Sparkle (2012/I)

Director:

Salim Akil

Writers (WGA):

Mara Brock Akil (screenplay)
Joel Schumacher (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

17 August 2012 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

Celebrate the legend.

Plot:

Set in the 1960s, three sisters form girl group and soon become local sensations with major label interest, but fame becomes a challenge as the close-knit family begins to fall apart. |

Plot Keywords:

Domestic Violence | Domestic Abuse | One Word Title

Awards:

7 nominations

Cast

Jordin Sparks	...	Sparkle
Whitney Houston	...	Emma
Derek Luke	...	Stix
Mike Epps	...	Satin
Carmen Ejogo	...	Sister
Tika Sumpter	...	Dolores
Omari Hardwick	...	Levi
CeeLo Green	...	Black (as Cee-Lo Green)
Curtis Armstrong	...	Larry
Terrence Jenkins	...	Red (as Terrence J)
Tamela J. Mann	...	Ms. Sara Waters (as Tamela Mann)
Michael Beach	...	Rev. Bryce
Brely Evans	...	Tune Ann (as Bre'ly Evans)
Linda Boston	...	Sister Clora
Sidi Henderson	...	Mr. Bell
Erika Hoveland	...	Larry's Secretary
Debra Port	...	Receptionist
Kem	...	Buddy (as Kem L. Owens)
Sarah Hansen	...	Heckler
Doug Mingo	...	Goofy Guy
Mark Rademacher	...	Filmore Manager
David Regal	...	Stage Manager
Cory Pritchett	...	Ham
Howard Rosenman	...	Landlord
Robert Forte Shannon III	...	Stix's Opponent (as Robert Forte Shannon)
Margaret Scott	...	Church Saint
Goapele Mohlabane	...	Girl Group - Lead Singer
Fatima Morris	...	Girl Group - Back Up Singer #1
Keeley Morris	...	Girl Group - Back Up Singer #2 (as Keely Morris)
Brittany Perry-Russell	...	Sparkle's Back Up Singer #1
Charmaine Jordan	...	Sparkle's Back Up Singer #2
Dalibor Stolevski	...	TV Host
Tiffany Alexander	...	Prison Guard
Stephanie Moseley	...	Rehearsal Dancer
Temecha Myers	...	Rehearsal Dancer
Ruth E. Carter	...	Sugar
Melora Rivera	...	Hussy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Arnold Agee	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Lynn Anderson	...	Columbia Records Executive (uncredited)
Delaney Baynham II	...	Church Member (uncredited)
Toya D. Brazell	...	Woman With Wig (uncredited)
Michael Stephen Bryant	...	Orchestra Trumpeter (uncredited)
Michael W. Campbell Jr.	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Michael B. Clark	...	Officer Rapp (uncredited)
Deborah Claybaugh	...	Cliff Belles Patron / Prisoner (uncredited)
Andrew Dow	...	Detective (uncredited)
Sabrina Dungan	...	Record Store Patron (uncredited)
Tiffani Elise Edwards	...	Comedy Club Patron (uncredited)
Helena Ellison	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
James Feaheny	...	Columbia Records Executive (uncredited)
Jacqueline Forton	...	Violinist (uncredited)
Steve Gast	...	Officer McKenzie (uncredited)
Pam German	...	Neighbor (uncredited)
David Glahn	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Ron Heisler	...	County Coroner (uncredited)
Tim Jenkins	...	Guitarist (uncredited)
Krystal Katz	...	Kissing Couple (uncredited)
Shirley Moon Koebbe	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Abe Larkin	...	Couple (uncredited)
Norine Marsh	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Ralph H. Meyer	...	Coney Island Cook (uncredited)
Mikal	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Da'Ron Mitchell	...	Valet Worker / Bartender (uncredited)
Jill Opal Oliver	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Terri Partyka	...	Orchestra Timpanist (uncredited)
Krishawn Peace	...	Church Girl (uncredited)
Ryan Pearson	...	Club Patron (uncredited)
Vincent Pelligrino	...	Orchestra Violinist (uncredited)
DaJuan Rippy	...	Driver (uncredited)
Nicholas Ritz	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Julie Ariane Russell	...	Comedy Club Patron (uncredited)
Stephanie Schaberg	...	Columbia Records Employee (uncredited)
Kristyn Shelley	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Gary Lee Simpson	...	Lawyer (uncredited)
Nikki Smith	...	Extra (uncredited)
Connie Sonnenberg	...	Orchestra (uncredited)
Eric Adam Swenson	...	Businessman (uncredited)
Eric Tuchelske	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Mark Allan White	...	Taxi Driver 3 (uncredited)
Mozi Zhuli	...	Columbia Employee (uncredited)

