With so many remakes and cliche films out in theaters and on television these days, leave it to a rapper to try something new. Former Onyx member turned actor Sticky Fingaz, who's been in countless films and television shows, is making his directorial debut with the hip hop action-drama/musical, 'A Day in the Life.'
Starring a bevy of talent from Mekhi Phifer, Clarence Williams III, Michael Rapaport, Tyrin Turner, Omar Epps, Drena De Niro, Faizon Love, Mike Williams, Bokeem Woodbine, Fredo Star, Erik Palladino, Ray J, Treach, Kurupt, Ray J, Malinda Williams, and Nadine Velazquez, the entire film is told entirely in rap.
Through his production company, Major Independents, and Lionsgate Films, the film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 7th.
The film begins as the sun rises, it's just another day in the life of Sticky's character and concludes before sunset of the same day. The story takes the audience on a wild journey through one day as witnesses to an intense street war between two rival crime families.
In speaking with It's All Reel, the former Def Jam Records rap star talked about putting this film together and trying to bring something new to the industry.
Were did you get the inspiration to do a musical?
Sticky Fingaz: This came about after I did my first album, 'Blacktrash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones,' which was distributed by Universal Records. The album was like a movie. It just didn't have any visuals to it. I wanted to be progressive and put two and two together.
Was it a challenge to writing the dialogue, which is also the lyrics, when you have this many speaking parts?
SF: Not really. The writing was actually easy to do. This is what I do. It's like doing a puzzle from the beginning to the end, where you keep going until you finish it. Everything was all in my head. I recorded all the parts myself. I had a blueprint of it and went into the studio and worked it out.
How were you able to get this cast together?
SF: It was easy but also complicated. I simply called the people I knew and they were happy to be a part of the film. I had shot some scenes with some actors who are not well known previously before the bigger names got involved in the film.
Once the pieces were in order, when did Lionsgate come into the picture?
SF: We had shopped it to Lionsgate and they were in love from get go. They didn't want us to show it to anyone else. They had submitted a proposal by the end of the week and then came in about 2/5 along the way of shooting and provided the finishing funds for us to complete production. Along with my company, Major Independents, we have a place that people can trust to get things done.
How was your experience directing? Could anyone else had done it?
SF: No one else could have directed this. This is my vision and story. It also opened up another chamber for me. Everyone on the set for the most part knew each other and got along great.
Why should anyone pick up 'A Day in the Life?'
SF: I think this film is a classic. It has some of your favorite actors doing something you probably haven't seen them done before. For some, rapping is new for them. This isn't a remake or something you've seen before. We are break barriers with this film and I also think it will do well overseas. Urban films don't tend to do well in other countries, but they haven't seen this film yet. You will need 3 copies of this. One for the DVD player, one for the car, and one to keep in plastic because it's a classic.
A DAY IN THE LIFE Music Video/Trailer from KB on Vimeo.
Mel B Pictures
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
In this undated image released by Oxfam Tuesday Sept. 23, 2008, British singer Mel B participates in the 'In My Name' global campaign calling for action against poverty and demanding world leaders keep their promises on millennium development goals. (AP Photo/Oxfam, HO) ** NO SALES **
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In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl Mel B, left, serves as the emcee at a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. Mel B wears a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. The woman at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Ultimo Scottish designer lingerie brand founder Michelle Mone (L) and pop singer Melanie Brown pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and singer Aubrey O'Day (R) poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown, Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard, singer Aubrey O'Day and TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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Comments: (12)
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By: Dimples on 7/08/2009 1:19PM
OMG - the voice over rapping- 2 funny. The trailer makes the movie look like a long music video. I'm impressed that he is doing something new, but it's definitely not different. Whose story are they telling, most of these cats been rapping the same material forever and know they never did it. Same ole same, hip-hop tied into drugs, sex, violence and money. I counted 50-11 guns in the trailer and the azz shots so typical for hip hop videos. Same old story, cat moves up in the drug/gun/pimp/rap game, makes a lot of money and wants to get out and go legit/take over the city/bring down a mob boss/exact revenge on cats that disrespected/kill his way out/rap his way out/etc.
Belly
Clockers
Paid in Full
Cash Rules
Menace
Empire
Killa Season
Sugar Hill
State Property I&II
Streets is Watching
Caught Up
Hot Boys
New Jack City
Notorious
Strapped
Hustle and Flow
et al.
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By: Know thy Enemy on 7/10/2009 8:03AM
All based on the destruction of black folk. You can't get a green light on a positive film not that coon @#$%. So let,s teach the young the the enemy is your bro, not the ones who shot your cousin on his way from work. He fit the desciption. Most of our heros are AGENTS. Be glad U can see Dimples most are blind to the fact. BUT you give me hope.
