USA: LOS ANGELES PREMIER OF THE 'THE WOOD' CO-STARING UP AND COMING ACTOR OMAR EPPS FEATURES AN ALL AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAST

Record ID: 567123

  • Title: USA: LOS ANGELES PREMIER OF THE 'THE WOOD' CO-STARING UP AND COMING ACTOR OMAR EPPS FEATURES AN ALL AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAST
  • Date: 19th June 1999
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 19) (RTV-LA) (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) OMAR EPPS SAYING It's just a universal story, really, you know, it's just being, black writer and director and the cast, but it's a universal story, you know? I'm sure you can relate to, you know, most of the stuff going on in the film. Your first time, you know, all those fundamental parts of childhood, you know, your first kiss, your first this and that, you know and first day of school and you know, all those things. We can all relate, no matter where you're from and that's what makes the film different but, as much as the same as it's supposed to be, you know what I mean? It's just a universal story. (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) TAYE DIGGS SAYING OF THE FILM'S MID-80'S SETTING Well, actually, when I see it, you know, portrayed in the film, it seems like it was a while ago because the way we dress, you know, the way, some of the way that we act is so different, you know, the hairstyles, you know, I wouldn't dream of sporting, you know, nowadays. So, along those lines it seems like it was back in the day. As far as some of the behavioural situations, alot of that still remains in present day. (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) RICHARD T. JONES SAYING OF INGLEWOOD, It's a very tight community, I mean, you have a little gang element over there but, even their gang, they call it the Inglewood family, so they're very, isn't that funny? Yeah, but, they're Inglewood family bloods, so, it's very family orientated and they look out for each other over there, it's a very tight knit community and they don't like to let it go, they don't want to let it go.
  • Embargoed: 4th July 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA56RL4GXZG4Z0YS1TK0A5CJ0PC
  • Story Text: Fresh from the big screen version of "The Mod Squad,"
    up and coming actor Omar Epps co-stars in "The Wood," a coming of age tale of three African American boyhood friends growing up in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood in the 80's.
    Co-stars Taye Diggs and Richard T.Jones joined Epps at the film's Los Angeles premiere on Wednesday, July 14.
    "The Wood" is unusual for Hollywood filmmaking because it features an all African-American cast and is written and directed by an African-American filmmaker, and yet doesn't deal with drugs, prostitution, or gang violence.First-time feature filmmaker Rick Famuyiwa set out to tell a story that could be understood by anyone, no matter what their race of where they grew up.
    In this case, the location is Inglewood, California, a middle class, largely black middle class suburb of Los Angeles right near the airport.For many outsiders, Inglewood is a place plagued by drugs and gang violence, but Famuyiwa doesn't see it that and he should know because he grew up there.In fact, "The Wood" is largely based on his experiences in junior high school and high school.
    His story centers around three boyhood friends: Mike, played by Omar Epps, Slim, played by Richard T.Jones, and Roland, played by Taye Diggs.It all takes place on the eve of Roland's wedding, when he disappears from the ceremony just before it starts and the other two have to find him and bring him back.
    What they find is their friend who's having second thoughts about the committment of marriage, but what they wind up doing is reminiscing about their days in school together, and the rest of the film is told in flashbacks to the mid-1980's, complete with the music, fashions and hairstyles of the period.
    Director Rick Famuyiwa started his career in movie-making during his senior year at the University of Southern California, when a short film of his was selected to be screened at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.He was the first undergraduate to ever earn that distinction.
    After graduation, his screenplay for "The Wood" was accepted to the Sundance Institute's screenwriters and directors lab, which helps independent filmmakers develop features and line up financing.Following his experiences at the lab in the summer of 1997, Famuyiwa worked full time at the Beverly Hills Niketown during the day and worked on his screenplays at night.
    Finally, Famuyiwa and his script for "The Wood" was brought to the newly-formed MTV Films, which has been responsible for such recent movies as "Varsity Blues" and "Election." Together they put the film into production under the Paramount Pictures banner.
    Omar Epps is perhaps the best-known member of the cast, being the veteran of such films as "The Mod Squad," John Singleton's "Higher Learning" and "Scream 2." Taye Diggs made his feature film debut last summer opposite Angela Bassett in the comedy/drama "How Stella Got Her Groove Back," while Richard T.Jones recently co-starred in the films "Kiss the Girls" with Morgan Freeman and "Event Horizon" with Laurence Fishburne.
    "The Wood" opens in theaters throughout the United States on Friday, July 16.
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