Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer

Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer

Cast: Jordana Beatty, Heather Graham, Paris Mosteller, Janet Varney, Kristoffer Winters
Director: John Schultz
Genre: Adventure
Rated: PG
Running Time: 91 minutes

Synopsis: When her best-laid plans for a summer full of fun go comically awry, an imaginative young girl creates her own vacation adventures in Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer. Based on the belove d, bestselling book series by Megan McDonald, Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer is an irresistible and delightfully funny treat for adventure-loving kids and adults.

Release Date: October 27th, 2011

About the Production

In 2000, the world first met Judy Moody, the amusingly mercurial heroine of Megan McDonald's bestselling book series. Since then, the adventurous tyke has inspired eight additional books and the series has sold a phenomena l 14 million copies in 23 languages. Now Judy is poised to make her big screen debut in Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer.

Author Megan McDonald is still pinching herself over seeing her creation come to cinematic life. Megan McDonald began her career as a children's librarian, but transitioned into writing when her fanciful stories became popular with parents and kids. "I wanted to tell some funny stories about growing up with my sisters," she says. "I am Ju dy Moody in a way, but she's grown way beyond the initial things that I based her on. She's really taken on her own personality.

"When you first see Judy with her messy hair and her colorful wardrobe, you know this is a creative, imaginative child," adds Sarah Siegel-Magness. "She has a lot of ups and downs, like we all do, and the books are about the things that happen every day. You don't always win the spelling bee. You go to the pet contest and something goe s wrong when your cat tries to make toast."

Producer Sarah Siegel-Magness of Smokewood Entertainment first encountered Judy when her daughter brought the books home as required reading for her third grade class. Sarah Siegel-Magn ess was captivated by the series' humorous and imaginative take on life in elementary school and saw the independent character as a positive role model for both girls and boys.

"The books entertained my daughter and me at the sam e time, which I thought was the perfect mix for a family film," says Sarah Siegel-Magness. "I was a strong, independent kid myself. I never had all the magical things kids have nowadays. Life was about going in the backyard and jumping o n the trampoline or playing with other kids. That's what's so fantastic about Judy Moody. She doesn't have magical powers. It is so important to teach children how to have real fun."

At the time, Sarah Siegel-Magness and her part ner and husband Gary Magness were in the middle of production on the acclaimed 2009 film Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, which won two Academy Awards® and was nominated for four more, including Best Picture. A children 's movie might not have seemed the most obvious choice for their next project, but, says Sarah Siegel-Magness, "For me, it's all about the story. I don't gravitate toward any one particular genre. I like a compelling story that makes me laugh and cry and go through a whole range of emotions. I like a story I can feel passionate about telling."

The producer was won over by Judy's optimism, love of family and ability to learn lessons from her mischievous adventure s, and believed those qualities would resonate with film audiences and fit Smokewood's commitment to making films with positive messages. But competition to win the rights to the enormously popular book series was fierce. "It took a lot of patience to get the option," says Bobbi Sue Luther, executive producer for Smokewood Entertainment. "It was a labor of love for Sarah Siegel-Magness because she cared so much about this little girl. Sarah Siegel-Magness is the mother of this movie, and the rest of us all feel like we're the nannies."

Executive producer Andrew Sugerman agrees. "Sarah Siegel-Magnes s was the real force behind getting this movie made," he says. "She wanted to make sure that what children love about reading these books is what audiences are going to love about seeing this movie."

Candlewick Press, publisher o f the Judy Moody series, was approached by a number of producers, including some with major studio backing, about making the books into a movie. But, like Judy, Sarah Siegel-Magness was determined to take home the prize. She had to convi nce them that Smokewood would translate Judy Moody's unique look, vocabulary and style authentically for the screen. "It was a difficult process because they wanted to make sure that the character was taken care of properly," she says. " It took a year and a lot of heartache, because I was so passionate about this project."

Eventually, the producer was able to arrange a meeting with Megan McDonald to discuss her ideas for the film. "Within five minutes of meeting Sarah Siegel-Magness, I knew she was the one," says Megan McDonald. "No one else had such passion. She had a strong, clear vision of why she loved these characters and how she wanted the film to come together."

