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'{{short description|2005 film by Polly Draper}} {{Infobox film | image = Naked BroDVD.jpg | caption = DVD release cover. From top left to bottom: Alex Wolff; Cooper Pillot; Allie DiMeco; Nat Wolff. Center: Alex Wolff (drumsticks) and Nat Wolff (microphone). Bottom right: Allie DiMeco. | alt = A rectangle split into squares, showing movie logo and images of a boy holding up drumsticks, a boy dressed as the band manager, a girl in a white shirt, a boy with a microphone, and a boy with a [[Flag of the United States|US flag]] bandana and a shirt displaying a [[Union Jack]]. Most prominent is an image of two boys—one holding drumsticks and the other holding a microphone. | director = [[Polly Draper]] | producer = Polly Draper<br />[[Michael Wolff (musician)|Michael Wolff]]<br />Ken H. Keller<br /> Caron Rudner<br />Jonathan Pillot | writer = Polly Draper | starring = [[Nat Wolff]]<br />[[Alex Wolff]]<br />Joshua Kaye<br />[[David Levi (musician)|David Levi]]<br />[[Thomas Batuello]]<br />[[Cole Hawkins]]<br />[[Allie DiMeco]]<br />[[Jesse Draper]]<br />Michael Wolff<br />[[Cooper Pillot]] | music = Nat Wolff<br />Alex Wolff | cinematography = Ken H. Keller | editing = Craig Cobb | studio = | distributor = [[Paramount Home Entertainment]]<br />[[Nickelodeon]]<br />Worldwide Biggies | released = {{Film date|2005|10|23|Hamptons|ref1=<ref name=variety2 />|2007|04|03|United States}} | runtime = 84 minutes<ref name=variety2>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2005/film/reviews/the-naked-brothers-band-1200520555/|title=The Naked Brothers Band|date=2 November 2005|access-date=17 June 2020|archive-date=17 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617225905/https://variety.com/2005/film/reviews/the-naked-brothers-band-1200520555/|url-status=live}}</ref><br />82 minutes (DVD)<ref name=NYTimes3>{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/340193/The-Naked-Brothers-Band-The-Movie/dvd|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie|access-date=September 29, 2009}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> | country = United States | language = English | budget = Under [[United States dollar|US$]]1 million<ref name=TVFamily>{{cite news | last=Lee | first=Felicia R. | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/25/arts/television/25nake.html | work=The New York Times | title=A TV Family Bound By Blood and a Band | date=January 25, 2007 | access-date=September 14, 2007 | archive-date=June 5, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605091103/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/25/arts/television/25nake.html | url-status=live }}</ref> | gross = }} '''''The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie''''' is a 2005 American [[children's film|children's]] [[musical film|musical]] [[comedy film]] written and directed by [[Polly Draper]], which stars her sons, [[Nat Wolff]] and [[Alex Wolff]], who portray members of a fictional rock group. It tells of the boys' struggles with their fame and an internal dispute that causes the band to split before reuniting in the end. The film is emboldened by Nat's band, The Silver Boulders, which he created in preschool with his friends [[Joshua Kaye]], [[Thomas Batuello]], and [[David Levi (musician)|David Levi]], who all act as themselves. It also includes [[Allie DiMeco]] as Nat's fictional female interest, the siblings' real-life cousin [[Jesse Draper]] as the group's babysitter, Draper's husband [[Michael Wolff (musician)|Michael Wolff]] playing his sons' widowed accordion-playing dad, and real life friends [[Cooper Pillot]] and [[Cole Hawkins]] portraying the other members of the band. Draper shot the film in the style of a [[mockumentary]]—a parody in documentary format—that depicts the daily activities of the characters. Nat composed and performed the music, yet one song had been written by Alex. [[Principal photography]] took place in mid-2004 [[Filming location|on location]] in New York City, and the interior scenes were vastly filmed in the family's [[Manhattan]] apartment. Draper's brother, [[Tim Draper|Tim]], a venture capitalist, provided financial incentives for the shoot. In late 2005, Polly Draper, known for her role in ''[[Thirtysomething]]'', and her jazz musician husband Michael Wolff entered the film at the [[Hamptons International Film Festival]], where it won the audience award. Former [[Nickelodeon]] president [[Albie Hecht]] attended the screening and purchased the movie, in association with his Worldwide Biggies label. It became the pilot for the subsequent [[The Naked Brothers Band (TV series)|Nickelodeon show of the same name]], airing in the United States on January 27, 2007. The series was created and [[showrunner|showran]] by Draper, which premiered in February 2007, to the channel's highest ratings in seven years for viewers in the 6–11 age group.