The film opened number one at the box office.
In 2005, Elizabeth made a memorable turn in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin." The same year she also appeared in "Sisters," an independent film opposite Maria Bello and Eric McCormack. She was also seen in Universal Pictures' critically acclaimed horror/comedy "Slither."
In June 2005, Banks was seen starring in the Sony Classics/ Merchant Ivory drama "Heights" opposite Glenn Close and James Marsden. Also in 2005, Banks appeared in IFC Film's "The Baxter."
Banks' additional feature credits include roles in Steven Spielberg's "Catch Me If You Can," "Daltry Calhoun," "Sexual Life" which screened at the Los Angeles Film Festival, "Shaft," and "Wet Hot American Summer." She has also appeared in several independent features including "The Trade" and "Ordinary Sinner," which won the Best Film Award at the 2002 Slamdance Film Festival in Park City. Her extensive theater credits include many roles in American Conservatory Theatre productions, as well as the Guthrie Theater's production of "Summer & Smoke" directed by David Esbjornson. In 2006 Banks played Cherie, the female lead in William Inge's comedy "Bus Stop," as part of the Williamstown Theater Festival.
On the small screen Banks can be seen in a recurring role on "Scrubs." She appeared in the CBS mini series "Comanche Moon," Larry McMurtry's popular prequel to "Lonesome Dove."
GABRIELLE UNION (# 3) is currently filming Sony BMG's "Cadillac Records" opposite Mos Def, Adrien Brody, Beyonce Knowles and Jeffrey Wright. The film is about rock and roll, sex, violence and the civil rights movement in the 1950s, in Chicago. "Cadillac Records" is slated for release in 2009.
Union starred with Queen Latifah, Terrence Howard and Morris Chestnut in "The Perfect Holiday." The family-friendly holiday film starred Union as a harried single mom who gets her wish for a compliment granted by Santa, played by Morris Chestnut.
Past films include writer/director Tyler Perry's "Daddy's Little Girls" opposite Idris Elba, director Ryan Murphy's "Running With Scissors" starring Annette Bening, Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, and Alec Baldwin, the blockbuster "Bad Boys II" opposite Martin Lawrence and Will Smith, "Breakin' All the Rules" co-starring Jamie Foxx, "Deliver Us From Eva" alongside LL Cool J, "The Brothers," Universal's cult hit "Bring It On," "Welcome to Collinwood" with George Clooney and Sam Rockwell, "Abandon" opposite Benjamin Bratt and Katie Holmes, "Two Can Play That Game," "Love & Basketball," "Cradle to the Grave," "10 Things I Hate About You," "Neo Ned," "The Honeymooners" and "She's All That."
On television, Union recently joined the cast of "Ugly Betty" for three episodes. She will play the crazy younger sister to Vanessa Williams' character. In addition, she starred in ABC's critically acclaimed series "Night Stalker" with Stuart Townsend and was also seen in HBO's award-winning "Something the Lord Made," which starred Alan Rickman, Kyra Sedgwick, and Mos Def.
Union made her television debut in UPN's hit comedy "Moesha," and then guest-starred in hit shows such as "ER," "Dave's World," and "The Steve Harvey Show." Union had a recurring role on two WB hit shows, "Sister, Sister," and "7th Heaven." Union stirred things up when she guest starred as a love interest to both 'Joey' (Matt LeBlanc) and 'Ross' (David Schwimmer) on "Friends." With this role, Union marked the first African-American love interest on the series. In addition, she joined the cast of Steven Bochco's CBS drama "City of Angels" for one season.
Union's passion for acting is rivaled by her support for the Rape Treatment Center (RTC) at UCLA and the Young Survivor Coalition. In her free time, Union often visits the RTC to talk to the young women at the center, and travels on behalf of both organizations to share her story and inspire others.
SCOTT CAAN (Dooley) is a triple threat and one of Hollywood's most promising stars. He has starred in numerous major motion pictures, written, directed and starred in several plays, both of which have received acclaim from critics and industry peers alike. Appearing in a handful of independent films and major motion pictures, Caan has emerged as one of Hollywood's most gifted and diverse talents.
Caan starred in the highly anticipated third installment of Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's 13" reprising his role as the wisecracking but loveable Turk Malloy. As with "Ocean's 11" and "Ocean's 12," Caan starred alongside George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts and his longtime pal Casey Affleck.
