The Ron Clark Story
Encyclopedia
The Ron Clark Story is a 2006 television film, starring Matthew Perry
, that premiered on TNT
on Sunday, August 13, 2006. Based on the real educator Ron Clark, it centers on the title character (Perry), a white teacher from a small town, who moves to New York City
and tries to make a difference in the lives of his minority students despite nobody, including the students themselves, believing in them. The film was sponsored by Johnson & Johnson
.
The film received largely positive reviews, with particular praise going to Perry's portrayal. It was nominated for three 2007 Emmy Awards
, including "Outstanding Made For Television Movie", "Outstanding Casting For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special" and "Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie" for Perry. Additionally, Perry was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award
and the Screen Actors Guild Award for "Best Actor".
hometown to teach in a New York City public school. Through his passionate use of special rules for his classroom, highly innovative teaching techniques and an undying devotion to his students and helping them cope with their problems, Clark is able to make a remarkable difference in the lives of his students. For one young girl trying to attend school while helping to raise her children, he offers a chance for her to overcome her situation and become the top student of the class. For a young man with a penchant for graffiti, he offers an ideal outlet for artistic expression. Even when he is almost overcome by pneumonia
, Clark continues to work with his students, hoping that he can raise their test scores to an acceptable level, or possibly even higher.
However, when Clark returns, he finds out his class did not deliver the goods but he remains optimistic about their chances. The kids sit in the state exams and a few days later, Clark takes the kids to see The Phantom of the Opera. In the end, Principal Turner reveals that Mr. Clark's class got the highest average (they got a higher score than the honor class) in the state and Clark was regarded by his students as their best teacher.
, who plays Ron Clark, was nominated for the Best Actor Golden Globe and again at the Screen Actors Guild Awards
. In addition to Mr. Perry’s nods, the film was nominated for a Directors Guild of America
Award for Director Randa Haines
, a WGA Award for Writers Max Enscoe and Annie de Young, and a Broadcast Film Critics Association
Award for Executive Producers Howard Burkons and Brenda Friend.
On November 30, 2006, the Family Television Awards honored TNT and Ms. Friend and Mr. Burkons for producing the “Best TV Movie/Drama for 2006.” On March 10, 2007, the 28th Annual Young Artists Association honored the film as the “Best Family Television Movie or Special,” and gave Hannah Hodson the award for “Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special (Comedy or Drama) Leading Young Actress."
On March 15, 2007, the film received the prestigious Christopher Award
for TV and Cable. Among the filmmakers recognized for their work were Director Randa Haines, Writers Max Enscoe and Annie de Young, and Executive Producers Howard Burkons and Brenda Friend.
In July 2007, it was nominated for three Emmy Awards; Gary M. Zuckerbrod, Lonnie Hamerman, Bonnie Finnegan, Rhonda Fisekci, and Candice Elzinga for Outstanding Casting For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special, Matthew Perry
for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie, and Executive Producers Howard Burkons, Brenda Friend, Adam Gilad, Sunta Izzcupo, Jody Brockway, and Producer Craig McNeill for Outstanding Made For Television Movie.
Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry is Canadian-American television and film actor.Matthew Perry or Matt Perry may also refer to:*Matthew C. Perry , American naval officer who forcibly opened Japan to trade with the West...
, that premiered on TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
on Sunday, August 13, 2006. Based on the real educator Ron Clark, it centers on the title character (Perry), a white teacher from a small town, who moves to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and tries to make a difference in the lives of his minority students despite nobody, including the students themselves, believing in them. The film was sponsored by Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company is listed among the Fortune 500....
.
The film received largely positive reviews, with particular praise going to Perry's portrayal. It was nominated for three 2007 Emmy Awards
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
, including "Outstanding Made For Television Movie", "Outstanding Casting For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special" and "Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie" for Perry. Additionally, Perry was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award
Golden Globe Award
The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
and the Screen Actors Guild Award for "Best Actor".
Plot
The Ron Clark Story follows the inspiring tale of an energetic, creative and idealistic young teacher who leaves his small North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
hometown to teach in a New York City public school. Through his passionate use of special rules for his classroom, highly innovative teaching techniques and an undying devotion to his students and helping them cope with their problems, Clark is able to make a remarkable difference in the lives of his students. For one young girl trying to attend school while helping to raise her children, he offers a chance for her to overcome her situation and become the top student of the class. For a young man with a penchant for graffiti, he offers an ideal outlet for artistic expression. Even when he is almost overcome by pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
, Clark continues to work with his students, hoping that he can raise their test scores to an acceptable level, or possibly even higher.
However, when Clark returns, he finds out his class did not deliver the goods but he remains optimistic about their chances. The kids sit in the state exams and a few days later, Clark takes the kids to see The Phantom of the Opera. In the end, Principal Turner reveals that Mr. Clark's class got the highest average (they got a higher score than the honor class) in the state and Clark was regarded by his students as their best teacher.
