Baadasssss! (2003) How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass (original title)

Director:

Mario Van Peebles

Writers (WGA):

Melvin Van Peebles (book)
Mario Van Peebles (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

17 March 2005 (Australia)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

A father. A son. A revolution.

Plot:

Mario Van Peebles's half documentary/half homage to his father Melvin's 1971 film, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song.

Plot Keywords:

Blaxploitation | 1970s | Bill Cosby | Apostrophe In Title | African American

Awards:

3 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Mario Van Peebles	...	Melvin Van Peebles
Joy Bryant	...	Priscilla
T.K. Carter	...	Bill Cosby
Terry Crews	...	Big T
Ossie Davis	...	Granddad
David Alan Grier	...	Clyde Houston
Nia Long	...	Sandra
Paul Rodriguez	...	Jose Garcia
Saul Rubinek	...	Howard 'Howie' Kaufman
Vincent Schiavelli	...	Jerry
Khleo Thomas	...	Mario
Rainn Wilson	...	Bill Harris
Karimah Westbrook	...	Ginnie
Len Lesser	...	Manny & Mort Goldberg
Sally Struthers	...	Roz
Jazsmin Lewis	...	Working Girl
Adam West	...	Bert
Ralph P. Martin	...	Tommy David (as Ralph Martin)
Robert Peters	...	Bob Maxwell
Glenn Plummer	...	Angry Brother
Khalil Kain	...	Maurice
Pamela Gordon	...	Ethel
Wesley Jonathan	...	Panther
Joseph Culp	...	Attorney
John Singleton	...	Detroit J
Joan Blair	...	Brenda
Penny Bae Bridges	...	Megan
Mandela Van Peebles	...	Angel Muse
E.J. Callahan	...	Bartender
Keith Diamond	...	Large Brother
Don Dowe	...	Officer
Brian 'Skinny B.' Lewis	...	Panther
Mickey Mello	...	David
Christopher Michael	...	Black Journalist
Tyrone M. Mitchell	...	Man
Alan James Morgan	...	Josh
David Alan Smith	...	Brewster
Nathan Wetherington	...	Jimmy
Robin Bobeau	...	Excited Lady (as Robin Wilson)
Paul Roach	...	Pimpy Paul
Marley Van Peebles	...	Trick or Treater
Maya Van Peebles	...	Trick or Treater
Bridget Avildsen	...	Trick or Treater
Craig Jones	...	Trick or Treater
Kate Krystowiak	...	Moonbeam
Anthony Rodriguez	...	Fernando
Thomas Longo	...	Camera Assistant
Robert Yosses	...	Script Supervisor
Danny Hebert	...	Crew Member
Michele Hill	...	Biker Girl
Les Miller	...	Nora
Robert Primes	...	Union Thug (as Bob Primes)
Buzzxsassy	...	Union Thug
Rey Riogo	...	Union Thug
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brent Schaeffer	...	Panther
Megan Van Peebles	...	Herself (also archive footage)

Directed by
Mario Van Peebles

Writing credits (WGA)
Melvin Van Peebles		(book "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song: A Guerilla Filmmaking Manifesto")
Mario Van Peebles		(screenplay) &
Dennis Haggerty		(screenplay)

Produced by
Bruce Wayne Gillies	....	line producer
Dennis Haggerty	....	associate producer
Dennis Haggerty	....	co-producer
Tobie Haggerty	....	associate producer
Tobie Haggerty	....	co-executive producer
Michael Mann	....	executive producer
Jerry Offsay	....	executive producer
G. Marq Roswell	....	co-producer
Mario Van Peebles	....	producer
Tal Vigderson	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Tyler Bates

Cinematography by
Robert Primes		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Nneka Goforth
Anthony Miller

Casting by
Anya Colloff
Amy McIntyre Britt

Production Design by
Alan E. Muraoka

Art Direction by
Jorge Borrelli		(as Jorge Gonzalez Borrelli)

