Baby Boy (2001)

Director:

John Singleton

Writer (WGA):

John Singleton (written by)

Release Date:

29 June 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

Plot:

This is the story of Jody, an unemployed young black man, who's been living with his mother for several years...

Plot Keywords:

Racial Slur | Condom | Cheating | Jail | Nightmare

Awards:

1 win & 14 nominations

Cast

Tyrese Gibson	...	Joseph Summers
Taraji P. Henson	...	Yvette
Omar Gooding	...	Sweetpea
Tamara LaSeon Bass	...	Peanut
Candy Ann Brown	...	Ms. Herron (as Candy Brown Houston)
A.J. Johnson	...	Juanita
Ving Rhames	...	Melvin 'Mel'
Snoop Dogg	...	Rodney
Angell Conwell	...	Kim
Kareem J. Grimes	...	Do Dirty (as Kareem Grimes)
Tracey Cherelle Jones	...	Sharika
Kaylan Bolton	...	Joe Joe
Kylan Bolton	...	Joe Joe
Freez Luv	...	Cake Man
Mo'Nique	...	Patrice
Juanita Jennings	...	Rachel
Liris Crosse	...	Receptionist
Sylvester Robinson	...	Little Boy
Maasai Singleton	...	Little Boy
Mario Jackson	...	Roger (as Mario William Jackson)
Keith Diamond	...	Sneed
Freddie Ricks	...	Winston (as Frederick Ricks)
Selma McPherson	...	Ms. Daniels
Asondra Hunter	...	Woman
Tawny Dahl	...	Pandora
AlexSandra Wright	...	Woman Inside (as Alex Wright)
Serese Teate	...	Sheryl
Olan Thompson	...	Chris
Ephraim Benton	...	Young Thug
Java Benson	...	Young Thug
DeJuan Guy	...	Looney Toon (as Dejuan Guy)
Deon Gregory	...	Tony
Tray Deee	...	Knucklehead
Goldie Loc	...	Knucklehead
Diamond Dawn Cook	...	Woman
Charlee Miyohshi	...	Woman
Roma Alvarez	...	Mexican Neighbor
Limary Agosto	...	Lucy Girl
Amentha Dymally	...	Elderly Woman
Kym Whitley	...	Host
Hope Flood	...	Guest
Dannon Green	...	Guest
Cleopatra Singleton	...	Lil' Nut
Sheila Ward	...	Mourner (as Sheila L. Ward)
Jamaica Carter	...	Já Toú
Delores Gilbeaux	...	Co-Worker
Terrance Holloway	...	Dice Player
Sir Hondes D. Williams Sr.	...	Dice Player
Calvin L. Valrie Jr.	...	Dice Player
Eddie Clark	...	Street Vendor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Yolanda Jones	...	Co-Worker (uncredited)
Akciree Knight	...	Baby (uncredited)
Ericka Knight	...	Baby (uncredited)
Shawn M. Richardz	...	Middle Class Woman (uncredited)
Angie Wells	...	Girl in Hair Salon in Print Pants (uncredited)

Directed by
John Singleton

Writing credits (WGA)
John Singleton		(written by)

Produced by
Sabrina Gray	....	associate producer (as Sabrina L. Gray)
John Singleton	....	producer
Dwight Williams	....	executive producer

Original Music by
David Arnold

Cinematography by
Charles Mills		(director of photography) (as Charles E. Mills)

Film Editing by
Bruce Cannon

Casting by
Kim Hardin		(as Kimberly R. Hardin)

Production Design by
Keith Brian Burns

Set Decoration by
Judi Giovanni

Costume Design by
Ruth E. Carter		(as Ruth Carter)

Makeup Department
Marietta Carter-Narcisse	....	key makeup artist
Sterfon Demings	....	key hair stylist
Felicia Herron	....	key hair stylist (as Felicia Lisa Herron)
Angie Wells	....	makeup artist (as Angela Wells)

