Dummy
Trailer
Synopsis
An awkward ex-office worker living with his parents picks up ventriloquism as a way to find the confidence he has never managed on his own. The puppet becomes the only voice through which he can speak honestly — including to the unemployment counselor he starts falling for. A chaotic family and an eccentric punk best friend make it difficult to hold any of it together.
Context & Trivia
The 2002 independent comedy-drama film *Dummy* was written and directed by Greg Pritikin. Adrien Brody, who plays the protagonist Steven Schoichet, performed all of the ventriloquism and puppetry live during shooting, without the use of stand-ins or voiceover dubbing. To achieve this, Brody was coached by veteran ventriloquist and puppet maker Alan Semok, who also built the film's dummy and served as a special consultant. The puppet, named Woody in the film, becomes a crucial medium for Steven to express his innermost thoughts and feelings. Brody's performance in *Dummy* predated his Oscar-winning role in *The Pianist* (2002), which later helped elevate *Dummy*'s visibility when it received a theatrical release in 2003. The film premiered at the American Film Market on February 21, 2002, and received a limited theatrical release in the United States on September 12, 2003.
Puppeteers
Adrien Brody
Voices
Adrien Brody
Puppet design
Alan Semok
Puppet building
Alan Semok
Direction
Greg Pritikin
Writing
Greg Pritikin
Cast
Adrien Brody, Milla Jovovich, Illeana Douglas, Vera Farmiga, Jessica Walter, Ron Leibman, Jared Harris, Helen Hanft, Richmond Hoxie, Mirabella Pisani, Adam LeFevre
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