<ref name=cleveland>{{cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2008/07/naked_brothers_band_to_visit_c.html|title=Naked Brothers Band to visit Crocker Park|author=Hernandez, Brian|work=[[The Plain Dealer]]|date=July 3, 2008|access-date=December 22, 2009|archive-date=June 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607183249/http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2008/07/naked_brothers_band_to_visit_c.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=peoplemagazine>{{cite news|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20160775,00.html|title=Hanging Out with ... the Naked Brothers Band|author=Dagostino, Mark|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=November 5, 2007|access-date=June 15, 2009|archive-date=June 2, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602061226/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20160775,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Plot== The film begins with an introduction to the documentary from the boys. Nat and Alex Wolff, aged nine and six, respectively, are members of the fictional band The Silver Boulders, which also consists of Thomas, David, Josh, and their manager Cooper. The band found success after a music executive ([[John B. Williams (musician)|John B. Williams]]) signed them to his label, Who's the Man Records. The band performs their new song "Motormouth" at a concert in the [[Hammerstein Ballroom]]. After the show, the band members describe how their group started and a clip from their music video "Crazy Car" is shown. The bandmates get along well until Thomas composes the song "Boys Rule, Girls Drool", which Nat dislikes. Nat writes a song called "Rosalina" that is about Josh's elder half-sister. Thomas and Josh ridicule Nat because the song shows his feelings for her. Moreover, Josh composes another song that Nat also dislikes, titled "I'm the God of Rock and Roll", set to the tune of "[[Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star]]". The band has a food fight in a restaurant, prompting Thomas, David, and Josh to leave and form a new group, The Gold Boulders, managed by the scornful Mort Needleman (Jonathan Pillot). After watching media reports of the band's split on television, Nat and Alex go into a state of depression. Alex begins to binge on [[lemon-lime]] soda and falls asleep, while he lies curled in the midst of aluminum cans. Nat simultaneously writes a song by the piano titled "If There Was a Place to Hide" as the band's fans gather outside his apartment, pleading for them to reunite. Despite the absence of the formers, Alex persuades a reluctant Nat to revive the band, and subsequently, they change the band's title to its original, The Naked Brothers Band. Through a line-up of auditions, Nat, Alex, and Cooper select Rosalina as their cellist and Cole Hawkins — a member of the original Naked Brothers Band — as the guitarist. The newly established band embark on a tour to [[Chicago]], though Nat discovers that The Gold Boulders is their opening act. The Gold Boulders start the show with "Boys Rule, Girls Drool" and are immediately booed off the stage. After their performance, The Naked Brothers Band perform "Hardcore Wrestlers (with Inner Feelings)" and "Rosalina", which are greeted with a loud applause from the audience. After the concert, Nat hosts a party for the band in his apartment. In the midst of the party, David, Thomas, and Josh arrive at his front door, asking to join the reconstructed band. Forgivingly, a surprised Nat welcomes them to join the celebration. The film concludes with the outfit performing "Crazy Car" on the roof of the Wolffs' apartment while fireworks detonate in the background. ==Characters== Adults over the age of 18 can be nonsensical,<ref name=TVFamily/> and therefore, the children are responsible for undertaking challenging circumstances.<ref name=variety2/> Nat is the lead singer-songwriter and keyboardist, while his younger brother Alex is the flamboyant drummer. Alex invented a distinctive outfit: a red, white, and blue [[do-rag]] with socks tied around his ankles. He has a crush on the band's nanny and tutor, the 19-year-old Jesse Cook (Jesse Draper). Nat is called "The Girl Magnet" and tends to speak with an English accent in front of 11-year-old Rosalina (Allie DiMeco). The group also features Nat's preschool friends – David (David Levi) as the keyboardist, Thomas (Thomas Batuello) as the [[cellist]], Josh (Joshua Kaye) as the guitarist – and Cooper (Cooper Pillot) is the band's manager. The brothers' father (Michael Wolff) is an inept accordionist. Principal Schmoke ([[Timothy C. Draper|Tim Draper]]) leads Amigo Elementary School. The Timmerman Brothers is a band consisting of brothers Donnie (Adam Draper), Johnny (Coulter Mulligan), and Billy (Billy Draper). They had a hit single titled "Splishy Splashy Soap Bubble", but their careers ended when their voices changed during puberty. Music critic (Barbara eda-Young) describes The Silver Boulders' music as "nostalgic". The romantic couple ([[James Badge Dale|James Badge-Dale]] and [[Gretchen Egolf]]) recall the group performing "Crazy Car" at their wedding ceremony. ==Production== ===Development=== {{See also|Nat & Alex Wolff}} Through their father, Nat and Alex were exposed to music from birth. As a four-year-old, Nat showed musical gifts that astounded his father. He easily taught himself piano chords, which he called {{"'}}my proud chords{{'"}}.