Brown Sugar (2002)

Director:

Rick Famuyiwa

Writers (WGA):

Michael Elliot (story)
Michael Elliot (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 October 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

When did you first fall in love with hip-hop?

Plot:

Friends since childhood, a magazine editor (Lathan) and a hip-hop record exec (Diggs) stumble into romantic territory.

Plot Keywords:

Hip Hop | Record Company | Basketball | Writer | Music Business

Awards:

2 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Taye Diggs	...	Andre Romulus 'Dre' Ellis
Sanaa Lathan	...	Sidney 'Syd' Shaw
Mos Def	...	Chris 'Cav' Anton Vichon
Nicole Ari Parker	...	Reese Marie Wiggam Ellis
Boris Kodjoe	...	Kelby Dawson
Queen Latifah	...	Francine
Wendell Pierce	...	Simon
Erik Weiner	...	Ren
Reggi Wyns	...	Ten
Melissa Martinez	...	Meghan
Aaliyyah Hill	...	Young Sidney
Marc John Jefferies	...	Young Dre
Venida Evans	...	Older Woman
Breece Wilson	...	Woman
Brette Taylor	...	Woman 2
Donna Duplantier	...	Woman 3
Rosalyn Coleman	...	Trish Hofmann
Robin T. Kirksey	...	Bartender 1
Sterling K. Brown	...	Co-Worker
Kofi Boakye	...	Host
Dena Atlantic	...	Hot 97 Assistant
Gerry Pinzon	...	Instructor
Sam McPherson	...	Iridium Waiter
Big Daddy Kane	...	Himself
Tariq Trotter	...	Himself - The Roots (as Black Thought)
Ahmir-Khalib Thompson	...	Himself - The Roots (as Ahmir '?uestlove' Thompson)
Kool G. Rap	...	Himself (as Kool G Rap)
Helmar Augustus Cooper	...	Reverend
Keith Tisdell	...	Richard
Wyking Jones	...	Bartender
Toks Olagundoye	...	Sidney's LA Assistant
Opal Alladin	...	Crafts Vendor
Angie Martinez	...	Herself
Dana Dane	...	Himself
Doug E. Fresh	...	Himself
Slick Rick	...	Himself
Jermaine Dupri	...	Himself
Pete Rock	...	Himself
Trugoy The Dove	...	Himself - De La Soul
Posdnous	...	Himself - De La Soul (as Plugwon Posdnuos)
P.A. Pacemaster Mase	...	Himself - De La Soul (as Vincent L. Mason)
Kimora Lee Simmons	...	Herself
Russell Simmons	...	Himself
Beanie Sigel	...	Himself
Talib Kweli	...	Himself
Common	...	Himself
Hadley Martin Fisher	...	Backstage Bartender
Justin 'DJ' Spaulding	...	Kid in the Park (as D.J. Jus)
Liza Lapira	...	Hot 97 Receptionist
De La Soul	...	Themselves
Method Man	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vinny DeGennaro	...	The Bouncer (uncredited)
Brother Eden Douglas	...	Park ChessPlayer #1 (uncredited)
Leonard 'Hub' Hubbard	...	(uncredited)
David Jefferson	...	Manager (uncredited)
Ralph E. Tresvant	...	Royale (uncredited)
Kevin Watson	...	Record Label Executive (uncredited)

Directed by
Rick Famuyiwa

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael Elliot		(story)
Michael Elliot		(screenplay) and
Rick Famuyiwa		(screenplay)

Produced by
Peter Heller	....	producer
Trish Hofmann	....	co-producer
Magic Johnson	....	executive producer (as Earvin 'Magic' Johnson)

Original Music by
Robert Hurst

Cinematography by
Jeff Barnett
Enrique Chediak		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Dirk Westervelt

