BATTLE OF THE YEAR (3D) releasing on 22nd of november

BATTLE OF THE YEAR (3D)
Director: Benson Lee     
Cast: Josh Holloway (Lost), Laz Alonso, Josh Peck (Drake & Josh), Caity Lotz and hip hop star Chris Brown as Rooster
Rating: U/A
Duration:  110 mins (1 hour 40 mins)
Video Playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5F634F26FB5E0E44
Battle of the Year is the Olympics of break dancing, a tournament held every year that attracts all the best teams from around the world, but the Americans haven’t won in fifteen years. Los Angeles Hip Hop mogul and former B-Boy Dante (Alonso) wants to put the country that started the Sport back on top. He enlists his hard-luck friend Blake (Holloway), who was a championship basketball coach, to coach his team. Armed with the theory that the right coach can make any team champions, they assemble a Dream Team of all the best b-boys across the country. With only three months until Battle of the Year, Blake has to use every tactic he knows to get twelve talented individuals to come together as a team if they're going to bring the Trophy back to America where it started. Inspired by the actual World championship held yearly in France.

PRODUCTION NOTES

An all-star American dance crew competes against the most talented teams from across the globe for the most coveted title in hip hop culture in Battle of the Year, an explosive and inspiring dance movie from director Benson Lee.  Inspired by Lee’s award-winning documentary, Planet B-Boy, Battle of the Year showcases the exhilarating realm of competitive dancing with unprecedented depth and insight, as some of the world’s most elite teams ignite the screen with an astonishing display of athleticism, power and grace, all in state-of-the-art 3-D.

Hip hop mogul Dante Graham (Laz Alonso) has created a billion-dollar business out of his b-boy past. Now he intends to reinvigorate America’s reputation as the pre-eminent by creating an all-American dream team that can win the legendary Battle of the Year, hip hop’s premier competition, in Montpellier, France.

Graham turns to his old friend and former crew mate Jason Blake (Josh Holloway) to coach the team. With help of his assistant coach Franklyn (Josh Peck) and choreographer Stacy (Caity Lotz), Blake struggles to transform 13 headstrong individualists into a disciplined, cohesive and polished crew to rival all comers.

But with the competition only weeks away, the internal rivalry between dancers Rooster (Chris Brown) and Do Knock (Jon Cruz) divides the group into bitter factions, as Blake struggles to overcome the despair and alcohol abuse that have enveloped him since the death of his wife and child in a tragic accident. If the dream team wants to bring the b-boy world championship back to American soil for the first time in 15 years, they will have to face down ferocious personal demons to succeed.

 Battle of the Year stars Josh Holloway (“Lost,” Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol), Laz Alonso (Avatar, Fast and Furious), Takers), Josh Peck (“Drake & Josh”; The Wackness), Caity Lotz (“Death Valley,” “Mad Men”) and Grammy^®-winning recording artist Chris Brown (Stomp the Yard) as Rooster.  The film also stars a crew of real life b-boys including Jon “Do Knock” Cruz, Jesse “Casper” Brown, Ivan “Flipz” Velez, Joshua Lee “Milky” Ayers, Richard “Lil Adonis” Maguire, David “Kid David” Shreibman, Sawandi Wilson, Anis Cheurfa, Steve Terada, Gil “Gillatine” Brace-Wessel, Sammy “SamO” Soto,  Richie “Abstrak” Soto and Luis Rosado.

The film is directed by Benson Lee from a script inspired by his acclaimed documentary Planet B-Boy and written by Brin Hill (Won’t Back Down) and Chris Parker (Mulan II). The producers of Battle of the Year are Beau Flynn (Red Dawn, Journey to the Center of the Earth), Tripp Vinson (The Number 23, The Exorcism of Emily Rose), and Amy Lo (Planet B-Boy, Dreaming Nicaragua). Executive producers are Glenn S. Gainor (Friends with Benefits, Easy A), William Packer (Think Like a Man, Takers and Rich and Tone Talauega. Director of photography is Michael Barrett (Texas Chain Saw 3-D, Ted). Editor is Peter S. Elliot (Iron Man 3, Think Like a Man). Production designer is Chris Cornwell (The Ideas of March, Footloose). Music supervisor is Pilar McCurry while original music is by Christopher Lennertz (Identity Thief, Thanks for Sharing). Costume designer is Soyon An (“American Idol,” “So You Think You can Dance”). The film is choreographed by Dave Scott (Step Up 3-D, Stomp the Yard) and Rich and Tone Talauega (who have worked with Chris Brown, Madonna and Jennifer Lopez).

The running time is 1 hour and 49 minutes.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

B-boying is the innovative and athletic dance form that originated on the streets of New York City during the 1970s and became one of the four cornerstones of hip-hop culture, along with emceeing, graffiti and DJing. Dubbed “break dancing” by the media, b-boying achieved overwhelming visibility in popular culture. Its luster eventually faded in the U.S., even as it continued to flourish around the world, as director Lee Benson discovered in his award-winning 2007 documentary, Planet B-Boy. Today, the basic moves first developed over 30 years ago have evolved into a highly sophisticated and acrobatic form of dance that can be legitimately compared to top-flight Olympic gymnastics.

