Our Song (2000)

Director:

Jim McKay

Writer:

Jim McKay (written by)

Release Date:

18 April 2001 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Focusing on the bonding between three female (an African American female, a half African American half Latino American female, and a Latino American female) high school members of Brooklyn's "Jackie Robinson Steppers Marching Band" and the choices the girls face once their school closes down because of the need for asbestos removal. This film is about a host of topics, not least of which is the hard-work involved in maintaining friendships.

Plot Keywords:

Marching Band | Teenager | Brooklyn New York City | New York City | Asthma

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Melissa Martinez	...	Maria Hernandez
Anna Simpson	...	Joycelyn Clifton
Kerry Washington	...	Lanisha Brown
The Jackie Robinson Steppers Marching Band	...	Themselves
Marlene Forte	...	Pilar Brown
Raymond Anthony Thomas	...	Carl Brown (as Ray Anthony Thomas)
Rosalyn Coleman	...	Dawn Clifton
Carmen López	...	Rita Hernandez (as Carmen Lopez)
Tyrone Brown	...	Mr. Miller
Lorraine Berry	...	Kim
Natasha Frith	...	Keisha
Chuck Cooper	...	Benjamin
Iris Little Thomas	...	Clinic Counselor
Kim Howard	...	Eleanor
Juan Romero Jr.	...	Samson
D'Monroe	...	Terell
Shortee Red	...	Alex (as Reginald Washington)
Tommy Axson	...	Cam
Tyrus Cox	...	Anthony 'The Playa'
Tahiem Washington	...	Troy Harper
Starla Benford	...	Woman with Flowers
Greg Haberny	...	Cute 'Guapo' Guy
Lisa Collins	...	School Registrar
Eric Lee Byrd	...	Malik (The Party Kisser) (as Eric Byrd)
Sidney O'Loughlin	...	Rasheed
Shannon Phillips	...	Party DJ
Madeleine T. Gamble	...	Steppers Booster
Devin Gray	...	Natasha Up in the Window
Derrick Williams	...	Rodney
Syron Martin	...	Ice Cream Scooper
Jan McLaughlin	...	E.R. Doctor
Carlos Valerio	...	Bodega Proprietor
Xiomana Martinez	...	Bodega Proprietor

Directed by
Jim McKay

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jim McKay		written by

Produced by
Tyrone Brown	....	associate producer
Ashaki 'Saki' Fenderson	....	associate producer (as Ashaki Fenderson)
Alexa L. Fogel	....	co-producer
Joseph Infantolino	....	co-producer
Caroline Kaplan	....	executive producer
Susannah Ludwig	....	associate producer
Jim McKay	....	producer
Paul Mezey	....	producer
Jonathan Sehring	....	executive producer
Michael Stipe	....	executive producer
Diana E. Williams	....	producer

Cinematography by
Jim Denault

Film Editing by
Alexander Hall		(as Alex Hall)

Casting by
Alexa L. Fogel
Karen Gilman
Jane Lew

Art Direction by
Liba Daniels

Costume Design by
Tiel Roman

Makeup Department
Esther Desty	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ashaki 'Saki' Fenderson	....	assistant director

Art Department
Rachel Garrity	....	property master

Sound Department
Stephen Altobello	....	dialogue editor
Cruz Angeles	....	boom operator
Rachel Chancey	....	foley editor
Robert Fernandez	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Rob Fernandez)
Ginger Geary	....	foley artist
Jason Kaplan	....	dialogue editor
Jeanette King-Segnini	....	audio post coordinator
Booker T. Mattison	....	boom operator
Jan McLaughlin	....	sound recordist
Sidney O'Loughlin	....	adr assistant
Dave Paterson	....	supervising sound editor
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Reilly Steele	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Ziegler	....	sound consultant: Dolby (as Jim Ziegler)

Visual Effects by
Eva Rais	....	opticals

Camera and Electrical Department
Claire F. Cario	....	first assistant camera
Elizabeth Casinelli	....	gaffer
Thomas LeGoff	....	still photographer (as Tom Legoff)
John Pirozzi	....	additional electric
Sylvia Plachy	....	still photographer
Gabrielle Russomagno	....	still photographer
Victor Sira	....	still photographer
Joia Speciale	....	additional assistant camera
Aurelia Winborn	....	additional assistant camera
Franz Wise	....	gaffer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sharika Niles	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Don Ciana	....	color timer
Charly Huser	....	color timer
Pete Spataro	....	16mm color timer (as Peter Spataro)

Music Department
Julie Panebianco	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Sturgis Adams	....	production assistant
Tommy Axson	....	production assistant
Ivan Bess	....	production assistant
Susan H. Bodine	....	legal counsel (as Susan Bodine)
Andrea F. Cannistraci	....	legal services
Mekita Coe	....	production assistant
Lisa Collins	....	rough-cut screener
Lisa Collins	....	script reader
Katie Connor	....	production assistant
Joslyn G. Eccles	....	key production assistant
Rachel Garrity	....	key production assistant
Tom Gilroy	....	rough-cut screener
Tom Gilroy	....	script reader
Markus Jengkens	....	production assistant
Brian A. Kates	....	rough-cut screener
Brian A. Kates	....	script reader
Sharika Niles	....	key production assistant
Hans Probst	....	opticals
Josh A. Rubin	....	location manager
Attika Torrence	....	production assistant

Thanks
Stephanie Black	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Beech Hill Films
• C-Hundred Film Corporation
• Independent Film Channel (IFC)
• Journeyman Pictures

Distributors

• Epicentre Films (France)
• IFC Films (2001) (USA)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Teleview International (2000) (Lebanon) (TV) (Middle East)

Other Companies

• Camera Service Center  camera equipment
• Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz & Weinstein  legal services
• Magno Lab Link  dailies
• Media Services  payroll services
• Mimondo Productions Ltd.  titles
• Noëlle Penraat  negative cutting
• OK TV  post-production services
• Sound One Corporation  sound mixed at
• Spin Cycle Post  audio post production services

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some teen drug use

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Certification:

France:U | Hong Kong:IIA | USA:R

Company:

Beech Hill Films

Movie Connections:

References Curly Sue (1991)

Soundtrack:

Play Dirty

Oooh, child....

"Our Song" looks at three inner-city (Brooklyn, NY) High School girl best friends with a surprisingly natural realism considering how much male DNA is behind the film. The trio of principals (Washington, Martinez, Simpson) get down with the issues of day-to-day living in the projects as they deal with parental units, girl issues, school, boys, etc. making for a pleasant and easy-going watch devoid of the usual sex, drugs, and rap-n-roll one might expect to see. An unusually believable and enjoyable watch as indies go, "Our Song" will probably play best with females. (C+)