His life changed history. His courage changed lives. In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into public office in America. His victory was not just a victory for gay rights; he forged coalitions across the political spectrum. From senior citizens to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very nature of what it means to be a fighter for human rights and became, before his untimely death in 1978, a hero for all Americans. Milk charts the last eight years of Harvey Milk's life. While living in New York City, he turns 40. Looking for more purpose, Milk and his lover Scott Smith relocate to San Francisco, where they found a small business, Castro Camera, in the heart of a working-class neighborhood. With his beloved Castro neighborhood and beautiful city empowering him, Milk surprises Scott and himself by becoming an outspoken agent for change. With vitalizing support from Scott and from new friends like young activist Cleve Jones, Milk plunges headfirst into the choppy waters of politics. Bolstering his public profile with humor, Milk's actions speak even louder than his gift-of-gab words. When Milk is elected supervisor for the newly zoned District 5, he tries to coordinate his efforts with those of another newly elected supervisor, Dan White. But as White and Milk's political agendas increasingly diverge, their personal destinies tragically converge. Milk's platform was and is one of hope--a hero's legacy that resonates in the here and now.
| Also Known As: | Untitled (Groundswell/Gus Van Sant/Harvey Milk Project) |
| Production Status: | In Production/Awaiting Release |
| Logline: | The story of Harvey Milk (1930-1978), the San Francisco supervisor and first openly gay elected official in the United States, who was assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone by Daniel White the year after he was voted to the city supervisors' board. |
| Genres: | Drama, Biopic and Politics/Religion |
| Running Time: | 2 hrs. 8 min. |
| Release Date: | November 26th, 2008 (limited), December 5th (expands) |
| MPAA Rating: | R for language, some sexual content and brief violence. |
| Distributors: | Focus Features |
| Production Co.: | Groundswell Productions, Jinks/Cohen Company |
| Studios: | Focus Features |
| Financiers: | Co-Financier: Groundswell Productions, Focus Features |
| Filming Locations: | San Francisco, California USA |
| Produced in: | United States |
| Actors | |
| Sean Penn | Harvey Milk |
| Allison Pill | Anne Kronenberg |
| Josh Brolin | Dan White |
| Emile Hirsch | Cleve Jones |
| James Franco | Scott Smith |
| Victor Garber | Mayor George Moscone |
| Diego Luna | Jack Lira |
| Denis O'Hare | State Senator John Briggs |
| Lucas Grabeel | Danny Nicoletta |
| Kelvin Yu | Michael Wong |
| Alison Pill | Anne Kronenberg |
| Zvi Howard Rosenman | David Goodstein |
| Stephen Spinella | Rick Stokes |
| Tom Ammiano | Himself |
| Steve Wiig | McConnelly |
| Cully Fredricksen (II) | Assistant Sheriff |
| Mary Dilts | Channel 5 Reporter |
| Harry Britt | Michael Gillespie |
| Joseph Cross | Dick Pabich |
| Brandon Boyce | Jim Rivaldo |
| Jeff Koons | Art Agnos |
| Ted Jan Roberts (II) | Dennis Peron |
| Kelvin Han Yee | Gordon Lau |
| Robert Chimento | Phil Burton |
| Velina Brown | Morning Show Host |
| Scott Patrick Green | House Boy |
| Robert Nelson (IV) | San Francisco Cop No 1 |
| Richard Gross | Riot Cop |
| Mark Martinez (II) | Sylvester |
| Danny Glicker | Customer |
| Catherine Cook | Opera Performer - Tosca |
| Joe Meyer | Opera Performer - Spoletta |
| Joey Hoeber | Union Man |
| Jesse Caldwell | Chamber Clerk |
| Elias McConnell | Telephone Tree |
| Lynn McRee | Moscone’s Secretary |
| John Parson | Castro Man |
| kristen marie holly | Anne’s Friend |
| Dustin Lance Black | Castro Clone |
| Directors | |
| Gus Van Sant | Director |