Directed by
Salim Akil

Writing credits (WGA)
Mara Brock Akil		(screenplay)
Joel Schumacher		(story) and
Howard Rosenman		(story)

Produced by
Salim Akil	....	producer
Mara Brock Akil	....	producer
Debra Martin Chase	....	producer
Gaylyn Fraiche	....	executive producer
Whitney Houston	....	executive producer
T.D. Jakes	....	producer
Avram 'Butch' Kaplan	....	executive producer (as Avram Butch Kaplan)
Scott Putman	....	executive producer
Howard Rosenman	....	executive producer
Curtis Wallace	....	producer

Original Music by
Salaam Remi

Cinematography by
Anastas N. Michos		(director of photography) (as Anastas Michos)

Film Editing by
Terilyn A. Shropshire

Casting by
Twinkie Byrd		(as Tracy 'Twinkie' Byrd)

Production Design by
Gary Frutkoff

Art Direction by
Gary Myers

Set Decoration by
Tina Tottis

Costume Design by
Ruth E. Carter

Makeup Department
Shannon Bakeman	....	key hair stylist
Marietta Carter-Narcisse	....	makeup department head
Lauri Cuppetilli	....	key makeup artist
Jasmine Kimble	....	key hair stylist
Kimberly Kimble	....	hair department head (as Kim Kimble)
Kym Lee	....	key makeup artist
Zoe Brown	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Mia Collie	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Robbin Hawthorne	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Jessica Y. Hernandez	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Louise Holoday	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Kimberly Jones	....	key makeup artist (uncredited)
Kimberly Jones	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Patricia Krupske	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Jayne Laube	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Avram 'Butch' Kaplan	....	unit production manager (as Avram Butch Kaplan)
Nancy Kirhoffer	....	post-production supervisor
Daniel A. Mondschain	....	production supervisor (as Daniel Mondschain)
Scott Putman	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Christy Busby	....	second second assistant director
Peter Dress	....	second second assistant director (as Pete Dress)
Lisa Meier	....	second assistant director: Los Angeles
Kevin O'Neil	....	second assistant director
Darin Rivetti	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Justin Lamg	....	set designer
Amie McCarthy	....	property master (as Amie McCarthy-Winn)
Mark Sanger	....	on-set dresser
Kristie Thompson	....	set decorator: Los Angele
Michael A. Watt	....	leadman (as Michael Watt)
Andy Bays	....	painter (uncredited)
David Boyd	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Drew Finos	....	graphic designer (uncredited)
Amy Graham	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Ronald Hill	....	charge scenic (uncredited)
Deborah Jurvis	....	art department coordinator (uncredited)
Gaby Kuhn	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Mark Kwiatkowski	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Justin Mutschler	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Paul Peabody	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)
Bobby Rhodes	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Brittin Richter	....	props (uncredited)
Tom Sparkman	....	signwriter (uncredited)
Kim Thrasher	....	set buyer (uncredited)
Jim Warren	....	set decoration buyer: additional (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ryan Briley	....	assistant sound editor
Robert Dehn	....	sound studio manager
Craig Dollinger	....	boom operator
Michael Faba	....	sound utility (as Mike Faba)
Aaron Grice	....	boom operator: Los Angeles
Kimberly R. McCord-Wilson	....	dialogue editor
Bryan Mendoza	....	sound utility: Los Angeles
Steven Morrow	....	sound mixer (as Steve Morrow)
Jay Nierenberg	....	supervising sound editor
Stuart Provine	....	sound effects editor
Jonathan Wales	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rickley W. Dumm	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Ginger Geary	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Roy Machado	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Kevin Nanaumi	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Bob Sturgess	....	special effects coordinator: Los Angeles
Dean Tyrrell	....	special effects foreman
Jake Tyrrell	....	special effects technician
Russell Tyrrell	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Sean Apple	....	compositing: Dilated Pixels
Natalie Coon	....	roto artist: Dilated Pixels
P.J. Foley	....	visual effects producer: Dilated Pixels (as PJ Foley)
Paul Linden	....	visual effects supervisor: Dilated Pixels
Chucky Malko	....	visual effects artist: Dilated Pixels
Chris Peters	....	visual effects artist: Dilated Pixels
Efram Potelle	....	visual effects supervisor: Dilated Pixels
T.J. Sakasegawa	....	visual effects: Dilated Pixels (as TJ Sakasegawa)
Brian Skvarla	....	visual effects artist: Dilated Pixels