“The world of b-boying has become global,” says Lee. “In Battle of the Year, which was inspired by my documentary, a coach is asked to put together a Dream team made up of the best b-boys in America with the sole mission of winning the Battle of the Year, which is like the World Cup of b-boying. More than 20 countries compete every year. The Dream team has a chance to bring the gold back home to America, where b-boying started, for the first time in 15 years.”

Battle of the Year (or BOTY) is a real life event that takes place each year in France, attracting crews from around the world. “The competition has been going on for over 20 years,” says producer Amy Lo, who also collaborated with Lee on his documentary. “It’s a global event that attracts thousands of people. You can’t imagine the energy.”

Lo admits she knew nothing at all about b-boy culture before working on the documentary. “What drew me in were the kids’ individual stories,” she says. “Battle of the Year is a chance to explore that world further and share it with even more people. I appreciate the element of self-expression as well as the amazing physical feats, and my hope is that we inspire a new generation to explore this art form.”

 According to Lee, b-boying grew out of a need for young people in the Bronx to express themselves through dance. “Wherever it goes, it represents the disenfranchised, so it makes sense that it was adopted by so many different cultures. It gives an option to kids who don’t have the opportunity to go to traditional dance schools.”

Even before Lee and Lo completed Planet B-Boy, they recognized the potential to create a feature film that would reintroduce the b-boy dance phenomenon to the country in which it began. Finding the right framework for their movie was their first challenge. Producer Tripp Vinson of Vinson Films helped the pair develop the property into a feature film.

Vinson says he was peripherally aware of b-boying from its ’80s heyday. “But Planet B-Boy was my real introduction to the culture. One of most compelling things about it is that the people and their stories engage the viewer at least as much as the dance. Their heart and warmth, as well as the struggles they go through to pursue their dream, sucked me in and I felt that it would make a great feature film.” 

Lee’s documentary is an in-depth, insider’s look at the international b-boy scene that stretches from Japan, France, Germany and South Korea back to the United States. Using it as a jumping off point, the filmmakers looked for an approach to set their film apart from typical dance movies. “Contemporary dance pictures tend to stick to a formula,” says Lee. “Ballerina meets street dancer. He gives her flavor and she civilizes him. That storyline has been beaten to a pulp, so it was the last thing we wanted to do. We came up with the idea of turning this into a sports film, which seemed like a natural fit. It’s about competition and the dancers are physically on par with elite athletes.”

Elements of teamwork and redemption are woven throughout the story, says Lo. “It is a very American story, with a very diverse group of people with big egos learning to put them aside to achieve a common goal.”

Although the storyline is strictly fictional, it is deeply infused with the spirit of the documentary, using elements of different dancers’ experiences to craft a classic story. “A brilliant coach has fallen on hard times and a hip hop executive wants him to put together the best dance crew in the world,” says Vinson. “The world of b-boying tends to be about the individual and the coach teaches them to become a team so that they can compete in the Battle of the Year.”

The discipline of b-boying has evolved tremendously since the early days of breaking, making it a study in individualism. “The kids overseas have taken it and put their own stamps on it,” Lo continues. “It feeds back into the U.S. on the Internet. All the b-boys study videos from events across the world and eventually that informs their own style. The cross-pollination is really fascinating.”

Lee says that while his interest in b-boying is deep and passionate, he was never a real b-boy himself. “I have always been a huge fan. I was first exposed to b-boying when I saw Flashdance. Jennifer Biels is walking down the street and she runs into a group of b-boys. I’d never seen people dance like that before. There was a host of other movies that came out afterwards, like Beat Street and Breaking. I watched those as well and I was completely sucked in.” 

A decade later, Lee had finished his first film and was wondering what to do next. “I happened to see Flashdance on television. When I saw that scene, I started to wonder what happened to the b-boys. Through the Internet, I discovered this event called Battle of the Year and I became obsessed with it.”

He learned that not only were the b-boys still around, they had gone international. “And they had evolved into these really powerful athletes, but no one seemed to know about it. Wherever in the world it has gone, b-boying has come to represent the disenfranchised or ignored, the people without resources or advantages.”  

He equates the art form with 1950s-era rock and roll. “It is was a purely American thing that came out of blues and shocked the world. Then it went around the globe and was reinterpreted by other cultures before coming back here. Hip hop has the power of rock. It represents youth. That’s why it has proliferated worldwide.” 

And like rock and roll, you either have it or you don’t, he believes. “The best b-boys are the ones who’ve dedicated their lives to it. They draw on their personal experiences for inspiration and ideas. One thing I find that the best have in common is that they don’t feel they chose b-boying. They believe b-boying chose them.”

FINDING THE DREAM TEAM

The cast of Battle of the Year combines experienced actors with top street dancers to create a visceral and authentic picture of the reality of life as a b-boy. “It’s a really good mix,” says Amy Lo. “The actors were really respectful of the dancers, who are most often the unsung heroes in a situation like this, but we give them all their moment at center stage.”

Josh Holloway plays Jason Blake, the down-and-out coach who redeems himself as he teaches the boys to trust him and each other enough to become a real team. “I wasn’t familiar with Josh from his role on ‘Lost,’ but from the moment I met him, I just liked him,” says Lee. “He’s a really genuine person and very professional in his approach to the work. During rehearsals, I was blown away by the way he redefined the coach. He really dug deep into this character and brought such depth and humanity to it. A really good coach is a mentor and Josh achieved that with a lot of the guys on screen, as well as off camera.”

