Pariah (2011/I)

Director:

Dee Rees

Writer:

Dee Rees (written by)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Who do you become when you can't be yourself?

Plot:

A Brooklyn teenager juggles conflicting identities and risks friendship, heartbreak, and family in a desperate search for sexual expression. |

Plot Keywords:

Identity | Homophobia | Mother Daughter Relationship | 17 Year Old | Girl Girl Relationship

Awards:

8 wins & 20 nominations

Cast

Adepero Oduye	...	Alike
Pernell Walker	...	Laura
Aasha Davis	...	Bina
Charles Parnell	...	Arthur
Sahra Mellesse	...	Sharonda
Kim Wayans	...	Audrey
Shamika Cotton	...	Candace
Raymond Anthony Thomas	...	Mack (as Ray Anthony Thomas)
Afton Williamson	...	Mika
Zabryna Guevara	...	Mrs. Alvarado
Kim Sykes	...	Mrs. Singletary
Rob Morgan	...	Sock
Nina Daniels	...	Gina (a.k.a. Butch Woman)
Jeremie Harris	...	Bina's Boyfriend
Chanté Lewis	...	Fast Girl #1
Olithea Anglin	...	Fast Girl #2
Joey Auzenne	...	Math Teacher
Jason Dyer	...	Cute Boy
Loren Lillian	...	Laura's Girl (as Loren Hankin)
Kymbali Craig	...	Pier Girl #1
Alaina Dunn	...	Pier Girl #2
Andrea Smith	...	Pier Girl #3
Ozzie Stewart	...	Laura's Mother
Natalie Carter	...	Rowdy Co-Worker #1
Donei Hall	...	Rowdy Co-Worker #2
Tamar-Kali	...	Herself
Thom Loubet	...	Guitarist
Jerome Jordan	...	Guitarist
Mark Robohm	...	Drummer
Jeremiah Hosea	...	Bass
Maine Anders	...	Go-Go Dancer
Makeda Alexander	...	Background Actor
Stephanie Andujar	...	Pier Girl
Tinia Avery	...	Background Actor
John Beckles	...	Background Actor
John Benton	...	Background Actor
Craig A. Bethel	...	Background Actor
Paula Birch	...	Background Actor
C. Brooks	...	Background Actor
Avia Brown	...	Background Actor
Christian Brown	...	Background Actor
Ebony Byas	...	Background Actor
Demetrius Carey	...	Background Actor
Reina Cedeño	...	Background Actor
Kerry-Ann Chin	...	Background Actor
Tia Cionne	...	Background Actor
Theodore Coleman	...	Background Actor
Charlie Colon	...	Background Actor
Joseph Cook	...	Background Actor
Jaz Gibbs	...	Background Actor (as Jaz Cox-Gibbs)
Brendan Creagh	...	Background Actor
Ashley Creary	...	Background Actor
Alexis Davis	...	Background Actor
David Davis	...	Background Actor
Vernel Debartow	...	Background Actor
Francisco De Jesus	...	Background Actor
Yerania Del Orbe	...	Background Actor (as Yeranian Del Orbe)
Felicia Dennis	...	Background Actor
Chalite Drayton	...	Background Actor
Kirk Dunbar	...	Background Actor
William Durrah	...	Background Actor
Michelle Eaddy	...	Background Actor
Danielle Edmond	...	Background Actor
Samuel Encarnacion	...	Background Actor (as Samuel Encarnecien)
Johnny Espinal	...	Background Actor
Zoe Nicole Forde	...	Background Actor
Nadia Gibson	...	Background Actor
Davena Gilyard	...	Background Actor
Kristen Graham	...	Background Actor
David Greene	...	Background Actor
'Apple' Hamidu	...	Background Actor
Uhura Hawkins	...	Background Actor
Monique Hazeur	...	Background Actor (as Monique A. Hazeur)
Lorna Jenkins	...	Background Actor
Clifton Johnson	...	Background Actor
LaCrown Johnson	...	Background Actor
Tangela Johnson	...	Background Actor
Ruthie Jones	...	Background Actor
Nina Kantesaria	...	Background Actor
Chris Kardos	...	Background Actor
Leah Laitiling	...	Background Actor
Andrew K. Leahy	...	Background Actor
Monique Link	...	Background Actor
Andre Logan	...	Background Actor
Adam Lugo	...	Background Actor
Teena Marie Lugo	...	Background Actor
Matt Post	...	Background Actor
Rodney Mack	...	Background Actor (as Rodney 'Ro' Mack)
Will Mahr	...	Background Actor (as William Mahr)
Sunya Margulies	...	Background Actor
Amanie Marty	...	Background Actor
Nicole McCree	...	Background Actor (as Nicole L. McCree)
Rodelyne Moise	...	Background Actor
Lance D.F. Montanez	...	Background Actor
LaShaye Moore	...	Background Actor
Cid Nichols	...	Background Actor
Tijashn Nichols	...	Background Actor
Kerri-Ann O'Mealy	...	Background Actor
Crystal Agapé Page	...	Background Actor
Adriana Paulino	...	Background Actor
Malika Petty	...	Background Actor
Christine Randall	...	Background Actor
Jonathan Walter Reyes	...	Background Actor (as Jonathan Reyes)
Tammy Richardson	...	Background Actor
Adam Richlin	...	Background Actor
Canaan Robinson	...	Background Actor
Lindsay Roche	...	Background Actor
Nicole Rose Brandon	...	Background Actor
Kandice Ross	...	Background Actor
Jolie Ruben	...	Background Actor
Clive Salmon	...	Background Actor (as Clive E.J. Salmon)
Samantha Santiago	...	Background Actor
Yosandy Santos	...	Background Actor
Chasity Saunders	...	Background Actor (as Chastity L. Saunders)
Lindsey Scott	...	Background Actor
Kinya Shakur	...	Hospital Clerk
Stacey Stacy	...	Background Actor
Elizabeth Strong	...	Background Actor
Alecia Tatum	...	Background Actor
Nicole Thomas	...	Background Actor
Sharon Tonge	...	Background Actor
Ryan Traster	...	Background Actor
Michael Varnis	...	Background Actor
Acquilla Walker	...	Background Actor
Shawna Washington	...	Background Actor
Isaac Wilkins	...	Background Actor
Jennifer Williams	...	Background Actor
Brandon Wilson	...	Background Actor
Donna Wilson	...	Background Actor
Tomeika Wilson	...	Background Actor
Yves F. Wilson	...	Background Actor
Shaheed K. Woods	...	Background Actor