| Writers | |
| Dustin Lance Black | Screenwriter |
| Producers | |
| Michael London | Executive Producer |
| Bruna Papandrea | Executive Producer |
| William Horberg | Executive Producer |
| Dustin Lance Black | Executive Producer |
| Barbara A. Hall | Executive Producer |
| Bruce Cohen | Producer |
| Dan Jinks | Producer |
| Camera, Film & Tape | |
| William S. Arnot | Steadicam Operator |
| Patrick McArdle | A Camera 1st Assistant |
| Tim Guffin | A Camera 2nd Assistant |
| Jan Ruona | B Camera 1st Assistant |
| John Garrett (IV) | B Camera 2nd Assistant |
| Phil Bray | Still Photographer |
| Michael Hatzer | Digital Intermediate Colorist (Efilm) |
| Loan Phan | Digital Intermediate Producer (Efilm) |
| Devon Miller | Digital Intermediate Editor (Efilm) |
| Chris Jensen (II) | Colorist Assistant (Efilm) |
| Patrick Clancey | Digital Opticals (Efilm) |
| mark sachen | Technicolor Dailies Colorist |
| Harris Savides | Director of Photography |
| Robert Dalva | Camera Operator |
| Kim Marks | Camera Operator |
| William S. Arnot | A Camera Operator |
| Michael Chin (II) | Additional Camera Operator |
| Editors | |
| Eric Hill (IV) | 1st Assistant Editor |
| Michael E. Phillips | Avid Editor (Avid Technology, Inc) |
| Elliot Graham | Editor |
| Casting | |
| Francine Maisler | Casting |
| Lauren Grey (II) | Casting Associate |
| Nina Henninger | Casting (San Francisco) |
| Sarah Kliban | Casting Associate (San Francisco) |
| Colleen Kenneavy | Extras Casting (Beau Bonneau Casting) |
| Executives | |
| Janice Williams | Executive in Charge of Production |
| David Gerson | Studio Executive (Focus Features) |
| Michael London | Chief Executive Officer (Groundswell Productions) |
| Bruna Papandrea | President (Groundswell Productions) |
| Janice Williams | Head of Physical Production (Groundswell Productions) |
| Daniel Pipski | Senior Vice President (Groundswell Productions) |
| Juliana Farrell | Vice President (Groundswell Productions) |
| Francey Grace | Production Executive (Groundswell Productions) |
| Production Management | |
| Michelle Lankwarden | Production Supervisor |
| Nancy Kirhoffer | Post-Production Supervisor |
| Carol DePasquale | Script Supervisor |
| Robert A. Hackl | Post-Production Supervisor |
| Lyn Norton-Matsuda | Script Supervisor |
| Barbara A. Hall | Unit Production Manager |
| Sharlene Duale | Production Coordinator |
| David J. Webb | 1st Assistant Director |
| John R. Saunders | 2nd Assistant Director |
| Ian Calip | 2nd 2nd Assistant Director |
| Cindy Taylor | Additional 2nd Assistant Director |
| Matthew Riutta | Key Assistant Location Manager |
| Dan Cooley | Assistant Location Manager |
| Felix Gehm (II) | Assistant Location Manager |
| Saisie M. Jang | Assistant Location Manager |
| Peter Moody | Assistant Location Manager |
| Art Department | |
| Susan Alegria | Assistant Art Director |
| John Micheletos | Leadman |
| Louis Visco | Set Decoration Gang Boss |
| Nate Belove | On Set Dresser |
| Dan Molnar | Set Dresser |
| Dale Haugo | Scenic Artist |
| Dale Haugo | Lead Painter |
| Tom Richardson | Scenic Foreman |
| B. J. Fredrickson | Stand By Painter |
| Lauren Abrams | Scenic Artist |
| Lauren Abrams | Painter |
| Charley Beal | Art Director |
| Halsted Craig Hannah | Graphic Designer |
| Chad Owens | Set Designer |
| Bill Groom | Production Designer |
| Barbara Munch | Set Decorator |
| Catherine Leyba | Set Decoration Coordinator |
| Wardrobe, Hair & Makeup | |
| Steven E. Anderson | Head Makeup Department |
| Sterfon Demings | Personal Hair Stylist (to Mr Penn) |
| Audrey Fisher | Assistant Costume Designer (Los Angeles) |
| Michael White (V) | Department Head Hair |
| Debra Dietrich | Key Hair Stylist |
| Jennifer Tremont | Hair Stylist |
| Victoria DeKay | Costume Supervisor |
| Michael Becker | Key Costumer |
