Fear of a Black Hat (1993)

Director:

Rusty Cundieff

Writer (WGA):

Rusty Cundieff (written by)

Release Date:

3 June 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Plot:

A mockumentary chronicling the rise and fall of a not particularly talented--or particularly bright but always controversial--1990s hip-hop group, NWH (Niggaz with Hats). |

Plot Keywords:

Hip Hop | Satire | Reference To Paula Abdul | Fake Documentary | Fictional Band

Cast

Mark Christopher Lawrence	...	Tone Def
Larry B. Scott	...	Tasty Taste
Rusty Cundieff	...	Ice Cold
Kasi Lemmons	...	Nina Blackburn
Howie Gold	...	Guy Friesch
G. Smokey Campbell	...	Backstage Manager #1
Bobby Mardis	...	Promoter #1
Brad Sanders	...	Promoter #2
Moon Jones	...	Jam Boy
Tim Hutchinson	...	Reggie Clay
Faizon Love	...	Jam Boy (as Faizon)
Deezer D	...	Jam Boy
Darin Scott	...	Security Head
Devin Kamin	...	Vanilla Sherbet (as Devin Kamienny)
Jeff Burr	...	Chicago Cop
Kenneth J. Hall	...	John Liggert
Don Reed	...	Daryll in Charge
Reggie Bruce	...	Video Director
Barry Shabaka Henley	...	Geoffrey Lennox (as Shabaka)
Kurt Loder	...	Himself
Mark Selinger	...	Right Winger
Lamont Johnson	...	MC Slammer
J.J. Hommel	...	White Punk #1
Jeff Pollack	...	White Punk #2
Monica Tolliver	...	Fine Woman Back Stage
LaVerne Anderson	...	Sage
K. Front	...	Parsley
Deborah Swisher	...	Rosemary
Nancy Giles	...	Loreatha
Doug McHenry	...	Himself
George Jackson	...	Himself
Lance Crouther	...	Street Vender
Doug Starks	...	Rev Brother Pastor Deacon Dr Doug
Penny Johnson	...	Re-Re
Billy Elmer	...	Security Guard #1
Joseph Anthony Farris	...	Security Guard #2
Daryl Savid	...	Teacher
Rose Jackson	...	Cheryl C.
Barry Heins	...	Marty Rabinow
Eric Laneuville	...	Jike Spingleton
Clyde Jones	...	Rico
Rochelle Ashana	...	Tiffini
Homeselle Joy	...	Mabel Ann Jackson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ric Ocasek	...	Himself (scenes deleted)
Monique Gabrielle	...	Girl in Music Video (uncredited)
Alicia Rio	...	Girl in Hot Tub (uncredited)
Dominique Simone	...	Girl in Hot Tub (uncredited)

Directed by
Rusty Cundieff

Writing credits (WGA)
Rusty Cundieff		(written by)

Produced by
W.M. Christopher Gorog	....	executive producer (as Wm. Christopher Gorog)
Neil Lundell	....	line producer (as Neil C. Lundell)
Darin Scott	....	producer

Cinematography by
John L. Demps Jr.		(as John Demps Jr.)

Film Editing by
Karen Horn

Casting by
Jaki Brown
Kim Hardin		(as Kimberly Hardin)

Production Design by
Stuart Blatt

Set Decoration by
Penny Barrett

Costume Design by
Rita McGhee

Makeup Department
Stacye P. Branche	....	key hair stylist (as Stacye Branche)
Stacye P. Branche	....	key makeup artist (as Stacye Branche)
Christine Curry	....	assistant hair stylist
Christine Curry	....	assistant makeup artist
Toni Greene	....	assistant hair stylist
Toni Greene	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Guy J. Louthan	....	executive in charge of production
Neil Lundell	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gregory M. Alexander	....	first assistant director: music video unit
Joyce Demps	....	second assistant director: music video unit (as Joyce Lewis Demps)
G. Thomas Ferguson	....	second assistant director: music video unit (as G. Thomas Furgerson)
Lindsey Elizabeth Lee	....	second assistant director
Bertha Lynn	....	first assistant director: music video unit
Jono Oliver	....	second assistant director (as Jonathan Oliver)
Elena J. Robinson	....	second assistant director (as Elena Robinson)
Rachael Williams	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Joel Carter	....	leadman (as Joel L. Carter)
Raymond Carter	....	swing
Stephen H. Robinow	....	props: music video unit (as Steve Robinow)
Stephen Roche	....	set painter
Jeremy Wakefield	....	set painter
Stefan Wilcox	....	property master

