Stereotype-Busting 'Dope'
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Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 From left, Chanel Iman, Pharell Williams, Kiersey Clemons, Shameik Moore, Amin Joseph, Tony Revolori, Quincy Brown, Zoe In this image released by Open Road Films, Shameik Moore, Kravitz, Rick Famuyiwa and A$AP Rocky pose for photographers during a photo call for the film Dope, at the 68th international left, and Zoe Kravitz in a scene from, ‘Dope.’ film festival, Cannes, southern France. — AP photos Stereotype-busting ‘Dope’ moves to beat of a new generation ope” began in the ears of Rick Famuyiwa. The Los adventure. “These kids live in a tough environment, but like any world that they perceive or that they dream.” “Dope” certainly Angeles filmmaker was listening to Kendrick Lamar, other kids, they’re thinking about school, they’re thinking about realized the dreams of the 20-year-old Moore, an Atlanta actor “DA$AP Rocky and Tyler the Creator - genre-shifting R&B parties, they’re thinking about the hot girl or guy,” says Famuyiwa. whose audition tape blew away a desperate Famuyiwa. and hip-hop musicians prone to freewheeling experimentation - “These kids have more obstacles to face in their journey, but The director had struggled to cast Malcolm, but Moore encap- and he heard a new sound. Though many, like the collective Odd they’re optimistic and embrace life. I think it’s a generational sulated the blend of wit, leading-man charm and sincerity he was Future, were from parts of LA close to Inglewood, the community thing.” The film has a direct connection to the music that inspired looking for. It’s an overwhelmingly obvious star-marking perform- where Famuyiwa grew up, they struck the 41-year-old as not at all it, too. Along with the film debut of Rocky, whose second album ance. “Everything I’ve been wanting is coming to life,” says Moore, like his contemporaries. “They were hanging around in all these debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s chart last week, Pharrell Williams is who’s currently shooting Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming hip-hop dra- same places but their energy was completely different,” Famuyiwa a producer and wrote several songs for the soundtrack. “Dope” ma series “The Get Down.” “I did have to learn how to be a leading said in an interview last month at the Cannes Film Festival. “They caused a sensation at the Sundance Film Festival, sparking a bid- man. But after I got the hang of it, it was something amazing. I felt uninhibited. I was listening to Kendrick Lamar, who’s from ding war won by Open Road Films, which is opening it wide this learned how to really do something different on this movie, access (nearby) Compton. I was like: His Compton and how he sees and weekend. The journey to big summer release from Sundance hit, a new part of myself.” experiences Compton is completely different than NWA or Ice with a stop in between at the Cannes Film Festival, is similar to the But while “Dope” was creating good vibes, many of America’s Cube.” one the acclaimed “Fruitvale Station” went on in 2013. city streets were overrun with protests fueled by police killings of “Dope” is Famuyiwa’s attempt to capture, in a movie, a new Both films share Forest Whitaker as a producer, and like unarmed black men. Noting that he wrote “Dope” while the black generation just as different from “Boyz n the Hood” as the “Fruitvale Station” did, “Dope” also came away empty-handed in Trayvon Martin case was unfolding, Famuyiwa said the events had frenetic Lamar is from gangster rap. It’s a John Hughes-like teen initial meetings with studios. “We’re taking a leap on stories that a subconscious effect on the making of the film, particularly for its movie, vibrant and spirited, only one set in a much different neigh- maybe somebody else says they just don’t get,” says Whitaker. “We young cast members. “Malcolm in particular and what he repre- borhood - like Inglewood, which Famuyiwa depicted in his feature were told that in both of those movies.” Whitaker calls “Dope” part sents especially in terms of black masculinity is a counterpoint to debut, “The Wood.” The film, written and directed by Famuyiwa, of a rising cultural tide that signals that “the universality of our the hyper-aggressive, almost cartoon-like ideas that some have in centers on a flat-topped, punk-playing, self-professed geek named lives and the cosmopolitan nature of our cities and the makeup of their head about young black men,” says Famuyiwa. “That 12 year- Malcolm (newcomer Shameik Moore) who’s trying to get into our country is starting to come to the fore.” old boys can get shot and killed in the park because a police offi- Harvard when a fleeing drug dealer (A$AP Rocky) stuffs his back- cer felt like his life was in danger from a 12-year-old boy. It’s like: pack full of drugs. Subconscious effect What’s going on with your mind psychologically that you see this “That doesn’t mean there aren’t pockets of people that are still young boy in that way?”— AP Causing a sensation struggling with educational systems and financial systems and He and his friends (Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons) traverse Los opportunities,” says Whitaker. “But there is a growing group of Angeles, often on their bikes, in a comic, stereotype-busting individuals even inside of that that are looking toward making the Scorsese to receive Lumiere Award artin Scorsese is set to receive the 7th Fremaux’s dedication and passion for heritage films. On top of directing 23 feature films, Scorsese has Lumiere award at the Lyon-set festival cre- He created in 1990 the The Film Foundation in the also written and directed several documentaries, Mated by Cannes topper Thierry Fremaux U.S. which has restored dozens of masterpieces. most of which dealt with two of his passions: Films and French director Bertrand Tavernier. The Scorsese also teamed with Fremaux and Gian Luca (Elia Kazan or Sidney Lumet) and music (George Lummiere fest, which celebrates classics and her- Farinelli to launch the World Cinema Foundation in Harrison, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan). itage films, will pay tribute to Scorsese for his “entire 2007 during Cannes with the ambition to fund the Scorsese, who won an Oscar in 2007 for “The filmography, for his generous love of film, for his restoration of films from Asia, Latin America, Eastern Departed,” has just completed filming “Silence” in tireless fight for the preservation of the cinema of Europe or Africa. Recently renamed The World Asia, adapted from the novel by Japanese writer yesteryear, for his feature films, for his documen- Cinema Project, the org continues to present its Shusaku Endo. Scorsese’s work will also be placed taries, for his love of music, for his kindness to restoration work at Cannes Classics, in Bologna, under the spotlight during an exhibition hosted by young filmmakers from around the world, and also among other locations. Some of these films will also the French Cinematheque - and conceived by its for his thunderous laugh,” it stated. be shown in Lyon. German counterpart-from Oct 14. The Lumiere Scorsese, who will make his first trip to Lyon for Scorsese has a close relationship with Cannes, Award ceremony will take place Oct 16.—Reuters the occasion, said “What the Lumiere festival does is having won the Palme d’or in 1976 with “Taxi very important. And it means a lot to me. I am proud Driver.” Scorsese then served as the Jury’s president to be invited and to receive the Lumiere Award.” in 1998 and remains honorary president of the Past Lumiere honoraries have included Quentin Cinefondation, which was created by Gilles Jacob to Tarantino and Clint Eastwood. Scorsese shares nurture emerging directors throughout the world. Martin Scorsese.