Stunts
Ele Bardha	....	stunt coordinator
Amber Whelan	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Brad Baker	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Mike Bauman	....	chief lighting technician: Los Angeles
Lucas Bielan	....	camera operator (as Lukas Bielan)
Lucas Bielan	....	director of photography: Los Angeles (as Lukas Bielan)
James Frank Brown	....	video assist operator (as James Brown)
Alex Carr	....	digital imaging technician: Los Angeles
Mike Conner	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Joe Elrom	....	digital loader
Scott Friedland	....	key grip
Alicia Gbur	....	still photographer
Andrew Hoehn Jr.	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as Andrew Hoehn)
Gregg Horvath	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Tucker Korte	....	first assistant camera: Los Angeles
Jamie Lagerhausen	....	key grip: Los Angeles
Seth A. Peschansky	....	second assistant camera: Los Angeles (as Seth Paschansky)
Trevor Rios	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
David Schmalz	....	video assist operator: Los Angeles
Anthony 'Spike' Simms	....	chief lighting technician (as Anthony Simms)
John Wendling	....	dolly grip
Felecia Hatcher Brown	....	follow spot operator (uncredited)
Tom Cornell	....	key rigging grip (uncredited)
Drew Dawson	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
Michael Dzialowski	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Geoff Ernst	....	electrician (uncredited)
Ryan Faulkner	....	grip (uncredited)
Jim Hentges	....	grip (uncredited)
Kevin D. Hewitt	....	steadicam operator (uncredited)
Brad Irvin	....	rigging best boy electric (uncredited)
Mark Karavite	....	steadicam operator (uncredited)
Brian Kelly	....	rigging electric (uncredited)
Dean M. King	....	key grip (uncredited)
Brad Knopf	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Adam Kogelman	....	grip (uncredited)
Joe Layson	....	dolly grip (uncredited)
Casey McClurken	....	grip (uncredited)
Chris McLeod	....	electrician (uncredited)
Joe Miller	....	best boy grip (uncredited)
Ted Nimz	....	electrician (uncredited)
Cory O'Dea	....	grip (uncredited)
Jedediah Shoemaker	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Carl F. Shuffett	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Stephen Smith	....	additional camera loader (uncredited)
Lon Stratton	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Keith Wandrei	....	dolly grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Michelle Adams	....	additional casting
Michelle Adams	....	casting associate
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Germán Legarreta	....	casting assistant
Kathy Mooney	....	casting: Michigan
Janet Pound	....	casting: Michigan
Winsome Sinclair	....	extras casting
Chris Bustard	....	extras casting: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Brittany N. Grooms	....	casting assistant (uncredited)
Jill Hamburgo	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)
Ryan Hill	....	extras casting: Michigan (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Craig Anthony	....	key set costumer
Mary Kasprzak	....	set costumer
B. Michael	....	wardrobe designer: Ms. Houston
Corey O'Sullivan	....	set costumer
Devon Patterson	....	costume supervisor (as Devon Patterson Wilson)
Anthony Rivera Jr.	....	set costumer (as Anthony Rivera)
Felecia Hatcher Brown	....	additional costumer (uncredited)
Kathy Fennessy	....	set costumer (uncredited)
Kimberly Leitz-McCauley	....	set costumer (uncredited)
Barbara Marko	....	costumer (uncredited)
Gina Nalli	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Paul E. Alderman	....	first assistant editor (as Paul Alderman)
Aziza Ngozi Walker	....	first assistant editor
Aziza Ngozi Walker	....	post-production assistant
John Persichetti	....	digital colorist
Morning Star Schott	....	digital intermediate producer (as Morningstar Schott)
David Townsend	....	post-production coordinator
Reed Whorton	....	post-production assistant
Jim Passon	....	color timer (uncredited)
Rob Randall	....	colorist: dailies (uncredited)
Cat Rowe	....	digital color assist (uncredited)
Benjamin Sutor	....	on-line editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Todd Bozung	....	supervising music editor
Tim Davies	....	score arranged by