Sound Department
Bryan Azorsky	....	dialogue editor
Sarah Brady	....	adr editor
John Brasher	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bryan Gladstone	....	sound recordist
Brian Harman	....	adr mixer
Eric Hoeschen	....	sound recordist
Pierre Jaboin	....	record scratcher
Adriane Marfiak	....	sound effects editor
Brian Moss	....	boom operator
Oliver L. Moss	....	sound mixer
Andy Napell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Val Piera	....	boom operator: barber boom
Doug Reed	....	foley artist
Doug Reed	....	foley editor
Hari Ryatt	....	supervising sound editor
Brian Slack	....	surround sound consultant
Lauren Stephens	....	dialogue editor

Special Effects by
Kevin McCarthy	....	special effects
Sandra McCarthy	....	special effects lead

Stunts
Steven Lambert	....	stunt coordinator (as Steve Lambert)

Camera and Electrical Department
Davie Carothers	....	first assistant camera
George M. Chappell	....	best boy electric (as George Chappell)
David Clayter	....	best boy electric
Ricco Clement	....	second assistant camera: music video unit
Diane Farrington	....	second camera operator (as Dianne Farrington)
Jon Giddens	....	second assistant camera: music video unit
Dan Golden	....	still photographer
Emil Hampton	....	first assistant camera: music video unit
Ron Hoffman	....	best boy electric
Dannon Johnson	....	grip (as Danny Johnson)
John Johnson	....	still photographer (as John P. Johnson)
Reginald F. Lake	....	gaffer (as Reggie Lake)
Heather Lea	....	second assistant camera
Tom Marvel	....	gaffer (as Thomas Marvel)
Carlo Ontal	....	still photographer
Pamela Rittelmeyer	....	second assistant camera (as Pamela E. Rittelmeyer)
Dan Robinson	....	electrician
Sabrina Simmons	....	first assistant camera: music video unit
David Terry	....	best boy grip
Derek Wells	....	key grip

Casting Department
Dennis Hansen	....	extras casting
Tishilene Henreid	....	additional extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barbara Chennault	....	set wardrobe (as Barbara Chenault)
Carolyn Cushman	....	wardrobe assistant
Dahlia Foroutan	....	wardrobe stylist
Patricia Jaboin	....	wardrobe assistant
Tracey White	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Linda A. Borgeson	....	director of post-production
Gary Burdick	....	telecine operator
Syd Cole	....	negative cutter
G. Thomas Ferguson	....	editor: music video unit (as G. Thomas Furgerson)
W.O. Garrett	....	additional editor (as Okuwah Garrett)
Christine Griswold	....	post-production coordinator
Ruben Guerrero	....	color timer
David Lebowitz	....	second assistant editor
Michael Schultz	....	editor: music video unit (as Michael D. Schultz)
Wayne Sharpe	....	editor: music video unit
Theo Waddell	....	first assistant editor
Robert Yano	....	first assistant editor
Barry S. Silver	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Steven Adams	....	production assistant: music video unit
Kerry Bailey	....	coordinator: music video unit (as Kerry B. Bailey)
Jay Bolton	....	music editor
Jason Branche	....	production assistant: music video unit
Reggie Brumfield	....	production assistant: music video unit
Dante Bullock	....	intern: music video unit
Derek Bullock	....	production assistant: music video unit
Sean Coney	....	intern: music video unit
Steve Elderbrock	....	production assistant: music video unit
Wade Ellis	....	key set production assistant: music video unit
Gregory Everett	....	key set production assistant: music video unit (as Gregory 'G-Bone' Everett)
Erika Harrell	....	key set production assistant: music video unit (as Erika L. Harrell)
Martin C. Jones	....	producer: music video
Dawn Lightsy	....	production assistant: music video unit
Jimmy Locust	....	choreographer: music video unit
Jim Manzie	....	composer: additional music, Apra
Choise Mitchell	....	intern: music video unit
Terrence Porter	....	intern: music video unit
Larry Robinson	....	music supervisor
Patrick Tousignant	....	bebe nightlite: music video unit (as Pat Tousignant)