Caan directed and produced his original screenplay "The Dog Problem" produced by Thousand Words Production/Finance Company. He also co-starred in the film along with Giovanni Ribisi, Lynn Collins, Mena Suvari, Kevin Corrigan, and an appearance by Don Cheadle. "The Dog Problem" premiered to rave reviews at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival.
Additionally, Caan directed and starred in "Dallas 362." This film marked Caan's directorial debut, and after premiering at the Toronto Film Festival, it received the Critics Choice Award at CineVegas International Film Festival, and enjoyed a critically acclaimed limited release with Think Film in 2005.
Caan was last seen in the romantic comedy "Friends with Money" co-starring with Jennifer Aniston. Other recent films include "Into the Blue" starring alongside Paul Walker, Jessica Alba and Ashley Scott, "American Outlaws" opposite Colin Farrell and in the dark comedy "Novocaine," opposite Steve Martin and Helena Bonham Carter.
Caan wrote, starred and co-directed the comedy play "Almost Love," in the fall of 2001 at LA's Playhouse West about a guy obsessing over a relationship and the best friend that helps him get over it.
Caan has also written three feature scripts. "Chasing the Party," a comedy about trying to crash the ultimate Playboy mansion party, which is set up at Jerry Bruckheimer Productions with Caan attached to star as well as two additional screenplays -- the boxing drama "The Fight" and the ensemble drama "Lowest Common Denominator."
Appearing in ten films over the last two years, Caan's credits include the stock market subculture thriller "Boiler Room," the takedown comedy "Ready To Rumble," the hip hop drama "Black and White," as well as "Gone in 60 Seconds," "Enemy of the State," "Varsity Blues," and numerous independent films including "Bongwater," "Lunchtime Special," and Greg Araki's "Nowhere."
ED HELMS (#2), a gifted scene-stealer, leads the pack of a new generation of comedy stars. Not just a talented comedian, Helms is also a versatile actor and accomplished writer.
Currently, Helms portrays Dunder Mifflin's irrepressible salesman-with-anger¬management-issues, 'Andy Bernard' on NBC's hit comedy "The Office," on Thursday nights. The show won the Emmy® for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2006, the SAG Award(tm) for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2007 and 2008 and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy in 2007 and an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2007.
Most recently, he wrapped the comedy "The Goods: The Don Ready Story," directed by Neal Brennan. The film revolves around salesman Don Ready (Jeremy Piven) and his crew who are asked to help save an ailing local car dealership from bankruptcy. Paramount Vantage will open the film February 27th, 2009.
Helms is currently developing the film "A Whole New Hugh" with Judd Apatow for Universal. He will star in and co-write the project with Jake Fleisher and Ian Berger. The film follows the story of three guys who try to boost their friend's confidence by making him appear to be successful.
Helms is perhaps most familiar to television audiences from his four-year stint as a senior correspondent on the Emmy-winning "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," for which he also wrote. His additional TV credits include Comedy Central's "Premium Blend" and the Emmy-winning Fox comedy "Arrested Development."
Helms' feature film credits include "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay," "Semi-Pro," "Walk Hard," "Evan Almighty" and "Knocked Up."
Helms was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, and headed to New York City to pursue comedy shortly after attending Oberlin College in Ohio. He got his start in acting and comedy as a writer and performer with numerous sketch comedy groups over the years and studied improvisation with "The Upright Citizens Brigade." He currently resides in Los Angeles and plays a mean banjo.
KEVIN HART (#17) is a noted comic actor and writer. In 2005, he was nominated for a Platinum Mic Viewers Choice Award at the BET Comedy Awards, and in 2004, he was nominated for a Teen Choice Award for his work in "The Big House." His film credits include "Superhero Movie," "Drillbit Taylor," "Scary Movie 4," "Scary Movie 3," "In the Mix" and "The 40 Year Old Virgin."
On television, he appeared on "Love Inc.," "Barbershop," "The Big House" and "Undeclared," among other shows.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
BRIAN ROBBINS (Director) is best known for writing, producing and directing major television and box office hits. To date, his films have grossed nearly $900M worldwide.
Currently Robbins is in pre-production on "Wild Hogs 2" and in production on DreamWorks' "A Thousand Words," where he once again teams up with Eddie Murphy.