Holloway admits to being a closet b-boy enthusiast since his days as a high-school basketball player. “I’ve been into dancing my whole life, but I never threw it out there in public,” he says. “My basketball team had some really good b-boys on it and we even integrated moves into our warm-ups. When I saw the documentary, I was astonished by the athleticism and the evolution of b-boying.”

But even more than the dancing, he was drawn to the coach’s story. “It grabbed me,” says the actor. “I know from my own experiences how much a coach can shape your life. In this case, the coach has as much to learn as the team.”

Two years before the story starts, Blake lost his family in a car wreck. “He just checked out and became a serious drunk,” Holloway says. “It’s a painful struggle to come back. He’s an alcoholic and he can’t let go of that yet, because it’s his survival mechanism.”

Eventually, he finds a scribbled note in an old coaching notebook that gives him the key to reaching his team. “It’s something his wife wrote years ago,” says Holloway. “Change how you think, change your life. He rediscovers that and implements it in his coaching. The difference now is that it’s being reflected back on him.”

Taking his role to heart, Holloway worked with the dancers to bolster their confidence in their untried acting skills. “Josh was really generous with his time and his spirit and his energy,” says Lee. “I think the b-boys really felt that and appreciated it.”

“I was just so inspired by every one of these guys,” the actor says. “The things they can do physically are amazing, but their spirit and the energy are even more so. As someone who is a fan of this type of dance, I was blown away by what these kids could do. It was truly like they were in an anti-gravity room.

“And Benson brought passion and an incredible depth of knowledge on this subject,” he adds. “He didn’t just make a dance movie. He’s trying to tell the deeper story of this culture and what it grew from.”

Blake’s revitalization is engineered by his old friend Dante, the hip hop impresario played by Laz Alonso. “Dante offers Blake this job trying to pull him out of his depression,” says Vinson. “Laz brings a lot of humor and swagger to the part. It’s a lot of fun to watch him work.”

The two characters go back 30 years to their days on dance crew together. “Dante became a hip hop mogul,” says Lee. “Blake became a coach for a championship basketball team. But losing his family sent him spiraling out of control and into alcoholism. Dante really wants put together a team to go to BOTY, but he also sees this as an opportunity to help his friend.”

Alonso’s performance redefines the image of the hip hop mogul, says the director. “The clichéd portrait of a blinged-out record executive is over, because hip hop has evolved. Moguls like Jay Z and Russell Simmons are extremely intelligent, savvy and cultured. That’s what we needed to see in Dante. No one could have personified that better than Laz. He’s a phenomenal actor who figured out a very refreshing take on the character.”

Alonso grew up b-boying and starred in the sensational urban dance film, Stomp the Yard, but even he is awed by the new wave of breakers. “Being in this film is something really special for me,” he says. “It takes me back to when I was a kid, although this is a whole different level of b-boying. These guys are doing all kinds of aerial work, that we never dreamed of. You’re going to see how it has continued to grow over the years.” 

The actor brings his unique charisma to the character. “Dante has a certain swag,” says Alonso. “He’s totally confident in the way that comes when you know how successful you are. He’s an alpha and he knows it.”

Dante has noticed that while the rest of the world has embraced b-boying, the U.S., where it originated, no longer has respect for the art form. “At BOTY, we are getting our butts handed to us by the Koreans or by the Russians or the French every year,” Alonso says. “He decides to put together a Dream team to bring the title back where it belongs and the same time reach out to an old friend who is in trouble.”

Alonso says he enjoyed working with Holloway. “Josh is a professional all the way,” he says. “So many of his scenes are essentially monologues and he found a way to make every speech sound brand new, so I have a lot of respect the work that he’s done in this film.”

Blake is assisted in his coaching duties by a wisecracking junior member of Dante’s organization named Franklyn, played by Josh Peck. The actor, best known for his role on the Nickelodeon sitcom, “Drake & Josh,” kept the laughter going both on camera and between takes.

“Josh Peck has a natural exuberance,” says Lee. “He channels old-time comedians like Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, and Jackie Gleason. He is one of the funniest actors I’ve ever met. The whole crew was rolling on the floor at his improvisations. He is also extremely intelligent and really funny at the same time. He brings a levity to the film that’s very important. Blake is pretty hardcore in his training, and Franklyn adds a bit of comic relief to those scenes.”

“I love watching Josh Peck tear it up,” says Holloway. “He threw out things all the time that weren’t scripted and I would have to try to hold it together. He’s just funny as hell.”

Peck appreciated the opportunity to create a character in his own image. “Everyone was so generous in allowing me to bring my own spirit to the part,” he says. “Benson was always such a calm force on set. It was great getting to see him spread his wings and come into himself as a director in his first feature. I fell in love with the documentary, so I was really happy to be a part of this.”

Growing up in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen, Peck was familiar with hip hop culture. “Sure, I’m a white Jewish kid,” he says. “But in my neighborhood, when you graduate from Hebrew school, you’re inducted into the Run-D.M.C. boot camp. It was always a part of my life and I love it.”