<ref name=jazzdepartments>{{cite news|url=http://jazztimes.com/articles/18860-michael-wolff|title=Michael Wolff|author=Seidel, Mitchell|work=[[Jazz Times]]|date=September 2007|access-date=October 10, 2009|archive-date=March 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310010047/http://jazztimes.com/articles/18860-michael-wolff|url-status=dead}}</ref> As a five-year-old, he began to compose songs after listening to music by [[The Beatles]] and Alex began playing the saxophone when he was two.<ref name=timescenterstage>{{cite video|people = [[Jacques Steinberg]], [[Polly Draper]], [[Michael Wolff (musician)|Michael Wolff]], [[Nat Wolff]], [[Alex Wolff]]|url = http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=107592@wcbs.dayport.com|title = The New York Times Arts & Leisure Week: The Naked Brothers Band|medium = webcast|publisher = [[WCBS-TV|WCBS]]|date = January 26, 2008|access-date=May 13, 2009}}</ref> Nat and his brother once shouted, "We're the naked brothers band!" after having a bath, which inspired the name of the movie. As a pre-schooler, Nat and his friends formed a band called The Silver Boulders.<ref name=TVFamily/><ref name=timescenterstage/><ref name=NYTimes2>{{cite news | last=Steinberg | first=Jacques | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/22/arts/television/22nake.html | title=Famous for Playing Rock Stars | work=The New York Times | date=September 22, 2007 | access-date=May 30, 2009 | archive-date=August 26, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826113232/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/22/arts/television/22nake.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Following the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11 terrorist attacks]], Nat wrote a song titled "Firefighters" when he was six years old, which he performed with his band for charity. The benefit concert was staged behind his family's apartment and raised over [[US$]]45,000, which was donated to the children of the personnel from [[New York City Fire Department]]'s Squad 18 who were killed as a result of the attacks.<ref name=timescenterstage/><ref name=wcpn>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcpn.org/WCPN/an/27384|title=The Naked Brothers Band, The Two Man Gentlemen Band & Peter Kuper|format=podcast|publisher=[[WCLV|WCPN]]|work=[[Ideastream]]|date=August 11, 2009|access-date=September 16, 2009|archive-date=September 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927091818/http://www.wcpn.org/WCPN/an/27384|url-status=live}}</ref> After the successful concert, the band began to perform at gay and lesbian Christmas celebrations, one-year-old birthday parties, and restaurants. Then Alex, emboldened by [[Ringo Starr]], chose to play drums in the band.<ref name=timescenterstage/> After the break-up of The Silver Boulders, the siblings decided to revive The Naked Brothers Band.<ref name=timescenterstage/> Draper did not want her children to be actors; she explained, "Nat kept putting signs on his door: 'I want to be a child actor!' I said, 'No, it's too brutal.{{'"}}<ref name=bostonglobe>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2007/01/07/getting_with_the_program/|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|title=Getting with the program|author=Ryan, Suzanne C|date=January 7, 2007|access-date=January 4, 2009|archive-date=February 2, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202155807/http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2007/01/07/getting_with_the_program/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Nat wrote and directed a home-video called ''Don't Eat Off My Plate'', which Draper presented in documentary style by interviewing his friends.<ref name=TVFamily/><ref name=PRInside>{{cite press release|url=http://www.pr-inside.com/nat-and-alex-wolff-stars-of-r1233945.htm|title=Nat and Alex Wolff, Stars of Hit Nickelodeon TV Show to Headline Free Concert at Penn's Landing!|work=[[Marketwire]]|date=May 6, 2009|access-date=November 14, 2009}}</ref> Michael Wolff set up a recording session in the music studio along with Nat, Alex, and himself. Draper was impressed by the recording and contemplated making a mockumentary about the band, presenting the boys as music icons akin to The Beatles.