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Monday, May 3, 2010 | 10:03pm
White Woman to Pen N.W.A. Bioflick, ‘Straight Outta Compton’?
Does it bother you that the story of one of black music’s most controversial acts will be penned by a white female screenwriter?
Hollywood screenwriter, Andrea Berloff who is most famous for her depiction of Oliver Stone’s true story, “World Trade Center,” has been tapped to write pending N.W.A. bioflick. The announcement comes just as ESPN‘s “30 for 30″ series readies to launch its documentary “Straight Outta LA” about the influence that NWA had at shaping the bad boy image of the short-lived Los Angeles Raiders by adorning the teams branded merchandise.
The film which will appropriately be titled “Straight Outta Compton,” will chronicle the rise of the Compton, Calif.-based rap group, that released the iconic “Straight Outta Compton” album which pushed over 9 million copies in 1988 as well as how egos, jealousy and mis-communication led to the group’s demise. In between, the group became the countries most feared entertainers as critics accused them of infecting America’s youth with images of violence, anti-semitism, misogyny and homophobia.
Ironically, the story of one of black music’s most controversial groups will be written by a white woman. But does that really matter? Is it necessary that the story be told by one who at least looks like she listened to their music? Does it bother you that an African American writer personally affected by NWA’s music and message was not given the opportunity to turn that passion into profit? SOUND OFF!
FILED IN Editorials, Movies, Music
Hmmm. You ask why “an African American writer personally affected by NWA’s music and message was not given the opportunity to turn that passion into profit”?
Oppotunity of any kind is never offered to the African American people, unless it in the form of state or federal aide. We always have to and been made to struggle, reach in and grab what we can and turn a profit of what we are allowed, and whatever that is, we can guarantee that it will be heavily critized and downplayed.
Am I upset that a white woman is making an NWA biopic? Hell no just as long as its truthful, un-biased, informative and entertaining.
From my look at it, this is loooong overdue. Spike Lee, John Singleton, the Hughes Brothers, or even O’Shea Jackson aka Ice Cube, a film director and founding father of NWA, should have done this project years ago. These influential African American directors made it big during NWA’s heyday. There are endless spins and variations they could have done to contribute, but they didn’t and and instead a white woman is going to.
If it was me I would have been all over this project like Soul Glo on Easy E’s Raiders hat.But then again, being if I were one of the directors I have named, you also wouldn’t have to pay me to be apart of a biopic of this proportion. And I bet bullets to bullshit, money was a factor, as it always is,and probably why those named never did anything like this.
Long Live NWA, I can’t wait to see this…
Mr. Bad Guy you’re absolutely right. I was just concentrating on the screenplay however. The film will be housed at New Line and as you suggested Cube’s production house will be at the helm with Tomika Woods, the widow of Eazy-E as a consultant. I guess as long as that element is there the credibility of the film will be insured.
Doesnt really matter whom writes it. To me noone can change the facts or opionions of another and how they will react to music. If the writer has negative bias it will show, but it really doesnt change the history on NWA.
Great point, i was thinking that when I wrote it. The story is already written. Perhaps if it was a fictitious story it would mean more. Good point.
“Oppotunity of any kind is never offered to the African American people, unless it in the form of state or federal aide. We always have to and been made to struggle, reach in and grab what we can and turn a profit of what we are allowed, and whatever that is, we can guarantee that it will be heavily critized and downplayed.” … I just had to put that in my comment because they are true and right on point…..
.
My only doubt as to the authenticity of this is that even though the story has already been written, how it translates to the big screen has a lot to do with the writer’s experiences/views/prejudices (which are shaped by life), as it relates to the subject. Even if Cube and Easy’s widow are “consultants”, unless they are producing/directing the film, their input is very limited and maybe even meaningless. The movie can be done without them, so if they put up too much of a fuss, they will be X’d quickly….bottom line: it’s white people making this movie. So, we will get another white people’s version of influential Black people. It will be THEIR version of NWA.
