The Battle of Shaker Heights

The Battle of Shaker Heights is a 2003 comedy-drama film co-directed by Efram Potelle and Kyle Rankin. It starred Shia La Beouf, Elden Henson, Kathleen Quinlan, Amy Smart and Shiri Appleby. The film was the winning script for the second season of Project Greenlight.

Trivia

• This film was the result of the winning entries for Project Greenlight 2.
• Christopher McDonald was originally cast in the role of Abe, but the role was recast (due to a scheduling conflict) and given to William Sadler the day before Abe's first scene was to be shot. McDonald was shown on Project Greenlight 2 coming to the set for a wardrobe fitting mere hours before he was replaced.
• Emile Hirsch was offered the role of Kelly but passed.
• Liv Tyler was offered the role of Tabby but passed. Jane Kaczmarek was offered the role of Eve at Miramax's insistence - over the objections of the directors - but passed and was replaced by the director's choice for the role: Kathleen Quinlan.
• Shia LaBeouf had to learn to drive a stick shift for this film.
• The test screenings showed that the audience had trouble figuring out whether it was a comedy or a teen drama. Directors Kyle Rankin and Efram Potelle and Miramax were fighting towards the end of post production on what genre it should be. The directors felt it should be a teen drama, Miramax thought it should be a comedy (because it was a marketing genre). Rankin and Potelle eventually gave in and cut it as a comedy.
• During the battle sequence in the opening of the movie, the actors playing the German soldiers, including Shia LaBeouf disguised as one, all took lessons on how to speak German properly prior to filming of the scene.
• The city of Shaker Heights is a city that borders Cleveland, Ohio.

Cast

• Shia La Beouf as Kelly Ernswiler
• Elden Henson as Bart Bowland
• Amy Smart as Tabitha "Tabby" Bowland
• Billy Kay as Lance Norway
• Shiri Appleby as Sarah
• Kathleen Quinlan as Eve Ernswiler
• William Sadler as Abraham "Abe" Ernswiler
• Michael McShane as Mr. Norway
• Anson Mount as Miner Weber
• Hattie Wilson as Principal Holmstead