<ref name=GMA>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3702703|title=The Naked Brothers Band|publisher=[[Good Morning America]]|date=October 8, 2007|access-date=November 30, 2009|archive-date=August 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820104903/http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3702703|url-status=live}}</ref> In a ''[[TV Guide]]'' interview in early 2007, Draper explained, "What originally happened was that Nat and Alex had a band, and the idea evolved based on that. ''[[This is Spinal Tap|Spinal Tap]]'' meets ''[[Our Gang|The Little Rascals]]'' was my concept&nbsp;... I wanted to have that ''[[Help! (film)|Help!]]'' or ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]'' kind of feeling."<ref name=tvguide>{{cite news | url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/polly-draper-naked-38977.aspx | title=Polly Draper: The Naked Brothers' Mother Returns to TV | author=Walsh-Boyle, Megan | work=[[TV Guide]] | date=February 2, 2007 | access-date=September 6, 2009 | archive-date=August 27, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827084314/http://www.tvguide.com/news/Polly-Draper-Naked-38977.aspx | url-status=live }}</ref> ===Filming=== The film was originally intended as an extended family project, and was shot over five weeks in mid-2004 for [[Low-budget film|less than US$1 million]].<ref name=TVFamily/><ref name=timescenterstage/> Filming took place on location in New York City — where, according to Draper, the crew "would sneak into locations and run" — and at the Draper-Wolff family apartment in Manhattan.<ref name=TVFamily/> Draper wrote and directed the film, which was [[film producer|produced]] by Ken H. Keller, Caron Rudner, Jonathan Pillot, Michael Wolff and Draper herself. The film was co-produced by Fotene Trigonis and edited by Craig Cobb, who also served as the [[associate producer]]. The [[executive producer]]s were Draper, Wolff, and Draper's brother, Tim, who oversaw the budget.<ref name=variety/><ref name=fc>{{cite news|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1839299/can-vcs-be-bred-meet-new-generation-silicon-valleys-draper-dynasty|author=Sacks, Danielle|title=Can VCs Be Bred? Meet the New Generation in Silicon Valley's Draper Dynasty|work=Fast Company|date=July–August 2012|access-date=September 7, 2013|archive-date=September 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904174432/http://www.fastcompany.com/1839299/can-vcs-be-bred-meet-new-generation-silicon-valleys-draper-dynasty|url-status=live}}</ref> Keller used a [[color framing]], [[high-definition video|high-definition video camera]].<ref name=variety/> Rudner served as the [[line producer]], while John M. Davis was the [[music editor]]. Rick Butler served as the [[production designer]], Frederick Howard was the [[Sound editor (filmmaking)|supervising sound editor]], and Deb Temco oversaw the [[Casting (performing arts)|casting]].<ref name=variety/> Moreover, David Levi's father, Robert, provided footage of the real-life preschool band's daily antics; they sang and played instruments in the Wolffs' apartment, and Nat wrote the music. When Polly Draper told her friend [[Julianne Moore]] and her husband, writer and director [[Bart Freundlich]], about the film, Freundlich responded, "Julia would love to be in your movie."<ref name=wcpn/> Moore changed her schedule at late notice to participate in filming, and Draper wrote Moore's scene as it was being filmed; Draper quickly created a set that depicted the backstage [[green room]] of the talk show, ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]''. Moore and Nat filmed the scene in one take, and Draper was impressed with her son's performance, while saying that Moore's presence added credibility to the project.<ref name=wcpn/><ref name=risingstars>{{cite web | last= Smith | first= Stacy Jenel | url= http://channels.isp.netscape.com/celebrity/becksmith.jsp?p=bsf_nakedbros_rstar | title= Rising Stars Nat and Alex Wolff: 'Naked Brothers? Success Gives Mom Pause | work= [[Netscape#Netscape Internet Service|Netscape Celebrity]] | access-date= April 18, 2008 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110714170030/http://channels.isp.netscape.com/celebrity/becksmith.jsp?p=bsf_nakedbros_rstar | archive-date= July 14, 2011 }}</ref> ===Casting=== {{Quote box | quote = "We've always performed for each other at family reunions, and we're constantly singing songs at Christmas, goofy songs we've made up, or we'll put on little family plays or make family movies. So when [Aunt] Polly said, 'Let’s make a family movie,' we didn't realize it was like, a real movie." | source = —Jesse Draper<ref name=jessedraper>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/stories/2008/jan/16/playing-together-staying-together/|title=Playing together, staying together|author=Elrod, Ashley|work=[[Daily Bruin]]|date=January 16, 2008|access-date=May 29, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> | bgcolor = #c6dbf7 | align = right | width = 35% }} Most of the cast were friends or relatives of the Draper-Wolff [[clan]].