Transportation Department
John De Troia	....	transportation captain
Steve Stein	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Steven Adams	....	crew
Thomas E. Anderson	....	production assistant
Barbara Bass	....	studio teacher
Greg Bennett	....	production assistant
Paul Bowers	....	script supervisor
Tony Cavazo	....	stage manager
Mark N. Cohen	....	production assistant (as Mark Cohen)
Pamella D'Pella	....	location manager
Ingrid Delaney	....	craft service assistant
Maureen Duffy	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Robert Fielder	....	key set production assistant
Mark Fifer	....	location scout
Ira Friedlander	....	production accountant (as Ira J. Friedlander)
Stephanie Friedman	....	production assistant
Dawn Gilliam	....	script supervisor
Lynne Goldhammer	....	production coordinator
Jay Gowey	....	location representative: Lakeview Hospital
Melanie 'Ahni' Harden	....	key set production assistant (as Melanie Harden)
Meredith Hight	....	production accountant
Matthew Hurst	....	assistant production coordinator (as Matthew Morgan Hurst)
Kevin Hyman	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Pierre Jaboin	....	craft service
Robert Jellen	....	insurance: Alfred G. Ruben
Jennifer Jones	....	stand-in
Stacey Kramer	....	executive in charge of development
Jesse Long	....	script supervisor (as Jesse H. Long)
Barbra Lopez	....	production assistant (as Barbra Jo Lopez)
Marcia Rutledge	....	insurance: Alfred G. Ruben
Alonzo Ruvalcaba	....	production assistant
Scott Shiffman	....	supervising auditor
Don Stanley	....	set security
Lee Stanley	....	location permits
Drew Tolbert	....	stand-in
Misty Tolbert	....	production assistant
Garry Walker	....	production assistant
Denise Wheeler	....	location permits
Kurt Woolner	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances

Production Companies

• Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
• Oakwood Productions

Distributors

• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fox Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Avatar Productions (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Carlton International Media (????) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Destination Films (????) (worldwide) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Avatar Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive strong language, and for sexuality

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

USA:R | Iceland:12 | UK:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Ontario)

Company:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Trivia:

When the film was screened at Cannes, the only slot it was allowed was a single midnight showing. Unexpectedly, it became the first film to sell out the slot. It was then extended to several other midnight showings, all of which sold out.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: An ITC logo sign is clearly visible to the left in the record company's office.

Quotes:

Ice Cold:Over here we got some perpetrators - a bunch of Ice Wannabes. See, Ice Cold, I'm the man, but we got Ice Tray, Ice Coffee, Ice Water, Iceberg, Ice Cup, Icebox. I mean it gets real ridiculous when people tryin' to bite your style, you know what I'm sayin'? But, hey, that's the way it is, it's the rap world.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Battleship Potemkin (1925)

Soundtrack:

Grab Yo Stuff aka Grab Yo Dick

An Excellent Comedy.

Rated R for Strong Language,Violent Content and Some Nudity. Quebec Rating:13+ Canadian Home Video Rating:14A

Fear Of A Black Hat is one of the funniest, most original comedies I have ever seen.Its basically a gangsta rap version of the film This Is Spinal Tap.Its a shame not many people have heard of this gem of a film.If you manage to find this film anywhere don't hesitate to buy it even if you don't like rap music.There are not too many comedy films that I give a perfect 10/10 to.The only ones I can think of at the moment are this film,Clerks,The World According To Garp,The 40 Year Old Virgin and Chasing Amy.This film is a hilarious stereotype of the gangsta rap culture.The movie is about a woman named Nina Blackburn who is making a documentary about the fictional rap group N.W.H(N****z with hats).They are basically the stereotype of a rap group making many controversial rap songs about killing and being a gangsta.Fear Of A Black Hat is an excellent comedic film and I recommend it even if you are not a fan of the gangsta rap scene.Its a shame this film is not in the Top 250.

Runtime:88min

10/10