R. Kelly	....	executive music consultant
Michael Mindingall	....	piano coach: Jordin Sparks
Marvin Morris	....	on-set music editor
Jaclyn Newman	....	music editor
Frank Wolf	....	song mixer
Spring Aspers	....	music supervisor (uncredited)
Gregory Clark	....	vocal coach: Tika Sumpter, Carmen Ejogo (uncredited)
Serge Courtois	....	score assistant engineer (uncredited)
Kier Lehman	....	music supervisor (uncredited)
Justin Moshkevich	....	score mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Corey Askins	....	transportation coordinator
Darrell Foley	....	driver
Jim DePue	....	picture car coordinator (uncredited)
Demond Dickerson	....	driver (uncredited)
Jennifer Gonzalez	....	driver: cast (uncredited)
Jonathon Isom	....	hair/make-up driver (uncredited)
Kurt Knudsen	....	driver: cast (uncredited)
Robert Middendorff	....	driver (uncredited)
Dean Miller	....	rigging electric driver (uncredited)
Frank Morreale	....	unit driver (uncredited)
Franco Rea	....	driver (uncredited)
Robert'Bob'Rice Sr.	....	production van driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Benjamin Bourque	....	assistant to mara brock akil
Alasdair Boyd	....	location manager: Los Angeles
Ulysses Carter	....	assistant: Ms. Houston
Joylene 'Jaeblaze' Frazer	....	assistant choreographer
Tai Gaffney	....	travel coordinator
Ryan Gomez	....	first assistant accountant
George Goodwin	....	second assistant accountant
Jessica Heemskerk	....	accounting clerk
David Hickey	....	payroll accountant
Mary Jones	....	assistant: Ms. Houston
Michael S. Jones	....	location manager (as Michael Jones)
Nicholas Lazarus	....	second second assistant accountant
Chelsea Leonowicz	....	production assistant
Tim McClure	....	location assistant
Larissa Michel	....	production coordinator
Chris Raby	....	production assistant
Bridget Reddeman	....	key assistant location manager
Arian Simone Reed	....	unit publicist
Melora Rivera	....	assistant: Mr. Akil
Fatima Robinson	....	choreographer
Marjorie Rudick	....	assistant production coordinator
Kelly Schwarck	....	production secretary
Emelia Rae Stark	....	production assistant (as Emelia Tse)
Josh Stewart	....	executive assistant: Ms. Chase
Joshua Stewart	....	executive assistant: Ms. Martin Chase
Hirotatsu Taniguchi	....	production assistant (as Hiro Taniguchi)
Julia Tasker	....	script supervisor: Los Angeles
Carolyn Tolley	....	script supervisor
Gena Varajon	....	location assistant (as Gena Verajon)
Ryan Whan	....	production accountant
Mark Whitehead	....	assistant: Ms. Chase
Josielyn Works	....	production assistant
Andrew Amato	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)
Iden Baghdadchi	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Samuel Barill	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Benjamin Benedetti	....	post facilities manager (uncredited)
Leore Berris	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Geralyn Clark	....	production staff (uncredited)
Ideene Dehdashti	....	base camp production assistant (uncredited)
Brian Durling	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Toni Embry	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Pamela B. Green	....	creative director: titles (uncredited)
Derrick Hanna	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Pennie-Marie Hawkins	....	stand-in: Carmen Ejogo (uncredited)
Thanh Hoang	....	background crew (uncredited)
Elizabeth B. Jackson	....	key craft service (uncredited)
Jason Jamal	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Kellin Johnson	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Dave Krieger	....	location scout (uncredited)
Kelly Kropog	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Darcy Leutzinger	....	lead armorer (uncredited)
Kelli Parsons	....	production assistant: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Christopher Stanback	....	production associate (uncredited)
Matthew Traylor	....	background production assistant (uncredited)
Jarik Van Sluijs	....	titles (uncredited)
Joseph Victor	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Daniel Warnock	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Jojuan Westmoreland	....	stand-in: Cee-Lo Green (uncredited)
John C. Wise	....	production assistant (uncredited)
James Wittenberg	....	medic coordinator/set medic (uncredited)

