Sunday, August 17, 2008
Prove It Hits Hard on the Head
Sunday, July 20, 2008
The Bicycle Theif
Video URL: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi4035510553/
Wiki Profile: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_Thieves
The Bicycle Thief Movie was inspiration for the 1970's Cult Classic "Rockers" shot on Location in Jamaca, Rockers tells the story of a struggling youth in the Reggie Music scene .
The Rockers 1970
D V D R E V I E W B Y M I C K S L E E P E R
During the 1970s and 80s, the nascent Jamaican movie industry created a trio of films that have become cult favorites. The most famous, Perry Henzell's The Harder They Come (1973), is an unforgettable, unvarnished snapshot of life in Jamaica; Dickie Jobson's surreal Countryman (1984) is a mystic work steeped in Rastafarian culture; and Theodorous Bafaloukos' Rockers (1977) is a charismatic tale of violence and revenge set within Jamaica's reggae music scene. Out of the three, Rockers is perhaps the most enjoyable to watch, with crisp, colorful cinematography and a vibrant soundtrack. Featuring boisterous dialogue, a terrific cast, and a wonderful story, Rockers is simply a treat to watch.
Rockers' off-beat plot involves the adventures of session drummer Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace (everybody in the reggae music scene has a nickname, and the weirder the nickname, the better). A struggling musician with a strong conscience and hungry mouths to feed, Leroy wants to help his friends in the reggae scene by becoming a record salesman, pushing the latest platters by his buddies, and making sure they sell. Hustling together enough money to buy himself a motorcycle to get around the city, Leroy becomes a man with a mission. However, with shades of Bicycle Thieves, his prized bike is stolen in the confusion following a police raid on a dance, and Leroy's mission suddenly changes. He is determined to find the thieves himself, not trusting the police to take him seriously.
Leroy takes a job as a drummer with a lounge band at a swanky tourist resort, managed by the sleazy Honeyball (Peter Honiball) and owned by the sinister Mr. Marshall (Morris Williams). When Marshall's daughter Sunshine (Marjorie Norman) takes a shine to Leroy, trouble ensues, as the conservative Marshall is none too thrilled at the prospect of his high-society daughter hanging out with the breezy Rasta drummer. Sunshine discovers that Leroy's bike was stolen by Honeyball's gang and that her father is, in fact, a criminal kingpin with a warehouse full of stolen goods. Upon hearing the news, Leroy enlists the help of his friend Richard "Dirty Harry" Hall to break into Honeyball's warehouse and liberate his bike. In a continuing game of tit for tat, Honeyball reports the counter-theft of the bike to Marshall, who orders a nighttime ambush on the drummer. Badly beaten, Leroy retreats to the countryside to plan his next move. As a devout Rasta, he sees himself in a struggle between good and evil; he must get revenge on the criminals and make sure that justice is done. Enlisting the help of dozens of friends, including Sunshine, Leroy plots an intricate Robin Hood-style operation to put things right.
1977 was a time when some of the most potent and brilliant reggae was being produced. As a visual counterpart to that scene, Rockers positively sparkles. However, you don't have to be a reggae cognoscenti to understand the action; as with Harder They Come, Rockers is a film that will intrigue non-reggae fans as well. It's very much influenced by New Wave and cinema-verite sensibilities. The plot of the film is very loose, and the acting and dialogue have a natural, improvised feel. Director Bafaloukos shoots the entire movie in long takes, as if he's merely observing the action rather than controlling it. Other New Wave touches include a monologue by Leroy spoken to the camera, night scenes shot where you can't even tell who's who as the action unfolds, and -- of course -- absolutely everything is shot on location. Throughout the film, scenes and action occur which do nothing for the plot but add greatly to the mood and character of the film, such as when Leroy rides his motorcycle into the middle of a soccer game and is rebuked by the players; after making his escape from the hostile team, the story continues as if what we've just seen wasn't supposed to happen. Finally, reminiscent of films like 400 Blows or French Connection, the film concludes without any kind of grand finale or thought of closure; it simply ends.