Megan McDonald wa s brought on to write the screenplay. Given that it was her first feature script, the author asked the producers to consider bringing on a more experienced co-writer from the worlds of film or television. In fact, she had someone specifi c in mind: her childhood best friend, Kathy Waugh, who had written for several award-winning children's programs. Sarah Siegel-Magness agreed, and together they got to work developing the concept for a new story.

"We drew inspira tion from the existing books without repeating actual storylines," Sarah Siegel-Magness says. "We used important pieces of the books to develop the character, where she lives, and who her parents and her friends are."

The writers decided to take Judy out of the classroom, which figures prominently in the books, and into a summer vacation adventure. Judy challenges her three best friends, Rocky, Amy Namey and Frank Who-Eats-Paste Pearl to a thrill-point race for the most mega-rare, NOT bummer summer ever. But Rocky and Amy are already planning to go away for the summer, and Judy feels left behind with just Frank and her little brother Stink to help her accumulate thrill points.

Many fami liar faces from the books appear in the film, joined by an intriguing new character, an adult who matches Judy's imagination and zest for life. "Mom and Dad go away and Judy's Aunt Opal comes to stay," says Megan McDonald. "We spent a good deal of time developing that character and writing a whole backstory for Aunt Opal. She's very artistic and a little bit outside the box, but not wacky. She sparkles with energy."

John Schultz is a director with a knack for getting excellent performances from young performers and a history of directing family films that are equally entertaining for children and adults. "He was the first person I wanted to speak with," says Sarah Siegel-Magness. "I love his boyish charm and I knew he was the perfect person for this movie. He's such a great communicator and he really is just a big kid."

John Schultz and Sarah Siegel-Magness connected immediately. "It's almost as if we're one brain," she says. "We always seemed to be on the same path. Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer is a female-driven movie and when John came in, he brought in action where we wouldn't have seen it. That action has made the movie more dynamic and we have John to thank for that."

John Schultz says he wanted the movie to be "funny and bright and exciting. It's a fun blast of summer, but at its heart, it's about Judy coming to the realisation that she doesn't need to chart the summer all out like a homework assignment to have the best vacation ever. Judy learns to enjoy what's happening now and live in the moment."

It took three years for Sarah Siegel-Magness to fulfill her dream of bringing Judy Moody to the big screen. "When we set out on this journey, our goal was to make a timeless family film that would resonate with girls, boys, moms and dads in equal measure," she says. "We tried to make a film that stayed true to fans of the book series, but also make it accessible enough for new fans.

"I hope kids take away that it's not about the thrill points," adds the producer. "It's about the experiences you have trying to get them. It's not about winning the competition, it's about being in the competition and applying that idea to everything you do in life. That's a good lesson for adults, too. We sometimes forget that life is about what we do every day and not about what we win."

Finding Judy and Her Friends
One of the biggest challenges a filmmaker faces when bringing beloved characters to the screen is meeting longtime fans' expectations. "Because the book series is both character-driven and extremely visual, we felt it was important to find kids who looked exactly like the book characters," says Sarah Siegel-Magness. "In some ways, it was the hardest part of my job. A lot of kids who auditioned were good actors, but they did not look the part. I think we met every kid in Los Angeles and New York, and in the end we found amazing actors who also have the right look."

Of course, identifying the perfect Judy was paramount. The filmmakers met with up-and-coming young actresses all over the United States, but none seemed to have both the acting skills and the right appearance to play the iconic character. "Finding Judy was a gigantic challenge," says John Schultz. "Peter Reynolds' drawings in the books set the template for what Judy had to look like. We were also asking a very young actress to carry a film. Judy is in every scene in the movie. That's a tall order."