While attending the Professional Performing Arts School in Mahattan, Peck studied musical theater. “I’m also experienced in Bar Mitzvah dancing, quinceañera dancing and weddings. Anywhere dancing is promoted and appreciated, I’m involved somehow,” he says. “I always had a little bit of rhythm, perhaps more than people give me credit for. But I dance mostly by myself, alone, and it centers me.”

In this film, however, he remains on the sidelines, dance-wise. “Franklyn is a dancer in his heart, but nowhere else in his body,” says Peck. “He’s not the most physically gifted cat in the world. I think he would love to be a dancer, but he became an assistant at Dante’s company instead. When Blake signs on as coach, Franklyn becomes his assistant because he has so much knowledge about dance and the hip hop world.” 

Peck believes audiences will be blown away by the level of dance in Battle of Year. “These dancers are like superheroes,” he marvels. “They are so talented and at the apex of what they do. It is such a different world than anything I’ve ever experienced. Dance is an equalizer. There’s no advantage because of who you are or where you came from. It’s purely based on skill and on how hard you’ve worked.”

At Franklyn’s urging, Dante brings in Stacey, a choreographer who works with the crew to refine their routines. “We wanted to redefine some stereotypical characters as much as we did the urban dance genre,” says Lee. “Stacey is not the usual babe-in-the-woods who comes from classical dance. She’s an empowered and talented choreographer who can throw down just as hard as the guys. It’s beautiful to see that synergy and have a character that avoids the typical clichés. She doesn’t bring Blake back to life by becoming his romantic interest. They are comrades working together on a mission. She shows him that it’s OK to take a look around and see life again. The way that they handled it was really beautiful and very natural.” 

Ten years of jazz and contemporary dance training prepared actress Caity Lotz to play the role. She began b-boying at the age of 17 and performed with the San Diego-based company, Culture Shock. “It was all hip hop and breaking,” she says. “It was the first time I saw b-boys flipping and all that stuff. I’ve always been very acrobatic, and combining that with the dance drew me in. It’s such an in-your-face performance style and so much fun.”

            Her character faces obstacles almost immediately, first with Blake, who doesn’t see the need for a choreographer, then with the boys themselves, who assume the sweet-faced blonde is in over her head. “My character has a lot to overcome,” Lotz says. “Blake knows b-boys and he knows teams. But he finally realizes that the performance is all about choreography. She brings that aspect of it. She is an amazing choreographer and she knows the guys need her, which helps her handle them.”

Grammy®-winning recording artist Chris Brown plays Rooster, one of the most outstanding dancers on the Dream team. “I wasn’t really familiar with Chris Brown’s music, but I was completely blown away by his talent,” says Lee. “Chris is the consummate performer. He really respects the craft of b-boying. He trained rigorously and his natural swagger is perfect for Rooster. He owns this character and there’s no doubt that he’s one of the best dancers out there today, but he’s one of the boys on the set. He doesn’t play the diva card at all.”

 Rooster becomes one of the group’s leaders, which the filmmakers say came naturally to Brown. “Chris brings so many things to this role like this,” according to Vinson. “It was a privilege to watch him work and he was a lot of fun to have on set.”

Brown has been interested in b-boying since he was a kid and his natural aptitude for dance helped him pick up the finer points relatively quickly. Still, he says this was the most difficult dancing he has ever done. “Nobody’s faking anything here,” says Brown. “Working with these guys was inspiring for me. They really pushed me to do my best because they were so serious. They were always willing to show me how to do a move and they were really encouraging. I learned a lot and I think I walked away from this movie with a lot of new friendships.”

Brown says he loves acting and is always open to an interesting part, but he was hesitant to accept a role in a film about dance, especially since he is already well-known for his musical performances. “The script was incredible, though,” he says. “The characters and the story made me want to be a part of it.”

Brown quickly learned that there’s a big difference between performing and battling. “When I go out on stage in front of 15,000 people, I know they came to see me,” he says. “Battling is ten times as hard because you face the judgment. If you mess up, they let you know.”   

The filmmakers were especially sensitive to representing real life b-boys when it came to casting the dancers in the film. The director and producer held four all-day sessions in several cities, bringing in dozens of potential team members to compete for a limited number of spots, just as the characters do in the film.

 “To make a b-boy movie, we needed to have b-boys in it,” says Lee. “What they do is very difficult. We couldn’t just hire actors or other types of dancers, because it is so specific. We had auditions throughout the United States and we brought in some of the best b-boys around to play our Dream team.”

Winning the trust of the b-boy community was a slow process. When breaking was the biggest pop-culture fad of the 1980s, many movies tried to portray the culture and most got it spectacularly wrong. “The b-boy community became very insular,” says Lee. “It went back underground in order to evolve. Because their image and their culture has been misrepresented in films for so long, b-boys are very skeptical about movies. They are not trustful of media people.”

But the reputation Lee built with Planet B-Boy opened doors for the production. “They understood what I was trying to do,” he says. “When word got out in the community, they were very supportive.”

The majority of the dancers in the cast are actual b-boys who underwent an extensive casting process that included documentary-style interviews to assess their personalities and on-camera charisma, as well as dance auditions. “We asked them why they became b-boys and what it all means to them,” says Lo. “Of course, we had them come in and dance. The two things together allowed us to see where they were coming from and helped give us ideas and inspiration for the characters.

“It was important to us that they represent themselves,” she adds. “They don’t have a much of a voice in movies or in mainstream culture. They don’t get featured front and center.”

