Press Kit Information
Cast And Crew Come Aboard

To capture the modern romantic sensibility of ON THE LINE, the producers brought in promising young director Eric Bross, who's stylish independent features have drawn notice. "We needed a director who could jump right into a lot of different areas- comedy, music, romance- with a fresh young cast and we believed Eric could do it. His other films are very dark and edgy but we knew he'd bring a very fun and different perspective. It was a bit of a leap for everyone," admits Peter Abrams.

"I was drawn to the script because it had so much heart," comments Bross. "It's kind of a fun buddy comedy but it has this really amazing, fairy tale love story at the center of it. It's really about going with your gut, about seizing opportunities, about taking the moment and not letting it slip away. I'm kind of a romantic guy myself so it let me explore that side of things."

Bross was also intrigued by working with two of the world's most popular pop performaers in their firrst feature flim roles. He notes: "I think people will ebjoy that the characters in the film are a lot like their on-stage personalities. Lance is this very idealistic, honest, passionate guy and Joey is very charismatic, very let-it-out-there sort of character. On screen, they make for and equally interesting combination."

For Fatone and Bass, working together presented an exciting new challenge. "It was a little difficult because we know each other pretty well, but now we had to see each other as the characters Kevin and Rod. It was interesting to have scenes where we pour out hearts out to one another because we've never really done that, " says Fatone.

Acting is a nice change from music because you're actually in the same city and in the same bed every night," adds Lance Bass. "But it's also a lot more detailed. In music you get up on the stage and everything's about being as big as you can, because people arent' going to notice every little thing. But with acting, the camera picks up on every little move and look so it's much more emotionally intense. It was definitely very different from how we're used to working with one another."

Bass even found himself surprised by Fatone's performance. "The way he took the character to a new level and made him so funny was incredible to me," he says. "I don't think any of us knew how hilarious he could be."

Fatone based his performance on friends of his who still play in local cover-style bands that "kind of go over the edge"--- but his natural comic abilities were a revelation to everyone. Notes Wendy Thorlakson: "He was just a riot. When he does his reditions of Def Leppard songs we were all in stiches. We kept making him do it for us over and over again."

Joining with Fatone and bass in ON THE LINE is a diverse ensemble cast that includes rising young stars, veteran comediancs and the inimitable Reverend Al Green, who plays himself in the film. Everyone in the production was blown away when Green agreed to take on the role.

"Bringing Al Green together with Lance seemed to be an ingenious combination of past, present and future. It was a really fresh, hip idea that brings something special to the film," says Eric Bross. "Al is sort of the Ambassador of Love who watches over Kevin's story."

Not only does Green's soulful music provide a thematic backbone to the film's romantic storyline, but his exuberant presence on the set was like a jolt of energy for the cast and crew. "When he walked in, it was just magical," says Lance bass. "Everyone was instantly in a good mood." Adds Emmanuelle Chriqui: "I have never seen one person spread so much love, ever- you didn't even need to speak to him. It was just his energy that everybody felt. My cheeks were actually sore just from laughing and smiling so much."

For Green, who has been making popular music for much longer than 'N Sync's members have even been alive, having his classic songs introduced to a whole new generation through ON THE LINE was a thrill. He was also happy to be a part of a film that takes on his favorite subject: going after love full out. "I love the idea of anyone putting their heart on the line," he admits, "and taking a chance. If you sow love, you'll get it back and that's what I've learned from all my years of making music."

A the center of ON THE LINE's action is Abby, the smart, soulful, sporty young woman who walks on and off the "L" train taking Lance bass's heart with her. To play Abby, the filmakers chose newcomer Emmaunuelle Chriqui, a Candadian beauty of French- Moroccan descent. Wendy Thorlakson: "When she read with Lance for the first timem they looked so amazing together it was magical. Even they felt the chemistry. It was just very obviously meant to be."

"She just had something that totally stood out," recalls Bass of Chriqui's audtion, "She's very down-to-earth, and, at the same time, just stunning."

