The filmmakers of Griot Filmworks will return to Chicago for their first major studio production when the MGM film, “Step in the Name of Love,” shoots here later this year.
Producer Phil James, now based in Los Angeles, said the budget would range from $8 to $15 million, with details still being worked out as the script underwent revisions.
“Step” is the first star turn for R&B sensation Usher, who played supporting roles in “She’s All That” and “Light It Up.” Usher is on tour in support of his top-selling album “Confessions.” “We’re hoping to shoot when he takes a break from his tour in September or October, or when his tour ends toward the end of the year,” James said.
James’ partners in Griot, director Carl Seaton and actor Kenny Young, wrote the script, described as a “Saturday Night Fever” set in the Chicago step dancing scene recently popularized by the R. Kelly song from which the film takes its name.
Griot’s agent Brent Rose partnered James with producers Nichele Protho of Urban Entertainment (“Undercover Brother”) and Stephanie Allain of Homegrown Films (“Biker Boyz.”) “Nichele had a relationship with MGM and she brought the project to them,” James said. “Stephanie had a good connection with Usher and she brought him to the table.” MGM announced in Variety May 14 that they had bought the script with Usher to star and Seaton to direct.
Griot is also developing the $500,000 to $1 million independent film “Scandalous” for a Chicago shoot. Young is set to star as a corrupt alderman who gets caught up in a murder. “We were originally planning to shoot ‘Scandalous’ this summer but since ‘Step in the Name of Love’ took off we’ll have to see how this plays out first,” James said.
“Unless it becomes a problem with the studios, we would like to continue doing independent as well as studio movies,” James said. “With an independent film there’s nobody over us to tell us what we can and cannot do, whereas the studio may tell us to make changes to the script to make it more commercial.”
Griot shot its first feature, the HIV drama “One Week,” in Chicago in 1999. The film was released theatrically by Film Life in 2003 and runs on BlackSTARZ! in June. Their second film, “Sacred,” starring rapper Nas, is due out on video from Lions Gate to coincide with the release of Nas’s new album.
Griot has been based in Los Angeles since completing work on “One Week” but plan to continue working in their hometown. “We’d love to shoot the majority of our films in Chicago,” James said, “like Spike Lee shoots most of his films in New York. Chicago has a different look than the L.A. vibe, and it’s a lot cheaper to shoot in Chicago as opposed to L.A.”
Reach James at phil@griotfilmworks.com.
? by Ed M. Koziarski, edk@homesickblues.com
