Fade to Black (2004)

Directors:

Patrick Paulson
Michael John Warren

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

The ultimate concert. Now the ultimate movie.

Plot:

Filmed during his "Black Album" era, Jay-Z looks back on his career as one of rap music's most successful emcees and entrepreneurs.

Plot Keywords:

Color In Title

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jay-Z	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fonzworth Bentley	...	Himself (as Farnsworth Bentley)
Memphis Bleek	...	Himself
Mary J. Blige	...	Herself
Foxy Brown	...	Herself
Michael Buffer	...	Himself
Sean Combs	...	Himself (as Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs)
Common	...	Himself
Mike D	...	Himself
Damon Dash	...	Himself
Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott	...	Herself
Funkmaster Flex	...	Himself
Freeway	...	Himself
R. Kelly	...	Himself
Ghostface Killah	...	Himself
Beyoncé Knowles	...	Herself
Tim Mosley	...	Himself (as Timbaland)
Q-Tip	...	Himself
Usher Raymond	...	Himself
Slick Rick	...	Himself
Rick Rubin	...	Himself
Afeni Shakur	...	Herself
Beanie Sigel	...	Himself
Ahmir-Khalib Thompson	...	Himself
Twista	...	Himself
Voletta Wallace	...	Herself
Kanye West	...	Himself
Pharrell Williams	...	Himself
Jaguar Wright	...	Herself

Directed by
Patrick Paulson
Michael John Warren

Produced by
Randy Acker	....	co-producer
Zennia M. Barahona	....	post-production producer
Robert Ezrin	....	producer
Andrew Fried	....	associate producer
Jay-Z	....	executive producer
Jon Kamen	....	executive producer
Rich Kleiman	....	producer
John Meneilly	....	executive producer
Rick Mordecon	....	co-producer
Frank Scherma	....	executive producer
Justin Wilkes	....	producer

Cinematography by
Jonathan Boehr
Theron Smith

Film Editing by
Jim Helton
Jonah Moran
Ron Patane
Adam Zuckerman

Production Design by
Gary Westcott

Production Management
Liz Bradley	....	production supervisor

Art Department
Peter Aquinde	....	assistant to production designer
Nathan Copan	....	graphic designer

Sound Department
Corey Gibson	....	sound mixer
Mike Patrick	....	sound recordist
Mary Ellen Porto	....	sound editor
Steve F.B. Smith	....	sound consultant: Dolby

Camera and Electrical Department
George Bianchini	....	Steadicam operator
Robert Cooper	....	lighting crew chief
Tyler D'Askquith	....	camera operator
Glenn Felton	....	dimmer technician
Nick Jackson	....	lighting account manager
Luke McCoubrey	....	additional photographer
Theron Smith	....	cinematographer (2003)
Tom Thompson	....	lighting technician
Joe Victoria	....	jib operator

Animation Department
Vello Virkhaus	....	animation director

Editorial Department
Joe Gawler	....	digital intermediate colorist
Dan Hacker	....	post-production engineer
Zachary MacDonald	....	post-production
Brett Mason	....	on-line editor
Buckley W. Morgan	....	assistant editor
Richie Roefaro	....	post-production
Christian Zak	....	digital intermediate producer

Other crew
Randy Buzzelli	....	tour manager
Ava DuVernay	....	publicity consultant
Drew Findley	....	video programmer
Demetri Jagger	....	film projectionist
Andrew Kimmel	....	transcriber
Christopher K. Lagdamen	....	production assistant
Scott Floyd Lochmus	....	consulting director
Sean Ludlam	....	production coordinator
Becky Mendoza	....	production assistant
Davi Russo	....	graphics creative director

Thanks
Brett Goffin	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Radical Media
• Roc-a-Fella Records
• Marcy Projects

Distributors

• Paramount Classics (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2005) (Japan) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Argentina) (all media)

Other Companies

• DitlevFilms  end title sequence

Also Known As:

"Jay Z: Fade to Black" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language including sexual lyrics

Runtime:

USA:109 min | Argentina:109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Argentina:13 | Iceland:L | Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Radical Media

Movie Connections:

References Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

From Marcy to Madison Square

When "Reasonable Doubt" was released, it was an instant classic by one of the best rappers of all time.

Jay-Z's "Fade to Black" is two movies in one. The first is Jay's last concert at Madison Square Garden promoting his latest and last album, "The Black Album." The second film is recording sessions that go behind Jay'Z's making of said album.

Well, the concert footage is great. One of the best concert films I've ever seen. Jay-Z's performance on stage is nothing short of adrenaline pumping. The guests are always game, even, if only for a verse. Some get more screen time than others, such as Memphis Bleek. Twista, Kanye West, Memph Bleek and Beanie Siegel make an impression. Mary J Blige is excellent. Others, such as Missy Elliott and Foxy Brown barely make an impression.

In short, this is an excellent concert film and if you are a Jay-Z fan, you should buy this one, because you will not be disappointed.

Some minor quibbles. The making of the album footage, while interesting, because Jay-Z never writes his rhymes down, he memorizes them all, and kinda freestyles in the booth, that's very compelling. But, it does get a bit redundant.

This film would be a ten if it was just the concert from beginning to end.

Minor quibbles. Great concert film. Energetic, always entertaining and humorous, this is a good film, especially if you're a hip hop fan. If not, something may be lost in translation. But, if you're inclined to read this, you will not be disappointed. Thumbs way up.