| Deborah Travis | Key Set Costumer |
| Valerie White | Set Costumer |
| Andrea Cooper | Costumer |
| Chris Proctor (II) | Costumer |
| Diane Cornelius | Costumer |
| Deirdre Scully | Costumer |
| Nancy Hart Servin | Seamstress |
| Nancy Foreman | Seamstress |
| Danny Glicker | Costume Designer |
| Gretchen Davis | Key Makeup Artist |
| Stephan DuPuis | Makeup Artist:Sean Penn |
| Karen Bradley | Makeup Artist |
| Sound | |
| Neil Riha | Boom Operator |
| Felix Andrew | Boom Operator |
| Leslie Shatz | Sound Design (Wildfire Post-Production Studios) |
| Robert Jackson (II) | Supervising Dialogue Editor (Wildfire Post-Production Studios) |
| Leslie Shatz | Rerecording Mixer |
| Chris David | Rerecording Mixer (Wildfire Post-Production Studios) |
| Gus Van Sant | Rerecording Mixer (Wildfire Post-Production Studios) |
| Eric Thompson (III) | ADR Mixer (Wildfire Post-Production Studios) |
| Travis Mackay | ADR Recordist (Wildfire Post-Production Studios) |
| Andy Malcolm | Foley Artist (Wildfire Post-Production Studios) |
| Goro Koyama | Foley Artist (Wildfire Post-Production Studios) |
| Don White | Foley Mixer (Wildfire Post-Production Studios) |
| Leslie Shatz | Supervising Sound Editor (Wildfire Post-Production Studios) |
| Felix Andrew | Production Sound Mixer |
| Neil Riha | Production Sound Mixer |
| Michael Primmer | Cableperson |
| Gabe Serrano | Mix Recordist (Wildfire Post-Production Studios) |
| Music | |
| Danny Elfman | Music |
| Jill Meyers | Music Supervisor |
| Danny Elfman | Score Producer |
| Thomas Bowes | Orchestra Leader |
| Rick Wentworth | Conductor |
| Peter Cobbin | Score Recorder |
| Dennis Sands | Score Mixer |
| Chris Barrett (II) | Recording Assistant Engineer |
| Adam Olmsted | Mixing Digital Recordist |
| Jeff Atmajian | Orchestrations |
| Steve Bartek | Orchestrations |
| Edgardo Simone | Orchestrations |
| David Slonaker | Orchestrations |
| Isobel Griffiths | Orchestra Contractor |
| Marc Mann (II) | Orchestra Preparation |
| Dave Hage | Music Preparation (Dakota Music Service) |
| Yann McCullough | Digital Orchestral Timings (Dakota Music Service) |
| Ian Balmain | Featured Musician |
| John Parricelli | Featured Musician |
| Nicholas Bucknall | Featured Musician |
| Phil Todd | Featured Musician |
| Jenny O'Grady | Choirmaster (Metro Voices) |
| The Choristers of Reigate St Mary's Choir School | Boys’ Choir |
| Johann Sebastian Bach | Song (“Prelude No. 7 in E Flat (The Well Tempered Clavier – Book 2 BWV 876)”) |
| Swingle Singers (II) | Song Performer (“Prelude No. 7 in E Flat (The Well Tempered Clavier – Book 2 BWV 876)”) |
| David Bowie | Song (“Queen Bitch”) |
| David Bowie | Song Performer (“Queen Bitch”) |
| Maria Callas (II) | Song Performer (“Ah, Quegli Occhi! Quale Occhio Al Mondo”) |
| Giuseppe DiStefano | Song Performer (“Ah, Quegli Occhi! Quale Occhio Al Mondo”) |
| Teatro Alla Scala Orchestra | Song Performer (“Ah, Quegli Occhi! Quale Occhio Al Mondo”) |
| Wally Holmes | Song (“Rock the Boat”) |
| | Song Performer (“Rock the Boat”) |
| Bob Hackl | Song (“Takin’ My Time”) |
| Ken Stange (II) | Song (“Takin’ My Time”) |
| Vicki Hamilton | Song Performer (“Takin’ My Time”) |
| Giuseppe DiStefano | Song Performer (“E Lucevan Le Stelle”) |
| Teatro Alla Scala Orchestra | Song Performer (“E Lucevan Le Stelle”) |
| Maria Callas (II) | Song Performer (“Mia Gelosa!”) |
| Giuseppe DiStefano | Song Performer (“Mia Gelosa!”) |
| Teatro Alla Scala Orchestra | Song Performer (“Mia Gelosa!”) |
| Sylvester Stewart | Song (“Everyday People”) |
| Sly & The Family Stone | Song Performer (“Everyday People”) |
| Ken Stange (II) | Song (“Wake Up, San Francisco”) |
| Bob Hackl | Song (“Wake Up, San Francisco”) |
| Sourcerer | Song Performer (“Wake Up, San Francisco”) |
| Alec R. Costandinos | Song (“Love in C Minor”) |
| Jean-Marc Cerrone | Song (“Love in C Minor”) |