One of the things that makes Rockers such a treat to watch is that the entire cast play themselves. In that context, the plot is created for the characters, rather than the other way around! Rather than being esoteric casting choices, the use of these non-actors is a real plus, as everyone carries themselves very well on-screen. After all, who better to play colorful reggae musicians than colorful reggae musicians? Wallace makes a nice, natural lead, and Hall is a wonderful co-star, both playing their "roles" with boisterous appeal. Hall steals the show in the film's most hilarious scene, when he and Leroy enter a club and discover the DJ is playing American disco, rather than reggae. Hall hijacks the DJ booth and proceeds to spin a reggae tune and raps about himself and Leroy as the club's owner pounds on the door. Gregory Isaacs also makes a splash in his dual role as motorcycle salesman and safe-cracker. The rest of the cast is a virtual who's who of reggae music: besides Wallace and Hall (two of the most crucial session musicians of the day), the film features such reggae luminaries as Jacob "Killer" Miller, Winston Rodney (AKA Burning Spear), Robbie Shakespeare, Kiddus I, Dillinger, and many others in small roles or cameos. And, in a bit of method acting that would make Robert De Niro proud, Leroy's real-life girlfriend Madgie Craig plays herself, along with Leroy's three children. Sadly, some of the stars of the film are no longer with us; the DVD is dedicated to Jacob Miller, Richard Hall, Jack Ruby, Augustus Pablo, and Peter Tosh.
As can be expected, music plays an important role in Rockers. The songs often act as musical accompaniment to the on-screen action. Perhaps the coolest example is a sequence leading to the film's climax, where Leroy's chosen gang all make their way to a rendezvous. One by one, the camera moves with a series of tough-looking characters as they strut down back alleys and streets to Peter Tosh's "Stepping Razor" -- "I'm like a walking razor, don't you check my size, I'm dangerous" -- while some might view the sequence as silly machismo, in the context of the film it's brilliant.
The DVD release of Rockers looks great, with very few flaws in the print. It probably wasn't re-mastered for this release, but thankfully the film looked good to begin with, no doubt a result of being bankrolled by Island Records when it was being made. The DVD extras include seven bonus audio tracks by the Rockers All Star Band, which play as scenes from the film and behind-the-scenes photos display on the screen. There is also a very nice section of musician and actor biographies, outlining the careers and music of the cast (other than the musicians, Bafaloukos chose a variety of non-actors, such as Peter Honiball, Madgie Craig and Marjorie Norman for roles in the film). Oddly, there is no information on the film's writer and director, Theodorous Bafaloukos, about whom little seems to be known. Probably the most useful extras are a glossary of Rasta terms for those who are unfamiliar with the intriguing slang of the Kingston ghettos, and a capsule summary of Rastafarian culture and the history of reggae music. With these extras, Rockers becomes the perfect "edutainment" for new reggae fans and those who are simply curious.
D V D R E V I E W B Y M I C K S L E E P E R
ROCKERS: Refined For 2009 Film Synopsis Rockers is a 1978 Jamaican film by Ted Bafaloukos. Several popular reggae artists star in the movie, including Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, Burning Spear, Gregory Isaacs, Big Youth and Jacob Miller. Rockers was originally to be a documentary but blossomed into a full-length feature showing the reggae culture at its peak. In this film, the culture, characters and mannerisms are authentic. The main rocker Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, for example, is shown living with his actual wife and kids and in his own home. The recording studios shown are the famous Harry J Studios where many roots reggae artists recorded during the 70s including Bob Marley. Samples of the film's dialogue were used in the early 1990's jungle track, "Babylon" by Splash. The Jamaican Patois spoken throughout the film is rendered with English language subtitles for a Western audience. Horsemouth, a drummer living in a ghetto of Kingston plans to make some extra money selling and distributing records. He buys a motorcycle to carry them to the sound systems around the island. The film starts as a loose interpretation of Vittorio de Sica’s The Bicycle Thief and turns into a reggae interpretation of the Robin Hood myth.
The Power of the People
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Bart Phillips
Executive Producer/Creative Director
With over 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Bart formed Sunseeker with the mission of creating content that makes an impact. As Executive Producer, Director, Producer, or Music Supervisor for everything from television, film, music videos, web-based programming, movie soundtracks, live concerts, reality series, commercials, documentaries, and awards shows, his list of credits is vast and continues to grow. His wide-ranging experience allows him to bridge to gap between all worlds of media. Production Credits Include: • Producer…Ride Or Die…Screen Gems/Sony Pictures film: action comedy starring Duane Martin, Vivica A. Fox, and Gabrielle Union. • Producer…Turnaround…Psycho thriller starring Regina King, Jacob Vargas, and Blair Underwood. • Executive Producer…First Annual BETJ Virtual Awards…Awards Show, BETJ • Producer…Akon, The Journey-…Universal Music Group documentary chronicling the soul singer’s journey through life. • Director/Producer Paul Mooney: Jesus is Black…Documentary • Director/Producer…Soca In The City: Starring Machel Montano…Documentary, BETJ • Director/Producer…Akon: Rhythm of Africa…Interview Special, The Africa Channel • Executive Producer…Comedy Jump Off…DVD series featuring the hottest Latino comedians. • Executive Producer…Source Awards 2004 & 2005…BET • Director/Producer…In the Groove starring Morris Day…Time Life, Inc • Director/Producer…Praise Party starring Bebe Winans…Time Life, Inc • Director/Producer…Uptown Saturday Night starring Ashford & Simpson…Time Life, Inc • Producer…Gerald Levert: A Celebration of Life…Documentary, BETJ • Producer…Tears, Shears, Beauty…TV series, BETJ, 2 seasons • Producer…Lyric Café ...TV Series, BETJ, 3 seasons
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JULIEN “LIL’ X” LUTZ director/visionary Critically acclaimed for his innovative cinematic style, fervent vision and vivid imagination, Julien “Lil X” Lutz is one of the most sought after directors in the industry today. As the Founder and CEO of Sun God Collection, a conglomerate that houses X’s film, video and television work, he has directed over 100 music videos and commercials, including motion picture narratives for Usher and R. Kelly, photographic minimalist work for Sean “P Diddy” Combs, the off-the-wall comedy of Chris Rock, and music videos for the likes Alicia Keys, Nelly, Destiny’s Child, Ludacris and Christina Aguilera. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Lil X was heavily influenced by art and a continual search for knowledge. In order to satisfy his artistic taste, he maintained a steady diet of classic art, pop culture, photography, modern art, big Hollywood movies, animation and comic books, all which contributed to his creative flair. Anxious to see the world, X left home at the age of 16 and began to immerse himself in the underground world of hip hop. It was here that he was able to cultivate his talent as a young illustrator finding work designing party flyers, event invites and more. Soon afterwards, he began earning his stripes as an intern at Canada’s MuchMusic where he found his creative outlet by working on specialty shows such as “Soul in the City” and “Rap City”. During this time, he became intrigued with the work of famed video director, Hype Williams, and managed to get an internship with Hype’s production company. At age 18, Lil X followed his fervor to New York City, where he worked under Hype’s tutelage and began to work as a storyboard artist. It was this apprenticeship that sparked his illustrious career as a video director. In the beginning of his career, X directed videos for independent and underground hip-hop acts, however, as his reputation began to build so did his clientele. At the age of 31, X’s visionary eye and creative imagery have earned him numerous accolades within the pop culture and the entertainment industry. Today, Lil X has directed videos for some of the world’s biggest stars including Usher, Jay-Z, Korn, LL Cool J, Christina Aguilera, Nelly Furtado, NeYo, P. Diddy, Rihanna, Kanye West and R. Kelly and more. In addition to music videos, he has directed commercials for Converse, Bacardi, Smirnoff, Reebok, Chrysler, Burger King, Footlocker, and JC Penney’s to name a few. X has also received several awards and honors of recognition for his work including but not limited to: 2005 Urban Music Association of Canada “Video of the Year”, 2004 MTV Video Music Awards for “Best Male Video” and “Best Dance Video”, 2003 MuchMusic Video Award for “Best International Video”, 2001 Soul Train Music Award for “Best Rap Video”, and numerous nominations and awards from MTV, BET, Much Music, Music Video Production Association and the NAACP. Moving beyond his music video roots, Lil X is now focusing on his clothing line, The X Collection (www.icegearfitness.com) and upcoming film projects. The X Collection, designed for the “ultimate athlete”, and created by ICE Gear, is equipped with innovative technology that separates body moisture from the material while keeping the individual cool. In addition, X was featured as the Director’s Consultant and Second Unit Director on a Paramount Vantage/MTV Films production called, “How She Move”, alongside Ian Iqbal Rashid which was shot in Toronto, Canada and recently released nationwide.
