The Beat (2003 film)
Encyclopedia
The Beat is a 2003 drama written and directed by Brandon Sonnier and was screened at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival
. At 20 years of age, Sonnier was the youngest director to have a feature film debut at the Sundance Film Festival
. The previous record was held by Robert Rodriguez
for El Mariachi
. With limited release on Showtime, Black STARZ, and Encore in 2005, the film became an underground hip hop cult-classic, supported by a cast of internationally recognized rap artists such as Chino XL
, Tak (Styles of Beyond
) and Coolio
, as well as Def Poetry Jam's Steve Connell
. The film's star, Rahman Jamaal also wrote and produced the film's hip hop soundtrack.
Jazsmin Lewis
Gregory Alan Williams
Brian McKnight
Steve Connell
Jermaine Lewis
2003 Sundance Film Festival
-2003:16 January - 26 JanuaryThe official announcement of the 2003 winners can be found .*Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - Capturing the Friedmans*Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic - American Splendor ...
. At 20 years of age, Sonnier was the youngest director to have a feature film debut at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
. The previous record was held by Robert Rodriguez
Robert Rodriguez
Robert Anthony Rodríguez is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician. He shoots and produces many of his films in his native Texas and Mexico. He has directed such films as Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, The Faculty, Spy Kids, Sin City, Planet...
for El Mariachi
El Mariachi
El Mariachi is a 1992 Mexican-American action film that is the debut of writer/director Robert Rodriguez. The Spanish language film was shot in the northern Mexican bordertown of Ciudad Acuña with a mainly amateur cast...
. With limited release on Showtime, Black STARZ, and Encore in 2005, the film became an underground hip hop cult-classic, supported by a cast of internationally recognized rap artists such as Chino XL
Chino XL
Derek Keith Barbosa , better known by his stage name Chino XL, is an American hip hop lyricist, battle rapper, and actor of Puerto Rican and African American descent...
, Tak (Styles of Beyond
Styles of Beyond
Styles of Beyond is an underground rap group from the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California. The group consists of MCs Ryan Patrick Maginn and Takbir Bashir , Colton Raisin Fisher , and producer Jason Rabinowitz . They have released two LPs, one mixtape and were heavily featured on Mike...
) and Coolio
Coolio
Artis Leon Ivey Jr. , better known by the stage name Coolio, is an American musician, rapper, actor and record producer.-Late 80s:He recorded two singles in the late 80s, titled "Watcha Gonna Do" and "You're Gonna Miss Me"...
, as well as Def Poetry Jam's Steve Connell
Steve Connell
Steven Gerard Connell is an American actor, playwright, poet and spoken word artist.-Biography:Born in Thousand Oaks, California, Connell is the youngest of two children...
. The film's star, Rahman Jamaal also wrote and produced the film's hip hop soundtrack.
Plot
Philip Randall Bernard a.k.a. "Flip" (Rahman Jamaal) is faced with the decision to join the police force, or attempt to live his dream of becoming a Hip Hop/spoken word artist. The film shows both of Flip's possible futures.Cast
Rahman JamaalJazsmin Lewis
Jazsmin Lewis
Jazsmin Lewis is an African American actress. She is perhaps best known for her starring role as Traci Townsend in the 2005 film Traci Townsend.-Biography:...
Gregory Alan Williams
Gregory Alan Williams
Gregory Alan Williams is an American actor and author. Williams is best known for portraying Garner Ellerbee in the syndicated series Baywatch.-Early life and acting career:...
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B/Pop musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet....
Steve Connell
Steve Connell
Steven Gerard Connell is an American actor, playwright, poet and spoken word artist.-Biography:Born in Thousand Oaks, California, Connell is the youngest of two children...
Jermaine Lewis
Jermaine Lewis
Jermaine Edward Lewis is a retired American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was originally drafted in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, who he played for until 2001...