- Title: USA: AMERICAN PREMIERE OF MOVIE "BABY BOY"
- Date: 28th June 2001
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR JOHN SINGLETON SAYING: "I just really wanted to make a cool, hip, brash story that would basically have some emotional resonance and you know kind of be like a really good film too. Kind of like a rap album on film. Something that's wild and crazy but funky at the same time, that you know, could
- Embargoed: 13th July 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA / VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA4VVCQKND83KF1IZWCWM69V96Q
- Story Text: Writer/Director John Singleton, best know for his groundbreaking film "Boyz 'N the Hood" has returned to inner-city Los Angeles with the African-American drama "Baby Boy."
"Baby Boy" tells the story of Jody (Tyrese Gibson), a misguided, 20-year-old African-American male who is really just a 'baby boy' finally forced -- kicking and screaming -- to face the commitments of real life.
Jody, streetwise and jobless has not only fahtered two children by tow different women -- Yvette (Taraji P. Henson) and Peanut (Tamara LaSeon Bass) but still lives with his own mother. He can't seem to balance or find direction in his chaotic life. To make matters worse, Jody must contend with his volatile best friend, Sweetpea (Omar Gooding), who has spent his life shuffling in and out of prison and seems to find trouble wherever he goes.
In the meantime, Jody's 36-year-old mother, Juanita (A.
J. Johnson), has finally started to liver her life again and is dating Melvin (Ving Rhames), a reformed O.G. (old gangster). Juanita is enjoying the simple things in life -- her mantras, her garden, her new man -- and wants Jody to finally take responsibility for his own life and children.
Once Melvin moves in, there's little room in the nest for a kid who's overstayed his welcome and is perfectly content to ride the line between boy and man.
Inevitably, Jody must face Melvin, both his "baby mamas,"
a new adversary, Rodney (Snoop Dogg), and his own fears of adulthood if he wants to escape the life of a baby boy.
Though it addresses similar issues, Singleton stresses that "Baby Boy" is a companion piece, and not a sequel, to "Boyz 'N the Hood." "I really wanted to do something to celebrate the ten year anniversary of "Boyz in the Hood"
coming up and basically a film for this generation like that film effected that generation," said Singleton.
Despite the film's specific locale, Singleton points to the universality of his characters. "Everything that's black is universal. Everything that is black in this country is hip.
Our pop culture is popular culture now. Like "Boyz 'N the Hood" was a human story and everyone got it," Singleton told Reuters at the film's premiere.
Singleton had originally chosen his "Poetic Justice" lead Tupac Shakur to take on the role of Jody. After Shakur's untimely murder, Singleton put the script to the film on the shelf. It was not until Singleton saw some of the music videos of up-and-coming r&b and hip hop recording star Tyrese that he knew he had found his new Jody. For his part, Tyrese believes he was born to play the part. "John's job was pretty easy when it came to working with me because I didn't have to do any soul searching for Jody because I am Jody. That's just a part of me that decided to retire and let go. But irresponsible, unprioritized, all of these things were the old Tyrese."
"Baby Boy" has just opened in American theatres. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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