Drumline (2002)

Director:

Charles Stone III

Writers (WGA):

Shawn Schepps (story)
Tina Gordon Chism (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 December 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | Music

Tagline:

Half time is game time

Plot:

A band director recruits a Harlem street drummer to play at a Southern university.

Plot Keywords:

University | Drummer | Fish Out Of Water | Marching Band | Dancing

Awards:

12 nominations

Cast

Nick Cannon	...	Devon Miles
Zoe Saldana	...	Laila (as Zoë Saldana)
Orlando Jones	...	Dr. Lee
Leonard Roberts	...	Sean Taylor
GQ	...	Jayson
Jason Weaver	...	Ernest
Earl Poitier	...	Charles (as Earl C. Poitier)
Candace Carey	...	Diedre
Shay Roundtree	...	Big Rob
Miguel A. Gaetan	...	Trey
J. Anthony Brown	...	Mr. Wade
Afemo Omilami	...	President Wagner
Angela Elayne Gibbs	...	Dorothy Miles (as Angela E. Gibbs)
Tyreese Burnett	...	Henry
Brandon Hirsch	...	Buck Wild
Omar J. Dorsey	...	James (as O'Mar J. Dorsey)
Al Wiggins	...	Principal
Nicholas B. Thomas	...	Pooh Bear
Petey Pablo	...	Himself
Stuart Scott	...	Fox Sports Commentator
Courtney James Stewart	...	Student #1 (as Courtney Stewart)
Von Coulter	...	Devon Miles Sr.
Jason Sims-Prewitt	...	Trumpet Section Leader
George A. Peters II	...	Sax Section Leader
Gary Yates	...	Coach Ellison
Rob Cleveland	...	Music Professor
Enoch King	...	Tuba Section Leader
A.J.	...	BET Announcer #1
Free	...	BET Announcer #2
Reggie Gay	...	Morris Brown Announcer
Ryan Cameron	...	A&T Announcer
Blu Cantrell	...	National Anthem Singer
Erin Brantley	...	Dancer
Kiara Nicole Ely	...	Dancer
Stacey A. Fann	...	Dancer
Christy Gamble	...	Dancer
Brianne Landry	...	Dancer
Pauline S. Lewis	...	Dancer
Glenda Morton	...	Dancer
Shamea Morton	...	Dancer
Jenear Wimbley	...	Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tracie Wright	...	Homecoming Queen
Emmy Collins	...	Football Fanatic (uncredited)
Aimee Davis	...	News Reporter (uncredited)
Jayson Frederick	...	TV News Reporter (uncredited)
Gerrit Hamilton	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Grant Blanks Kristol	...	Hispanic Subway Woman (uncredited)
William Palmer Jr.	...	Freshman Band Member (uncredited)
Arvell Poe	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Alexis Rousseau	...	Alumni (uncredited)
Steve Warren	...	Press Photographer (uncredited)

Directed by
Charles Stone III

Writing credits (WGA)
Shawn Schepps		(story)
Tina Gordon Chism		(screenplay) and
Shawn Schepps		(screenplay)

Produced by
Dallas Austin	....	executive producer
Timothy M. Bourne	....	producer
Wendy Finerman	....	producer
Jody Gerson	....	producer
Greg Mooradian	....	executive producer

Original Music by
John Powell

Cinematography by
Shane Hurlbut		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Patricia Bowers
Bill Pankow

Casting by
Aleta Chappelle

Production Design by
Charles C. Bennett

Art Direction by
Nicholas Scott

Set Decoration by
Amy McGary
Lisa 'Pike' Rincon		(as Pike Rincon)

Costume Design by
Salvador Pérez Jr.		(as Salvador Perez)

Makeup Department
Patrice Coleman	....	key makeup artist
Roxanne Ferguson	....	hair stylist
T.A. Henderson	....	hair stylist
Dionne Pitsikoulis	....	makeup artist
Charles Gregory Ross	....	hair department head
Laini Thompson	....	makeup department head
Linda Thompson	....	key hair stylist (as Linda Clark-Thompson)