Using footage of the interviews and dance auditions, Lee and Lo put “screen tests” of each promising dancer to show to the rest of the production team at Screen Gems. The final crew includes performers with colorful names like Lil Adonis, Kilowatt, Mayhem, Abstrak, Gillatine, SamO, Flipz and Do Knock. “A b-boy name is pretty much everything to a b-boy,” says Do Knock, whose given name is Jon Cruz. “I remember the first time I heard a person on the East Coast call me Do-Knock. I thought, I never even met that guy before and he knows my name. It’s like a stamp. When people start calling you by your b-boy name, you know you’ve made it.”

He says that he has known many of the dancers on the shoot for years, if not personally, at least through their postings on the Internet. “It’s just crazy to see them on this film with me. It makes me happy because I feel so connected to them. B-boying is like one family. We have one voice. I can go to Korea and not speak a lick of Korean, but I can chill with one of the b-boys out there, because of that connection.” 

Of the 13 dancers who make the final cut, Do Knock is the one who challenges Rooster for leadership of the crew. “Do Knock is actually a famous b-boy,” says Vinson. “He’s in the documentary and he is really an exceptional talent. He moves like nobody I’ve seen. Do Knock, the character, and Rooster have an ongoing beef that may or not be about a girl. They’re very competitive and split the team into two different factions.” 

 Rooster and Do Knock’s competition threatens to derail the team before they ever get started, says Lee. “They are two guys who need to let go of their egos and transcend the bickering. Ego is a very dangerous thing on a team like this. It gets in the way of your performance, your concentration and your teamwork. Their story is about letting go of that in order to work for a greater good.”  

The filmmakers were confident that they had great dancers and gave them the support they needed to blossom as actors. “We focused on finding engaging personalities who were comfortable in front of the camera,” says Lee. “Most of them had never acted before, but because they play characters or take on different personas when they dance, they understood performing.

We rehearsed for about two months, split between dancing and acting. One of the toughest things for any performer is to be themselves on camera and that’s what we wanted from them. That was integral for these guys to achieve the level of acting that they did in the film. And they far exceeded what we expected of them.”

LIVE FROM PLANET B-BOY

Battle of the Year was filmed in Los Angeles and in Montpellier, France, where BOTY takes place each year. “This was a global production,” says Glenn S. Gainor. “We brought over 75 people from around the world to the south of France for BOTY. We’re the first Hollywood production to ever shoot in Montpellier. Europeans in general really embrace b-boying as an art form, so it was a great experience.”

Many of the cast members had never been outside the United States before. “They were in awe,” Gainor says. “Everybody who made this film grew through the experience and you can see that in the film as well. There’s a great sense of sincerity when they look around and realize how far they’ve come.”

Located on the coastline midway between Italy and Spain, Montpellier is an ancient French city studded with medieval architecture dating as far back as the 10^th century. It provides a stark contrast to the b-boys’ training ground in Southern California.

“The film goes from a very barren detention center outside of L.A. to this gorgeous old city,” says Lee “It really communicates the diversity of this culture. Visually, both locations are stunning. The detention center has its own distinct history and then going to Montpellier and being surrounded by French history was just stunning for us all. I loved seeing the b-boys make that transition.”

 To ensure absolute authenticity, Gainor approached Thomas Hergenrother, founder of BOTY, and asked for his support in making the first real b-boy feature film. “I knew that as the president of an organization that helped legitimize b-boying, he would make sure we represented it in the right way,” says the executive producer. “Making that part of the shoot happen was a global operation. We had help from Paris, London, Tokyo, New York, Germany and Austria. The teams came in from Israel, Korea, Russia, Kazakhstan and America to compete at BOTY.”

The filmmakers flew in Russia’s team, Top Nine, to compete in a battle sequence with the Dream team before the competition started. “We also put together a phenomenal group from Korea and flew them to Montpellier to dance in the film,” says Gainor. “And we have Vagabond, the No. 1 b-boy team in France, just as they were in the Battle of the Year.” 

 Lee says he was ecstatic when he learned they would be able to shoot during the actual competition. “There’s no event like it in the world. The energy and dynamic can’t be reproduced. When we filmed the dance battles, I literally could not sit in my chair. I was jumping up and down because seeing these guys memorialized on film for this huge audience in 3-D blew me away. It made total sense to go there and it’s another way to differentiate this film from other urban dance films that take place in the ‘hood.”

The completed film combines footage that was specially staged for the movie, as well as live scenes from the actual event. “We were able to shoot in the stadium a few days prior and mixed it with footage from the battle,” says Lo. “Shooting the real BOTY is one of the most ambitious things I’ve seen done in a studio film. We had no control. The people in that stadium weren’t there to watch us shoot a movie. They really couldn’t have cared less about that. They just didn’t want us to get in the way of their event.”

With just 15 minutes to film the Dream team on the stadium stage, everything had to be perfectly timed. “We had to have all five cameras and the dancers primed and ready,” says Gainor. “All the rehearsing and all the technical work paid off, but I was incredibly nervous when we finally got our guys on stage. They were in formation and nothing was happening. The crowd was going insane. Our guys were just standing there. I ran up to the first assistant director and I screamed, where’s the music? He looked at me and he said, ‘four, three, two, one.’ And then the music hit. It was that precise.” 

