Sucker-Free City --- SFC
"I was there...but they cut my part"
Ah, there's nothing like being background in a movie to make one feel ohhh sooo important. During the summer of 03, Spike & his crew (40 Acres & A Mule) were shooting exteriors in San Francisco's Chinatown. A casting agency put out the word and I heeded the call. Who would pass up a chance to be a blurry image in a Spike Lee film, certainly not me.
Our job was simple: Look menacing...And play some basketball.
(SF rappers (from left) Seff the Gaffla, San Quinn and JT the Bigga Figga were part of the inspiration for "Sucker Free City.")
My observation of Spike: likeable and good with his actors. And if he didn't cut out that one scene where I was just left of the main character, I'd say he was fucking awesome.
But he did. Oh well its okay, he only had enough light for one take. But man, it woulda been a great shot Spike. Just for that, I'll use that set-up Spike. As an homage to you. If I ever get lucky enough to direct a film.
If you've seen Spike's films, you notice he has a signature shot. It's the shot where an actor stands still floating/levitating across the ground looking directly at the camera. It's an odd but interesting camera move.
You're probably shaking your head goin "Sucker what?"
Yeah, that's the fickle movie bidness. Like the tons of cookie-cutter movies that come out year after year, this one actually had potential. An urban drama with edge. From what one of the producers told me, Spike signed on to the project simply because of the title of the screenplay.
--A wholly original, restlessly real take on San Francisco gang life -- mixing African American, Chinese and white combatants -- "Sucker Free City" (Click to view trailer) has the kind of non-Hollywood take on urban trouble that proudly makes it cousin to "The Wire" on HBO, and there really isn't any higher praise than that --- (Tim Goodman SFGate.com)
Sadly, it went straight to DVD. There was a possibility of it becoming a full-fledged series on Showtime, but for a variety of mostly inside reasons, passed.
Written by San Francisco-raised Alex Tse
"Sucker Free City" would have been, without question, the best thing on Showtime and reason enough to pay extra for the channel. But way more importantly, it would have been shot in SF. Which means more jobs for us and more opportunities. Still, it was a good experience. I wish I had a camera that day. So, these prod stills will have to do.
It's worth renting, although the ending could have been re-worked a little. Come back and visit "The City" soon Spike! We love ya!
Ah, there's nothing like being background in a movie to make one feel ohhh sooo important. During the summer of 03, Spike & his crew (40 Acres & A Mule) were shooting exteriors in San Francisco's Chinatown. A casting agency put out the word and I heeded the call. Who would pass up a chance to be a blurry image in a Spike Lee film, certainly not me.
Our job was simple: Look menacing...And play some basketball.
(SF rappers (from left) Seff the Gaffla, San Quinn and JT the Bigga Figga were part of the inspiration for "Sucker Free City.")
My observation of Spike: likeable and good with his actors. And if he didn't cut out that one scene where I was just left of the main character, I'd say he was fucking awesome.
But he did. Oh well its okay, he only had enough light for one take. But man, it woulda been a great shot Spike. Just for that, I'll use that set-up Spike. As an homage to you. If I ever get lucky enough to direct a film.
If you've seen Spike's films, you notice he has a signature shot. It's the shot where an actor stands still floating/levitating across the ground looking directly at the camera. It's an odd but interesting camera move.
You're probably shaking your head goin "Sucker what?"
Yeah, that's the fickle movie bidness. Like the tons of cookie-cutter movies that come out year after year, this one actually had potential. An urban drama with edge. From what one of the producers told me, Spike signed on to the project simply because of the title of the screenplay.
--A wholly original, restlessly real take on San Francisco gang life -- mixing African American, Chinese and white combatants -- "Sucker Free City" (Click to view trailer) has the kind of non-Hollywood take on urban trouble that proudly makes it cousin to "The Wire" on HBO, and there really isn't any higher praise than that --- (Tim Goodman SFGate.com)
Sadly, it went straight to DVD. There was a possibility of it becoming a full-fledged series on Showtime, but for a variety of mostly inside reasons, passed.
Written by San Francisco-raised Alex Tse
"Sucker Free City" would have been, without question, the best thing on Showtime and reason enough to pay extra for the channel. But way more importantly, it would have been shot in SF. Which means more jobs for us and more opportunities. Still, it was a good experience. I wish I had a camera that day. So, these prod stills will have to do.
It's worth renting, although the ending could have been re-worked a little. Come back and visit "The City" soon Spike! We love ya!
posted by Sandman at
3:00 AM
2 Comments:
What's up Sandon. This is Andrea. I finally saw the video, and the preview looks pretty "woa", except for the part where everyone is wearing really nice designer clothes.
Too bad it was straight to dvd. Just imagine if it were on primetime.
ps. the post about Disney is just a general one. I didn't want to go into gritty details.
Sandon, if there's one thing I love, it's shows that are set in San Francisco, or anywhere in the Bay Area. If there's one thing I hate, it's when shows set in SF or anywhere in the Bay Area get cancelled or are never really seen before I get the chance! I truly, truly despise it. I was waiting for "Sucker Free City" for the longest time ever since I first read about it in a preview issue of Entertainment Weekly. Then I never heard of it again. I'm glad that it did see a release, but at the same time, I would have wished for it to have a chance to become a series. A lot of shows today just don't have a chance. And here's a link to a page that has almost ALL of the shows that were cancelled since 1998. It's crazy just looking at it.
TV HELL
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