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By: john on 7/10/2009 8:59AM
i, think it will work.
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By: debra on 7/10/2009 9:17PM
Why does these films have to have white, mixed race or half white women in them and not sisters? Tyler Perry has done the same thing (casting women of mixed race, latino's and white women). They put those race of women in the film and they still go to straight to dvd and not make it to the big screen.
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By: sparky smith on 7/10/2009 12:30PM
Things or people which seem they do something for us, but they really do not:
Majority of black churches, take money and do not place it back into the community.
Tnis crazy flick/stage play by Sticky Fingers. The gun thing ??? Come on!!!!!
A majority of black athletes who never give back. At least Shaq, Warrick Dunn help people and a few others. Hey, don't ask Reggie Miller. He was asked one time to speak to some children in an inner city school. He told the person who requested his time that he needed 800 dollars up front.lololololol Who really , really helps the black community ? Catholic Charities do more for the black community than any black pimp church.. In my city if you are down and out, need a refrigerator, stove, food ? You had better go to your local Saint Vincent Depaul's Catholic Charities. They have a designated day for people. They line up for hours to get services and tangibles..iamout smithmusic_2000@yahoo.com
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By: Commonsense Domination on 7/10/2009 7:05PM
Another gutter-rat demonstration of the BLACK COMMUNITY! I wonder what the intended theme of THAT musical really is. No matter what the gist of that so called musical is, the socio-psycho impact will will be unrewarding/DEVASTATING to the younger Black minds. If the intention of THAT musical is to end or limit violence in Black communities, the subsequence will be quite the antithesis. Do you recall the poem, "Children Live What They Learn/See"? The surfeit of the use of guns in Black movies and now muscials becomes a defensive mechanism that secures the perpetuation of Black-on-Black crimes. ON THE MATTER OF BLACK ATHLETES' CHARITIES FOR MEMBERS OF BLACK COMMUNITIES, I SAY THIS: They, in so many ways spit in the faces of Black females....INCLUSIVE OF THEIR MOTHERS, SISTERS, NIECES, AUNTS AND ALL THEIR OTHER FEMALES RELATIVES...marrying below themselves...to anyone BUT Black, particularly to WHITE BIMBOS or those with their eyes going in a diagonal direction. That, my friends, is not a matter of accidents or coincidences. It is a matter of will/intent. However, during certain events such as those pertinent to Thanksgiving and Christmas, they SHOW-UP, offering fat turkeys to Black families that do NOT have the guts to them go to hell...or to toys to Black kids. So many Blacks think of those gestures as kind and wonderful. WHAT A PITY! Once again, it is the psychological which dominates the sociological and all else. IT IS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL THAT BECOMES THE FORERNNER TO EVERY OTHER SOCIETAL BEHAVIOR. Blacks, you have to BE STRONG and tell those who are technically and indirectly disrespecting you "GO TO HELL". My real role models are HARRIET TUBMAN, SOJOURNER TRUTH, ALL THE BLACK FEMALE LEADERS WHO DID SO MUCH TO HOLD THE BLACK FAMILIES TOGETHER AND ALL THE BLACK FEMALES WHO REFUSE TO ACCEPT TRASH FROM THE PSYCHOLIGICALLY DEFECTED BLACK MALES DESPITE OF THEIR POPULARITY, FAME AND FORTUNE. And you know what? I am just a PROUD BLACK MAN!
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By: Barbara on 7/10/2009 11:29PM
All I can say is AMAN, AMAN. I was so happy to read your comment. I wish that people would read your comment and do just what you say, tell them to go to hell with their turkeys and toys. I was at a theme park this past week and a so called black man was with a white woman (very unattractive as usual) and had the nerve to make eye contact to speak to me, I ignored him. So I know he will say that, I was a unhappy black woman. But to hell with him. I am a very happy black successful woman, but have nothing for stupid, unhappy and self hating black men (blackmen that marry/date white women).
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By: sparky smith on 7/10/2009 6:47PM
I received about 20 emails within the last days and responded to one individual in error, subsequently you received the wrong message, please forgive me my brother from the Pacific...peace
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By: jgs309 on 7/10/2009 7:36PM
I rented the dvd and "tried' to watch the video. It has good qualities, storyline etc, however the rapping audio quality was poor. It was not my system. This type of video can make it, but the audio has got to be on fire!!
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By: smitty on 7/10/2009 9:39PM
Come on people, is this all we know, is films
like this. Please.
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