It was Megan McDonald who asked the producers if they would meet with Australian actress Jordana Beatty after learning she had been cast to play another legendary literary character, Eloise, in Eloise in Paris. "I think we had exhausted all of our options for casting little girls in this age group in the United States," says Sarah Siegel-Magness. "Jordana Beatty did a Skype audition from Australia and I knew she was the one. There was a sparkle in her eye that only Judy Moody could have. But I didn't meet her in person until she showed up to start the movie. It was blind faith."
Jordana Beatty, who followed her mother and sister into the acting profession, met with Megan McDonald during pre-production to discuss the character. Meeting with Jordana Beatty, Megan McDonald got goose bumps. "Jordana Beatty is Judy Moody," she says. "She had read all the books and thought about the character. She found all the connections between the two of them. I could not have asked for a more wonderful Judy Moody."

They spent time talking about similarities and differences between Jordana Beatty and her fictional counterpart. "Judy Moody is a fun-loving person who always has a plan and so am I," says Jordana Beatty. "Once she gets an idea, she sticks to it, and she won't stop until she gets it done. Most of the time, her plans don't go the way she wants them to, but afterward she realises she's had a good time anyway.

"We have the same hair color," the actress continues. "And we both have collections. I collect business cards, Japanese erasers that look like food, and I also have a big collection of books. I started a collection of hotel and restaurant mints, but then I ate them."

Although this is her first leading role in a film, Jordana Beatty brought all the professionalism of a seasoned actor to the set, says Luther. "Jordana beatty is the most magical little girl I've ever met. She's 12 years old, but she's so much more like an adult. From the moment she arrived until the last shot of the day, she had exactly the same intensity. She hit her marks and was as professional as any Oscar®-nominated actor I've known." Jordana Beatty worked with a dialect coach before shooting started to perfect her American accent, picking up the basics quickly. "The dialect coach made it really fun," she says. "Before long, I found it really easy to talk in an American accent. Now, whenever I'm around Americans, it seems natural."

The young actress forged tight bonds with Preston Bailey, Garrett Ryan and Taylar Hender, the actors who play Judy's best friends. "Judy Moody's friends in the books are my friends in real life now," she says. "And when I film with them, it's like a whole different world because we're playing the characters, but the characters are friends anyway."

Jordana Beatty loves the way Judy uses language, creating words if existing ones don't fit her mood. "Judy makes up her own words, like 'Frank, my-used-to-be-second-best-friend-but-now-he's-my-enemy,'" says Jordana Beatty. "Or 'Supercalifragilistic-expithrilladellic.' They just come out of her head on the spot."

For the role of Aunt Opal, the zany, artsy and automobile-challenged relative who eventually helps Judy turn her summer into a thrill-a-delic adventure, the filmmakers cast Heather Graham. "Heather Graham brings a wonderful, bohemian quality to her character," says Andrew Sugerman. "She's like an off-beat Mary Poppins. It's delightful, and her relationship with the kids is wonderful in the movie."

It was a welcome chance for the actress, best known for roles in films including Boogie Nights, Drugstore Cowboy and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, to do a family-oriented film. "I adore my friends' kids and I sponsor kids with the Cambodian Children's Fund," says Graham. "I wanted to do something they could see. The story is about finding the fun in life even in situations that might not be super obviously fun."Aunt Opal is a freewheeling artist who takes time out from her world travels to stay with Judy and Stink, carrying with her a trunk full of exotic surprises. Judy's initial apprehension about spending the summer with a stranger evaporates as Aunt Opal reveals herself to be a kindred spirit. "Heather Graham is amazing as Aunt Opal in the same way that Jordana Beatty is Judy Moody," says Megan McDonald. "She completely embraced this character. Heather Graham lights up the screen. Who would not want to spend the summer with Heather Graham as your Aunt Opal?"

Heather Graham describes her character as "a guerilla artist" who can make art from the most mundane objects. "They did an amazing job with the art my character creates," says Heather Graham. "It's a metaphor for taking what life gives you and making it into something beautiful. Aunt Opal is a really free spirit and somewhat childlike, so she relates to Judy and wants to be a mentor."

