Exit Strategy (2012)

Director:

Michael Whitton

Writers:

Reign Morton (based on the characters created by)
Jameel Saleem (based on the characters created by)
(more)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Can we break up now?

Plot:

Evicted from his apartment, James has to move in with his girlfriend of 3 months. He quickly discovers...

Plot Keywords:

Break Up | Crazy Girlfriend | African American | Honesty | Roommate

Cast

Jameel Saleem	...	James
Kimelia Weathers	...	Kim
Quincy Harris	...	Carville
Kevin Hart	...	Mannequin Head Man
Noelle Balfour	...	Leona
Big Boy	...	Big Boy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Misty Alli	...	Yinny
Rick Amieva	...	Radio Caller
Sid Burston	...	Mr. Sweet
Carlos Javier Castillo	...	Jay
Liz Hernandez	...	Herself
Jennah Hughes-Taylor	...	Young Woman
Juhahn Jones	...	Young Man
Matt Kawczynski	...	Rodney
Nick Sinise	...	Scoop
Marina Steele	...	Sandy
William 'Fuzzy' West	...	Himself
Jonny Whitton	...	Patron
Jenna Willis	...	Tanny
Danette Wilson	...	Shauna
Chad Younglove	...	Jeff

Directed by
Michael Whitton

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Rick Fontaine		based on the characters created by
Mustafa Harris		based on the characters created by
Reign Morton		based on the characters created by
Jameel Saleem		based on the characters created by
Jameel Saleem		written by
Kimelia Weathers		based on the characters created by

Produced by
Big Boy	....	executive producer
Quincy Harris	....	producer
Kellie Maltagliati	....	producer
Kalanit Saleem	....	associate producer
Tif Saleem	....	associate producer
Clemalita Smith	....	line producer
Danette Wilson	....	assistant producer

Original Music by
Simon Stevens

Cinematography by
Joseph Crist

Film Editing by
Michael Whitton

Production Design by
Shalome Pilon

Set Decoration by
Lane Cheek
Taylor Moe

Makeup Department
Myra Penate	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Kellie Maltagliati	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen Burns	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Michael Whitton	....	graphic design & concepts

Sound Department
Victor P. Bouzi	....	sound recordist (as Victor Bouzi)
Yahel Dooley	....	sound editor
Yahel Dooley	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matt Hovland	....	adr mixer
Tim Ivancic	....	boom operator
John Sanacore	....	foley mixer
Alex Ullrich	....	foley artist
Michael Whitton	....	sound designer
Sharon Williams	....	boom operator

Visual Effects by
Michael Whitton	....	digital compositor
Michael Whitton	....	motion tracker

Camera and Electrical Department
Jeff Andrus	....	rigging grip
Stephen Burns	....	second assistant camera
Sean Daly	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Sean Daly	....	gaffer
Julian Iannini	....	grip
Dane Marquez	....	grip
Ben Moen	....	first assistant camera
Zachary Settewongse	....	camera mount engineer
Anthony Stivale	....	assistant camera

Casting Department
Julette Sanders	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Antonina Flowers	....	key costumer
Julette Sanders	....	wardrobe assistant
Danette Wilson	....	wardrobe buyer

Editorial Department
Eric Chase	....	final digital colorist
Donovan Kosters	....	dcp mastering
Ben Moen	....	digital imaging technician
Michael Whitton	....	digital colorist

Music Department
Evan Eneman	....	music supervisor
Zach Lemmon	....	musician: guitar
Barak Shpiez	....	composer: additional music

Other crew
Esq. B. Lerae Funderburg	....	additional production legal service
Wladyslaw Czerski	....	legal department
Liz Edwards	....	script supervisor
Ryan Hitch	....	production assistant
Esq. Joel Goldstein	....	senior legal counsel
Christopher R. Navarro	....	legal
Devon Pollard	....	legal department
Julette Sanders	....	production coordinator
Michael Whitton	....	story editor
Kathy Zebrowski-Heller	....	production legal services

Thanks
Desiree Finnegan	....	the producers wish to thank
Joel Marasigan	....	the producers wish to thank
Yasmine Richards	....	the producers wish to thank
Robyn Schnieders	....	the producers wish to thank
Dan Snow	....	the producers wish to thank

Production Companies

• Ask Around Productions
• Ida's Son Productions (in association with)

Distributors

• Level 33 Entertainment (2012) (USA) (all media)

Other Companies

• Anarchy Post  sound post production facility
• Nu Ho Entertainment  special thanks
• Ocean View Entertainment  soundtrack available through

Runtime:

USA:76 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Ask Around Productions

Soundtrack:

Expectation

Loved

A few years ago, I met a young man named Jameel Saleem through Facebook and a mutual friend, Chyna Lane, who worked with my daughter, Amina Robinson on Precious. He reminded me so much of my youngest son with his deep set in eyes and heavy eyebrows, and his first name was actually spelled identically as my oldest son's middle name.

He was gracious enough to accept my friend request and then I began to see all of the great things this fine young man was doing; not the least of which was an enormously funny web series of vignettes, delightfully rendered takes on an un-romantic relationship with his girlfriend, called, "Exit Strategy."

I couldn't get enough of them and would watch them over and over, laughing hysterically each time. Now this is important: If you can watch something over and over and laugh hysterically as though it is the first time you are seeing it, it's good, it has staying power, it is a classic in the making.

Over time, I had the same pleasure to meet Kimelia Weathers through Facebook; a dynamo, adorable and funny. Both of these young people are bright, shining new stars on the horizon, enormously talented. I asked Jameel and Kimelia when and if Exit Strategy would ever become a movie, because I knew it would be good as a full length feature. They said they were working on it.

...and voilà!

Exit Strategy the movie premiered in AMC Theatres in the Philadelphia area on February 10th, 2012, and I was honored enough to meet them when I got to the theater. Not only was the movie very well written, but it was even funnier, and the characters played by Jameel and Kimelia were extremely convincing as "the psycho girlfriend," and the "battered non- boyfriend." The premise was hilarious: who wouldn't want to move in with a girl you only knew for three months, but not want to be in a relationship with, because you're getting evicted from your apartment -- right away.

Although he tried unsuccessfully to move in with his friends and coworkers, he wound up with Kim in her pink place. And the fun begins there, and doesn't stop. The closeups on the characters' faces allows you to feel each and every moment of their experiences and that is superb acting in my view.

This movie is a must see... and will be a definite "enjoy." I know I did. In a word, loved.