Wassup Rockers (2005)

Director:

Larry Clark

Writers (WGA):

Larry Clark (screenplay)
Larry Clark (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

5 April 2006 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Instead of adhering to the norms of their South Central neighborhood, a group of skater boys opt to bus into Hollywood and Beverly Hills...

Plot Keywords:

Boy | Police | Bus | Older Woman Younger Man Relationship | Graffiti

Cast

Jonathan Velasquez	...	Jonathan
Francisco Pedrasa	...	Kico
Milton Velasquez	...	Milton / Spermball
Usvaldo Panameno	...	Porky
Eddie Velasquez	...	Eddie
Luis Rojas-Salgado	...	Louie (as Luis Rojas Salgado)
Carlos Ramirez	...	Carlos
Iris Zelaya	...	Iris
Ashley Maldonado	...	Rosalia
Laura Cellner	...	Jade
Jessica Steinbaum	...	Nikki
Chris Neville	...	Beverly Hills Cop
Jeremy Scott	...	Andre
David Livingston	...	Beverly Hills Actor
Joe Myles	...	Beverly Hills Detective
Janice Dickinson	...	Beverly Hills Actress
James Martinez	...	Bicycle Cop #1
Alex Gonzalez	...	Arturo
Orlando Ramirez	...	Driver
Sergio Mangana	...	Gunman #1
Roman Ruiz	...	Gunman #2
Magnolia 'Claudia' Rivas	...	Jonathan's Mother
Ana Harrison	...	Milton's Mom (as Ana Maria)
Sharmane Stokes	...	GPS Girl #1
Monique Patrice	...	GPS Girl #2
Hakika Schuler	...	GPS Girl #3
Terrence 'Reemo' Pierson	...	Pushing Kid
Bettye C. Poydras	...	Teacher
Magnolia 'Cindy' Rivas	...	Jonathan's Sister
Jorge Melendez	...	George
Carlos Melendez	...	Rusty
Lilliana Rodriguez	...	Lilly
Michael Ng	...	Bicycle Cop #2
Michael Groeneveld	...	Blane
Bryce Blue	...	Berkely
Andrew Cohen	...	Tool
Annique Delphine	...	Tall Girl
Jacque Brautbar	...	Party Guest #1
Sam Spiegel	...	Party Guest #2
Andres Londono	...	Party Waiter
Scott Jerell	...	Party Guest #3
Zumi Rosow	...	Party Guest #4
Chris Thurman	...	Andre's Flunky
Fanny Veliz	...	Actor's Maid
Cynthia Alvarado	...	Phone Maid #1
Nubit Arevalo	...	Phone Maid #2
Wanda Rovira	...	Actress's Maid #1
Margarita Lugo	...	Actress's Maid #2
Ron Martinez	...	Manuel
Papa Joe Aviance	...	Bouncer (as J. Aviance)
Heidi Hawking	...	Stripper (as Heidi Lee Hawking)
Christian Redd	...	Black Gangster #1
Andre Nickerson	...	Black Gangster #2
Brittany Dixon	...	Black Gangster #3
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Frost	...	Photographer
Uggie	...	Biting dog
Shahla Kareen	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Danny Minnick	...	Disc Jockey (uncredited)

Directed by
Larry Clark

Writing credits (WGA)
Larry Clark		(screenplay)
Larry Clark		(story) &
Matthew Frost		(story)

Produced by
Thomas D. Adelman	....	co-producer (as Tom Adalman)
Larry Clark	....	producer
Arianne Fraser	....	associate producer
Matthew Frost	....	associate producer
Patrick Meehan	....	executive producer
Richard Shore	....	co-producer
Terry Spazek	....	line producer
Sharon Stone	....	executive producer
Kevin Turen	....	producer
Henry Winterstern	....	producer

Original Music by
Harry Cody

Cinematography by
Steve Gainer

Film Editing by
Alex Blatt

Casting by
Julia Kim

Production Design by
John DeMeo

Set Decoration by
Peggy Paola

Costume Design by
Maryam Malakpour

Makeup Department
Kelly O'Leary	....	hair stylist
Kelly O'Leary	....	key makeup artist
Yesim 'Shimmy' Osman	....	hair stylist (as Yesim Osman)
Eleanor Sabaduquia	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Steve Barnett	....	post-production supervisor
Sarah J. Donohue	....	production supervisor
Cynthia H. Margulis	....	additional production manager (as Cynthia Margulis)
John O'Connor	....	additional post-production supervisor
Michael Williams	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dan Burks	....	second second assistant director
Ben Gamble	....	second second assistant director
Nicholas Lee	....	first assistant director
Matt G. Sheets	....	additional second assistant director (as Matt Sheets)
Chad Steiner	....	second assistant director
Rudy Van Zyl	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Sarah Bess	....	lead scenic
Chuck Courrieu	....	props: reshoots
Krit Fagtongpun	....	carpenter (as Krit 'Pon' Fagtongpun)
Sarah Geller	....	on-set dresser
Chris Jerrytone	....	property master
David Lloyd	....	lead man
David A. Novak	....	swing (as David Novak)
Brian Renn	....	assistant property master
Elvis Strange	....	assistant art director
Daniel Trainer	....	swing