<ref name=TVFamily/><ref name=variety>{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117928753.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0|title=Hamptons: The Naked Brothers Band|author=Scheib, Ronnie|work=Variety|date=November 1, 2005|access-date=November 21, 2007|archive-date=January 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111014422/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117928753.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0|url-status=live}}</ref> Tim Draper is Polly's brother and John B. Williams is the cellist for Michael Wolff's band Impure Thoughts.<ref name=johnbwilliams>{{cite news |first=Jesse |last= Hamlin|title=Jazz pianist Michael Wolff at Yoshi's S.F |url= http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/15/PKH4UT9HO.DTL|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|date=February 17, 2008 |access-date=September 18, 2009}}</ref><ref name=timdraper>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/techchron/detail?blogid=19&entry_id=12989|title=The Technology Chronicles : Six degrees of Tim Draper|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=April 19, 2009 | first=Al | last=Saracevic | date=January 26, 2007}}</ref> Barbara eda-Young, James Badge-Dale, Gretchen Egolf, and Cooper Pillot had previously performed with Draper in her play ''Getting Into Heaven'' in 2003.<ref name=gettingintoheaven>{{cite news|url=http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?html_title=&tols_title=GETTING%20INTO%20HEAVEN%20(PLAY)&pdate=20030703&byline=By%20BRUCE%20WEBER&id=1077011430074|title=''Getting Into Heaven''|author=Weber, Bruce|work=The New York Times|date=July 3, 2007|access-date=August 21, 2009|archive-date=August 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803065959/https://www.nytimes.com/section/theater?html_title=&tols_title=GETTING%2520INTO%2520HEAVEN%2520%2528PLAY%2529&pdate=20030703&byline=By%2520BRUCE%2520WEBER&id=1077011430074|url-status=live}}</ref> Jesse Draper is Tim's daughter and thus Polly's niece, and Nat and Alex's cousin.<ref name=TVFamily/> Billy and Adam Draper are Tim's sons, and Coulter Mulligan is Jesse's cousin and Polly's nephew.<ref name=jessedraper/> <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:NBB Cyndi Lauper.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|Cyndi Lauper was one of many celebrities to appear in the movie.]] --> Many of Wolff and Draper's show business friends appeared in the film. Wolff had been the music director for jazz singer [[Nancy Wilson (singer)|Nancy Wilson]] and she introduced him to [[Arsenio Hall]], who later chose Wolff as the bandleader of [[The Arsenio Hall Show|his talk show]].<ref name=jazzdepartments /> [[Tony Shalhoub]] portrayed Phil in Draper's screenwriting debut ''[[The Tic Code]]'', which was emboldened by Wolff's difficulties with [[Tourette syndrome]] as well as his exploits as a jazz pianist.<ref name=TVFamily/><ref name=theticcode>{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/177439/The-Tic-Code/cast|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025210138/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/177439/The-Tic-Code/cast|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 25, 2012|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2012|title=The Tic Code|access-date=November 15, 2009}}</ref> Draper guest starred in the first season of Shalhoub's hit sitcom ''[[Monk (TV series)|Monk]]''.<ref name=Monk>{{cite news|url=http://tv.nytimes.com/episode/28188/Monk/overview|title=Mr. Monk Takes a Vacation|date=September 20, 2002|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 15, 2009|archive-date=March 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315232903/http://tv.nytimes.com/episode/28188/Monk/overview|url-status=live}}</ref> Other guest stars in the movie include [[Cyndi Lauper]], her husband [[David Thornton (actor)|David Thornton]], Brent Popolizio, [[Cindy Blackman]], and [[Ricki Lake]]. In addition, Draper had also made a cameo alongside her ''[[Thirtysomething (TV series)|Thirtysomething]]'' co-stars [[Tim Busfield]], [[Mel Harris]], [[Peter Horton]], [[Melanie Mayron]], [[Ken Olin]], and [[Patricia Wettig]].<ref name=TVFamily/><ref name=variety/> [[David Levi (musician)|David Levi]], Thomas Batuello, and [[Joshua Kaye]] were preschool friends of Nat.