Robbins' recent box office hits include "Wild Hogs," which Robbins produced, starring Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, and William H. Macy; and DreamWorks' "Norbit," which Robbins directed as well as executive produced, starring Eddie Murphy and Thandie Newton. Robbins also directed Paramount's box office smash "Varsity Blues," the high profile Disney remake of "The Shaggy Dog" staring Tim Allen, Paramount's "The Perfect Score," "Hardball" starring Keanu Reeves, "Ready to Rumble," and Nickelodeon's "Goodburger," based on a popular skit from the hit television show "All That" featuring Kenan Thompson.
In 1996 Robbins, along with Michael Tollin, founded Tollin Robbins Productions (TRP). Over the next 11 years TRP produced several television series such as "Arli$$," "The Amanda Show," "What I Like About You," Nickelodeon's "Kenan & Kel" and "All That," ESPN's mini-series "The Bronx is Burning" and the WB hit "Smallville." Robbins is the executive producer of the hit television series "One Tree Hill," which recently reached its landmark 100th episode.
As a partner of TRP, Robbins produced several feature films including "Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story," "Coach Carter," "Summer Catch," "Radio" and "Big Fat Liar." Their documentary "Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream" won a Peabody Award and was nominated for an Academy Award®. Robbins and Tollin were honored by Girls Inc. in 2003 and launched the Los Angeles chapter of the Chasing the Dream Foundation, which awards scholarships to underprivileged youth. Robbins also received a DGA Award for directing Nickelodeon's Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal.
Robbins began his career as an actor appearing on several hit television series in the 1980s including his role as Eric Mardian on "Head of the Class."
ROB GREENBERG (Writer) spent five seasons as writer-producer of NBC's hit comedy "Frasier," winning three Emmy® Awards and a Writers Guild Award. He also executive produced the pilot of CBS's "How I Met Your Mother" and is currently a consulting producer on the series. Additionally, Greenberg has directed multiple episodes of "Scrubs," "How I Met Your Mother" and "My Boys."
Greenberg co-wrote, with Tom Perrotta, the screenplay "Barry and Stan Gone Wild," which is currently in development.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Greenberg went to Princeton University and then completed graduate work at Yale School of Drama, where he met MEET DAVE co¬scripter Bill Corbett. He currently lives in Los Angeles.
BILL CORBETT (Writer) is a former writer for "Mystery Science Theater 3000," which aired on the Sci-Fi Channel, and before that on Comedy Central. He was also a performer on the show, providing the voice of the robot Crow and playing various other strange characters -- including the all-powerful but clueless alien The Observer
(a.k.a. "Brain Guy").
Corbett is also a playwright. His play "The Big Slam" has been produced at numerous theaters across the U.S., including Woolly Mammoth in Washington, D.C., ACT in Seattle; and actor Jeff Daniels' Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea, Michigan. It was published by Dramatists Play Service. His play "The Stuff of Dreams" toured the country in 2004, produced by the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.
Corbett's other plays include "Heckler;" "Ridiculous Dreaming" (an adaptation of Heinrich Boll's "The Clown," commissioned by the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis); "Hate Mail"(co-written with Kira Obolensky), produced by Primary Stages in N.Y. and numerous other theaters, and published by Playscripts, Inc.; "Down the Pike," winner of the Actors Theater of Louisville National One-Act Contest; the short plays "Manifesto" and "Hunters," produced by the HBO Writers Project in L.A.; "Cash Karma," first produced by the Organic Theater in Chicago; and "Mortorcade," produced at lots of theaters in the U.S., Canada and Japan.
Corbett has been a contributing writer to National Public Radio's "Prairie Home Companion" and "All Things Considered" and is co-creator of the animated web series "Poker Night" on Icebox.com.
Corbett has also been an actor in the resident acting companies at the Guthrie Theater and the Berkshire Theater Festival, and has taught playwriting and screenwriting at Kenyon College in Ohio, the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, and at many other universities and schools.
He is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, where he earned an MFA in playwriting and screenwriting. Before that, he received a B.A. from Yale College.
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Corbett currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife Virginia, their daughter Molly, and one Jack Russell Terrier.
JON BERG (Producer) is currently a Senior Vice President of production at Warner Bros. Pictures. He began his career at Brillstein-Grey Entertainment (BGE) in 1995, where he worked under famed entertainment mogul/manager Bernie Brillstein in his motion-picture department. As an assistant, Berg set-up his first picture, a remake of "The Toy," at Sony Pictures. Thereafter, Berg was hired to work at the Canton Company, a production company with a deal at Warner Bros. Studios.