Sound Department
James Bailey	....	foley artist
Keith Bilderbeck	....	sound effects editor
Trip Brock	....	post-production audio manager
Bryan Condon	....	boom operator (as Brian Condon)
Thad Cooper	....	additional boom operator (as Thaddeus Cooper)
Michael J. Fox	....	adr supervisor (as Michael Fox)
Gillian Johnson	....	assistant sound editor
Fred Johnston	....	boom operator
Steve Morantz	....	additional production mixer
Melissa Oivanki	....	post-production sound coordinator
Miguel Rivera	....	sound effects editor
Mark A. Rozett	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Mark Rozett)
Elana Saviolis	....	post-production audio coordinator
Geordy Sincavage	....	foley mixer
Brad Sokol	....	foley editor
Bruce Stubblefield	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Troy	....	dialogue editor
Kelly Vandever	....	sound re-recording mixer
Aaron Wallace	....	additional boom operator
Steve Weiss	....	sound mixer
Ben Whitver	....	adr recordist
Ben Whitver	....	first assistant sound editor
Gerald B. Wolfe	....	sound mixer (as Jerry Wolf)

Special Effects by
Josh Hakian	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Trey Freeman	....	digital opticals
Josh Jordan	....	digital opticals
Ken Kimble	....	digital opticals

Stunts
Michael R. Long	....	stunt coordinator (as Michael Long)
Scott Miller	....	stunt safety (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Pedro Amaya	....	generator operator
Amanda Bone	....	electrician
Bernard Cistrunk	....	electrician
Ryan Clemons	....	additional electrician
Scott Donahue	....	additional grip
Michael S. Duncan	....	camera intern (as Michael Duncan)
Eric Dvorsky	....	first assistant camera
Flip Filippelli	....	grip
Steve Gainer	....	camera operator
Ben Gamble	....	camera operator
Ben Gamble	....	gaffer
Steve Hertler	....	first assistant camera
Trevor Houghton	....	best boy electric
Dannon Johnson	....	grip (as Danny Johnson)
Jimi Johnson	....	video assist (as James Johnson)
Erwin Landau	....	Steadicam operator
Rashaad Lewis	....	grip
Danny Minnick	....	camera operator: skateboard sequences
Danny Minnick	....	director of photography: second unit
Billy Park	....	camera operator
Jeff Stewart	....	additional gaffer
Jeff Stewart	....	electrician
Brian Sweeney	....	camera operator
Justin Webber	....	additional assistant camera
Justin Webber	....	first assistant camera
Greg Wilson	....	best boy grip
Herbert James Winterstern	....	camera intern
Jaimie Winterstern	....	camera intern
Vernon Wynne	....	key grip

Casting Department
Jessie Disla	....	casting associate
David Zimmerman	....	casting assistant (as David S. Zimmerman)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tara Armstrong	....	wardrobe assistant
Simone Harouche	....	set costumer
Katherine Huang	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Lorraine Bautista	....	first assistant editor
Joseph K. Chen	....	apprentice editor (as Joseph Chen)
Wayne Hampton	....	colorist
Scott Hatcher	....	assistant editor
Ramy Katrib	....	post-production consultant
Michael Lehman	....	digital film recordist
Jim McQueen	....	on-line editor: high definition
Edvin Megrabyan	....	on-line editor (as Edvin Mehrabyan)
Steven Sjolund	....	on-line editor: high definition (as Steve Sjolund)
Chris Wagley	....	film timer
Patrick Woodard	....	associate on-line editor

Music Department
Steve Mccroskey	....	music editor (as Steve McCroskey)
Omar Ramirez	....	composer: additional music

Transportation Department
Pedro Amaya	....	driver
John Arnold	....	driver
Roy Beville	....	driver
David Goodman	....	driver
James R. Guillory	....	driver: insert car (as James Guillroy)
Jerry Smith	....	transportation coordinator (as Jay Smith)
Andy Spilkoman	....	transportation captain
James Wagner	....	driver