| Jean-Marc Cerrone | Song Performer (“Love in C Minor”) |
| Patti Smith | Song (“Till Victory”) |
| Lenny Kaye (II) | Song (“Till Victory”) |
| | Song Performer (“Till Victory”) |
| Allan Felder | Song (“The Player”) |
| Norman Harris | Song (“The Player”) |
| First Choice | Song Performer (“The Player”) |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Song (“Eine Kleine Nachtmusik K525”) |
| Swingle Singers (II) | Song Performer (“Eine Kleine Nachtmusik K525”) |
| Mildred Hill | Song (“Happy Birthday To You”) |
| Patty Hill | Song (“Happy Birthday To You”) |
| Sylvester James | Song (“You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)”) |
| James Wirrick | Song (“You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)”) |
| Sylvester | Song Performer (“You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)”) |
| E. Y. Harburg (II) | Song (“Over the Rainbow”) |
| Harold Arlen | Song (“Over the Rainbow”) |
| Judy Garland | Song Performer (“Over the Rainbow”) |
| John Philip Sousa (II) | Song (“The Washington Post March”) |
| Puccini | Song (“Presto, Su! Mario! Mario!”) |
| Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra | Song Performer (“Presto, Su! Mario! Mario!”) |
| Frances White | Song Performer (“Walk Through ‘Resonant Landscape’ No. 2”) |
| Frances White | Song (“Walk Through ‘Resonant Landscape’ No. 2”) |
| Kenneth Karman | Music Editor |
| Bill Abbott | Music Editor |
| Denise Okimoto | Assistant Music Editor |
| Visual Effects & Animation | |
| Lino Stavole (II) | Special Effects Technician: KNB Effects Group |
| Thomas F. Sindicich | Special Effects Coordinator |
| Catherine Sudolcan | Visual Effects Producer (Illusion Arts) |
| Fumi Mashimo | Animation Supervisor (Illusion Arts) |
| Andrew Tucker | 3-D Artist (Illusion Arts) |
| Van Ling | Digital Artist (Illusion Arts) |
| Johnathan Banta | Digital Artist (Illusion Arts) |
| Collin Fowler | Visual Effects Coordinator (Illusion Arts) |
| Casey Cannon | Rotoscoping (Illusion Arts) |
| Ray Di Carlo | Visual Effects Executive Producer (Bent Image Lab) |
| Tsuiling Toomer | Visual Effects Producer (Bent Image Lab) |
| Tarn Fox | Lead Compositor (Bent Image Lab) |
| Paul Curley | Additional Visual Effects |
| Roger Mocenigo | Additional Visual Effects |
| Rick Sparr | Title Producer (Pacific Title) |
| Jay Johnson (II) | Title Designer (Pacific Title) |
| Syd Dutton | Visual Effects Supervisor (Illusion Arts) |
| Bill Taylor (II) | Visual Effects Supervisor (Illusion Arts) |
| Chel White (II) | Visual Effects Supervisor (Bent Image Lab) |
| I. J. Van Perre Jr | Special Effects Foreman |
| Matthew Heron | Special Effects Assistant |
| Physical Effects | |
| Peter Stolz | Pyrotechnician |
| Kevin Bailey | Stunts |
| Kevin Larson | Stunts |
| Danton Mew | Stunts |
| Chris Carnel (II) | Stunts |
| Tom Ficke | Stunts |
| Tim C. Meridith | Stunts |
| Jeff Mosley | Stunts |
| Rex Reddick | Stunts |
| Jennifer Caputo | Stunts |
| Paul Crawford | Stunts |
| John Hay (II) | Stunts |
| Mike Martinez | Stunts |
| Mike Owen | Stunts |
| Rocky Capella | Stunt Coordinator |
| Engineering, Electrical & Grips | |
| Steven Condiotti | Chief Lighting Technician |
| John Lacy (II) | Assistant Chief Lighting Technician |
| Rick Tayerle | Generator Operator |
| Jeff Gilliam | Chief Rigging Technician |
| Greg Davies | Assistant Chief Rigging Technician |
| Chris McCracken | Lamp Operator |
| Spencer Mulcahy | Lamp Operator |
| Michael Olague | Lamp Operator |
| Brook Johnson (II) | Key Rigging Grip |
| Joseph Allen (II) | Best Boy Rigging Grip |
| David Childers | Key Grip |
| Orlando Orona | Dolly Grip |
| Robert McCann | B Camera Dolly Grip |
| Gregory Childers | Best Boy Grip |
| William Barr | Company Grip |
| Don L. Henderson | Company Grip |
| Steven Condiotti | Gaffer |
| Brook Johnson (II) | Best Boy |