In 1998, Universal Studios chairwoman Stacey Snider hired Berg as director of development. At Universal, Berg was instrumental in finding and buying "The Bourne Identity" starring Matt Damon and directed by Doug Liman. He was also an executive on "American Pie," "Josie and the Pussycats" and "Big Fat Liar."
In January of 2000, Berg founded a management and production company housed at Universal Studios, executive-producing "Out of Time," a thriller directed by Carl Franklin and starring Denzel Washington, which was released by MGM. Shortly thereafter, his company evolved into Guy Walks Into A Bar, a collaboration with long¬time friend, screenwriter-director- novelist, Todd Komarnicki. "Elf" was the first film produced through their shingle. Starring Will Ferrell in his first leading role, the comedy was released by New Line Pictures and grossed $220M worldwide, making it the seventh highest grossing film in 2003.
TODD KOMARNICKI (Producer) is a prolific writer, producer and director of film and television as well as an acclaimed novelist. His first novel, Free, was published by Doubleday in 1993 and his second novel, famine (Arcade 1997), received tremendous reviews and was subsequently translated into French, Italian, and German. His third novel, war, will be published in July of 2008 by Arcade.
war is a haunting metaphor for any war -- a poignant meditation for our time. It
focuses on one soldier, wounded and alone in a ravaged urban landscape. He has lost all
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sense of who he is, where he is, and the meaning of his mission. The devastated war-torn city around him only mirrors the grief and loss within him, and he realizes that war is also a state of mind. His life flashes before him as he struggles to regain a measure of hope to go on.
In addition to his accomplishments in the literary world, Komarnicki has also found success in the entertainment industry as the director of the international production, "Resistance," starring Julia Ormond and Bill Paxton, which Komarnicki adapted from an Anita Shreve novel. This World War II epic love was released in 2003 and is currently available on DVD worldwide from Paramount and Lionsgate Entertainment.
In addition, Komarnicki is the President & Founder of the production/management company Guy Walks Into A Bar. Komarnicki and partner Jon Berg produced the Christmas blockbuster "Elf" starring Will Ferrell and directed by Jon Favreau. The film amassed over $220 million worldwide, putting Guy Walks Into A Bar on the map as a go-to company for high concept comedy.
This TV season, Komarnicki and Guy Walks Into A Bar partner, Matt Weinberg, are executive producing the pilot "This Might Hurt" for 20th Century Fox Television and ABC.
DAVID T. FRIENDLY (Producer), an Academy Award-nominated producer, is a 20 year veteran of the film business. In recent years, Friendly has become one of Hollywood's most prolific producers known for his ability to identify, develop and nurture a wide range of material -- comedies, action-adventures, dramas, thrillers, family and urban films -- for every genre is an opportunity to explore fresh new cinematic approaches.
Most recently Friendly produced "Soul Men" starring Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac. In 2006 he produced and sold to Fox Searchlight Pictures the award winning, breakout hit "Little Miss Sunshine," starring Steve Carell, Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette and Alan Arkin, which came out of the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and went on to be one of the most coveted films of the year, winning a Producer's Guild Award for Friendly. That same year, Twentieth Century Fox released the box office hit "Big Momma's House 2," the sequel to the hugely successful summer comedy, "Big Momma's House," which he also produced. "Big Momma's House," which stars Martin Lawrence, Nia Long and Paul Giamatti, has grossed over $200 million worldwide to date. Both films reiterate the wide range of Friendly's pictures.
Under his new Fox-based production banner, Friendly Films, Friendly re-teamed with Twentieth Century Fox on MEET DAVE. Friendly's other production credits include the worldwide blockbuster "Doctor Dolittle," starring Eddie Murphy and directed by Betty Thomas, which grossed over $200 million; "Courage Under Fire," starring Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan, directed by Ed Zwick; and "Out to Sea," starring Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon.
Under his independent Friendly Productions banner he also produced the drama, "Here on Earth," starring Leelee Sobieski, Chris Klein and Josh Hartnett, directed by Mark Piznarski. His producing credits also include "Laws of Attraction," starring Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore, "Daylight" and "My Girl" and "My Girl 2," executive producing the latter two.
In 2000, after three years at 20th Century Fox, Friendly teamed with financier Marc Turtletaub to form Deep River Productions.