Directed by
Dee Rees

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Dee Rees		written by

Produced by
Ann Bradley	....	executive producer
Joey Carey	....	executive producer
Nekisa Cooper	....	line producer
Nekisa Cooper	....	producer
Douglas Eisenberg	....	executive producer
Wendy Ettinger	....	executive producer
Judith Helfand	....	executive producer
Spike Lee	....	executive producer
Susan Lewis	....	executive producer
Miles Maker	....	consulting producer
Sam Martin	....	executive producer
Isaac McGuire	....	line producer
Jeanine Mclean	....	executive producer
Stefan Nowicki	....	executive producer
Julie Parker Benello	....	executive producer
Jeff Robinson	....	executive producer
Clive Salmon	....	field producer: behind the scenes (as Clive E.J. Salmon)
Matthew J. Simon	....	executive producer
Mary Jane Skalski	....	executive producer
Benjamin Weber	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Bradford Young

Film Editing by
Mako Kamitsuna

Casting by
Eyde Belasco

Production Design by
Inbal Weinberg

Art Direction by
Sara K. White

Costume Design by
Eniola Dawodu

Makeup Department
Shannon Pulley	....	key makeup artist
Sharon Tonge	....	key hair stylist
Ahea 'Ja Ja' Toscano	....	special makeup effects artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Art Brainard	....	second assistant director
Antonio Doctor	....	first assistant director (as Antonio 'TJ' Doctor)
Brad Payne	....	first assistant director: additional photography
Clive Salmon	....	second second assistant director (as Clive E.J. Salmon)
Melinda Ziyadat	....	second assistant director: additional photography