Production Management
Dwight Williams	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kristen Brickner	....	second second assistant director
Frank Davis	....	first assistant director
Jason Roberts	....	second assistant director
Tyrone S. Walker	....	second assistant director (as Tyrone Walker)
Christian Clarke	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Hugh Conlon	....	construction coordinator
Liba Daniels	....	assistant art director
Jimmie Herron Jr.	....	property master
Tamara Murphy	....	on-set dresser
Noah Plunkett	....	stand-by greens
Sean D. Jackson	....	greensman (uncredited)
Brent David Mannon	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bobbi Banks	....	supervising adr editor
Veda Campbell	....	production sound mixer
Kerry Ann Carmean	....	foley editor (as Kerry Carmean)
Chris Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Vincent Guisetti	....	foley artist
Jeffrey J. Haboush	....	sound re-recording mixer
Greg Hedgepath	....	supervising sound editor
Chris Hogan	....	supervising foley editor (as Christopher Hogan)
Daniel S. Irwin	....	dialogue editor
Drake Jenevein	....	assistant sound editor
Amy Kane	....	foley artist
Howard London	....	adr mixer
Tom Ozanich	....	sound editor
Vic Radulich	....	sound editor
Perry Robertson	....	foley editor
Kyle Rochlin	....	foley mixer
David Spence	....	dialogue editor
Fred Stafford	....	adr editor
Frederick H. Stahly	....	adr editor
Gary A. Theard	....	boom operator
Tracy Bolt	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Thomas D. Bacho Jr.	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Billy Bryan	....	fabrication supervisor: Masterfx (as Bill Bryan)
Todd Masters	....	visual effects designer: Masterfx
Dan Rebert	....	fabrication lead: Masterfx
Stacy Scofield	....	administrator: Masterfx
Sean Taylor	....	visual effects producer: Masterfx
Derek Ledbetter	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Roy T. Anderson	....	stunts
Tony Brubaker	....	stunts (as Tony Brubacker)
Eugene Collier	....	stunts
Keith Davis	....	stunts
Kofi Elam	....	stunts (as Koffey Elam)
Bobby J. Foxworth	....	stunts
Hollis Hill	....	stunts
Wayne King	....	stunts
Bob Minor	....	stunt coordinator
Roger Minor	....	stunts
Royce L. Minor	....	stunts (as Royce Minor)
John Moio	....	stunts
Hugh Aodh O'Brien	....	stunts (as Hugh A. O'Brien)
Joe Ordaz	....	stunts
Diane Reneé	....	stunts
Len Richard	....	stunts (as Len Richards)
Gilbert Rosales	....	stunts
Jeff Sanders	....	stunts
Robair Sims	....	stunts
John Tamburro	....	helicopter stunt pilot
William Washington	....	stunts
Lee Weaver	....	stunts
Danny Wynands	....	stunts (as Dan Wynands)

Camera and Electrical Department
Warren Fox	....	rigging gaffer
Kirk R. Gardner	....	Steadicam operator (as Kirk Gardner)
Anthony Gaudioz	....	camera operator
Martin Glover	....	video assistant (as Martin J. Glover)
Elisha Harris	....	chief lighting technician (as Eli Harris)
Wendell Harris	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Dannon Johnson	....	second grip
Steven Mendoza	....	dolly grip (as Steven E. Mendoza)
Eli Reed	....	still photographer
Adan Torres	....	second assistant camera
Robert A. Torres	....	first assistant camera (as Robert Torres)
Derek Wells	....	key grip
Dan Ayers	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Joseph W. Calloway	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Michael McCormack	....	24 frame video operator (uncredited)
Craig Nix	....	technocrane assistant (uncredited)
Charles Simons	....	dolly grip: second unit (uncredited)
Chuck Sorensen	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Vernon Wynne	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Debra Secher	....	casting associate
Ann Frederick	....	casting assistant (uncredited)
Chris Gray	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Conan Castro Jr.	....	costumer (as Conan C. Castro Jr.)
Rita McGhee	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Justin Bourret	....	associate film editor
Brian Felton	....	apprentice editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
David Raymond	....	assistant film editor
Mike Stanwick	....	color timer
Eric Rigney	....	avid technician (uncredited)