Chriqui was fascinated by her character's fantastical effect on Kevin, but she also liker her accessibility. "I think Abby is just a regular person everybody can relate to- she likes baseball but she can also be sophisicated- and then she and Kevin share this amazing moment where they experience a real connection that turns it magical," she observes. "It's a fantasy love story that appeals to people of all ages, and to me that's really beautiful."

Working with two members of 'N Sync could have been a major intimidation for Chriqui but she was impressed with how quickly they put her at ease. "They don't act like superstars- they're just real and natural," she says. "Sometimes I would start thinking about the fact that 'N Sync is like the equivalent of the Beatles in the world today, but they're just really sweet guys. We've all become pretty good friends."

With the lead roles in the film cast, the producers looked to fill the supporting roles with talented actors who could bring their own distinctive personalities to the story. Jerry Stiller, well known to "Seinfeld" fans as George Costanza's father, and one have of the legendary comedy team Stiller and Meara, was cast as Nathan, Kevin's spiritual mentor and fellow Cub fanatic, who serves as sort of a "Xerox Whisperer" at the add agency where Kevin works.

Stiller jokes about his lack of familiarity with the globally beloved 'N Sync. "I'm still in love with Jefferson Airplane," he admits. "But now I'm trying to get in sync with 'N Sync. It seems all the kids are crazy about them."

But the premise of the movie is something to which Stiller could easily relate. "It's really about two people looking for each other and trying to make what they believe come true.," he says, "it's about the serendipity that brings a boy and a girl together even though their friends and everyone around them almost screw it up. It's about how the trip itself is what counts. That's what life is about and that's what this movie depicts."

Adding another comic twist to the cast is Dave Foley, the former star of NBC's "News Radio" and one of the outrageous "Kids in the Hall", who plays Kevin's overbearing biss Mr. Higgins. Floey describes Mr. Higgins as being "a Larry Tate for a new generation." "He's basically a guy who wants to lead Kevin down the same path of dissastifaction he's followed all his life," he jokes.

The role of Kevin's bookish, bass-playing friend Randy went to another Canadian, James Bulliard. "I was really interested in this script because you have all these 'Sex and the City' type stories about women searching for guys, but never the reverse. You know what? Guys do their own searching," he says. "I think everyone's looking for that perfect person out there. No one is exempt."

Bulliard has been acting since he was four, but he was impressed with how Bass and Fatone tackled their debut screen roles. "It was fantastic to watch Lance grow was an actor and Joey is just funny as hell and has so much charisma. It was really great working with both of them," he sums up. He also found that Eric Bross's directorial style helped to create a strong rapport among the entier ensemble. "Erics created an atmosphere of total freedom. He allowed us to really have fun, to improvise and to take risks, which helped to build a feeling of friendship between all the characters."

Rounding out the emsemble cast are Chicago native GQ as Kevin's wise-cracking roomate and Tamala Jones as his workplace nemesis Jackie. GQ had a blast portraying Kevin's wild friend Eric, who makes the rent by selling peanuts at Wrigley Field, while Kevin climbs the corporate ladder at an advertising agency. "Eric's definitely a slacker but he and Kevin are still really good friends. I think Eric keepe Kevin from getting too serious. For the most part he's about having fun, being free and going crazy most of the time." Having grown up in Chicago, GQ could also vouch for the storyline's authenticity. "I myself have fallen in love many times on the 'L' train," he admits.

Tamala Jones plays the scheming Jackie, who will do whatever it takes to get ahead, including stealing ideas from Kevin. "She's very mean and snooty and flirtatious, but one thing she's clear about is that she's going to get to the top, and she's smart. That's what I like about her," says Jones. Jones was also a little overwhelmed in the beginning by wokging with the 'N Sync boys. "I thought they'd be a certain way because they have fans screaming at them all the time," she says. "But Lance is so sweet, I just fell in love with him. He's like 'I'm just a guy from Mississippi.' So it was a really great experience for me and everyone involved."