The role required excellent comedy skills, as well as openness and creativity, according to Sue Luther. "Heather Graham was able to bring all those elements to the part. I saw her as an adult Judy, unique, artistic, creative and open. It really resonates in the scene where you realise Aunt Opal and Judy Moody have become friends. It's the perfect pairing."

Heather Graham embraced the experience of working on a set full of children. "The kids are the stars, so it was beautiful chaos on the set," she says. "And John Schultz as a director is so playful and mischievous. I mentioned to him how joyful it is to dance with my best friend's kids and he got the entire crew to go out and freeze dance. I think that expresses what it was like to work on this film, because it was fun and lighthearted."

Megan McDonald parted a bit from her own family history by giving Judy Moody a little brother, Stink, played by Parris Mosteller. "Parris Mosteller is challenging in the ways any eight-year-old boy would be," says Sarah Siegel-Magness. "He's a very curious kid and that comes off on camera. He brings a sassiness to the part that is so much fun."

The young actor's natural ebullience was perfect for the character, according to John Schultz. "In real life, Parris Mosteller has the same attitude that Stink has in the movie," says the director. "He's going to do his own thing, no matter what others think, and he's going to have fun doing it. He's a highly energetic, highly charismatic kid with a bubbling personality. That's exactly how Stink is in the movie."

This is Parris Mosteller's first film. "And it's awesome," he says. "Stink is really funny. He likes to stink the place up. He wants Judy to come with him to find Bigfoot, and she does. Stink can always get help because he looks cute."

Parris Mosteller says he can't wait for the movie to reach theaters and has high hopes for his big screen debut. "I think other kids will like it a lot," he says. "I want to show the movie to thousands of people, in China, Japan, England, Thailand and the North Pole. Ship the movie all around, so everybody can see it!"

The filmmakers like to say that Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer has its own "brat pack," which includes Jordana Beatty, Preston Bailey, Garrett Ryan and Taylar Hender. "We called them that, but they were not bratty at all," confesses Sarah Siegel-Magness. "I'm so in love with Preston Bailey, AmyN Namey and Garrett Ryan. Their collaboration was unique."

Working with so many gifted kids was the best part of the experience for Megan McDonald. "It's just a very special group of young actors," says the writer. "They brought a real professionalism, as well as joy. When they're on screen, it's magic. They all read the book and got the characters.
"Preston Bailey, who plays Frank Pearl, looks like he just walked off the pages of the book," she adds. "He's taken that character so far beyond what I even imagined from the books. He actually made me cry at one point and I was not expecting that at all."

Frank turns Judy's challenges into a series of disasters that throw a monkey wrench into her quest for thrill points. "I got to go surfing," says Preston Bailey. "And I got plowed by a wave. I went on the Scream Monster, which is a roller coaster and I threw up. I went on a tight rope and I fell off."

According to Preson Bailey, there was just as much fun on and off the set as there is on the screen. "We're always talking," he says. "One weekend, they all came down to my house and we went boogie boarding. We're all really, really close friends."

Garrett Ryan plays Rocky, Judy's No.1 best friend. "We nicknamed him Mr. Smiley," McDonald says. "He's such an upbeat, happy kid."

Rocky comes from a circus family and he misses out on Judy's dare because he is at circus camp. "He juggles, he spins plates and he love magic tricks," says Garrett Ryan. "I'm also really into magic tricks and I juggle and all that stuff, so the most fun scene for me had to be the circus scene. There are elephants and ponies and a whole audience watching the Ring Master and me. We are in this humungo tent and I cut Judy in half. It was incredibly fun."

Garrett Ryan was thrilled when Megan McDonald told him that Rocky was inspired by a real person. "Her nephew's best friend's name is Rocky and that's who she based this character on. She is so incredibly nice, it feels like she is one of the Judy Moody kids."

Taylar Hender was a fan of the books series well before being asked to play Judy's other best friend, Amy Namey. She sees a lot of parallels between herself and her character, especially because they are both very organised. "That's why continuity was the most interesting thing for me on the movie," she says. "If I'm filming one scene one week, and then we go back to it the next week, it has to be exactly the same. Even my hair has to be exactly the same. Some people would think that you film in order, but you don't."