<ref name=TVFamily/><ref name=timescenterstage/> Moore's son, Cal, has been a classmate of Alex since preschool, while [[Uma Thurman]]'s daughter [[Maya Hawke|Maya]] was also a preschool friend of Alex. [[Ann Curry]]'s son Walker, an original member of The Silver Boulders, was Nat's friend in preschool.<ref name=timescenterstage/><ref name=bingvideo>{{cite video|url=http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/naked-brothers-band/6qcf753|title=Naked Brothers Band|people=[[Ann Curry]], [[Nat Wolff]], [[Alex Wolff]], [[Michael Wolff (musician)|Michael Wolff]], [[Polly Draper]]|medium=telecast|work=[[MSN]]|date=April 12, 2007|access-date=November 15, 2009}}</ref> Cole Hawkins, an actor who also starred as Leonard in the 2003 [[musical comedy]] film ''[[School of Rock]]'',<ref name=colehawkins>{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/376295/Cole-Hawkins|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022121738/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/376295/Cole-Hawkins|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 22, 2012|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2012|title=Cole Hawkins|access-date=May 29, 2009}}</ref> had no previous involvement with the band.<ref name=timescenterstage/> Neither did Allie DiMeco; she auditioned for her role.<ref name=timescenterstage/> ===Music=== Nat wrote most of the songs performed in the film. As a six-year-old, he composed a melody without lyrics, which he later used as the basis for the [[bubblegum pop]] piece "Crazy Car". The song was meant to emulate the music of [[The Beach Boys]].<ref name=timescenterstage/> "Firefighters", the song written by Nat for a local 9/11 fundraiser, was later retitled to "Rosalina" for the movie.<ref name=timescenterstage/> Nat wrote "Motormouth" while he was angry at Alex. Another song, "That's How It Is", was written by Alex after an unsuccessful dating attempt with a teenager ten years his senior.<ref name=timescenterstage/> Additional songs Nat performed in the film include "Got No Mojo", "Hardcore Wrestlers (with Inner Feelings)", "I Need You", "Sorry Girl", and "If There Was a Place to Hide".<ref name=IMDb3>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0444736/soundtrack|title=The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie (2005) (TV) – Soundtracks|work=Internet Movie Database|access-date=May 29, 2009|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124109/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0444736/soundtrack|url-status=live}}</ref> Michael Wolff contributed the underscore and produced the music with [[Michael A. Levine]].<ref name=variety/> In the film, Wolff performed the songs "Rathskeller Polka", "Rathskeller Waltz", "Naked Party Polka", and "Naked Tango".<ref name=IMDb3/> He played the underscore for "Shakey Shakey" (lyrics by Alex), and "Boys Rule, Girls Drool" and "Splishy Splashy (Timmerman Song)", both written by Draper.<ref name=IMDb3/> The elder Wolff was once the musical director for jazz artist [[Nancy Wilson (jazz singer)|Nancy Wilson]]; in the movie, Wilson sang a rendition of the song "Crazy Car".<ref name=IMDb3/> ==Releases and debuts== ===Television spin-off=== {{further|The Naked Brothers Band (TV series)}} {{Quote box | quote = "They're just real: real brothers, real friends; it's all the stuff kids do when they're hanging out on the playground. The idea that you're watching a documentary is so much fun. Then you put them into that fantasy of being a world-famous rock band, and that's the sauce that makes it work." |- | source = —[[Albie Hecht]]<ref name=TVFamily/> | bgcolor = #c6dbf7 | align = right | width = 35% }} According to Michael Wolff, the family made the film without expecting a television series spin-off. Their agent believed the film would be lucrative and market research showed a positive reaction with a young audience.<ref name=wcpn/> After the film was shown at the [[Hamptons International Film Festival]], Nickelodeon bought it.<ref name=TVFamily/> Moreover, "Albie Hecht had an independent production deal with Nickelodeon" and believed the film suited the network and that a television show was feasible. Draper and Wolff did not want their children in show business at such a young age but agreed when Hecht's agent promised to work within the boy's schedule, so that they would not miss school. This meant a summer shooting schedule in New York and short, 13-episode seasons.<ref name=wcpn/> Nonetheless, after three seasons, despite the show's high ratings, network executives urged the family to lengthen the 13 episode season to 30 TV movies. Draper and Wolff refused, and as a result, the show was cancelled.