Art Department
Nacer Ayesh	....	scenic artist (as Nacer 'Naz' Ayesh)
David Branum	....	set dresser
Gary J. Flores	....	set dresser
David Gettens	....	on-set dresser
Monique Hazeur	....	assistant property master (as Monique A. Hazeur)
Emmanuelle Hoessly	....	assistant property master
Jane Ji	....	art department assistant: additional photography
Arianna Lapenne	....	artwork (as Arianna La Penne)
Laura Miller	....	set dresser
Max Piersol	....	leadman
Kathleen Pullan	....	set dresser (as Kat Blanco)
Bridget Rafferty	....	assistant art director
John Spinks	....	artwork
Joanna Tillman	....	property master
Shir Weinberg	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Jonathan Altschuler	....	sound editor
Paul Bercovitch	....	dialogue editor
Shaun Brennan	....	foley artist (as Shaun Brennon)
Michael Chobot	....	boom operator
Jay Culliton	....	sound editor
Andre Logan	....	sound supervisor
Joseph Molinelli	....	foley artist
Joseph Molinelli	....	sound editor
Britt Myers	....	supervising sound editor
Phil Payson	....	boom operator: additional photography
Jonathan Walter Reyes	....	sound mixer (as Jon Reyes)
Matt A. Schoenfeld	....	sound designer
Houston Snyder	....	dialogue editor
Houston Snyder	....	sound editor
Ian Stynes	....	sound designer
Ian Stynes	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ian Stynes	....	supervising sound editor
Geoff Vincent	....	dialogue editor
Geoff Vincent	....	foley recordist
Geoff Vincent	....	sound editor
Ryan Zola	....	foley artist
Ryan Zola	....	sound editor

Visual Effects by
Alex Durie	....	digital restoration artist
Marika D. Litz	....	digital restoration artist (as Marika Litz)
Chris MacKenzie	....	smoke artist

Stunts
Linton Alfred	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Kwesi Abbensetts	....	still photographer
T.J. Alston	....	gaffer
Jenny Baptiste	....	still photographer
Tony Battle	....	grip
Scott Baxter	....	grip
Rudie Carty	....	grip: additional photography
Hans Charles	....	first assistant camera
Antonio Cisneros	....	second assistant camera
Eduardo Fierro	....	first assistant camera
Hunter Herrick	....	best boy electric: additional photography
Dan Horowitz	....	grip: additional photography
Christopher Koch	....	key grip (as Chris 'Toph' Koch)
Sammy Leonard	....	second assistant camera
Miles Maker	....	shooter: behind the scenes
Ben Ng	....	lamp operator: additional photography
Daniel Paterson	....	camera operator: "b" camera, additional photography
Che Roacher	....	key grip: additional photography
Yves Wilson	....	camera loader
Matt Zschoche	....	gaffer: additional photography
Adam Richlin	....	electrician (uncredited)
Lyon Taylor	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Courtney Colston	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Molle DeBartolo	....	digital intermediate supervising producer
Joe Gawler	....	digital intermediate colorist (as Joseph Gawler)
Markus Janner	....	digital film output
Jonathan Sanden	....	digital intermediate editor
Darrell R. Smith	....	digital intermediate supervising producer
Tricia Chiarenza	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Houston Snyder	....	music editor
Vito A. Colapietro II	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Neely Dinkins Jr.	....	cues composer (uncredited)