Production Management
Tom Luse	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Karen Davis	....	second assistant director
James J.D. Taylor	....	second second assistant director: day player
Doug Torres	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Taylor Bennett	....	scenic charge (as Franklin T. Bennett)
Matthew Butler	....	greens supervisor
Steve Dirkes	....	art department coordinator
Sammy Ray Hill	....	set dresser
Ellen L. Kerr	....	set dresser
Mark Nave	....	construction gangboss
Ann Stacy	....	scenic artist
Greg Waddle	....	set dresser
Chris Hunter	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Michael Barry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nancy Cabrera	....	foley artist
Ajae Clearway	....	assistant sound editor
Ryan Collison	....	foley engineer
Dan Fulton	....	apprentice sound editor (as Dan Diego Fulton)
Jim Hawkins	....	production sound mixer
Douglas L. Hill	....	boom operator
Mike Howells	....	audio post coordinator
Erick Jolley	....	commentary mixer
Bruce Kitzmeyer	....	foley editor
Dan Korintus	....	supervising dialogue editor
Brian Langman	....	sound effects editor
Katherine Gordon Miller	....	apprentice sound editor
Carol Mintz	....	audio post coordinator
Mike Poppleton	....	first assistant sound editor
Jacob Ribicoff	....	foley editor
Jac Rubenstein	....	dialogue editor
Lynn Sable	....	assistant adr editor
Paul P. Soucek	....	supervising sound editor
Dominick Tavella	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kevin Globerman	....	ProTools operator (uncredited)
John Soukup	....	sound transfer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Joe Digaetano	....	special effects coordinator
Lisa Reynolds	....	special effects crew

Visual Effects by
Victor DiMichina	....	visual effects coordinator
Jim Gorman	....	digital compositor
Shaina Holmes	....	titles
Ray McIntyre Jr.	....	visual effects supervisor
Alfredo Ramirez	....	digital composite artist: Pixel Magic
Juan Carlos Vargas	....	visual effects (as Juan Vargas)

Stunts
Gerard G. Williams	....	stunt coordinator (as Guss Gerard Williams)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bill Bennett	....	company grip (as William Bennett Jr.)
George Billinger III	....	Steadicam operator
Robert C. Carlson	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Dan Cornwall	....	gaffer
Rick Crank	....	electrician
Jeff Dillon	....	rigging electrician
David J. Duren	....	best boy rigging electric
Rusty Edmonson	....	lighting technician
David Ellis	....	electrician
Eddie Evans	....	key grip
Tom Fendley	....	electrician
Dale Fowler	....	best boy electric
David Galbraith	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Daniel R. Haizlip	....	best boy grip
Jos'h Hancher	....	film loader
Andre Hines	....	electrician
Brian J. Kronenberg	....	grip (as Brian Kronenberg)
Eric Leftridge	....	additional camera assistant
Tully McCulloch	....	key rigging gaffer
Greg Morse	....	24 frame video operator
Myron Parran	....	second assistant camera
Karen Parsons	....	dimmer board operator
Kelly Price	....	company grip
Bruce Robinson	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Chad Schroeder	....	electrician
Billy Sherrill	....	key grip
John E. Stephens	....	dolly grip: "b" camera
Mike Torino	....	camera loader
Mike Tyson	....	rigging electrician
Grady Upchurch	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Paul Varrieur	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Keith Washington	....	company grip
Gary Hatfield	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting
Lori Maloney	....	extras casting
Arvell Poe	....	extras casting: background players
Edwanna Tabb	....	extras casting assistant
Jessica S. Williams	....	extras casting assistant
Christian Kaplan	....	executive in charge of casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tyra Hughes Brisco	....	seamstress
Tyra Hughes Brisco	....	wardrobe
Artemio Carpio	....	costumer
K. Drew Fuller	....	set costumer
Daniel George	....	costumer
Demetricus Holloway	....	set costumer
Nan McCulloch	....	set costumer
Janet Melody	....	costumer
Linda N. Robinson	....	set costumer
Carol Sadler	....	wardrobe supervisor
Joulles Wright	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Erin Crackel	....	apprentice editor
Tom Foligno	....	first assistant editor
Adam Geiger	....	assistant editor
Gershon Hinkson	....	assistant editor: avid
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer
Byron Wong	....	assistant editor
Marc Wielage	....	digital intermediate colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Dallas Austin	....	executive music producer
Celeste Chada	....	music licensing
J.C. Chasez	....	composer: song "Blowin' Me Up"
Barry Cole	....	music consultant
Christopher Covert	....	music consultant
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Bruce Fowler	....	orchestrator
Mike Knobloch	....	music executive
James McKee Smith	....	additional band orchestrator
Nicholas Meyers	....	music editor
Alan Meyerson	....	music scoring mixer
Yvonne S. Moriarty	....	orchestrator
Steve Pageot	....	recording engineer
Joel J. Richard	....	music assistant
John Rodd	....	orchestral scoring recordist
Lee Scott	....	music editor
Lee Scott	....	production music supervisor
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Sally Swisher	....	source music editor