<ref name=THR>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nat-wolff-naked-brothers-band-420803|title=A Former Child Star Dodges Teen Perils, Leaps From Nickelodeon to Tina Fey and Paul Rudd's 'Admission'|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=February 3, 2013|access-date=February 27, 2013|archive-date=February 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218210111/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nat-wolff-naked-brothers-band-420803|url-status=live}}</ref> Tom Ashiem, the executive vice president and general manager of Nickelodeon explained, "At first, we were intrigued by the idea, but we weren't sure kids would get the vague [[tongue-in-cheek|tongue-and-cheek-of-it]]. Then a bunch of us took it home to our own children and they loved it."<ref name=TVFamily/> The [[The Naked Brothers Band (TV series)|''Naked Brothers Band'' television series]] ran from 2007 to 2009.<ref name=TVFamily/><ref name=interview>{{cite news|url=http://newyorkkids.timeout.com/articles/features/77701/nat-and-alex-wolff-interview-for-the-naked-brothers-band|title=Nat and Alex Wolff interview for the Naked Brothers Band|author=Purington, Christy|work=Time Out New York Kids|year=2009|access-date=October 26, 2009|archive-date=October 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016215437/http://newyorkkids.timeout.com/articles/features/77701/nat-and-alex-wolff-interview-for-the-naked-brothers-band|url-status=live}}</ref> Draper was the creator, [[head writer]], executive producer, and director,<ref name=TVFamily/><ref name=NYTimes2/> while Hecht was the other executive producer and his production company Worldwide Biggies distributed the series.<ref name=variety2/><ref name=WorldwideBiggies>{{cite news | last=Leonard | first=Devin | title=No, Albie's not crazy | url=https://money.cnn.com/2007/12/04/technology/worldwide_biggies.fortune/?section=money_news_newsmakers | date=December 5, 2007 | work=CNNMoney.com | access-date=September 19, 2009 | archive-date=October 18, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018080836/http://money.cnn.com/2007/12/04/technology/worldwide_biggies.fortune/?section=money_news_newsmakers | url-status=live }}</ref> Later, [[television movie|made-for-TV movies]] were created and aired as the series continued—a total of eight have been screened on Nickelodeon. The latter films often consisted of an extended, two-part episode—Nickelodeon usually uses the "movie" definition for these hour-long episodes—and were usually broadcast as part of a holiday event or on weekends.<ref name=prnewswire>{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-21-2008/0004908603&EDATE=|title=Nickelodeon's New Season of The Naked Brothers Band Rocks as Week's Top Live-Action Show With Kids and Tweens|work=[[PRNewswire]]|date=October 21, 2008|access-date=September 3, 2009}}</ref> ===International debuts=== The film aired worldwide, debuting in Canada on September 10, 2007 on [[YTV (Canadian TV channel)|YTV]] and in [[Nickelodeon (Germany)|Germany]] on October 20, 2007.<ref name=IMDb4>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0444736/releaseinfo|title=The Nake2005) (TV) – Release dates|work=Internet Movie Database|access-date=June 2, 2009|archive-date=March 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314093755/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0444736/releaseinfo|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=corusmedia>{{cite news|url=http://www.corusmedia.com/ytv/newsletter/2007september/takeNoteSeptember2007.pdf|title=News from Sales & Co-Marketing – Programming News: Coming to YTV This Fall! – The Naked Brothers Band|publisher=[[YTV (Canadian TV channel)|YTV]]|date=September 2007|access-date=June 2, 2009|archive-date=August 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803070001/https://www.corusent.com/advertising/brands/corus-media/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film received a [[DVD region code#1|Region 1]] DVD release on April 3, 2007 through [[Nickelodeon]] and [[Paramount Home Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.com/Naked-Brothers-Band-Movie-Only/dp/B000M343CG | title=The Naked Brothers Band – The Movie (DVD Only) | website=Amazon | date=8 April 2008 | access-date=May 9, 2009 | archive-date=24 July 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724120330/http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Brothers-Band-Movie-Only/dp/B000M343CG | url-status=live }}</ref> ==Reception== {{Quote box | quote = "Like [[Robert Rodriguez|Roberto Rodriguez]]{{sic}}, who fashioned his ''[[The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D]]'' screenplay from his offspring's story, Draper has modeled her scenario on her sons' actual behavior and musical compositions, set within the clichéd rise-and-fall structures of VH-1's 'Behind the Music' bios." | source = —Ronnie Scheib<ref name=variety/> | bgcolor = #c6dbf7 | align = right | width = 35% }} The film won the audience award for a family feature film at the [[Hamptons International Film Festival]] in 2005.