Other crew
Craig Bethel	....	set production assistant
Sharika Bivens	....	assistant to producer: pre-pro
Michell L. Davis	....	production legal counsel
Teena Marie Delerme-Lugo	....	craft service
William Durrah	....	set production assistant
Moses Edouard	....	set production assistant
Moses Edouard	....	set production assistant: additional photography
Matthew Ettinger	....	caterer
Sarah Germany	....	caterer
Vince Gonzalez	....	production accountant
Brian Hightower	....	set production assistant
Miatta Kawinzi	....	set production assistant: additional photography
Alexandria Lloyd	....	production assistant: behind the scenes
Will Mahr	....	production coordinator
Reed Mayo	....	set production assistant: additional photography
Marcy McKenzie	....	locations consultant
Shannon K. Nash	....	production legal counsel (as Shannon Nash)
Kia M. Neal	....	set production assistant: Trollhåttan (as Kia Neal)
Kia M. Neal	....	set production assistant: additional photography (as Kia Neal)
Jenn Nkiru	....	set production assistant: additional photography
Dan Parada	....	set production assistant: additional photography (as Danny Parada)
Meghan 'Lyric' Perez	....	set production assistant
Priscilla Perez	....	set production assistant: additional photography
Clive Salmon	....	assistant to producer (as Clive E.J. Salmon)
Marie Scott	....	assistant to producer
Marie Scott	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Ndelea Simama	....	set production assistant: additional photography
Tyrone Sims	....	set medic
Kofi Stewart	....	set production assistant: additional photography
Jac'qui C. Weekes	....	locations consultant
Leslie Zak	....	script supervisor
Travis Braun	....	intern to producer (uncredited)
Dee Martin	....	runner (uncredited)
Dana O'Keefe	....	sales agent (uncredited)

Thanks
Maya Bailey	....	extra special thanks
Bruce Brothers	....	extra special thanks
Effie Brown	....	extra special thanks
Mick Casale	....	extra special thanks
Kate Clinton	....	extra special thanks
Jim Cushman	....	extra special thanks
Natalie Difford	....	extra special thanks
Amy Dotson	....	extra special thanks
Carol Dysinger	....	extra special thanks
John Eddey	....	extra special thanks
Matthew Effinger	....	extra special thanks
Gyula Gazdog	....	extra special thanks
Lesli Linka Glatter	....	extra special thanks
Marcus Hu	....	extra special thanks
Ellen A. Huang	....	extra special thanks
Jane Hwang	....	extra special thanks
Karmen Kregloe	....	extra special thanks
Spike Lee	....	extra special thanks
Marcy McKenzie	....	extra special thanks
Russ Robertson	....	extra special thanks
Ted Shropshire	....	extra special thanks
Jennifer Small	....	extra special thanks
Urvashi Vaid	....	extra special thanks
Nazgol Zand	....	extra special thanks (as Nazgal Zand)

Production Companies

• Chicken And Egg Pictures
• MBK Entertainment
• Northstar Pictures
• Pariah Feature
• Sundial Pictures (presents)
• aid abet

Distributors

• Alliance Films (2012) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Focus Features (2011) (USA) (all media)
• Sky Cinema (2013) (Germany) (TV)

Other Companies

• Arri CSC  camera: lighting & grip equipment
• Casswood Insurance  insurance
• Cinereach  funding
• Cinetic Meia  distribution advisory services
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Great City Productions  post-production sound services
• HSBC Bank USA  production banking (as HSBC)
• Kickstarter  funding
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• MBK Entertainment  music supervisor
• Polecat Lighting  camera: lighting & grip equipment
• That Cat Camera Support  additional grip equipment (as That Cat)
• Tracking Shot  additional grip equipment
• Winsome Sinclair & Associates  additional casting: background (as Winsome Sinclair and Associates)
• Women Make Movies  fiscal sponsor

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content and language

Runtime:

USA:86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

Fort Greene, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Chicken And Egg Pictures

Quotes:

Mika:Yeah I like girls. But I LOVE boys.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Chelsea Lately: Episode #6.12" (2012)

Soundtrack:

Damn Good Friends

Beautiful and Evocative...a MUST-SEE!!!!

My stepmother and I went to a free screening of this movie at the Angelika Theater. I didn't know what to expect except that I knew the girl was a lesbian.

This flick features TRULY gifted and believable actors...from the main character, Alike, and her pains and trials, to her young sister in high school and the parents...OMGSH, the parents...and her friend Laura was incredible too. The characters are juicy and rounded; you find yourself truly interested in the people they're portraying to be, and in how they feel. It's almost like you come to know them.

Here, folks, is what to expect from the movie Pariah: this is an emotional film. It's got a lot of humor and heart, and it's got sadness and pain, too. We all remember growing up and trying to find out who we are and what we are attracted to; Pariah will remind you of what that felt like. You will emote as they do and be drawn in to the story right out of the box.

Trust me...this is a movie you do NOT want to miss. Two thumbs WAY UP! :)