Set Decoration by
Galit Reuben

Costume Design by
Kara Saun

Makeup Department
Kokeeta Douglas	....	hair stylist
Kokeeta Douglas	....	makeup designer
Pat Harris	....	assistant hair stylist (as Patricia Harris)
Pat Harris	....	assistant makeup artist (as Patricia Harris)
Denise Pugh-Ruiz	....	assistant hair stylist (as Denise Ruiz)
Denise Pugh-Ruiz	....	assistant makeup artist (as Denise Ruiz)
Mark Starr	....	assistant hair stylist
Mark Starr	....	assistant makeup artist
Gianni Thomas	....	assistant hair stylist (as Gianni)
Gianni Thomas	....	assistant makeup artist (as Gianni)

Production Management
Bruce Wayne Gillies	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tamu Blackwell	....	second second assistant director
Rachel Dickson	....	second assistant director (as Rachel M.S. Dickson)
Bruce Wayne Gillies	....	first assistant director
Bruce Wayne Gillies	....	second unit director
Brian 'Coach' Rosett	....	additional second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jake Blecha	....	leadman
Mark Henderson	....	art department intern
Kevin Hummel	....	swing gang
Robert Hummel	....	assistant property master (as Bob Hummel)
Ryan Kriss	....	swing gang
Dana MacDuff	....	property master
Jeff Powers	....	graphic designer
Jeffrey Powers	....	graphic artist
Roni Spitzer	....	buyer

Sound Department
Hennie Britton	....	foley recordist
Derrick Cloud	....	boom operator
Benjamin L. Cook	....	supervising sound editor (as Benjamin Cook)
Carlos Delarios	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Paul Demers	....	foley assistant
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Robert Getty	....	dialogue editor
Frederick Howard	....	sound effects editor (as Fred Howard)
Craig Jurkiewicz	....	sound effects editor
Michael Keeping	....	foley artist (as Michael P. Keeping)
Dave Kustin	....	assistant sound editor
David Parker	....	sound mixer
Jason Schmid	....	sound re-recording mixer
Anne Slack	....	sound effects editor (as Anne-Marie Slack)
Brian Slack	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Beverley Hartigan	....	special effects (as Beverly Hartigan)
John C. Hartigan	....	special effects (as John Hartigan)
Albert Lannutti	....	special effects (as Albert Lanutti)

Visual Effects by
Craig Kuehne	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Kim Robert Koscki	....	stunt coordinator (as Kim Koscki)

Camera and Electrical Department
Marty Boger	....	grip
Paul Cuffee	....	gaffer (as Paul Cuffe)
Ian Dodd	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Frank Gardner	....	best boy
Paul Gibilisco	....	second assistant camera
Steve Gurklys	....	videographer: behind-the-scenes
Freeman Hardin	....	electrician
Kaiser 'Kai' Kim	....	electrician (as Kaiser Ki-Pyo Kim)
Dan Kneece	....	Steadicam operator
Dan Kneece	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Steven Mann	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
John T. Martin	....	key grip
Johnny W. Martin	....	key grip (as Johnny Martin)
Skip Mobley	....	second assistant camera
Michael O'Connor	....	still photographer
Heather Page	....	camera operator
Cricket Peters	....	best girl electric (as Crickett Peters)
Ann Rosencrans	....	electrician
Omari Thomas	....	electrician
Gary Katsuya Ushino	....	first assistant camera (as Gary Ushino)
Michael Valenzuela	....	grip
Charly Winzer	....	grip
Jason Wood	....	electrician
Dan Kneece	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Gary Katsuya Ushino	....	digital imaging technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Laura Cataldo	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Erick Anderson	....	wardrobe assistant
Kassie Byrd	....	wardrobe intern
Tasha Monique Carter	....	on-set costumer
Tanya Sanchez	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Patrick S. Clark	....	post-production coordinator (as Patrick Clark)
Tim King	....	executive in charge of post-production
Amy B. Melendez	....	post-production assistant
Jay Melzer	....	digital editor
Nathan Novero	....	assistant editor
Tom Overton	....	colorist
Robert C. Rodriguez	....	assistant editor
Robert C. Rodriguez	....	on-line editor: HDTV
Michael Stahlberg	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Tree Adams	....	composer: additional music
Christopher S. Parker	....	music coordination and clearances (as Chris Parker)
G. Marq Roswell	....	music supervisor
Adam Swart	....	music coordination and clearances
Frank Macchia	....	musician: sax and flute (uncredited)
Garth Trinidad	....	music supervisor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Matthew Ballard	....	transportation coordinator
Julius M. Fletcher	....	driver (as Julius Fletcher)
Mark Garrett	....	driver

