ON LOCATION IN THE BIG APPLE Filmmakers Capitalize on NYC Locale
The filmmakers selected iconic Manhattan locations, including Central Park, Top of the Rock, Grand Central Station, Radio City Music Hall, Shea Stadium and Times Square.
"Anytime you get an opportunity to shoot in New York City, you take it," producer Andrew Panay says. "It's a challenge in terms of the crowds and traffic, but wow, what an energy it gives to the performances."
Adds director Walt Becker: "There are horns honking and people screaming for John and Robin in the middle of takes. But it's well worth the trouble."
The director says they chose several unique locales for the production.   "We shot the Bloomberg Building. We shot Top of the Rock, which has never been in a film before. I think we sold New York in a way that was special and unique." 
Becker credits production designer David Gropman with creating an exciting visual palate. "I told Gropman that I want to be able to watch this film without the sound and still be entertained, and he pulled it off. He did a fantastic job," he states. 
One of the more challenging shooting days occurred at Shea Stadium, where filming took place during an actual ballgame. "Shooting during a live Mets game was a good idea on paper," says Becker.  "This was probably as close to combat as I've ever come.  We had 15 minutes to shoot the entire thing. It was kind of guerrilla, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants filming. There were fans throwing stuff, taking pictures.  I think I aged more in that 15 minutes than I ever have doing a scene.
"We also did one of the bravest things ever tried in a production, which was to show our actors live on the Jumbotron," Becker continues.  "It was amazing, because you see Dan and Charlie up there and everybody's on the screen waving. There were our two old dogs in the middle of 40,000 cheering people and the Jumbotron read 'Happy Grandparents Day.' Just priceless.  The Mets organization was so supportive."
After two weeks of filming in New York, the production moved to Connecticut. Several interior sets were constructed here, including Charlie's New York bachelor pad where Dan brings the kids to stay.  Production designer David Gropman designed a two-story child-unfriendly apartment within a studio in Stanford.  "We added the stairs, lots of glass, stainless steel and sharp edges," he explains. "I also designed a large deck just outside the windows. Executive producer Garrett Grant looked at my model and said, 'Why don't you put a swimming pool out there?' So we put an infinity pool on the deck of a five-story New York apartment, which added the final touch to our kid-dangerous dwelling."
Several breathtaking exterior locales were used, including the historical Putnam Memorial State Park in Redding, Conn., where Dan and Charlie take the children to the Pioneer Scout Jamboree. The park dates back to the 1800s, and Becker wanted to keep that authentic feel.  "Walt wanted a real, classic camp look," says Gropman.  "So instead of using contemporary scout tents, we used beautiful canvas tents of all sizes. It was fun to do, because it was a beautiful location where we had this great Adirondack piece of architecture."

ON THE JOB Comedy Superstars, Open-Minded Director Create Fun Set
Producer Andrew Panay says Travolta and Williams exhibited two completely different styles of improvisation. "John has such a controlled improv, it's always coming from a real place. He's always finding the joke within the joke.  Robin is a machine gun. He keeps on firing the funnies. So you have two different approaches, both incredibly funny," he says.
Director Walt Becker's easy-going style was a good match for his creative cast.  "I always feel like if you're not letting your actors contribute, you're not getting everything you can from them," he says.  "And, frankly, I don't care if an actor wants to do a scene standing on his head, because that's just the way I go.  I get one take for the script, one for me, and the rest is for the actor."
Becker's method is one the actors truly appreciate. Says Travolta, "I never go outside the box of the character, because if I do, it'll end up on the cutting-room floor. I make sure all my improvisations are character-motivated."
Preston says she enjoyed the environment filmmakers provided. "Walt is pretty much accepting of anything. We definitely stay on the page, but he'd suggest I do something else or come up with ideas. For example, in one scene, I'm dropping the kids off with Dan, and I really wanted to make it seem more personal, so I used scenarios that happen in my own life.
"And of course, with Robin, he doesn't need any encouragement," Preston continues.  "He just takes it to wherever, and Walt won't cut for the longest time.  That is such a blast."
Rita Wilson says she, too, wanted to add another dimension to her character, who she describes as a bit eccentric. "I love the idea of being a hand model, because that's a job you see all the time but take for granted," says Wilson. "But I gave Jenna a facial characteristic which wasn't originally written into the script, a lazy eye. I am so thankful that Walt is so open to new thoughts and ideas."
The laid-back attitude amongst cast and crew brought about fun and levity on set, particularly between the two stars.  "John is one of the funniest human beings on the planet, and he's always riffing and joking," says Preston.  "So between John and Robin, who's always on, it's almost too much.  They've got their on-camera schtick and their off-camera schtick. It's hilarious either way you look at it."
Daughter Ella says it became one of her biggest challenges.  "It's hard, because when Robin or my dad are being so funny in a scene, we can't laugh. We want to laugh, but we can't.  It's fun."