Lee and his director of photography, Michael Barrett, used Sony’s F3 3-D cameras for the majority of the shoot. During BOTY they also used the new Sony TD300 for the first time in a feature film. “The F3s are terrific cameras,” says Barrett. “Their sensitivity is incredible. We were often surprised by how little light we were able to use. The TD300 was irreplaceable because we often didn’t have the physical space to put a crew. During BOTY, we had very few places to put our cameras, but you could just throw a TD300 on your shoulder. We had a guy hidden behind a speaker who got really terrific footage.”

            The filmmakers worked without storyboards and Barrett was constantly improvising the best ways to capture the action. “I had seen rehearsals, so I had some idea of what was happening,” says the cinematographer. “Every shot had at least three cameras rolling, and in the arena, we had as many as five. We would try to get a wide shot and two close-ups at the same time in the dramatic scenes.”

Filming the competition at BOTY was like making a 3-D documentary, Barrett adds. “It was just fantastic. We were in the front row for one of the most exciting competitions I have ever witnessed. That sequence is phenomenal. To be that close to the dancers is an experience you just can’t imagine. You have to see it.”

Lee was given a crash course in the art of 3-D filmmaking at The Sony 3-D Technology Center, which was founded to train and nurture filmmakers in the latest in 3-D developments. “This is a second generation of 3-D films,” he notes. “The first generation was really about experimentation and refining the technology, as well as maximizing the novelty of it. But it’s no longer just about throwing stuff at people. It’s also about the depth that you can produce in the world that you’re creating.

“Dance is a natural genre for 3-D, there’s no doubt about it,” he continues. “There have been a lot of 3-D dance movies made, but none that showcase the sportsmanship of b-boying. The 3-D creates a sense of dimensionality that enhances the story of these kids and what they go through. The audience will be immersed in it. With multiple cameras rolling at all times, we had so many wonderful angles to choose from.”

Barrett, who also shot Texas Chain Saw 3-D and A Very Harold & Kumar 3-D Christmas says there is nothing gimmicky about the way the technology is used here. “It feels like you walk up to the screen and into this world. Dancing by nature is a spectacle and the 3-D heightened it. We’ve got guys performing incredible feats with their bodies, things you can’t imagine are physically possible. When you see it in 3-D, it’s absolutely astounding.”

 The production brought in three top choreographers to work with the b-boys: Dave Scott, and brothers Rich and Tone Talauega. “Dave Scott has worked extensively in movies, on projects including You Got Served and Stomp the Yard,” says Vinson. “Rich and Tone are known for live events. We were introduced to them through Chris Brown. They have been creative directors on some of his shows. They are all very disciplined guys who run a tight ship and they were incredibly inspiring for the dancers.”

The trio created dance sequences that embrace and elevate b-boying. “It is an intensely physical discipline,” Gainor says. “They have to develop their neck muscles, their arm muscles and their shoulder muscles to an extraordinary degree. It takes real athleticism, stamina, talent and passion to excel in this art form. Everybody in the film brought their creativity to it. You’re really experiencing the authentic dance.”

The dancers and choreographers had six weeks prior to shooting to prep. They continued rehearsals and training throughout the shoot for sequences that include the show-stopping finale, in which they perform a complicated and dangerous dance routine blindfolded. “That’s never been done before,” says Vinson. “You can imagine how much rehearsal and timing it takes to get something like that right. It’s the Dream team’s secret weapon.” 

Dave Scott was eager to be involved in a project that he thinks will change the way people look at b-boying, but he was always aware that there would be certain unavoidable challenges. “This is a dance style that is very individualistic,” he points out. “Our job was to make it more of a team sport without taking away the dancers’ personal style. It’s a whole new hybrid from of dance. In addition, the competitions are huge productions, almost like a circus. We had to come with something that is like a hip hop, b-boy, Broadway production number.”

            The choreographers also had to instill some of the discipline that more conventional forms like ballet require into the b-boy dancers. “In the script, the Dream team starts out as a motley crew of cocky kids whose egos keep getting in the way,” says Scott. “And that is what we had to deal with in real life. I got grey hairs trying to unite these guys. But, as in the script, they slowly started to work together and become a family who help each other out.”

            The Talauega brothers were attracted to the idea of b-boying as sport. “This script had all the right ingredients,” says Tone. “The story is timeless. The script is raw and comes from the streets. The fact that it is structured more like a sports story that a typical dance movie made us relate to it right away.”

            The brothers worked closely with Scott to turn the boys into a unified team. “In front of the camera was exactly like what was going on behind the camera,” says Rich. “The dancers are so used to trying to stand out. During rehearsals, one guy would go off and start spinning on his head when we were doing something else. Another guy would start soloing while we were trying to work together, so it was a headache to get them all in the same frame of mind. So many worlds came together in this and it was our job to make them all one world.” 

Rich Talauega spent time working one-on-one with Chris Brown to transform him into an authentic b-boy. “Chris is a sponge,” the choreographer says. “His dance talent is completely natural. He watches something and then does it perfectly the first time out. It’s like he downloads it into his head. He is fearless and willing to try anything. Give him enough time, he will do it better than you!”