Taylar Hender also shares Amy Namey's interest in nature. "The toad pee scene was the most fun scene of all time," she says. "That may seem strange, because the toad pees on me, which probably wouldn't be fun for everybody, but it was interesting for me. I'm growing bacteria at home. I grow bacteria on a daily basis. But it's for a science project; I'm not weird."

Executive producer Andrew Sugerman has high praise for the young cast members. "Preston Bailey, Garret Ryan and Taylar Hender are just fantastic in the movie," he says. "They all brought wonderful qualities that were very specific and on point with the characters as they were portrayed in the books. It's just this lovely, delightful comedy, the atmosphere on set is wonderful and working with kids is wonderful. It brings a great energy to the set."

To play Mr. Todd, Judy's third grade teacher, the filmmakers tapped actor Jaleel White, who first made his name as child actor, playing super-nerd Steve Urkel on the hit TV show "Family Matters." "Jaleel White is fantastic," the producer says. "Because he was a kid actor himself, he gave us some really good ideas about how to manage these kids. He's super funny. He sings in this way which, as an actor who doesn't generally sing, is hard to do. He's perfectly Mr. Todd in every way."

Mr. Todd has been called "the greatest teacher in the world" by his students. "Mr. Todd is Richard Pryor and Mr. Rogers rolled into one," says Jaleel White. "He's not a stereotypical, boring teacher. He is a performer in all aspects of life, whether he's selling ice cream or teaching his class. And every kid that passes through his class tells another kid, 'Hey, did you have Mr. Todd? I had Mr. Todd.' He's unforgettable."

His young co-stars agree that Jaleel White would be the world's greatest teacher. "He's definitely one of the only teachers I know that can pull off a great Steve Urkel and play the banjo," says Preston Bailey. "It was really cool that I got to work with him. He's so nice, and he is really funny."

Jaleel White is not a trained musician and says he never touched a banjo before this film. "It was a stressful ordeal trying to get the banjo playing down. It definitely took me outside of my comfort zone and when you step outside of your comfort zone, special things happen."

With a one-year-old daughter of his own, White says that when he can entertain kids in a wholesome way, he is proud. "John Schultz's mother was on set and everybody had to meet Mrs. Schultz. John Schultz was a little flushed, because he had no idea what stories his mother was telling. She was saying, 'My boy, John Schultz, will never do a dirty movie. Ever.' I thought it was wonderful. It just shows you how much responsibility we have to make films that will still connect to families first."

Making a cameo appearance in Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer is a spunky youngster who could give Judy a run for her money in terms of talent, creativity and determination. Eleven-year-old singer and actress Camryn also contributed three songs to the soundtrack, including "So What Oh Well," "Summer" and "Wait and See,"-a bouncy anthem about turning dreams into reality that is her debut single and the title track on her upcoming album. The music video for "Wait and See," which features Camryn in a playful backstage romp, was filmed on the set of Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer and will be the film's official music video.

A living embodiment of Judy's irrepressible style, the multi-talented performer says, "When I think about 'Wait and See,' I feel it perfectly reflects where I am in my life and career now. Its lyrics are about being carefree, running barefoot through the sand, and catching the wind in your hand. It's telling the world that I'm going to follow my dreams no matter what anyone says. I'm excited about sharing who I am with the world and inspiring young guys and girls to follow their own dreams."

It's Judy's World
The filmmakers were as meticulous in recreating Judy's universe as they were in casting its inhabitants. Everything from sets and costumes to hair and make-up is instantly recognisable to anyone familiar with the books. "Finding out there was going to be a movie was an over-the-moon moment for me," says Megan McDonald. "But it didn't feel real until I actually walked onto the set. They spent countless hours bringing the tiniest things from the books to life."