Casting by
Alexa L. Fogel

Production Design by
Kalina Ivanov

Art Direction by
David Stein

Set Decoration by
Roberta J. Holinko

Costume Design by
Darryle Johnson

Makeup Department
Kate Best	....	makeup artist: Ms. Lathan
Joseph A. Campayno	....	makeup artist (as Joe Campayno)
Carol 'Ci Ci' Campbell	....	key hair stylist (as Carol D. Campbell)
Roxanna Floyd	....	makeup artist: Queen Latifah
Anita Gibson	....	key makeup artist
Quentin Harris	....	hair stylist: Ms. Lathan and Ms. Parker
Sandra Murphy	....	key hair stylist
Julie Taylor	....	hair stylist: Queen Latifah
Christine Domaniecki	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Sean Garrett Fogel	....	production supervisor (as Sean Fogel)
Trish Hofmann	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Louis Guerra	....	second second assistant director (as Louis J. Guerra)
Jono Oliver	....	first assistant director
Rebecca Strickland	....	second assistant director
Mark C. Hutchinson	....	additional second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Shirley Belwood	....	set dresser
Coburn Boyd	....	set dresser
Suzanne E. Cestare	....	set dresser
Thomas Costabile	....	construction consultant (as Tom Costabile)
Ruth Deleon	....	on-set dresser (as Ruth Ann DeLeon)
Peter Gelfman	....	property master
Tim Grimes	....	assistant property master
Michael Herlihy	....	carpenter
Nora Kasarda	....	art department coordinator
Monique Mitchell	....	key construction grip
Gregory Morell	....	assistant property master (as Greg Morell)
Lyvan A. Munlyn	....	camera scenic artist
Gus Papadopoulos	....	leadman
Addison Pettit	....	graphic designer (as Addison F. Pettit)
Greg Sullivan	....	charge scenic
Bryan Tonkin	....	construction grip
Alyssa Winter	....	buyer
Kate Yatsko	....	buyer
Harriet Zucker	....	buyer

Sound Department
Steve Bartkowicz	....	sound engineer
Matt Colleran	....	sound recordist (as Matthew Colleran)
Victor Ray Ennis	....	first assistant sound editor
Robert Fernandez	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Rob Fernandez)
Stephanie Flack	....	dialogue editor
Paul Flinchbaugh	....	sound assistant
Alan Freedman	....	foley mixer
Gary Gegan	....	sound re-recording mixer
Greg Hedgepath	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Hertlein	....	adr editor
Daniel S. Irwin	....	dialogue editor
David Kudell	....	sound assistant
Tommy Louie	....	boom operator
Diane Marshall	....	foley assistant (as S. Dianne Marshall)
Michael Mullane	....	background sound editor (as Michael Mullan)
Schavaria Reeves	....	cable person
William Sarokin	....	sound mixer
Anne Slack	....	foley editor
Alec St. John	....	foley editor
Roland N. Thai	....	sound effects editor (as Roland Thai)
Kerry Ann Carmean	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
John Soukup	....	sound transfer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Steve Caldwell	....	digital artist: Custom Film Effects
Mark Dornfeld	....	visual effects supervisor: Custom Film Effects
Adam Gass	....	production manager: Custom Film Effects
Shaina Holmes	....	digital artist: Custom Film Effects
L. Elizabeth Powers	....	digital supervisor: Custom Film Effects (as Laurie Powers)
L. Elizabeth Powers	....	lead artist: Custom Film Effects (as Laurie Powers)
Susan Shin George	....	producer: visual effects, Custom Film Effects
David Smithson	....	I/O technician: Custom Film Effects