Benson Lee is extremely proud to have helmed what he believes is the first feature film that does justice to hip hop culture. “In my opinion, Battle of the Year features the best urban dancing ever put on film,” Lee says. “We have a great story with really phenomenal actors in a movie that will appeal to a wide audience. It has some really important, universal themes and the dancing is not only for young people.

 “It is the first real showcase for b-boys in a narrative film,” he continues. “We have some of the best b-boys from around the world representing a whole era of world class b-boying. I want more people to want to learn about the art of b-boying. I want to help it transcend that worn out image from the ’80s. It is a dynamic and powerful form of dance. It is a sport. It is an art.

“And for the kids who get involved, it provides them an opportunity to shine. Some of them would never have had that chance to leave their neighborhoods and this has allowed them to see the world. It’s amazing.”

ABOUT THE CAST

JOSH HOLLOWAY (Jason Blake) Consistently delivering memorable performances, Josh Holloway has used his unassuming style and southern charm to become one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents. 

Holloway is best known for his role as James “Sawyer” Ford in the hit ABC drama “Lost.” Created by Jeffrey Lieber, J.J. Abrams and Damien Lindelof, “Lost” ran for 6 successful seasons and was critically acclaimed as one of the top series of all times. The show was the recipient of numerous awards and nominations including the 2006 Golden Globe Award for “Outstanding Drama Series,” 2005 Emmy® Award for “Outstanding Drama Series” and the 2005 Screen Actors Guild Award for “Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series.”

In February, Josh will return to television in the new CBS dramatic thriller, “Intelligence,” as Gabriel Black, an intelligence operative with a microchip implanted in his brain that allows him to access the internet and all information it contains. 

On the silver screen, Holloway can currently be seen in the thriller Paranoia alongside Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman and Liam Hemsworth. Up next, he will star in the action thriller Ten alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sam Worthington and Terrence Howard.

Holloway was most recently seen in the fourth film of the Mission Impossible series, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol alongside Tom Cruise and Jeremy Renner. Additional feature film credits include roles in Stay Cool, Whisper, Mi Amigo, Moving August and Cold Heart.

His television credits include “Community,” “NCIS,” “CSI,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” and “The Lyon’s Den.”

Josh was born in California but spent his childhood in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia. He studied at the University of Georgia but after one year, moved to New York City. There, he found success in modeling and traveled all over North America and Europe before pursuing a career in acting. He currently resides in California with his wife and daughter.

           

LAZ ALONSO (Dante Graham) was hosen as one of Variety’s Top Ten Actors to Watch in 2009 and is part of the new breed of emerging leading men in Hollywood.  Earlier this year, Laz reprised his role of the popular villain “Fenix” in the mega hit feature film for Universal Pictures, Fast & Furious 6.  In addition, he recently starred in the NBC series “Deception” opposite Meagan Good. In 2011, Laz toplined the A&E drama “Breakout Kings” and showed off his leading man skills in the hit romantic comedy for Columbia Pictures  entitled Jumping the Broom (May 6, 2011) for which he won a 2012 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor In A Motion Picture.

His past credits include the lead role of “Tsu’Tey” in the highest grossing film of all time, Avatar!  Directed by James Cameron, this sci-fi epic released by 20th Century Fox stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, and Sigourney Weaver.  The film is one of the most technically complex productions ever mounted, making extensive use of cutting edge 3-D, computer animation and motion capture F/X technology.  In early 2009, Laz played the lead villain role of “Fenix” in the fourth installment of highly popular Fast and the Furious franchise. Fast & Furious, which reunited the original cast of Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez and posted the highest-ever April weekend opening.  The movie went on to generate over $350,000,000 in worldwide box office sales and along with DVD sales and rentals, the film went on to be the highest grossing film in 2009 for Universal Pictures.

In early 2008, Laz executive produced and starred opposite Danny Glover in Alan Jacobs’ Down for Life (aka Por Vida), which ended up with a much-coveted position in the 2009 Toronto Film Festival for which it was critically acclaimed  and is currently debuting in other film festivals around the country.  In 2008, Laz starred in Miracle at St. Anna for director Spike Lee, in which he played one of four main leads opposite Derek Luke, Michael Ealy and Omar Benson.  The film, which follows four black “Buffalo Soldiers” of the 92nd Infantry Division who get trapped in a small Tuscan village on the Gothic Line during the Italian Campaign of WWII, also stars John Leguizamo, John Tuturro and Kerry Washington.  

Laz’s other movie credits include lead roles in the Sony/Screen Gems’ hits Stomp The Yard and This Christmas, a lead role in 2006 Roland Joffe psychological thriller Captivity, and a co-starring role in the 2005 hit Jarhead, opposite Academy Award® winner Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard.  The feature and was directed by Sam Mendes for Universal. In 2011 he had a supporting role in Rod Lurie’s remake of the Sam Peckinpah classic Straw Dogs for Sony Screen Gems.  His past TV credits include guest-starring roles on “The Unit”, “Bones”, “CSI: Miami,” “The Practice,” “Navy: NCIS” and “Eyes” and in 2010 a recurring role in the TNT critically acclaimed series “Southland.”  In addition, Laz speaks fluent Spanish and has starred on the Telemundo hit novella, “La Cenicienta.”

