The Seat Filler (2004)

Romance and drama occur after a pop superstar falls for an audience member -- a seat filler posing as an attorney -- at a music awards show.

Director:

Nick Castle

Writers:

Mark Brown, Duane Martin

Stars:

Duane Martin, Kelly Rowland, DeRay Davis

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Duane Martin	...	Derrick
Kelly Rowland	...	Jhnelle
DeRay Davis	...	E.J.
Mel B	...	Sandie (as Melanie Brown)
Patrick Fischler	...	Irwin
Christian Copelin	...	Kenny
Shemar Moore	...	Trent
Denise Dowse	...	Derrick's Mom
Glynn Turman	...	Derrick's Dad
Kyla Pratt	...	Diona
Michael Chinyamurindi	...	Nail (as Michael Hinyamurindi)
Curtis Armstrong	...	LaJean
Romy Rosemont	...	Vicki
Julie Mintz	...	Carrie
Tony Lee	...	Waiter

Storyline

In The Seat Filler, Derrick (Martin) is a struggling law student who takes a job as an awards show seatfiller to make ends meet. One day, he is seated next to the beautiful pop superstar Jnelle (Rowland), who mistakes him for a well-known industry executive. With an instant chemistry, the unlikely pair begin to date. But Derrick must scale creative heights to keep up the charade. When the couple begins to fall for each other, Derrick must chose between his conscience and the love of his life.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual dialogue and a drug reference

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 July 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amor por Acaso

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,812,287, 20 July 2004, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$10,238,923, 31 December 2004

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$17,972,898, 31 December 2005

Company Credits

Production Co:

Seat Filler Productions, Shake Martin Films, Strange Fruit Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
Vicki: My name is Vicki Curtis. And you are here to be Seat Fillers. Your job is to make sure the audience never looks empty. Because without you it would look like missing teeth. We, ladies and gentlemen, we complete the smile of Hollywood. All right ya bunch of nobodies, pull out your Seat Filler rule books and read along with me. No chewing gum. No bright colors. No hats, cellphones, or pagers. No gassy foods the night before. And never ever remove your blue ribbon, it's how we ...
[...]

User Reviews

This film will fill a romcom lover's evening with pure enjoyment

Derrick (Duane Martin) is a law student in the Los Angeles area. As with most college attendees, he is far from wealthy and he takes a job as a seat filler for area award programs. That is, he fills seats that are vacated by true award nominees as they go for beverages or to use the restrooms, so that when the camera turns to the audience, it always appears full. Naturally, all folks hired for these positions are asked to refrain from any conversations with the elite, or they will be fired. Yet, when Derrick goes to a music awards show, he suddenly finds himself sitting next to the gorgeous Jhnelle (Kelly Rowland), a hip hop princess. She's, well, lovely and Derrick feels his heart pounding faster. By happenstance, Jhnelle breaks the heel on one of her shoes and Derrick bounds out to repair the foot covering with a friend's superglue. She is most grateful and, yes, they begin to talk. She likes what she is seeing, too. Several nights later, he is a seat filler again and Jhnelle is watching the tube at home. Spying Derrick, he sends him a note with a dinner invitation, for someone has told her that he is a hotshot entertainment lawyer named Alonzo Grant. He accepts and promises himself to "come clean" with the truth. But, how can he, when Jhnelle is also being pursued by a handsome albeit egotistical television star? One thing is certain, Derrick wants to win Jhnelle's heart. Will he succeed, even as the truth is bound to surface? This is a lovely and humorous movie with a smooth script and fine direction. The two stars, Martin and Rowland, are very beautiful and talented people and viewers will be charmed mightily by them. All of the lesser players give nice performances, too. The scenery around the city of Angels is nice while the costumes are very, very fine indeed. As for the script, it has plenty of zest and originality and will generate smiles and sighs throughout. Most of all, it focuses on the true worth of a person and not the smoke and mirrors of La-la land. Therefore, all romcom lovers take note. Get out of your seat and snatch this one off the shelves at the video store. Your evening is about to be filled with pure enjoyment.