Stunts
G.A. Aguilar	....	stunts
Dakota Anderson	....	stunts
Sean P. Anderson	....	stunts
Jeff Blatnick	....	stunts
Douglas Crosby	....	stunt coordinator
John W. Moyler	....	stunts
Stephen A. Pope	....	stunts
Derrick Simmons	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Will Arnot	....	Steadicam operator (as William Arnot)
Will Arnot	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as William Arnot)
K.C. Bailey	....	still photographer
David E. Baron	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as David Baron)
Hugo Bonilla	....	company electrician
Andrew Casey	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Nicolas L. Charuet	....	company grip (as Nicolas Charuet)
Sam Chase	....	company electrician (as Samuel Chase)
William Coleman	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Bill Coleman)
Jeffrey A. Danielson	....	best boy electric (as Jeff Danielson)
Howard Davidson	....	company grip
Keith Devlin	....	company electrician
Glen Engels	....	best boy grip
Dennis Green	....	24 frame video operator
Michael Green	....	camera operator
Richard Guinness Jr.	....	key grip
Marc Hirschfeld	....	Steadicam assistant (as Mark D. Hirschfeld)
Jacqui Howell	....	camera loader
Nils Johnson	....	video playback operator
Patrick McGrath	....	dolly grip (as Pat McGrath)
Andrew Priestley	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Joseph Quirk	....	gaffer
Rick Raphael	....	Steadicam operator
James Scutakes	....	company grip
Amy Silverman	....	second assistant camera
Mark Summers	....	company electrician
Joel Tishcoff	....	company electrician
Aurelia Winborn	....	first assistant camera
James J. Ferris	....	electrician (uncredited)
Jon W. Rosenbloom	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Heather Baird	....	casting associate
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Tuffy Questell	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Careen Fowles	....	wardrobe supervisor
Rachel Leek	....	set costumer (as Rachel J. Leek)
Jill Merritt	....	wardrobe supervisor
Kim Wilcox	....	assistant costume designer
Eden Miller	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Josh Campbell	....	associate editor
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer (as Denny McNeill)
Mark Nakamine	....	colorist (digital color correction)
Sandra Nash	....	second assistant editor
DeNon Porter	....	first assistant editor (as De Non Porter)
Michael Sherman	....	apprentice editor
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor

Music Department
Jim Black	....	music clearance
Josh Campbell	....	music editor: temp music
Barry Cole	....	music supervisor
Christopher Covert	....	music supervisor
Robert Hurst	....	conductor: score
Robert Hurst	....	orchestrator: score
Robert Hurst	....	score contractor
Scott Kinsey	....	musician: keyboards and piano
Bernie Kirsch	....	score mixer (as Bernie Krish)
Bennie Maupin	....	musician: woodwinds
Damion Reed	....	musician: drums
Brian Richards	....	music editor
Sharisse Rogers	....	music preparation
Mark Skillingberg	....	assistant music editor
Nick Smith	....	musician: keyboards and piano
Steve Tavaglione	....	musician: woodwinds
Christine Bergren	....	music legal (uncredited)
Celeste Chada	....	music licensing (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Peter Clores	....	transportation co-captain (as Pete Clores)
Steven R. Hammond	....	transportation captain

Other crew
David Acampora	....	additional title designer
Leon Adair Jr.	....	parking coordinator
Beth Avery	....	location assistant
LaWanda Black	....	assistant: Queen Latifah (as Lawanda Black)
Dawn Bridgewater	....	production assistant
Kija Brooks	....	production assistant
Dalia Burde	....	production assistant
Cassandra Butcher	....	unit publicist
Robert Cavalluzzo	....	location assistant
Leo Driver	....	assistant parking coordinator
Danielle Franco	....	assistant: Mr. Famuyiwa
Laurie Gershon	....	product placement
Eliot Gerstel	....	assistant: Mr. Heller
Amy R. Gorin	....	location assistant (as Amy Gorin)
Joshua C. Hersko	....	production assistant
Deirdre Horgan	....	script supervisor (as Deirdre Horgan Aska)
Terrell John	....	production assistant
Alma Victoria LeMarr	....	second assistant accountant
Josh Michael	....	craft service
Meegan Neeb	....	production assistant (as Meegan E. Neeb)
Heather Neeld	....	production coordinator
Kim Noble	....	assistant location manager (as Kimberly Noble)
Chris Peterson	....	production assistant
Damion Reed	....	drum programmer
Mike Reilly	....	production assistant (as Michael Reilly)
J. Max Ruschak	....	first assistant accountant
Kathi Scharer	....	production accountant
Darryl A. Smith	....	payroll accountant
Eugene Stamos	....	craft service
Tony Touch	....	photo
Lisa Varley	....	production assistant
Reid Warman	....	assistant production coordinator
Marcus Woods	....	production assistant
Tom Yeager	....	location manager (as Thomas Yeager)
Michael Fucci	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Arif S. Kinchen	....	voice-over (uncredited)
Tony Phillippe	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Frank Slaten	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Fox Searchlight Pictures
• Evergreen Productions (uncredited)
• Heller Highwater Productions (as Heller Highwater)
• Magic Johnson Entertainment
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (as Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (2002) (USA) (theatrical) (as Twentieth Century Fox)
• Fox Searchlight Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical) (a News Corporation Company)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2003) (Argentina) (all media)
• Gativideo (2003) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2003) (Argentina) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• SubTV (2007) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Custom Film Effects (digital effects)

