- Title: USA: PREMIERE OF FILM "LOVE AND BASKETBALL" STARRING OMAR EPPS AND SANAA LATHAN
- Date: 19th March 2000
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (MARCH 19) (REUTERS -- ACCESS ALL) (SOUNDBITE) (English) OMAR EPPS SAYING: "No, I think it's a good metaphor. I think it's a love story with basketball as a backdrop but the game of any game is kinda like what love is or a relationship is. It's ultimately a game that never ends, you know?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) SANAA LATHAN SAYING:
- Embargoed: 3rd April 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVACPLNOEVAIBWFXEX81PU79AQXK
- Story Text: The stars of the new romantic drama set in the world of professional basketball called "Love and Basketball" attended the film's World Premiere in Hollywood on Sunday, April 16.
Omar Epps attended along with big screen newcomer Sanaa Lathan.
Produced by Spike Lee and directed by first time feature filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood, "Love and Basketball"
follows two young basketball hopefuls, one male and one female, as they hone their skills throughout high school, college and into the ranks of professional big league ball.
Along the way, the two rivals find themselves falling in love with each other, despite the pressures of perfecting their game, dealing with parents and friends, and navigating the tricky world of professional sports.
Prince-Bythewood also wrote the film while taking a break from her six years of writing for various television series, including "A Different World," "South Central" and "Felicity."
The project seemed natural for the young filmmaker, herself an all-around athlete who competed in six different sports in high school.In fact, she would have played basketball in college had she been recruited by UCLA, but she studied film instead.
Prince-Bythewood's script caught the attention of veteran filmmaker Spike Lee at the Sundance Institute's prestigious Writer's Lab, and he agreed to shepherd the project through its production.
For the lead roles, Prince-Bythewood chose to cast two professional actors who could also realistically play ball on film.Omar Epps, the star of such films as "In Too Deep,"
"The Wood" and "The Mod Squad," was cast as Quincy McCall, while newcomer Sanaa Lathan was tapped to play the fiery female player Monica Wright.
Although Epps had some previous basketball skills, Lathan started from scratch, at first playing daily with her brother, and then working under the tutelage of Women's National Basketball Association coach Colleen Matsuhara during a grueling two-week intesive training process.
Having her actors capable of sinking baskets on film without having to cut away and "cheat" was important to the director, who still keeps up a rigorous basketball playing routine herself.
Rounding out the cast were Alfre Woodard as Monica's traditional, home-bound mother, Dennis Haysbert and Debbi Morgan as Quincy's overly-supportive parents, and Tyra Banks is a small cameo role.
"Love and Basketball" opened in theatres throughout the United States on Friday April 21. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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