Director Steve Carr of bicoastal Villains-the spot and music video house headed by president John Marshall and executive producer Robin Benson-is in preproduction on his feature directing debut, Next Friday, the sequel to the 95 inner-city sleeper comedy Friday, which starred rapper Ice Cube and Chris Tucker. Filming on the $10 million sequel is expected to begin in Los Angeles in May. It was penned by Ice Cube, and will be produced by New Line Cinema and Ice Cubes production company, Cubevision.
Friday has become something of an urban phenomenon, said New Line Productions president and COO Michael De Luca in a press release. Its longevity in the video and soundtrack marketplace are truly extraordinary and we believe that Steve Carr and Ice Cube can replicate that success. Friday-which was directed by F. Gary Gray-grossed $28 million at the domestic box office and the soundtrack went double platinum.
The original film, written by Ice Cube and D.J. Pooh, is set in South Central L.A. and chronicles a day in the life of Craig Jones (Ice Cube), as he deals with the hazards of inner-city life, most notably the neighborhood bully Deebo (Tom Tiny Lister Jr.) and his delinquent friend Smokey (Tucker). Most of the plot plays out on Craigs front porch, but there are additional interactions between Craig and his parents, sister and girlfriend. The climax of the film comes at the end, when Craig heeds his fathers advice and stands up to Deebo.
Next Friday begins where the original left off, but now Craig has moved to the suburbs to live with his uncle and cousin in order to escape Deebos wrath. In spite of the change in locale, Carr said the hook to the sequel is that trouble can find you anywhere. The director further described the second installment as a fish-out-of-water story. The planned seven-week shoot will take place in a still-undetermined L.A. suburb. Casting is also in the preliminary stages, and Carr said it has not been confirmed whether or not Tucker will make a cameo.
Best known for his work in the hip hop music video arena, Carr got his professional start designing album covers. After graduating from the New York School of Visual Arts in 90, he and Cey Adams, a graffiti artist, opened up The Drawing Board, a New
York-based graphic design shop, and began designing album covers for music mogul Russell Simmons Def Jam label. Two years later, while he was still designing, Carr began directing music videos for various Def Jam artists. With the 94 video for Method Mans Release Yo Self, Carr began to make a name for himself in the field.
Two years ago, Carr signed with bicoastal A Band Aparts commercial and music video divisions with the idea that, in addition to branching out into the spot arena, he might also get the opportunity to cross over into features. But after seven months, he began considering other alternatives. During that time, Carr said he had several discussions with his longtime friend, Villains director Brett Ratner (Rush Hour), who convinced Carr that Villains, which is owned by partners Benson, Marshall and director Jim Giddens, was a great place. Ratner also offered to enlist some of his own feature contacts to help Carr find a film project. Ratners other feature credits include Money Talks and Whatever Happened to Mason Reese?
Carr and producer Heidi Santelli-who first worked together at A Band Apart but had been friends for about six years-joined Villains as a team and have been working under the banner for nine months. Four months ago, Carr relocated from New York to Los Angeles; Santelli made the cross-country leap a few months earlier.
The directing credits that have garnered Carr the most attention of late are a pair of Jay-Z videos, Can I Get AA, from the Rush Hour soundtrack, and Hard Knock Life. He is also known for directing Def Squads 97 remake of the Sugar Hill Gangs Rappers Delight. The original, released in 79, was the first rap single to hit Billboards Top 40 pop chart.
Currently Carr is wrapping up a video for Redman, and he recently directed a package of Sprite spots via Burrell Communications, Chicago, which feature L.A. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and rapper Nas. Additional credits include music videos for Public Enemy, Timbaland, Warren G, Onyx, Dave Hollistern and Another Level.
While he hopes Next Friday will lead to additional feature projects, Carr said he intends to bounce around between spots, videos and films. I think the world of music videos is an exciting outlet, he said. Theyre fun and quick and unless youre doing your own personal independent film with your own money, its very hard to get more freedom and control than [a director has with] music videos. Carr also said that while he enjoys the hip hop genre when it comes to music videos, he would like to explore other genres in film. In terms of music videos I do prefer urban music, he said. But in terms of my feature work, I have a lot of different things that Im interested in. Im kind of a softy. I like romantic comedies. I want to make my own When Harry Met Sally.
Carr has also returned to his graphic arts roots, having launched his own design company, DBa, Los Angeles. The original shop, The Drawing Board, is now run by Adams, who bought out Carrs interest in the company. Adams is also looking to break into directing with a forthcoming spot for Phat Farm, Simmons line of hip hop sportswear.
In addition to directors Giddens, Carr and Ratner, Villains represents the Coen brothers, Harry Patramanis, Leonardo Ricagni, Ken Fox, Abel Ferrara, Mr. Viril, the Pate brothers, Bill Mather, Timothy White, Scott Bibo, Eric Yealland, Jeffrey Fleisig and Daniela Federici.
Villains is repped on the East Coast by New York-based Carl Forsberg and Douglas Howell, in the Midwest by Chicago-based Marsha Icko and Marilyn Clancy, and on the West Coast by San Francisco-based Brent Novick.
