Directed by Andrew Davis
Novel and screenplay by Louis Sachar

Sigourney Weaver .... The Warden Walker
Jon Voight .... Mr. Sir/Marion Sirvio
Patricia Arquette .... Katherine 'Kissin' Kate' Barlow
Shia LaBeouf .... Stanley Yelnats IV/Caveman
Tim Blake Nelson .... Mr. Pendanski
Khleo Thomas .... Hector Zero
Jake M. Smith .... Squid
Byron Cotton .... Armpit
Brenden Jefferson .... X-Ray
Miguel Castro .... Magnet
Siobhan Fallon .... Mrs. Yelnats
Max Kasch .... Zig-Zag
Henry Winkler .... Stanley Yelnats III
Nathan Davis .... Stanley Yelnats II
Scott Plank .... Charles 'Trout' Walker
Dule Hill .... Sam the Onion Man
Damien Luvara .... Elya Yelnats

Produced by
Lowell D. Blank .... producer
Andrew Davis .... producer
Marty P. Ewing .... executive producer
Mike Medavoy .... producer
Louis Phillips .... executive producer
Teresa Tucker-Davies .... producer

Original Music by Joel McNeely
Cinematography by Stephen St. John

Film Editing by Thomas J. Nordberg and Jeffrey Wolf

Holes (Newbery Medal Book, 1999)
by Louis Sachar, Frieder
"If you take a bad boy and make him dig a hole every day in the hot sun, it will turn him into a good boy." Such is the reigning philosophy at Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention facility where there is no lake, and there are no happy campers. In place of what used to be "the largest lake in Texas" is now a dry, flat, sunburned wasteland, pocked with countless identical holes dug by boys improving their character. Stanley Yelnats, of palindromic name and ill-fated pedigree, has landed at Camp Green Lake because it seemed a better option than jail. No matter that his conviction was all a case of mistaken identity, the Yelnats family has become accustomed to a long history of bad luck, thanks to their "no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather!" Despite his innocence, Stanley is quickly enmeshed in the Camp Green Lake routine: rising before dawn to dig a hole five feet deep and five feet in diameter; learning how to get along with the Lord of the Flies-styled pack of boys in Group D; and fearing the warden, who paints her fingernails with rattlesnake venom. But when Stanley realizes that the boys may not just be digging to build character--that in fact the warden is seeking something specific--the plot gets as thick as the irony.

It's a strange story, but strangely compelling and lovely too. Louis Sachar uses poker-faced understatement to create a bizarre but believable landscape--a place where Major Major Major Major of Catch-22 would feel right at home. But while there is humor and absurdity here, there is also a deep understanding of friendship and a searing compassion for society's underdogs. As Stanley unknowingly begins to fulfill his destiny--the dual plots coming together to reveal that fate has big plans in store--we can't help but cheer for the good guys, and all the Yelnats everywhere. (Ages 10 and older) --Brangien Davis

"You are to dig one hole each day, including Saturdays and Sundays. Each hole must be five feet deep, and five feet across in every direction. Your shovel is your measuring stick."

If you're not familiar with the previous paragraph, you don't know Holes -which is right in there with Harry Potter, in terms of Gen Y.

Published in 1998, Louis Sachar's Holes has been awarded both the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award for children's literature. With 2.7 million copies in print (2003), it is outselling most new fiction.

ARE YOU CONNECTED TO GEN Y?
Gen Y is the generation born on or before 1986. The oldest graduates High School this year (2003). So, do ya wanna know if you are connecting to Gen Y? Do you want to know if you are with it? Here's the test: When you hear the word ARMPIT what do you think of?

If the name of a boy was not even a remote thought to you, then you are disconnected. Ask any 7th grader and they will tell you about a certain boy in the book HOLES.

Books that form part of the the holy cannon for Gen Y are the Harry Potter series and Holes. Therefore this movie is very significant!

Gen Y is unique in that they have no knowledge of a time before PCs or CDs! Most believe popcorn has always been popped by microwave. For Baby Boomers (1946-64) microwave ovens, PCs and CDs are all recent, but for Gen Y these items are ancient technologies.

Unfortunately, certain "Christian" groups are ready to throw rocks at what Gen Y considers part of its identity. One Christian reviewer is warning parents to stay away from HOLES due to the curse from a fortune teller and because the word DAMN is said twice in the film. And in terms certain "Christian" attitudes regarding HARRY POTTER, oh my, do I even need to go there. But, let's move on, shall we?

Let's build bridges to Gen Y, rather than throwing rocks at those things that they see as part of their identity. Okay?

When I went to see Holes, the theatre was packed, and mostly with Gen Y. I really had to look for an available seat --this film is exceedingly important.

HOLES IS EXCELLENT
I really liked this film. However, when viewing Holes, keep in mind that this is a fantasy, pure and simple. There is little that could actually happen in real life -again, it is fantasy. Yet at the same time, it is true to the human condition -and that is what makes this a powerful story.

It is a story that has captured the hearts of a generation! A story designed to teach important human values and lessons.

It demonstrates the importance of family.

It underlines the value of friendship.

It teaches that there are consequences to actions, good and bad.

It presents life as not always fair.

It demonstrates how the mere thumb of God is more than any curse. That God's "presence" brings nourishment, living water, and healing.

It teaches that good ultimately overcomes evil.

That evil doers may have a season, but that destiny is tended for the good.

Here is a story of triumphant grace and mercy --over harsh, needless and human laws.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PRODUCTION COMPANY
It is the goal of Walden Media of turning quality books into great motion pictures. They are the group currently involved in bring C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia to the screen. I must say that I am very excited about the commitment of this company.

If all goes well, they will be releasing all seven Narnia books, one per year, as feature films beginning in 2005. Exciting stuff!

Walden Media released ?Ghosts of the Abyss? on April 11th, 2003, with The Walt Disney Company. In this groundbreaking 3D large format film, director James Cameron uses state-of-the-art technology, including revolutionary 3D photography, to journey back to Titanic. Currently in production is a film adaptation of Jules Verne?s ?Around The World In Eighty Days,? with Jackie Chan attached to star. The company is making the first live-action film adaptations of C.S. Lewis?s book series The Chronicles of Narnia, beginning with ?The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? to be directed by Andrew Adamson (?Shrek?).

In 2001, Walden Media was created by educator Micheal Flaherty and, former president of Miramax Films? Dimension label, Cary Granat, with backing of billionaire Philip Anschutz (he's the guy that built the fabulous Staples Center).

They represent something good in Hollywood. They are literally filling some of the the Holes in the motion picture industry (pun intended).

As Entertainment Weekly states, "Seems Holes is hollowed ground."

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