| Construction | |
| Richard Clot | Construction Coordinator |
| Publicity | |
| James Ferrera | Unit Publicist |
| Accounting | |
| Blair Glorious | 1st Assistant Accountant |
| Stacey Barber | Payroll Accountant |
| Elizabeth A. Bergman | Post-Production Accountant |
| Tad Driscoll | Production Accountant |
| Craft Services | |
| Sandy Reed | Craft Service Assistant (Hat Trick Catering) |
| James R. Chandler | Lead Craft Service (Hat Trick Catering) |
| Props | |
| Sean House | Prop Maker |
| Anne Mueller | Property Assistant |
| Katherine Covell | Buyer |
| Ken Sly | Prop Maker General Foreman |
| Ewan Lithgow | Prop Maker Location Foreman |
| Doug Williams (II) | Prop Maker Mill Foreman |
| Russell Souza | Prop Maker Gang Boss |
| Martin Cardenas Moreno | Prop Maker |
| Sam Moore (II) | Prop Maker |
| Sean J. Wright | Prop Maker |
| Chris Ubick | Property Master |
| Patrick Ludden | Assistant Property Master |
| Consultants & Advisors | |
| Kenn Rabin | Archival Film Researcher |
| Below The Line | |
| Stacey Thompson Matteoli | Accounting Assistant |
| Valary Bremier | Construction Office Assistant |
| Timothy Rogier | Assistant (to Mr Jinks) |
| Timothy Rogier | Assistant (to Mr Cohen) |
| Brin Lukens | Assistant (to Ms Papandrea/Groundswell Productions) |
| Sato Masuzawa | Assistant (to Mr Penn) |
| Mark Bosia | Set Medic |
| Dan Marrow | Transportation Coordinator |
| Eddie Lee Voelker | Transportation Captain (Los Angeles) |
| Chet Badalato | Driver (for Mr Penn) |
| Clark Dolan | Driver |
| Ken Fleisch | Driver |
| Bruce Hathaway | Driver |
| Reggie Jackson (II) | Driver |
| Jody Kreinbrink | Driver |
| Jose M. Sanchez | Driver |
| Craig T. Crowell | Driver |
| David R. Diaz | Driver |
| Lee Everett | Driver |
| Erik Hatten | Driver |
| Edward Andrew Lassak | Driver |
| Cecil McClain | Driver |
| Gary D. Stalker | Driver |
| Michael Grooms | Driver |
| Dannie Lenz | Driver |
| Anthony K. Riedel | Driver |
| Elizabeth Grave | Assistant (to Mr London/Groundswell Productions) |
| Eric Borja | Assistant (to Mr Fischer/Groundswell Productions) |
| Ashley Burleson | Assistant (to Mr Pipski/Groundswell Productions) |
| Carey Field | Production Assistant |
| Jennifer Jourdan | Production Assistant |
| Lenny Ciacci | Stand-In |
| Other Crew | |
| Carolyn Crimley | Studio Teacher |
| Laura Sevier | Rights & Clearances (Entertainment Clearances) |
| Cassandra Barbour | Rights & Clearances (Entertainment Clearances) |
| Worldwide Distributors | |
| Focus Features | Theatrical Distributor |
| Constantin Film AG | Distribution Rights (Germany) |
| SND (France) | Distribution Rights (France) |
| BIM Distribuzione | Distribution Rights (Italy) |
| Svensk Filmindustri (SF) | Distribution Rights (Scandinavia) |
| Ascot Elite Entertainment Group | Distribution Rights (Switzerland) |
| Other Companies | |
| Beau Bonneau Casting | Extras Casting |
| Hat Trick Catering | Catering |
| Overall Security & Associates | Security Services Provider |
| Illusion Arts Inc | Visual Effects Provider |
| Bent Image | Visual Effects Provider |
| EFilm | Digital Intermediate Provider |
| Pacific Title | Main Titles Designer |
| Wildfire Studios | Post-Production Sound Services |
| Dakota Music Services | Music Preparation |
| Metro Voices | Choir |
| Air Studios, London | Score Recording Services |
| Avid Technology, Inc. | Avid Editing Systems Provider |
| Clairmont Camera, Inc. | Cameras Provider |
| Dave Childers Film Services | Grip Equipment Furnisher |
| DTC Stage & Studio Supply | Electric Equipment Furnisher |
| Entertainment Clearances, Inc. | Rights and Clearances Provider |
| Film Finances Inc | Completion Guaranty Provider |
| DeWitt Stern Group | Insurance Services Provider |
| Cast & Crew Entertainment Services, Inc. | Payroll Services Provider |
| Deluxe | Color & Prints |