Other crew
Luis Brito	....	caterer
Marty Carlin	....	studio teacher (as Martin Carlin)
John Carlson	....	digital transfer engineer
William Clark Coit III	....	location manager (as William Coit)
Laura Collier	....	assistant production accountant
Nathan Crum	....	digital utility
André Devantier	....	caterer (as Andre Devantier)
Rex Dominguez	....	set production assistant
Kevin Dreher	....	production assistant
Phil Eisenhower	....	studio teacher
Jena English	....	researcher
Guy Flint	....	studio teacher
Dale V. Franz	....	script supervisor (as Dale Franz)
Jose Garcia	....	consultant
Mimi Gillies	....	production coordinator
Kristina Granai	....	craft service assistant
S.J. Granai	....	craft service (as Stephanie Granai)
Jennifer Hill	....	animal wrangler
Meica Kelly	....	office production assistant
Kanchan Kurichh	....	production assistant
Robert Lewis	....	location assistant
Michael Matus	....	medic (as Michael Matis)
Keana McGee	....	assistant production coordinator
Jaime R. Mejia	....	production assistant (as Jaime Mejia)
Jeff Milcheck	....	production assistant (as Jeff Millcheck)
Les Miller	....	assistant: Mr. Van Peebles
Bobbie Nanfito	....	animal wrangler
Shonta Odom	....	office intern
Stella Pacific	....	studio teacher
Greg Pacificar	....	production assistant (as Gregory Pacificar)
Anjoli Rountree	....	production assistant
Raul Sanchez	....	animal wrangler
Jessica Shannon	....	production accountant
Sabrina Sipantzi Ballard	....	life guard (as Sabrina Ballard)
Michael Thomas	....	office intern
Tom Vice	....	account service representative
Keana McGee	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Chad Tomasoski	....	title designer (uncredited)

Thanks
Eothen Alapatt	....	special thanks: Stone Throw Records
Marc-Magnum Davis	....	special thanks
Pamela Gordon	....	in memory of
Darrell R. Grimes	....	the producers wish to thank
Stephen A. Housden	....	special thanks (as Steve Housden)
Vicki Letizia	....	special thanks
Summer Mann	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Bad Aaas Cinema
• MVP Films (as MVP Filmz)
• Showtime Networks

Distributors

• Imagine Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Miracle Voice (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2005) (Argentina) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar (2005) (Brazil) (VHS) (DVD)
• Koch Media (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2004) (USA)

Special Effects

• Ultimate Effects (special effects)
• Bang FX (special effects)