Production designer Cynthia Charette printed every illustration from the books, taping them up on a wall to allow her team to replicate the details, right down to the name of the peanut butter in the Moody kitchen. "This was a dream project, full of joy, fantasy and whimsy," says Cynthia Charette. "We felt the most important room was her bedroom. We pulled in the rug, the polka dots, her bubble gum collection and some of projects she did in school, like an armadillo she created for a class project from the book. One of the bigger concepts was playing with scale. In the illustrations of her bedroom, the lamp on the desk is very small, and the piggy bank is very large. We matched that."

Peter Reynolds' charming illustrations also inspired the filmmakers to portray Judy's vivid imagination and flights of fancy in gorgeous 3-D animation. "One of the reasons I was drawn to working with Sarah Siegel-Magness was that she imagined a live action film that would include animation," Megan McDonald says. "Whenever I'd imagined Judy Moody in a film, I wasn't sure whether live action or animation would be best. To see it come to life both ways was so much fun."

"From day one, I wanted this film to be partially animated because I love Peter' Reynoldss brilliant drawings," says Sarah Siegel-Magness. "We had Reel F/X, the best animation house in Los Angeles, working on this project and it looks beautiful. The animation doesn't overwhelm the live action; it really complements it in a positive way. The difficult part of the process was to figure out how to incorporate it properly into the film without making it look like it's something separate. John Schultz really helped bridge the two worlds."

The color palette Cynthia Charette developed reflects the fantasy and whimsy of the books. "We use color to help tell the story," she says. "I wanted it all to feel like we were in a storybook. I never used primary or neon colors. The shutters on the house are blue, but it's got a little bit more joy in the tone, and the red of the front door is a little bit more cranberry."

Costume designer Mary Jane Fort was also instrumental in helping develop the color scheme. "Judy's fashion style is unique," says Cynthia Charette. "She takes different patterns and puts them together-flowers and stripes, and plaids and polka dots. Mary Jane went downtown and got all these crazy fabrics. When we started seeing those patterns mix and match, it helped inspire the overall color scheme."

"It was a wonderful challenge to bring a story that people know so well to life," says Mary Jane Fort. "You have to take what's there and then help it grow a little bit. Cynthia Charette and I worked together on big and small details, from what the wallpaper was going to look like to what color pajamas the kids would have on."

Each character was given his or her own color scheme. "Judy has rosy cheeks and red hair, she took over the red, orange, purple, yellow world," explains Mary Jane Fort. "We gave the blues to Frank and the greens to Stink. Amy is a bit more sophisticated, so she's a combination of many colors. And Jessica Finch is a pink girl.

"For Judy's wardrobe, we drew on themes in the illustrations like polka dots and swirls," she says. "And she uses her clothes like a real child would. She repeats things. She mixes and matches. I tried to imagine the way a child would use the clothes in her closet to dress herself."

Aunt Opal's peripatetic lifestyle and exotic history called for jewel tones, says the designer. "She's done everything and been everywhere," says Mary Jane Fort. "When she pops in, it brightens up the world. Opal is a grown-up kid with a sense of playfulness in the way she dresses."

Judy Moody is a hair-challenged girl and one of her trademarks is an errant curl atop her head. "Jordana Beatty possessed every quality that Judy Moody needs, except that little curl," says John Schultz. "It's Judy's trademark."

RaMona Fleetwood, head of the hair department, trimmed several inches of Jordanan Beatty's hair and fabricated a variety of curls for Judy. "It was all about the curl,' she says. "Everybody in the office was running around with a curl. We had a surf curl and a stunt curl. We have one famous blue curl."

Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer is set in Virginia, but was shot in Los Angeles, presenting a few logistical problems for the filmmakers. "It was tough creating the topography of Virginia," says Sue Luther. "There are palm trees everywhere in Los Angeles, and we had to frame them out completely. We don't have dune beaches in Los Angeles, so we had to go up north to Oxnard. We were able to create a magical world for the movie, especially Judy Moody's street. It is the most unique little street in Los Angeles with beautiful trees and painstakingly groomed homes. It could be Anywheresville, U.S.A."

But shooting in Los Angeles also offered many advantages, according to Sarah Siegel-Magness. "We have all the talent and all the equipment here. Most importantly, this is a family movie and I wanted us all to be able to stay with our families. My kids got to visit on set. All the other moms and dads got to have their kids visit. We went home to our families at the end of the day. That helped to really put our team together."

