Airborne was Rob Bowman’s feature-directing debut.
AFI notes that Bowman came to the film from television direction.
American Film InstituteTwenty sourced details
Trivia,
checked.
Production snow, credited skaters, Cincinnati classrooms, surprising cameos, and the film’s home-video life—each tied to a published evidence record.
Production
05Principal photography took place during winter 1992.
The production worked in Cincinnati, Kentucky, and Southern California.
American Film InstituteAn Ohio blizzard changed the production plan.
Production notes say the filmmakers had considered moving to Minnesota for snow, but Ohio weather allowed exterior work to remain in-state.
American Film InstituteThe screenplay grew from a story by two former schoolmates.
Producer Stephen McEveety developed the story with Bill Apablasa, who wrote the screenplay.
American Film InstituteWarner Bros. presented the Icon Productions film.
AFI records Icon as production company and Warner Bros. Pictures as U.S. distributor.
American Film InstituteCast
03Bill Apablasa appears in the film he wrote.
The screenwriter is also credited as Mr. Cauley.
American Film InstituteChick Hearn is credited as the basketball announcer.
The longtime sportscaster appears under that role in the AFI cast record.
American Film InstituteTeam Rollerblade receives a cast credit.
The group is listed after the principal cast in the film’s credit record.
American Film InstituteSkating
05Team Rollerblade worked on the production for twelve days.
Their work covered choreography, onscreen stunts, and actor training.
American Film InstituteChris Edwards both acted and doubled Mitchell’s skating.
Edwards is credited as Walt, Mitchell’s skating double, and a rollerblader.
American Film InstitutePat Parnell coordinated the Rollerblade work.
AFI’s crew record credits Parnell as Rollerblade coordinator; he also appears as Prep.
American Film InstituteSteve Boyum directed the second unit.
The second unit supported a production with extensive action and skating work.
American Film InstituteSixteen additional rollerbladers are individually credited.
The credit list names the professional skaters rather than treating Team Rollerblade as an anonymous group.
American Film InstituteLocations
04Western Hills classroom filming happened on weekends.
Students from the active school were used as background actors.
American Film InstituteThe production spent five days in Kentucky.
AFI connects that period with the exterior used for Wiley’s home before the company moved to Southern California.
American Film InstituteThe credits thank both Hamilton, Ohio, and Bellevue, Kentucky.
The acknowledgments also name Cincinnati and its police division.
American Film InstituteKrohn Conservatory is independently documented as an Airborne location.
Cincinnati Parks identifies the production among films made in city parks.
Cincinnati ParksMusic
02Stewart Copeland composed the film’s music.
The Police drummer is credited for music and drums; the score record also names specialist performers and music staff.
American Film InstituteThe end credits identify twelve licensed songs.
The list ranges from Roger Waters and Right Said Fred to Diesel, Jeremy Jordan, and BulletBoys.
American Film InstituteAfterlife
01The film reached Warner Archive DVD in 2009.
The Region 1 catalog entry dates the edition to September 15, 2009.
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