Transportation Department
Rick Kamen	....	picture vehicles
Norman P. Martin	....	picture vehicles
Rick Parkinson	....	driver
Patricia Sammons	....	driver
Ralph Strickland	....	transportation (2002)
Oranz Walker	....	transportation captain (as Oranz L. Walker)
Windi Robinson	....	driver: cast trailer (uncredited)

Other crew
Ephraim Benton	....	adr loop group
Chris Browne	....	craft service assistant
Craig Cannold	....	production accountant
Reuben Cannon	....	production assistant
Angela Carroll	....	assistant: Mr. Bourne (as Angela T. Carroll)
Gina Cascino	....	location manager
Taryn Chilivis	....	second assistant accountant
Elizabeth Cline	....	set production assistant: day player )
LaSean Cross	....	stand-in
Jennifer Fasano	....	assistant: Ms. Gerson
Benjamin Fretheim	....	production assistant
Carla Hacken	....	studio executive
Jamar Hawkins	....	production assistant
Michael Hendrickson	....	production executive: Fox
Jalyn Henton	....	office production assistant
Mark D. Houston	....	assistant post-production accountant
Gail Hunter	....	script supervisor
Dana Landry	....	production assistant
Trina Love	....	assistant: Mr. Stone
Ernie Malik	....	unit publicist
Lindsay Moore	....	production assistant
Brian Niemczyk	....	key set production assistant
Day Permuy	....	assistant production coordinator
Jackie Short	....	second assistant accountant
Katie Willard Troebs	....	production coordinator
Garson Yu	....	title designer
Lisa Zupan	....	assistant: Ms. Finerman
Chris Burns	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Terry Gingles	....	location production assistant (uncredited)
Joel J. Richard	....	additional programmer (uncredited)
Jesse Wagler	....	production assistant: yU+Co. (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Fox 2000 Pictures
• Wendy Finerman Productions

Distributors

• 20th Century Fox (Japan) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (Argentina)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (Germany)
• FS Film Oy (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• FS Film Oy (2003) (Finland) (VHS)
• Fox 2000 Pictures
• SubTV (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Special Effects

• Custom Film Effects (optical effects)
• Pixel Magic (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Jive Records  soundtrack
• Paskal Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities
• Tomkats Catering  catering
• Urban Marketing Corporation of America (UMCA)  field publicity
• yU+Co.  main title design

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for innuendo and language

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Canada:PG | Germany:6 | Philippines:G | Spain:T | UK:PG | Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39207) | Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Finland:K-7 | South Korea:12

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Fox 2000 Pictures

Trivia:

The fraternity featured throughout the film is Kappa Kappa Psi, the national honorary band fraternity. The actual Kappa Kappa Psi flag, colors, and symbols, and customary shouts and chants are used in the film. Symbols and letters for their sister organization, Tau Beta Sigma, the national honorary band sorority, can also be seen throughout the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the first football game, the track is wet/dry between shots as the band marches on the field.

Quotes:

Jason:I DO love my drum!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Robot Chicken: Robot Chicken Christmas Special (#1.21)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Let's Go

Could have been a lot better

The "talented young smart-ass goes to college and learns there's more to life than being skillful or clever" theme is an old one and it's been done better many times in the past. Robert Young learned about teamwork in "Navy Blue and Gold." More recently Rob Lowe learned the lesson in "Oxford Blues." The difference between Drumline and these and other older films on the same theme is that the lead characters evoked more sympathy. Nick Cannon's Devon Miles character is a self-centered, posturing, swaggering jackass who evokes immediate dislike and though you see him grow up a little in the course of the film, you never really learn to like or respect him.

Drumline also suffers from an identity crisis of its own. You're never really sure what sort of story it wants to tell. Is is a "coming of age" story, a drama, a comedy, a romance? It tries to be all of these at once and never seals the deal on any of them.

Drumline could have told a good story about a New York kid learning that there's more than one way to be black in this world. There are a couple of hints of that in Devon's relationship with Laila. Her comment to Devon: "Southern sisters don't date...we have boyfriends," could have been an opening to a good subplot about differences in black culture between different parts of the US, but, as with so many other possible plots, the story touches it lightly, and then flits off to something else. An arrogant young freshman such as Devon would have had many lessons to learn while finding his way in this environment, but the film misses nearly every opportunity to show us the relationships between the characters in any depth, so the performances come off as predictable and mechanical.

All the same, I've seen Drumline several times and enjoyed it for what it does very well. The presentation of the music and and the work that goes into running a big university marching band are very good. I could have done with more of both. The all-too-brief glimpses of life at a black southern university are well done. Again, I could have done with more of that as well. Drumline also had moments of humor, and some visually engaging camera work, especially in the music scenes.

I like this movie. I just wish it had been better done.