PRODUCTION HISTORY
Frank Abagnale sold the film right to his autobiography in 1980. The project was brought to DreamWorks and Steven Spielberg signed on to be producer. Directing and filming began in February 2002 in Los Angeles, CA. The film was shot in 147 different locations in a mere 52 days. Other locations included New York, NY, Montreal, Canada, and the LA International Airport which also doubled as the Miami International Airport.
MOVIE SUMMARY
“Catch Me If You Can” is a biographical crime film drama based on the life of Frank Abagnale, who, before his 19th birthday successfully performed cons worth millions by posing as Pan Am pilot, a Georgia doctor, and a Louisiana prosecutor. His primary crime was check fraud. The FBI, after searching and tracking him down for years, arrested him in France and eventually he turns himself in. He is sentenced to 12 years of prison with visits frequently from the FBI agent who tracked him down but has more so become a friend of Frank’s. At one of the visits Frank points out to the FBI agent that one of the checks he is using for evidence is a fraud. The FBI agent works out a deal so that Frank can work the rest of his sentence for the bank fraud department of the FBI. Frank Abagnale is played by Leonardo DiCaprio and the FBI agent is played by Tom Hanks. The real life Frank Abagnale didn’t have too much involvement with the movie production but believes that Steven Spielberg “did the film justice”. The movie deals with themes of broken homes and troubled childhoods as real life Frank Abagnale and the character portrayed in the movie had parents who divorced at a young age and that was how he was able to run away and begin this life of as a con-man at such a young age.
FRANK ABAGNALE’S SECURITY WORK
Mr. Frank Abagnale has been associated with the FBI for over 36 years. He has helped more than 14,000 financial institutions, corporations, and law enforcement agencies use his fraud prevention programs. After serving out his time working for the bank fraud department of the FBI, Frank Abagnale went on to found Abagnale & Associates which advises companies on fraud issues. Frank continues to advise the FBI by teaching at the FBI academy and lecturing for FBI field offices throughout the country. Frank is also the selected speaker for the National Association for Insurance Commissioners and the National Cyber Security Alliance.
Frank Abagnale will be speaking at Ohio State on Monday, January 24th at 7:30PM. Tickets are FREE and available with a BuckID at the Information Center in the Ohio Union.
Allison Nichols Collaborative Events Committee
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