Cube and his partner are producers, Easy’s widow is a consultant.
Good. He can then have a bigger role/voice in it.
let the division begin. it doesnt matter who writes it as long as they do it right. use the former group members as consultants and then let them see the fisnished wrk b4 releasing it to the public. if THEY give it the ‘nod’ then its all good in they south central neighborhood. anyone else shouldnt have an issue with it other than someone bringing up the fact a white famale wrote it.
I just couldn’t see Spike Lee or Antionne Fuquoa doing a movie on The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones or Duran Duran…but who knows-maybe the white female is up on black-ism enough to make a film that gives NWA their due.
I don’t have a problem with a white person doing this as long as they don’t make NWA look bad. Like trying to focus on anything negative about them, I’m sorry but you know how white people tend to do that…
1st of all let me st8 right now 4 the record, CD. 8 track tape, DAT machine, IPOD, walkman(old school IPOD 4 the young’unz)I AM THE BIGGEST FAN of NWA even 2 this day I bump Str8 Outta Compton.NWA r right behind RUN-DMC as for making Hip Hop mainstream . They did not have 2 do songs with old washed up ass drug addict rock bands 2 get over the hump…Not knocking RUN-DMC 4 doing that but NWA made AmeriKKKA cross over 2 them.5 young BLACK men from South Central/Compton scared the shit outta KKKrackuz and some snoot boot UnKKKle Tom’s as well and me 2 I can’t front .What Eazy-E did with putting that group 2gether along with Dr.Dre Ice Cube MC Ren and DJ Yella was the shit 2 have that much talent in 1 group is like amazing.They sold 2 milli out the gate with no airplay.The video 4 Str8 ouuta Compton was banned by MTV but at that time u could sing about worship’n the devil in your music with those Heavy Metal groups and all there dumb ass vidz that were on MTV at that time was totlally double standard Bullshizzle.U can’t even front on Fuck Tha Police even in NY they bumped it.I think if NWA hailed from anywhere in the tri st8 area they would be hailed as the greastest Hip Hop group of all times but since they are from Cali4nia not so much . I h8 shit did not work out and they broke up but every1 out that group did gr8 things after NWA broke up.MC Ren still has the skills 2 Roc the Mic and still releases music.DJ Yella is a hella producer in his own right produced “4 the Love of Money” 4 Bone Thugs.Speaking of Bone Thugs Eazy E the mastermind behind NWA gave us NWA and later Bone Thugs which is also 1 of my Top 5 groups.Ice Cube is still the shit n Hip Hop made moves on the movie tip can’t w8 4 his new joint. Of course Dr. Dre the baddest producer and the most anticipated CD coming out from Dre, Detox …even without Detox the dude has major classics.NWA changed the Game since they drop the 1st verse…..”U r now about 2 witness the Strength of Street” Knowledge!!
The mutha fucc’n saga continues…As 4 the NWA movie it does not matter what cum…plexxxshun the person is who wrote the screenplay.I feel since there r actual members that r contributing 2 this movie then I am more com4table with the movie going 4ward.We already saw how Notorious went down and I loved it.It could have been better and the guy that played 2pac not even close.
I am looking 4ward 2 c n this NWA movie I will be the 1st in line or at least see it 5 times like when I 1st saw Purple Rain(classic flick).
It would be nice 2 c Lil Eazy-E play his dad. Doughboy which is Ice Cube’s son play cube with Jerri Curl and all Dr. Dre’s son Curtis Young aka the Surgeon, that would be the shit. Just keep it Real, factual and actual no commercial shit . From Dre and Eazy hooking up 2 making Boyz N The Hood which Ice Cube wrote when he was 16. Yes u have 2 include Jerry Heller . the FBI letter NWA recieved, the tour, Cube leaving etc. I do hope there is a soundtrack 2 this with new material and there old jamz.NWA4LIFE.