Both Travolta and Williams were called on for physical comedy.  "It's been exciting to be this physical at this age--flying 65 feet in the air in a superhero suit that looks like Liberace's stunt double on steroids," says Williams. "If you want something funny, just run me into a wall." 
One of the most physical and enjoyable days on set was the Pioneer Scout Jamboree in the park. As part of his "Dad's to-do list," Zack, a Pioneer scout, asks Dan and Charlie to take him and Emily camping. They find themselves attempting to pitch tents, playing extreme Frisbee and shooting skeet. They must also contend with troop leader Barry, played by Matt Dillon, a serious scout who comes from four generations of Pioneers.
During the extreme Frisbee match, Becker admits that he let his actors go wild. "We did a little 'The Right Stuff' beat with John and Robin coming out in slow motion," says Becker.  "It was just fantastic seeing this game, which is supposed to be a non-contact sport, degrade into an all-out prison-rules game.
We had a few casualties, too.  Robin pulled a muscle, because he was going at it so hard--those guys did nearly all their own stunts. Robin and John were getting the crap beat out of them. The scene worked really well."
Matt Dillon says he got a kick out of the skeet-shoot scenes.  "The script had Barry just firing at the skeet in a typical way, but Walt added a layer by having Barry shoot cowboy-style from the hip. It's probably what makes the scene so ridiculous," he says.
Seth Green found his ultimate performance test while shooting an elaborate Japanese karaoke scene. His go-getter character immerses himself in the Japanese culture in preparation to run the business out of Japan. "On my second day of shooting, I did this glitzy karaoke scene in front of 150 extras. I got to sing and entertain them, which is not something I typically do. I owned that stage," he laughs. "It's very silly seeing me in this kimono with eyeliner and these sparkly shoes, screaming and jumping around to songs like 'Mr. Roboto' and 'House of Pain.'"

ABOUT THE CAST
JOHN TRAVOLTA (Charlie) has been honored twice with Academy Award nominations, the latest for his riveting portrayal of a philosophical hit-man in Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction."  He also received BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for this highly acclaimed role and was named Best Actor by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, among other distinguished awards.
Travolta garnered further praise as a Mafioso-turned-movie producer in the comedy sensation "Get Shorty," winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy.  In 1998, Travolta was honored by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts with the Britannia Award; and in that same year he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Chicago Film Festival. Travolta also won the prestigious Alan J. Pakula Award from the US Broadcast Critics Association for his performance in "A Civil Action," based on the best-selling book and directed by Steve Zailian.  He was nominated again for a Golden Globe for his performance in "Primary Colors," directed by Mike Nichols and co-starring Emma Thompson and Billy Bob Thornton, and in 2008, he received his fourth Golden Globe nomination for his role as Edna Turnblad in the big- screen, box-office hit "Hairspray." As a result of this performance, the Chicago Film Critics and the Santa Barbara Film Festival decided to recognize Travolta with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his role.
He previously starred in a number of monumental films, earning his first Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for his role in the blockbuster "Saturday Night Fever," which launched the disco phenomenon in the 1970s.  He went on to star in the big-screen version of the long-running musical "Grease" and the wildly successful "Urban Cowboy," which also influenced trends in popular culture.  Additional film credits include the Brian DePalma thrillers "Carrie" and "Blowout," as well as Amy Heckerling's hit comedy "Look Who's Talking" and Nora Ephron's comic hit "Michael."  Travolta starred in "Phenomenon" and took an equally distinctive turn as an action star in John Woo's top-grossing "Broken Arrow."  He also starred in the classic "Face/Off" opposite Nicolas Cage, and "The General's Daughter," co-starring Madeline Stowe.  Recently, Travolta reprised the role of ultra cool Chili Palmer in the "Get Shorty" sequel "Be Cool." In addition, he starred opposite Scarlett Johansson in the critically acclaimed independent feature film "A Love Song for Bobby Long," which was screened at the Venice Film Festival, where both Travolta and the film won rave reviews.
Other recent feature film credits include the box-office hit comedy "Wild Hogs," the action-thriller "Ladder 49," the movie version of the successful comic book "The Punisher," the drama "Basic," the psychological thriller "Domestic Disturbance," the hit action picture "Swordfish," the successful sci-fi movie "Battlefield Earth," based upon the best-selling novel by L. Ron Hubbard, and "Lonely Hearts."
Most recently, Travolta starred opposite Denzel Washington in director Tony Scott's remake of "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3," and he provided the voice of the lead character in Walt Disney Pictures' animated hit "Bolt."

An Academy Award-winning actor and multiple Grammy-winning performer unparalleled in the scope of his imagination, ROBIN WILLIAMS (Dan) continues to add to his repertoire of indelible characters.