Cast
- Matthew PerryMatthew Perry (actor)Matthew Langford Perry is a Canadian-American actor and comedian, best known for his Emmy-nominated role as Chandler Bing on the popular, long-running NBC television sitcom Friends...
as Ron Clark - Brandon Mychal Smith as Tayshawn
- Hannah HodsonHannah Hodson (actor)Hannah Rose Hodson is an American actress. She played Camille Hawthorne daughter of Jada Pinkett-Smith's character Christina in the 2009 TNT drama "Hawthorne".-Early Life:...
as Shameika - Micah Stephen Williams as Julio
- Ernie HudsonErnie HudsonErnest Lee "Ernie" Hudson is an American actor known for his roles as Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbusters film series, Sergeant Albrecht in The Crow, and Warden Leo Glynn on HBO's Oz.-Early life:...
as Principal Turner - Melissa De SousaMelissa De SousaMelissa De Sousa is an American actress. De Sousa was born in New York City, New York of Panamanian descent. She is an Afro-Latino.-Early life:...
as Marissa Vega - Patricia IdlettePatricia IdlettePatricia Idlette is an actress known for her role as Kiffany, a waitress, in Showtime's Dead Like Me. She also played a small roles in Ginger Snaps 2 and Battlestar Galactica, as one of the counsellors working at Brigitte's rehab centre and a nurse taking a mammogram for Dana in the Showtime...
as Devina - Jerry Callaghan as Ron Clark Sr.
- Marty Antonini as Howard
- Baljeet Balagun as Badriyah's Father
- Patricia Benedict as Jean Clark
- Judith Buchan as Snowden School Principal
- Candus Churchill as Doretha Wallace
- Griffin Cork as Hadley
- Pamela Crawford as Ms. Benton
- Isabelle DeluceIsabelle DeluceIsabelle Deluce is a Canadian actress.Deluce was born in Toronto, Ontario, the daughter of a first cameraman and visited film sets at an early age in Vancouver. At age 10, she began acting in a series of television commercials and completed the three term professional program at Tarlington Training...
as Alita Sanchez - James Dugan as Mr. Lively
- Bren Eastcott as Badriyah
- Domarley Howell as Amanda
- Mike Geselbracht as Mr. Black
Awards and nominations
In December 2006, Matthew PerryMatthew Perry (actor)
Matthew Langford Perry is a Canadian-American actor and comedian, best known for his Emmy-nominated role as Chandler Bing on the popular, long-running NBC television sitcom Friends...
, who plays Ron Clark, was nominated for the Best Actor Golden Globe and again at the Screen Actors Guild Awards
Screen Actors Guild Awards
A Screen Actors Guild Award is an accolade given by the Screen Actors Guild to recognize outstanding performances by its members. The statuette given, a nude male figure holding both a mask of comedy and a mask of tragedy, is called "The Actor"...
. In addition to Mr. Perry’s nods, the film was nominated for a Directors Guild of America
Directors Guild of America
Directors Guild of America is an entertainment labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry...
Award for Director Randa Haines
Randa Haines
Randa Haines is a film and television director and producer. She is perhaps most famous for directing the critically acclaimed feature film Children of a Lesser God , which starred William Hurt and Marlee Matlin, for which Matlin won the 1987 Academy Award as best actress...
, a WGA Award for Writers Max Enscoe and Annie de Young, and a Broadcast Film Critics Association
Broadcast Film Critics Association
The Broadcast Film Critics Association is the largest film critics organization in the United States and Canada , representing approximately 250 television, radio and online critics....
Award for Executive Producers Howard Burkons and Brenda Friend.
On November 30, 2006, the Family Television Awards honored TNT and Ms. Friend and Mr. Burkons for producing the “Best TV Movie/Drama for 2006.” On March 10, 2007, the 28th Annual Young Artists Association honored the film as the “Best Family Television Movie or Special,” and gave Hannah Hodson the award for “Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special (Comedy or Drama) Leading Young Actress."
On March 15, 2007, the film received the prestigious Christopher Award
Christopher Award
The Christopher Award is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, motion pictures and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit"...
for TV and Cable. Among the filmmakers recognized for their work were Director Randa Haines, Writers Max Enscoe and Annie de Young, and Executive Producers Howard Burkons and Brenda Friend.
In July 2007, it was nominated for three Emmy Awards; Gary M. Zuckerbrod, Lonnie Hamerman, Bonnie Finnegan, Rhonda Fisekci, and Candice Elzinga for Outstanding Casting For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special, Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry (actor)
Matthew Langford Perry is a Canadian-American actor and comedian, best known for his Emmy-nominated role as Chandler Bing on the popular, long-running NBC television sitcom Friends...
for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie, and Executive Producers Howard Burkons, Brenda Friend, Adam Gilad, Sunta Izzcupo, Jody Brockway, and Producer Craig McNeill for Outstanding Made For Television Movie.