Music Department
Donnie Anderson	....	music co-supervisor
Jay Bolton	....	music editor
Nicholas Dodd	....	conductor
Nicholas Dodd	....	orchestrator
Robert Fernandez	....	score mixer
John Singleton	....	music supervisor
Melodee Sutton	....	music consultant
Pilar McCurry	....	executive soundtrack producer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Duke Foster	....	transportation captain
Craig Lietzke	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Benjamin Adams	....	production accountant
Darius Aubry	....	assistant: Mr. Williams (as Darius M. Aubry)
Noella Barb	....	set medic
Cassandra Butcher	....	publicity consultant (as Cassandra O. Butcher)
Cassandra Butcher	....	unit publicist (as Cassandra O. Butcher)
Tiphany Butler	....	production assistant
Zaid Gayle	....	production assistant (as Zaid C. Gayle)
Kobet Harber	....	physical trainer
Barbara Harris	....	adr loop group
Ezekiel Jackson	....	security officer
Anthony Jacobs	....	production coordinator
Yolanda Jones	....	assistant: Mr. Singleton
Bonnie Jordan	....	assistant production coordinator
Lalanya Masters	....	production assistant
Wayne Middleton	....	location manager
Anton Perkins	....	caterer
Tory Reed	....	production assistant
E.J. Roberts	....	craft service
Scott T. Sudduth	....	production assistant (as Scott Suddith)
Melisa Sánchez	....	script supervisor (as Melisa Sanchez)
Jayson Taylor	....	production assistant (as Jason Taylor)
Leon P. Watkins	....	production assistant
Xelinda Yancy	....	production secretary
Anna Belaro-Rodriguez	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
James M. Chizmar Jr.	....	dive master (uncredited)
Kevin Collins	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Carlyn Couch	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Pamella D'Pella	....	location manager (uncredited)
André Devantier	....	caterer (uncredited)
Juliana FauntLeRoy	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Arif S. Kinchen	....	voice-over (uncredited)
Rhonda Reznick	....	first assistant accountant (uncredited)
Ptah Shabaf	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Aaron Walrod	....	payroll accountant: re-shoots (uncredited)

Thanks
Kevin Doucette	....	special thanks
Warren Drummond	....	special thanks
Michelle Richards	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures (presents)
• New Deal Productions

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2001) (worldwide) (all media)
• Columbia Pictures (2001) (USA) (theatrical) (a Sony Pictures Entertainment company)
• Columbia TriStar Films (2001) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Italia (2001) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2002) (Argentina) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (VHS)
• Egmont Entertainment (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (2001) (Finland) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2002) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Nelonen (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Nordic (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Video (2003) (Japan) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Ultimate Effects (special effects)
• MastersFX (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Alberto Grimaldi Productions  footage: "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" courtesy of
• Black Entertainment Television (BET)  footage: "Cita's World" courtesy of
• Cable News Network (CNN)  footage: Larry King interviewing Mike Tyson supplied by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies (uncredited)
• Christopher Gray Casting  extras casting
• Clairmont Camera  camera equipment provided by (as Clairmont)
• Film Permits Unlimited  location permits
• Hollywood Caterers  catering
• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles and opticals
• King Features Syndicate  footage: "Popeye" courtesy of (as King Features)
• MGM Clip + Still  footage: "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" courtesy of
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  walkie rentals
• Sony Pictures Studio Sound Department  sound services by (as Sony Pictures Studio, Culver City, California)
• Twentieth Television  footage: "Divorce Court" courtesy of
• Universal Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

"South Central L.A." - Japan (English title) (video title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, language, violence and some drug use

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | France:U | Germany:16 | Italy:T | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #38090) | Iceland:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | Finland:K-15 | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:R21

Filming Locations:

11th Avenue / Vernon Avenue, Leimert Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

John Singleton originally wrote the role of Rodney for Ice Cube.

Goofs:

Continuity: It is actually Jody and Yvette who have a baby first. Jody had a baby with Peanut after Yvette. This is evident because Peanut's baby is introduced as, appear throughout the movie as a toddler, whereas Yvette & Jody's son is at least 4 years old throughout the movie.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jody:There's this psychiatrist, a lady named Frances Chris Walson. She has a theory about the black man in America. She says because of the system of racism in this country, the black man is meant to think of himself as a baby. A not yet fully formed being...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009)

Soundtrack:

Daddy's Home

Couldn't Be More Ghetto If It Tried

This is not an uplifting film, nor does it try to be. A young black man trying to survive in the hood and dealing with the mess he created. The typical stereotypes abound. Unemployed, illegitimate child and crime. The main character is always conscious of the possibility of being killed on the streets. Part of the plot is that a part of him wants to escape, but he knows no other way to exist.

You could sit in the passenger seat of a car driving through Compton or Watts, run a camcorder out the window for about 90 minutes and come up with the same thing.(Provided you survive the trip) There are a few strange twists in this film, such as the mother-son dynamic and the battle of good vs. evil featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg.