While Little Children is based on an acclaimed novel, director Todd Field and writer Tom Perrotta wanted to create a film that stood on its own, independent of the book.
"When Todd and I began collaborating on the script, we were hoping to make something new out of the material rather than simply reproduce the book onto film," says Perrotta.
"For me, as a novelist, the attraction of a film adaptation lies precisely in this opportunity to re-imagine my book with someone else, and explore new possibilities for the characters and the story. To be able to work with a writer-director as accomplished as Todd was a huge part of the appeal for me, but I understood from the start that what we produced together would no longer be "mine" in any simple sense. There's really no way for two writers with such distinct voices and sensibilities to come together and not create something very different from what either one of us would have done on his own."

TODD FIELD
Todd Field made his feature film debut at the Sundance Film Festival with "In the Bedroom." Internationally acclaimed by critics, the film was named Best Picture of the Year by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. The film went on to receive five Academy Award nominations including Best Picture of the Year.
The New York Film Critics Circle, the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association acknowledged Field for his work on the film, and the National Board of Review named him Director of the Year. Field received two Academy Award nominations, a
Golden Globe nomination and an Independent Spirit Award. The British Film Institute recognized Field with the Satyajit Ray Award, and
the American Film Institute honored him with the Franklin J. Schaffner
Alumni Medal.
Of Field's short films, "Nonnie & Alex," premiered at the Sundance Film
Festival, and received a Special Jury Prize. "When I was a Boy," also made its premiere at the festival, and went on to the Film Society of Lincoln Center's New Directors/New Films Series at the Museum of Modern Art.
As an actor, Field has appeared in such films as Victor Nunez's "Ruby in Paradise" and Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut."
He is currently at work on a new film.

TOM PERROTTA
Tom Perrotta is the author of the acclaimed novel Little Children and such works as Bad Haircut, The Wishbones and Joe College. A resident of the Boston area, Tom is an active supporter of up-and-coming writers.

KATE WINSLET
English born actress Kate Winslet grew up in a family of actors and began performing for British television when she was thirteen. At the age of seventeen, she made her name internationally in Peter Jackson's feature film Heavenly Creatures. She followed that in 1995 with her role as Marianne Dashwood in Ang Lee's Sense and Sensibility. Kate received her first Academy Award nomination for this performance and was also nominated for a Golden Globe. She then went on to win the BAFTA and the Screen Actors Guild Award.
In her next film, she co-starred with Christopher Eccleston in Michael Winterbottom's Jude and then as Ophelia in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet. She then went on to appear as the amazing Rose in James Cameron's Titanic opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. At the age of 22, Kate received her second Academy Award nomination for this role and the honor of being the youngest actress ever to be nominated for two Academy Awards.
In 1997 Kate starred as Julia in Hideous Kinky directed by Gillies McKinnon, and in 1998 co-starred with Harvey Keitel in Jane Campion's comedic drama Holy Smoke. She also starred in Philip Kaufman's period drama Quills along with Geoffrey Rush, Joaquin Phoenix and Michael Caine.
Kate co-starred in the Richard Eyre production of Iris. In her performance portraying a young Iris Murdoch, Kate received a Golden Globe and Oscar nomination. She next starred in Michael Apteds' Enigma, a spy drama about code breakers during early WWII period and The Life of David Gale with Kevin Spacey. Kate then came to New York and dyed her hair blue and orange for her amazing portrayal as the quirky Clementine in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, for which she has received Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for Best Actress. She then went on to star opposite Johnny Depp in Finding Neverland, which was named 2004 Best Film by the National Board of Review.
This fall, Kate will be seen in All the King's Men, opposite Jude Law and Sean Penn, directed by Steven Zaillian. She will then lend her voice to the animated feature Flushed Away. Kate finishes the year in the romance comedy The Holiday opposite Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Jack Black.

PATRICK WILSON
Patrick Wilson has quickly emerged as one of the hottest acting talents in years. He recently wrapped filming an Edward Burns film with Debra Messing and Selma Blair, Purple Violets to debut late in 2006. Patrick can now be seen in the Sundance hit film, Hard Candy, a psychological drama which was released by Lion's Gate in April 2006. In addition to the big screen, Patrick recently re-visited his Broadway roots alongside Amanda Peet, Jill Clayburgh and Tony Roberts in their portrayal of young newlyweds, Corie and Paul Bratter, in the Broadway revival of Neil Simon's 1963 classic romantic comedy "Barefoot in the Park" directed by Scott Elliot.
Patrick has had the opportunity to show his acting range in several high profile projects; he starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera, which was directed by Joel Schumacher and released by Warner Bros. He starred in and received Golden Globe and Emmy nomination for "Angels in America," directed by Mike Nichols for HBO. In this 2004 Golden Globe and Emmy recipient of best miniseries, based on Tony Kushner's play, Patrick starred opposite Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, Mary Louis Parker and Emma Thompson. He also starred opposite Dennis Quaid and Billy Bob Thornton in Disney's The Alamo, directed by John Lee Hancock.
Patrick starred in the Broadway musical revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein II's "Oklahoma!" for which he was nominated for a second consecutive Tony Award for best lead actor in a musical for his portrayal of Curly. Previously, he was the lead role of Jerry Lukowski in the Broadway musical "The Full Monty." The role garnered Patrick rave reviews from critics and he received numerous nominations including a Tony nomination for Leading Actor in a Musical, Drama Desk Nomination, Drama League Award, and an Outer Critic's Circle Nomination for this role. Time Out New York voted Patrick's role as "one of the best performances of 2000."
Patrick first earned attention from New York audiences in the Off Broadway musical adaptation "Bright Lights, Big City." His role earned him a Drama Desk Nomination and a Drama League Award. Soon after, Patrick starred in the Broadway musical "Fascinating Rhythm," a revue of George and Ira Gershwin songs, which also garnered him a Drama League Award.
Born in Virginia, Patrick spent most of his years growing up in St. Petersburg, Florida. His mother is a singer and voice teacher while Patrick's father is a TV anchor in Florida. Patrick received his BFA from Carnegie Mellon University. Patrick is also a singer/songwriter of his own music.
Patrick, his wife & newborn son, reside in New York City.

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