According to pretty much everyone involved in the movie, the most elaborate and most fun scene to film was set at the circus. It involved more than 300 background players, circus performers, horses, elephants, jugglers, fire breathers, and a circus choreographer to pull it all together. Many of the extras under the Big Top were from the Starlight Children's Foundation, which brightens the lives of chronically and seriously ill kids. They were thrilled by the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to appear in a family movie based on a beloved book series.

"It was so much fun meeting the Starlight kids," said Garrett Ryan, who plays budding circus performer Rocky. "It really made me feel good inside. I definitely think that it's something that Judy would do, because Judy Moody is a giving person."

While Judy Moody is best known for her rapidly changing moods and adventurous approach to the world, Megan McDonald points out that she also has a magnanimous and generous side. Bringing in the Starlight Foundation was just one way the filmmakers tried to honor that aspect of the central character.

"There's a book called Judy Moody Saves the World," observes the writer. "Judy tries to be very green in the book. She gets her family to recycle and inspires others to save water, save electricity, compost, and all those sorts of things. In keeping with that, Sarah Siegel-Magness decided that she wanted our set to be as green as possible. It's our hope that we can inspire more adults and kids to think about small things they can do in their own lives."

Sarah Siegel-Magness had witnessed the kind of waste that can go on each day on a busy film set. "After Precious, I promised myself that our next film would be an all-green set," she says. "I've had a lot of fun taking my personal philosophy and applying it to my business. It sets up camaraderie when everybody's working towards a common goal."

The producers' efforts to keep the set eco-friendly earned them the Environmental Media Association's Green Seal. "We loved working with EMA to secure the Green Seal, but wanted to do even more," explained Sue Luther. "We worked with the cast-particularly the kids-to help them understand the ways in which we could lessen our environmental footprint while in production. And we created interdepartmental contests so that the crew could be creative in finding even more ways to stay green. Our construction department was at the top of our list, with recycled set walls and recycled wood."

The production company also retrofitted trailers with CFL bulbs, reducing landfill contribution from the set to less than five percent, loaned bikes to all cast and crew to use as transportation to and from work as well as around the set, and outfitted the entire cast and crew with re-usable water bottles.

"We had sustainable and organic foods for craft services, as well as catering," Sue Luther adds. "We had a lot of help being green from different companies, including Whole Foods. They provided treats and set decoration for our kitchen, so we could take those principles we're using off screen on screen as well. It was really important to us that kids watching the film pick up on the organic elements and learn how important it is."

Coordinating the myriad aspects of the production was challenging, admits Sarah Siegel-Magness, but seeing it all come together was extremely satisfying. "I talked about making this movie for so long. And it was an even better experience than I expected. To see it all happen feels really good. We had so many passionate people on set giving their all. Because of the team we surrounded ourselves with, it became so much more than I ever could have imagined."

The Judy Moody Book Phenomenon
Candlewick Press' Judy Moody book series has won more than 30 children's literature awards, and appeared on the bestsellers list of the New York Times, Publishers Weekly and IndieBound. Beloved by kids, parents, teachers and librarians alike, books starring Judy have sold more than 14 million copies worldwide. She has been a bestselling character for the past decade in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and her adventures are popular in countries as far flung as India, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates. The books have been translated into 23 languages, including Chinese, Basque and Slovenian.

Currently In Print
Judy Moody
Judy Moody Gets Famous!
Judy Moody Saves the World
Judy Moody Predicts the Future
Judy Moody, M.D.
Judy Moody Declares Independence
Judy Moody Around the World in 8 ½ Days
Judy Moody Goes to College
Judy Moody Girl Detective

Coming Soon
Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer
Judy Moody Goes to Hollywood
Judy Moody and the Poop Picnic
Judy Moody and the Thrill Points Race
So You Want to Catch Bigfoot

Spinoff Books
Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker
Stink and the Worst Super Stinky Sneak