Other crew
Greg Bernstein	....	production counsel (as Greg S. Bernstein)
MaryEllen Blair	....	assistant to producer
Keith Bohanan	....	location manager
Allison Brooker	....	production coordinator
Randy Brown	....	on-set production assistant
Marila Chappelle	....	payroll accountant (as Marila Chapelle)
Lilia Chen	....	office intern
Dominick Clark	....	assistant location manager
Larry Clark	....	archive footage: Jonathan at 14 & Milton at 12
Lindsay Culpepper	....	assistant: Mr. Turen
Justin Diener	....	on-set production assistant
Ryan Freedman	....	on-set production assistant
Matthew Frost	....	archive footage: Jonathan at 14 & Milton at 12
Andrew R. Gardiner	....	location scout
Randi Greenberg	....	production financing provided by
James Hill	....	on-set medic
Anton Linecker	....	technical supervisor
Crystal 'Sue' McGraw	....	production accountant (as Sue McGraw)
Mike McKean	....	additional on-set medic
Maggie Means	....	additional production accountant
Mercy Muller	....	dog trainer
Omar Muller	....	dog trainer
Eric Persons	....	assistant location manager
Brooke Phillips	....	title designer
Steven Rau	....	office production assistant
Lauder Robinson	....	key set production assistant
Ariel Roncoli	....	assistant: Mr. Clark
Gavin Rosenkilde	....	craft service
Tracy Scott	....	script supervisor (as Tracy Lynn Scott)
Scot Semonell	....	on-set medic
Sue Smith	....	production accountant
Karen Toronjo	....	assistant production accountant
Truman Van Dyke	....	production insurance
Laura Voglesong	....	catering production assistant
Sarah Wang	....	assistant: Mr. Winterstern
George Whitman	....	additional production assistant
Dru Zipkin	....	additional production assistant

Thanks
Brian Young	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Capital Entertainment
• Glass Key
• Wildcard Productions

Distributors

• Ad Vitam Distribution (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Fine Films (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• First Look International (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Mozinet (2007) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2006) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Revolver Entertainment (2007) (UK) (all media)
• e-m-s the DVD-Company (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• C.A.S.T. Security  set security
• Carrie L.A.  additional location manager
• Digital Film Tree  post consulting and integration
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Maccpro  extras casting
• Mercantile National Bank  production financing provided by
• Monkeyland Audio  foley facility
• Monkeyland Audio  re-recording and adr facilities
• Noho Cuisine  catering
• Platinum Financial Management  post-production financial services
• Wildcard Productions  producer outdoor screening

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language, some violence, sexual content and teen drinking

Runtime:

USA:111 min | Canada:111 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

Spanish | English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:12 | UK:15 | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Capital Entertainment

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Silenci?: Episode #6.11" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Chunchaca No. 5

a somewhat memorable Indie-doc-B-movie

For the first 20 minutes or so of Wassup Rockers, I thought "been there, done that." Meaning that, simply, Larry Clark has done this kind of movie before, better, more wisely and with some extra depth on the subject of stray kids doing their own thing without much parental supervision. But then, finally, something started to take shape: the film is, if about something, a class tale, with the South Central Hispanics roaming around Beverly Hills just looking for a place to skate and getting into various misadventures (some funny, some deadly). And at the same time, even more than Kids, there's a raw quality to the performances, with mixed results. It's like that docu-drama Streetwise from the 80s with a touch of Ferris Bueller and then put to a soundtrack of rip-offs or sound-alikes of the Casualties.

Part of the problem of Wassup Rockers is that it is not too interesting within its aimless structure. Having a film without much of a plot can work fine, they're made all the time in independent quarters in America and especially Europe. But it should amount to something by the end, and by the end of Wassup Rockers there isn't very much of a point except, well, don't go into Beverly Hills for too long if you're Hispanic and looking like a member of the Ramones by way of Tony Hawk. But within this jump-around structure, around some of the random sex scenes and skateboarding and the kind of cool scenes of the kids riding their boards to LA punk rock, Clark does create a fun B-movie. At the least, it's never boring, and if it isn't really groundbreaking or as revelatory or whatever as Kids (and it isn't) it does provide something of a small window into something we haven't seen before, or at least I haven't seen before.

Not all of the performances are below par, an in fact there's a charm and down to earth honesty to a lot of scenes (a scene that made me think a lot of Streetwise is when the kid Chico is talking to the Beverly Hills girl in their underwear in her bedroom - this is stripped down to the point of simple documentary, and it suddenly becomes affecting strangely enough). And, if nothing else, it works as a B movie, a kids-on-the-prowl story that should appeal most to anyone who likes to just roam around when they have nothing to do when they're 14 or 15. It's a minor work that has moments of real power.