More info on Julien “Lil X” Lutz www.icegearfitness.com
www.myspace.com/directorlilx
www.lilxonline.com
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CHEO HODARI COKER CHEO (pronounced CHAY-OH) HODARI COKER, 35, is a music journalist, author, and screenwriter. As a freelance journalist, Coker has written cover stories, major features, and reviews for the Los Angeles Times, VIBE, Premiere, Essence, The Face, Details, Spin, Rolling Stone, The Source, XXL, Rap Pages, and the Village Voice. Coker’s cover stories include Premiere covers for “Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace” (July, 1999), “X-Men” (July 2000), “Star Wars: Episode II: Attack Of The Clones” (May, 2002), and "X2" (June 2003) and eight VIBE covers on subjects including R. Kelly (March,1996) and (June 2004), The Notorious BIG (March, 1997), Brandy (July 2004), The Game (February 2005), Jamie Foxx (September 2005), and Busta Rhymes (June 2006). Most recently, he’s profiled real life American Gangster Frank Lucas for King (February 2008) and a State of Black Hollywood feature for Ebony Magazine (March 2008). A cum laude 1990 graduate of The Hotchkiss School, Coker began writing for The Source, Vibe, and Essence, while still enrolled at Stanford University, where he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in English in January of 1995. Soon after, he moved to Los Angeles to work as a writer/producer for the short-lived MTV News movie segment program “MTV Screening Room”. Coker left MTV in May of 1995 to pursue his freelance journalism career, soon finding a home at the Los Angeles Times by September of that year, working primarily with Times music critic and editor Robert Hilburn. For the next two years, as a frequent contributor and then Staff Writer for the Los Angeles Times, Coker contributed more than 265 articles as a general reporter for CALENDAR, and was considered the paper's resident expert on R&B and Hip-hop. He since has frequently been featured as a commentator on VH-1’s popular series “Behind The Music,” including segments about M.C. Hammer, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, the year 1994, and The Notorious B.I.G, and has been a consultant for the critically lauded HBO series “Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry” since its inception. Coker left the Los Angeles Times in September of 1997 to co-write the hip-hop thriller “Flow” with Richard (“Uptown Saturday Night”) Wesley, which was purchased by New Line Cinema for John (“Boyz N’ The Hood”) Singleton to produce and direct. Recent screenplays include “Notorious” about the life and times of the Notorious BIG for Fox Searchlight (with George (“Soul Food”) Tillman directing.) “Living For The City: The Marion Barry Story” for HBO, “When I Get Free: The Life and Times of Tupac Amaru Shakur” for MTV and “Legend” for Warner Bros, and a forthcoming adaptation of Claude Brown's seminal coming of age classic "Manchild In The Promised Land" for producer Rudy ("The Hurricane") Langlais. Coker is the author of “Unbelievable: The Life, Death, and Afterlife of the Notorious B.I.G.” (VIBE Books/Crown) and with Oscar winning director Bill Condon and Martin Godfried, is the co-author of “Dreamgirls: The Movie Musical” (Newmarket Pictoral Moviebooks). Coker is represented by the Creative Artists Agency and lawyer Darrell D. Miller.
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ERIKA T. CONNER Film Producer Erika began her career in New York City, landing her first job in magazine publishing at VIBE magazine and VIBE TV in the office of music impresario, Quincy Jones and Keith Clinkscales, the President & CEO, as their executive assistant. After three years of what she calls, “my executive in training” while working at VIBE, she realized her passion was to gain access into Hollywood, and began working with well-respected filmmaker, John Singleton, as his Director of Development under his New Deal Productions banner. Singleton mentored her to become a film producer on the set of his first big-budget movie, SHAFT. Erika got her first taste of producing and then went on to serve as a Consulting Producer, along with Russell Simmons and Kevin Liles on Def Jam Recordings and BET’s game show, “ARE YOU HIP-HOP’S BIGGEST FAN?” Excited by the buzz the game show received and building relationships with new and amazing hip-hop talent, she convinced video director, Hype Williams, who revolutionized urban videos with million-dollar budgets, to hire her to oversee his film production company, Naa’ila Entertainment under the umbrella of New Line Cinema. Erika learned the mechanics of a film executive and established solid relationships, and made her way into the offices of Mosaic Media Group/Atlas Entertainment, a multimedia film, television and management company, where she was hired to oversee all of Mosaic’s urban film development under $10 million from development, pre-production, production and post-production. Her first feature she Co-Produced was the musical, IDLEWILD, featuring Grammy Award winning rap duo, Outkast, for HBO/Universal released in 2006. A woman who adheres to her intuitive senses and creative resources, and having built strong relationships with great film and music talent, her next project she is producing is MAMA BLACK WIDOW with Golden Globe nominee, Mos Def. Future projects include, a VH1 reality series with Big Boi of Outkast, and PBS' revived Electric Company where she is developing animated content with Mos Def for the network's online content.
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Rocker 2009 Potential Talent
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