Other Companies

• Bebob Music Studios  score recording
• Cartier  thanks
• City of Nassau  thanks
• County of Westchester  thanks
• Custom Film Effects  titles and optical effects
• Enyce  thanks
• Gabrielle Sanchez Jewelry  thanks
• Hot 97 FM  thanks
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Los Angeles Times  permission given for use of: "Los Angeles Times" reprint, copyright 2001
• Lynn Fisher Hill  Purple Dart and FBS #1 courtesy of
• M-A-C  makeup provided by
• MCA Records  soundtrack
• Meres @ 5 Pointz  graffiti title art
• NBA Entertainment  footage: NBA MARKS game footage courtesy of
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  thanks
• New York Police Department (NYPD)  thanks: Movie and Television Unit
• Paula Varsalona Bridal Wear  thanks
• Plein Sud  thanks
• Premiere Catering  catering
• Rush Communications  thanks
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Sean John  thanks
• The McKenna Brothers  craft service (as McKenna Brothers)
• Thierry Mugler  thanks
• Todd-AO Studios (West)  sound re-recording
• Tuffy's Eye Candy Inc.  additional extras casting
• UMG Soundtracks  soundtrack
• Urban Marketing Corporation of America (UMCA)  field publicity
• Widget Post Production  sound post-production
• Winsome Sinclair & Associates  extras casting
• XXL  thanks

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and language

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Canada:PG | Denmark:A | Germany:6 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39139) | Australia:M | Iceland:L | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During the scene where Sidney and Dre are walking through The Mall in Central Park, you can hear someone giving set directions.

Quotes:

Dre:It's when you talk like that, that's what makes me think that you're jealous.
Sidney 'Syd' Shaw:What?
Dre:Yes. Jealous!
Sidney 'Syd' Shaw:[throws a cookie on the table] No wonder you two are married, you're both crazy! Look here, contrary to what you and your wife may think, I don't spend my nights thinkin' about you, okay?
Dre:Shh! Lower the voice.
Sidney 'Syd' Shaw:I got a man who's fine, intelligent, successful, and gives it to me on a very, very regular basis and the s**t is the bomb!
Dre:So! I don't care what -
Sidney 'Syd' Shaw:Dre I need you to be happy for me. I need you to be there for me, just like you asked of me. So - so I can have tea and eat cucumber sandwiches with the crust cut off!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kanye West: College Dropout - Video Anthology (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Self Love

I first fell in love w/ hip hop..........

..........when I heard Spoonie G's Love Rap & Spoonin' Rap. Hip hop was ingrained into me and many native new yorkers just like the movie portrayed it. The movie speaks to my heart, in that hip hop has been romanticized on the big screen....finally!

Sanaa was great, DIggs was great, Mos Def and La were both off the hook. The essence of hip hop was put up on the screen in this movie, so if you didn't know before, you've seen it now.

I went to high school with Slick Rick, Dana Dane and the whole Kangol Crew (Al Sneed, Lance Brown and Omega the Heartbreaker to sum them up) and know them personally. The opening sequence in the park with the three aforementioned rappers doing their thing brought tears to my eyes......that was the purity of hip hop, before millions could be made....these cats were street celebrities that you could reach out and touch at anytime.

The simple fact that the movie is saturated in hip hop culture is enough of a remark for anyone who is in LOVE with hip hop.

ANyone who slammed this movie as dumb or stupid is quite simply cuturally stagnant...you just don't understand.

As far as comments go about the movie's shortcomings.....please, spare me the high-minded movie speak. If you didn't live it, you can't say what is and isn't believable. I KNOW these characters in many different people that I deal with....the director and writers GOT it.

It's like that, y'all!!