A graduate of Northwestern University, Friendly began his career as a journalist and at 22 was named staff writer at Newsweek. Following that, he specialized in entertainment journalism at the Los Angeles Times, where he worked until 1987. After being approached by Imagine Entertainment co-founders Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, he joined Imagine as Vice President of Motion Pictures.
During his seven years at Imagine, Friendly was involved in all aspects of development and production and eventually rose to President of Production. He was integral to many of the company's biggest hits, including "Backdraft," "Kindergarten Cop," "The Dream Team" and "The 'burbs" and served as executive producer on "My Girl," "Greedy" and "The Chamber" among others.
In 1994, Friendly joined Davis Entertainment as President, where he oversaw all aspects of development and production.
Friendly's family roots run deep in the entertainment business. His father was the legendary journalist/news producer, Fred Friendly, president of CBS News from 1964 to 1966, whom George Clooney portrayed in the critically acclaimed film, "Good Night and Good Luck." Friendly is married to well-known film editor Priscilla Nedd-Friendly ("Pretty Woman," "Dead Poets Society," "American Pie").
ARNON MILCHAN (Executive Producer) is widely renowned as one of the most prolific and successful independent film producers of the past 25 years, with over 100 feature films to his credit. Born in Israel, Milchan was educated at the University of Geneva. His first business venture was transforming his father's modest business into one of his country's largest agro-chemical companies. This early achievement was a harbinger of Milchan's now-legendary reputation in the international marketplace as a keen businessman.
Soon, Milchan began to underwrite projects in areas that had always held a special interest for him -- film, television and theater. Early projects include Roman Polanski's theater production of Amadeus, Dizengoff 99, La Menace, The Medusa Touch and the mini-series Masada. By the end of the 1980s, Milchan had produced such films as Martin Scorsese's "The King of Comedy," Sergio Leone's "Once Upon at Time in America" and Terry Gilliam's "Brazil."
After the huge successes of "Pretty Woman" and "The War of the Roses," Milchan founded New Regency Productions and went on to produce a string of successful films including "J.F.K," "Sommersby," "A Time to Kill," "Free Willy," "The Client," "Tin Cup," "Under Siege," "L.A. Confidential," "The Devil's Advocate," "The Negotiator," "City of Angels," "Entrapment," "Fight Club," "Big Momma's House," "Don't Say a Word," "Daredevil," "Man on Fire," "Guess Who," "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", "Big Momma's House 2," "Date Movie," "Firehouse Dog" and the recent box-office hit "Alvin and the Chipmunks."
Upcoming projects include: "Mirrors," a thriller starring Kiefer Sutherland; "Bride Wars," a comedy starring Kate Hudson (who also produces) and Anne Hathaway; "They Came from Upstairs," a comedy-adventure in which a group of teens defend their vacation home in Michigan from aliens; and "Marley & Me," based on the book by John Grogan, starring Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Alan Arkin, Eric Dane, and Kathleen Turner.
Along the way, Milchan brought on board two powerful investors and partners who share his vision: Nine Network and Twentieth Century Fox. Fox distributes Regency movies in all media worldwide (excluding an output arrangement Regency has in Germany), including on U.S. pay television, and international pay and free television.
Milchan also successfully diversified his company's activities within the sphere of entertainment, most specifically in the realm of television through Regency Television ("Malcolm in the Middle," "The Bernie Mac Show"). Regency recently acquired a stake in Channel 10, BabyFirstTV, and an Israeli TV network. In addition, Regency holds television rights to Sony Ericsson Women's Tennis Association events.
THOMAS M. HAMMEL (Executive Producer) most recently executive produced the smash comedy hit "Night in the Museum" starring Ben Stiller and Robin Williams, and is executive producing the sequel "Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian," now in production. Prior to that, he executive produced "AVP: Alien vs Predator," "The Order," "From Hell," "Fair Game" and "Love Potion No. 9."
As a producer, Hammel's additional film credits include "Dungeons & Dragons" and "Firestorm." He also co-produced the sci-fi adventure "The Day After Tomorrow."
Hammel won a Golden Globe for producing the acclaimed cable film "The Burning Season," and another for producing the critically hailed cable film "Barbarians at the Gate," also receiving an Emmy for the latter.
Hammel served seven years as vice president of production for HBO Pictures during the 1980's. He graduated from Art Center College of Design with a degree in film.