Williams, who began his career as a stand-up comedian, is currently on the second leg of his sold-out comedy tour entitled "Weapons of Self Destruction."  The critically-acclaimed tour has taken him across the United States and Canada, and to the United Kingdom where he performed two nights at the historic Gielgud Theatre on London's West End to benefit the Prince's Trust.  The current leg will include Williams' highly anticipated return to the New York City stage and two dates in Washington, DC, where the show will be filmed for an HBO special to air in December 2009. 
On the big screen, Williams was most recently seen starring in the dark comedy, "World's Greatest Dad."  The film premiered to raves at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and Williams' performance has been touted as one of the best of his career.  Bobcat Goldthwait directed the film, which was released by Magnolia Pictures in August 2009.
Well known for his free-associative monologues and for pointing out life's absurdities through his astute social and political observations, Williams' last stand-up comedy tour was in 2002.  After a 16-year absence from the stand-up scene, he hit the road and toured America with a critically acclaimed one-man show that visited 36 cities.  That tour became the highest-grossing comedy tour ever and culminated in a final performance filmed by HBO and broadcast live from New York on July 14, 2002.  The special, entitled "Robin Williams: Live on Broadway," was nominated for five Emmy Awards.
In 1997, Williams received an Oscar® and a Screen Actors Guild Award® for his performance as Sean Maguire, the therapist who counsels Matt Damon's math genius character in Gus Van Sant's "Good Will Hunting."  The Academy previously nominated Williams for Best Actor in "The Fisher King," "Dead Poets Society," and "Good Morning, Vietnam."  Williams garnered a special honor from the National Board of Review for his performance opposite Robert DeNiro in "Awakenings." In 2004, Williams received the prestigious Career Achievement Award from the Chicago International Film festival and, in 2005, the HFPA honored him with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.
Williams' filmography includes a number of blockbusters. In 1993, he starred in Chris Columbus' "Mrs. Doubtfire."  For Mike Nichols, Williams portrayed Armand Goldman in "The Birdcage," for which the cast won a SAG Ensemble Award.  In 1996, both "The Birdcage" and "Jumanji" reached the $100 million mark in the USA in exactly the same week. Williams went on to assume the dual roles of Peter Pan/Peter Banning in Steven Spielberg's "Hook," to play a medical student who treats patients with humor in "Patch Adams" and to star in Disney's "Flubber."  In 2006, Williams appeared opposite Ben Stiller in the hit comedy "Night at the Museum."  To date, the film has earned more than $250 million in the United States alone.  In May 2009, he reprised his role as Teddy Roosevelt in the sequel "Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian," which so far has earned another $400 million for the franchise worldwide.  In addition, Williams' award-winning vocal talents helped propel the Warner Bros. animated film "Happy Feet" to another $200 million box office, as well as the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film.
Williams first captured the attention of the world as Mork from Ork on the hit series "Mork & Mindy."  Born in Chicago and raised in both Michigan and California, he trained at New York's Juilliard School under John Houseman.  Williams made his cinematic debut as the title character in Robert Altman's "Popeye."  Additional early motion picture credits include Paul Mazursky's "Moscow on the Hudson," in which he played a Russian musician who decides to defect, and "The World According to Garp," George Roy Hill's adaptation of John Irving's acclaimed best-selling novel about a writer and his feminist mother.  More recent credits include Sony Pictures' hit comedy "R.V.," Barry Levinson's political comedy "Man of the Year," and the Ken Kwapis comedy "License to Wed," opposite John Krasinski and Mandy Moore.
In a departure from the usual comedic and family fare he is best known for, Williams collaborated with two accomplished young directors on dramatic thrillers.  For Christopher Nolan, he starred opposite Al Pacino as reclusive novelist Walter Finch, the primary suspect in the murder of a teenaged girl in a small Alaskan town, in "Insomnia."  In Mark Romanek's "One Hour Photo," Williams played a photo lab employee who becomes obsessed with a young suburban family.
Using only his voice, Williams created one of the most vivid characters in recent memory--the Blue Genie of the Lamp in Disney's "Aladdin." The performance redefined how animations were voiced.  Audio versions of his one-man shows and the children's record "Pecos Bill" have won him five Grammy Awards.  More recently, Williams lent his vocal talents to the blockbuster hit animated feature "Robots."
Williams' stage credits include a landmark production of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot," directed by Mike Nichols and co-starring Steve Martin, and, most recently, a short run in San Francisco of "The Exonerated," which tells the true stories of six innocent survivors of death row.
Offstage, Williams takes great joy in supporting numerous causes including health care, human rights, education, environmental protection and the arts, among others. He has toured the Middle East four times to help raise morale among the troops and is, perhaps, best known philanthropically for his affiliation with "Comic Relief," which was founded in 1986 as a non-profit organization to help America's homeless.  To date, the overall efforts of the "Comic Relief" organization have raised more than $50 million.

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