<ref name=variety2/><ref name=TVFamily/> It also received a nomination at the [[Young Artist Awards]] in 2008 for Best Television Movie or Special.<ref name=YoungArtistAwards>{{cite web|url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms29.html |title=29th Young Artist Awards |work=Young Artist Foundation |date=1979–2012 |access-date=July 15, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706161000/http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms29.html |archive-date=July 6, 2008 }}</ref> When it premiered on Nickelodeon in January 2007, it was seen by an average of 2.7&nbsp;million viewers.<ref name=ustoday>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2007-01-30-nielsens-analysis_x.htm|title=Viewers are kind to 'Idol'|work=[[USA Today]]|first=Gary|last=Levin|date=January 30, 2007|access-date=June 14, 2009|quote='''Cable corner.''' ''Nickelodeon's Naked Brothers Band Movie'', a precursor to the series about pint-sized musicians, averaged a modest 2.7 million viewers Saturday.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024164622/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2007-01-30-nielsens-analysis_x.htm|archive-date=October 24, 2012}}</ref> The movie was also broadcast four times, producing a total viewership of 14 million;<ref name=washington>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/02/AR2007020201796.html|title='Naked Brothers,' Ready for Much More Exposure|author=Frey, Jennifer|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|date=February 3, 2007|access-date=January 30, 2013|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305031759/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/02/AR2007020201796.html|url-status=live}}</ref> it was placed on the top 10 spot of ''[[Nielsen VideoScan]]'' children's non-theatrical DVD charts.<ref name=ustoday /><ref name=PRNewswire>{{cite news|url=http://www2.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/09-19-2007/0004666022&EDATE=|title=Nickelodeon's Hit Rock 'n' Roll Mockumentary The Naked Brothers Band Presents its First One-Hour TV Movie, Battle of the Bands on Saturday, October 6 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT)|publisher=[[PRNewswire]]|date=September 19, 2007|access-date=April 12, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420145221/http://www2.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109|archive-date=April 20, 2010}}</ref> The song "Crazy Car" was downloaded more than 100,000 times on [[iTunes]]; and it peaked at number eighty-three on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] for one week and the track was featured on the ''Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice, Vol 3''.<ref name=prnews>{{cite news|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nickelodeon-kids-choice-awards-vol-3-cd-taps-into-kids-favorite-musical-artists-as-kids-choice-awards-celebrates-20th-star-studded-anniversary-51599507.html|title=Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, Vol 3 CD Taps Into Kids Favorite Musical Artists as Kids' Choice Awards Celebrates 20th Star-Studded Anniversary|work=[[PR Newswire]]|date=March 21, 2007|access-date=December 22, 2009|archive-date=June 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605121604/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nickelodeon-kids-choice-awards-vol-3-cd-taps-into-kids-favorite-musical-artists-as-kids-choice-awards-celebrates-20th-star-studded-anniversary-51599507.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Ronnie Sheib, of ''Variety'', wrote: "Convincingly faithful to kids' rhythms and speech patterns, and featuring several catchy if one-chorus numbers, this bouncy, feel-good kidpic, with targeted release strategy, could rock peers and parents alike."<ref name=variety/> Felicia R. Lee from ''The New York Times'' called the film "an ebullient mock documentary".<ref name=TVFamily/> ==References== {{reflist|30em}} ==External links== * {{IMDb title|0444736}} * {{Amg movie|340193}} * {{rotten-tomatoes|naked_brothers_band_the_movie}} {{The Naked Brothers Band}} {{good article}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Naked Brothers Band, The}} [[Category:2005 films]] [[Category:American children's comedy films]] [[Category:American independent films]] [[Category:American musical comedy films]] [[Category:American rock music films]] [[Category:Documentary films about children]] [[Category:Documentary films about musical groups]] [[Category:Films set in New York City]] [[Category:Films shot in New York City]] [[Category:American mockumentary films]] [[Category:Musical films based on actual events]] [[Category:Nickelodeon original films]] [[Category:Television films as pilots]] [[Category:2005 directorial debut films]] [[Category:Films directed by Polly Draper]] [[Category:2000s English-language films]] [[Category:2000s American films]]'