Other Companies

• Apple/Final Cut Pro  edited with
• Celebrity Suites  transportation
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies by
• Christopher Gray Casting  extras casting
• Cinelease  lighting equipment
• Cinema Vehicle Services  transportation
• Columbia Pictures  poster: "Watermelon Man"
• Donna Daniels Public Relations  publicity
• Entertainment Industry Development Corporation (EIDC)  special thanks
• Entertainment Partners  payroll company
• FILM Archives  additional clips
• Greg & Meica  animal wrangling
• Hollywood Camera Cars  transportation
• Hollywood Caterers  catering
• Hollywood Script Research  script clearance
• Ipostini  post-production editorial
• Kodak  film provided by
• LaserPacific  high definition laboratory (as Laserpacific Media Corp.)
• Media Distributors Film Source  tape stock
• Orpheum Theatre  special thanks
• Paramount Pictures  film clips: "Home of the Brave"
• Photo Fest  stills courtesy of (as Photofest)
• Sony Pictures Studios  additional re-recording facility
• Specialty Vehicle Association  transportation
• Star Waggons  transportation
• Studio Services  transportation
• Suzy Vaughan & Associates  clip clearance
• Thomson & Thomson  title search
• Truman Van Dyke Company  insurance company
• Turner Entertainment  film clips: "Gone With the Wind"
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation  film clips: "Little Rebel"
• Widget Post Production  re-recording facilities
• Wilcox Communications  walkie talkies
• Xenon Pictures  film clips: "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song"

Also Known As:

"How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass" - USA (original title)
"Badass" - USA (alternative title)
"Gettin' the Man's Foot Outta Your Baadasssss!" - USA (new title)

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language and some strong sexuality/nudity

Runtime:

Canada:108 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Argentina:108 min | Australia:109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | UK:15 | Canada:18A | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Iceland:12 | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bad Aaas Cinema

Trivia:

Troy Garity appears uncredited as the singer Donovan.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: While in the "D"...Detroit, The DJ announces the radio station's call letters beginning with "K" Call letters for radio and television stations in that area of the country start with "W".

Movie Connections:

References Teenage Mother (1967)

Soundtrack:

Groove Me

Portait of the Father as a Driven Artist

There have been many movies, usually bittersweet comedies, about movie-making with the director as the put-upon ringmaster of eccentrics, like Truffaut's "Day for Night" or "Living in Oblivion," or bio-pics that show the director as eccentric visionary, like "Ed Wood" or "Matinee."

But I think "Baadasssss!" is one of very few to show the filmmaker as a driven artist, more comparable to the intense look at a ground-breaking creator like "Pollock."

Writer/director/producer Mario Van Peebles eerily reenacts how his father Melvin wrote/directed/produced the seminal "Sweet Sweetback's Baad Asssss Song," one of the first indie movies that also virtually created the potent blaxpoitation genre and guerrilla moviemaking; I thought I had seen it back in '71, but as soon as this film started I realized my memory was, embarrassingly, confusing it with Robert Downey Sr.'s "Putney Swope," so now I do need to see the original.

The production design, including costumes and hair styles, exquisitely recreates the era, but the editing and cinematography suck us even further into Melvin's head as he incisively surveys the state of the image of blacks in movies up to that time and story boards his response.

Melvin's obsession to create and complete the film according to his vision and on his terms threatens his health and his personal and business relationships, but we are caught up in his whirlwind and root for him no matter how ruthless and prickly he becomes as the odds get ever longer and more frustrating and he refuses to compromise, taking offense at lame, well-meaning suggestions, for example, that he might get further if he would at least smile. But he everywhere, rightly or overly sensitively, only sees racism and condescension, including when he has to part layers of irony to beg Bill Cosby for help.

Recalling the spirit of Werner Herzog's documentary "My Best Fiend" about his tortured collaboration with Klaus Kinski to portray obsessives in "Fitzcarraldo" and "Aguirre: The Wrath of God," Mario adds layers of Freudian issues as this filial tribute unflinchingly includes the father's treatment of the son on set and off in the original film and unsparingly brings to life everyone around them.

Mario effectively borrows other bio-pic techniques, such as the camera-facing interviewees in "Reds," first by their portrayers, then, next to the closing credits, the real people, concluding with a loving portrait of his father.

Contrary to the original film, which boosted the careers of the fledging Earth, Wind, and Fire, the soundtrack instrumentation here is surprisingly traditional and sentimental.

The Portrait of the Artist can rarely be a Portrait of a Nice Guy and "Baadasssss!" beautifully and honestly shows why.