CLARK MATHIS, ASC (Director of Photography), with MEET DAVE, marks his fourth collaboration with Brian Robbins, their most recent film being the hit comedy "Norbit."
Mathis has worked as a director of photography for over a decade, after beginning his career as an editor for ABC News while still in high school. He is a two-time ASC Award nominee (in 2003, for his work on "Birds of Prey," and in 2005, for "Medical Investigation") and shot the opening features of the Sundance Film Festival two years in a row (2004, 2005).
He has photographed both studio and independent films, including "Rocky Balboa" with Sylvester Stallone.
In 2004, Mathis directed his first feature, "Bereft," for Showtime Independent Films. He also served as DP and editor on the project.
CLAY A. GRIFFITH's (Production Designer) most recent credits include the Brian Robbins-Eddie Murphy hit comedy "Norbit," "Lucky You," "Elizabethtown," "Radio" and "Sweet Home Alabama."
Other credits as a production designer include "Almost Famous," "Domestic Disturbance" and "Prozac Nation."
As a set decorator, Griffith's credits include "Stuart Little," "As Good As It Gets," "Jerry Maguire," "Seven," "Junior," "City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold," "Grumpy Old Men," "Sleepless in Seattle," "Singles," "Pacific Heights," "Dirty Dancing," " The Favor," "Mystic Pizza" and "Vietnam War Story: The Last Days."
His credits as a television art director include "Tales From Hollywood Hills II."
NED BASTILLE, A.C.E. (Editor) has been working in film since the sixth grade, when he shot a salt-and-pepper-shaker battle in the den of his suburban Boston home. Pepper won.
Bastille majored in painting and film at Rhode Island School of Design, with forays into electronic music and broadcasting. After an early career as a television news cameraman and sound mixer, he settled in New York, editing and producing documentaries on such subjects as Zydeco music, British eccentrics, Santa Fe sorcerers and alligators in the basement. His documentary credits include Al Pacino's "Looking for Richard." He then seguéd into feature films, editing "Varsity Blues," "Ready to Rumble," "Hardball," "The Perfect Score," "The Shaggy Dog," and, most recently, "Norbit" all in collaboration with director Brian Robbins.
RUTH CARTER (Costume Designer) is a two-time Academy Award nominee for her work on Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" and on Steven Spielberg's "Amistad." She is a long-time designer of Lee's, having worked with him on nine of his films. Carter's numerous film credits include collaborations with directors John Singleton and Joss Whedon. In addition, she designed the costumes for James Woods in the television series "Shark."
Carter holds Bachelor and Master Degrees in Theater Arts from Hampton University. She has enjoyed 20 years as a professional costume designer for film.
JOHN DEBNEY (Music) earned an Academy Award® nomination for his score in Mel Gibson's film phenomenon "The Passion of the Christ." Debney's music was recently heard in "Evan Almighty," "Barnyard," "The Ant Bully," "Idlewild," "Everyone's Hero," "Georgia Rule;" and soon it will be heard in the video game "Lair" and in the films "My Best Friend's Girl," "Swing Vote" and "Sin City 2."
Debney has worked repeatedly with several noted directors, including Garry Marshall on "The Princess Diaries," "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" and "Raising Helen"; Robert Rodriguez on "Spy Kids," "Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams," "Sin City" and "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D"; Jon Favreau on "Elf" and "Zathura"; and Tom Shadyac on "Liar Liar," "Dragonfly" and "Bruce Almighty."
His extensive film credits include "The Pacifier," "Swimfan," "The Scorpion King," "Snow Dogs," "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius," "Scary Movie 2," "Cats & Dogs," "Heartbreakers," "The Emperor's New Groove," "End of Days," "Inspector Gadget," "Paulie," "I Know What You Did Last Summer," "The Relic," "Little Giants" and "Hocus Pocus," to name but a few.
Debney's classical training as a composer has led him to emphasize live performance. He has conducted some of the world's greatest orchestras (performing his original works) and enlisted master violinist Joshua Bell to perform on his score for "Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story" and trumpet legend Arturo Sandoval for the score to "Idlewild." Following the success of "The Passion of the Christ," he premiered "The Passion of the Christ Symphony" in Rome, featuring an 83-person choir and 96-piece orchestra.
In recognition of his many accomplishments, Debney, only in his 40s, received ASCAP's prestigious Henry Mancini Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.
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