Thanks
Whitney Houston	....	in loving memory of

Production Companies

• Akil Production Company
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE)
• Stage 6 Films
• TDJ Enterprises / New Dimensions Entertainment

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Releasing Canada (2012) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2012) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2012) (USA) (theatrical)
• TriStar Pictures (2012) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2013) (Japan) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2013) (Japan) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2013) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Dilated Pixels (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting: Los Angeles
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Chow Catering  catering
• Codex Digital  digital recording equipment
• Fletcher Camera Detroit  camera equipment provided by
• Fletcher Chicago  COSMoS digital lab services
• Fletcher Chicago  camera equipment provided by
• Madison Gate Records  score album
• Mid America Cine Support  camera dollies
• Mid America Cine Support  expendables
• Mid America Cine Support  grip and lighting equipment
• PIC Agency  main titles by (as PIC)
• RCA Records  soundtrack
• Road Rebel  production travel
• Scarlet Letters  end crawl by
• Sonic Magic  audio post facilities provided by (as Sonic Magic Studios)
• Sony ColorWorks  digital intermediate (as ColorWorks)
• Sony Pictures Studios  post services provided by

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content involving domestic abuse and drug material, and for some violence, language and smoking

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Datasat | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #47186) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:12A | Canada:G (Quebec) | Norway:11 | Denmark:11 | Singapore:PG13 | South Korea:15 | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Akil Production Company

Trivia:

Raven-Symoné was considered for the role of Sparkle Williams.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Chelsea Lately: Episode #6.111" (2012)

Soundtrack:

Please Accept My Prayer

Don't Miss This Movie - It Has Everything

This is a great, fun, enjoyable movie. It has everything: great lines and killer comebacks, wit, excitement, suspense, drama, charged emotions, great acting, a good story, beautiful cinematography, and of course, the music rocks. It is way, way, way better than the original. let me say that again in caps: IT IS WAY, WAY, WAY BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL. I was actually surprised it was so good, given the reviews. I really did not want the movie to end. Afterwards, I found myself wondering what the sisters would be doing 3 years later, and it's been a long, long time since I've cared enough about any movie character to think about them even 5 minutes after the movie. Sparkle delivers on every level: script, cinematography, realism, acting, and singing.

On the acting front, Whitney Houston delivered a powerful, raw and completely revealing performance. She was Emma. Her figure, bearing, and presence are completely transformed from "legend," "Whitney Houston," to a bruised and weary woman who is determined that her babies will not lose their way as she did, and who is fighting with every ounce of her being for their futures. When you know how funny and filled with energy Houston could be, then you see her as this world-weary mother, fighting for her kids, you see how great an acting job she does. She fills the role completely. Her song, His Eye Is On The Sparrow, is the showstopper and anchors the movie perfectly. I cannot think of any singing/song scene in any movie that comes close to what Houston does here. This performance alone is more than worth the price of admission.

Mike Epps is another standout as Satin: he delivers a memorable, slick, cool, and lethal performance. All of the sisters are excellent! Tika Sumpter was really great, as was Carmen Ejogo, and though Jordin Sparks' character is the quiet sister, she works the role and is believable. There are no weak performances on the screen. And, it goes without saying that the music works perfectly. The three sisters are really smokin' hot on the stage, with Carmen Ejogo oozing sensuous sex-appeal.

Yes, this is a remake, and yes, its a popular theme, but just like fairy-tales that we enjoy listening to and telling over an over, you want to hear this story retold because it is so well done. There are strong male rolls, and lots of testosterone-driven tensions, and, of course, strong female roles. So, this movie works as a good date night movie, a good movie to see with friends, and as a good movie to see on your own.

This is not The Godfather and it's not Shakespeare, but it is a well done, enjoyable, emotionally satisfying movie. I highly recommend it. Thumbs way up!