Laz was born and raised in Washington DC to Afro-Cuban parents. The first generation American in his family, he always knew he wanted to be an actor. He remembers at a very early age entertaining his family by imitating relatives and family friends.  He graduated from the prestigious Howard University School of Business, earning a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing. After college, he worked on Wall Street at an investment banking firm. He and two partners eventually started their own marketing business, promoting mainstream products to the trend-setting urban market.  Owning and operating his own successful business freed up Laz’s time to finally explore his passion for acting.  Laz began taking classes in the evening to hone his craft and it didn’t take him long to begin landing roles in commercials and videos.

From D.C. to New York, Laz feels his upbringing not only taught him how to deal with the school of hard knocks, but also prepared him for his biggest goal, his acting career. He credits the move to NYC as his move into manhood and the city holds many great memories for him.  Laz also credits his acting ability to these life experiences, as he is able to bring a little of what he knows or has dealt with into his characters.

JOSH PECK (Franklyn) has established himself as one of Hollywood's rising talents making the seamless transition from child actor to leading man.

In fall 2012 Peck was seen in Open Road’s highly anticipated action feature Red Dawn directed by Dan Bradley. He starred alongside Chris Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, and Adriane Palicki. Red Dawn tells the story or 2 brothers (Peck and Hemsworth) who form an army "The Wolverines" to save their town from an invasion of North Korean soldiers.

Earlier that year, he completed the indie thriller The Timber opposite James Ransone. The Timber is an apocalyptic Western-thriller written and directed by Anthony O'Brien   Peck and Ransone play brothers seeking their missing father in the harsh backdrop of the 1898 Yukon gold rush. The film is currently in post-production.

In 2008, Peck wowed critics in Jonathan Levine's The Wackness opposite Sir Ben Kingsley and Olivia Thirlby. Wining the Audience Award at 2008 Sundance Film Festival, Peck played a young man coming of age in the summer of 1994.  In 2004, Peck received critical acclaim and a Special Distinction Award with his co-stars at the Independent Spirit Awards for Mean Creek, alongside Rory Culkin, Ryan Kelley, and Trevor Morgan.

Additional film credits include, ATM, Havoc, Special, What Goes Up. He has also lent his voice to the Ice Age blockbuster franchise as the character of 'Eddie' as well as in Aliens in the Attic, in which he plays the voice of the character, Sparks. On television, he is best known for his role of 'Josh' on the Nickelodeon series “Drake and Josh,” Peck received a 2008 Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Award nomination for the hit series. In 2008, he starred in Nickelodeon's highly-rated TV movie, “Merry Christmas Drake & Josh.”

Peck currently resides in Los Angeles.

            CAITY LOTZ (Stacy) is best known for her role as Officer Kirsten Landry on MTV’s “Death Valley”. Caity stars in The Machine slated to be released later this year. Her indie film Live At The Foxes Den with Jackson Rathbone (Twilight) will be out this year as well. Caity starred in The Pact, which was a breakout film at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

On the small screen, Caity is often recognized for her recurring role as ‘Stephanie’ on AMC’s “Mad Men.”

A native of San Diego, California, Lotz excelled in the arts from a young age, exploring studio art, photography, dance, and drama, ultimately forming an irreplaceable love of performance art.  Dancing from the age of seven, Lotz appeared as a dancer for Lady Gaga, toured with Avril Lavigne, and was a member of “Soccx,” a musical pop group with two top-selling singles in Germany.  Showcasing her individuality through free-style and break dancing, Lotz has mesmerized audiences, raising the bar with her unique acquired skills – tricking and parkour.  Tricking, a form of performance martial arts, and parkour, an expression of acrobatic moves like leaping from walls, gound rolls, and precision jumping, are becoming increasingly popular in the US, specifically in the entertainment industry.  In recent years, tricking and parkour have received much wider publicity and popularity due to various stints in film and television.             

Caity currently resides in Los Angeles.

CHRIS BROWN (Rooster) F With over eight million albums and 30 million tracks sold worldwide, one billion views on VEVO, and success as an entertainer and philanthropist, Chris Brown has both proven staying power and inspiring resolve. Brown has recently wrapped recording on his sixth studio album, “X,” slated for release this November and has a world tour set for early 2014. “X” is the follow-up to the artist’s 2012 album “Fortune.” Debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, the set has sold 462,000 to date per Nielsen SoundScan. In 2007, he made his on-screen feature film debut in Stomp the Yard, and appeared as a guest on the television series “The O.C.” Other films Brown has starred in include Think Like a Man (2012), Takers (2010), and This Christmas (2007).  Throughout his career, Brown has won numerous awards, including two NAACP Image Awards, three American Music Awards and nine BET Awards.

Following his entrepreneurial instinct, Brown founded the record label CBE (Chris Brown Entertainment) in 2007, and has since signed Kevin McCall, rock diva Sabrina Antoinette, former RichGirl member Sevyn, rock group U.G.L.Y., and singer Joelle James. Brown has also released his past albums under the label.

In addition to his success in music and film, Brown continues to support long-term partnerships with charities including raising awareness and funds for Best Buddies International and supporting youth education programs at Jenesse Center Domestic Violence Intervention Program.  Brown recently took his philanthropy a step further, launching his Symphonic Love Foundation to inspire his fans and to give back in the two focus areas of “art” and “love.”  Brown partnered with the world renowned Debbie Allen Dance Academy to launch the Symphonic Love Scholars program, which provides talented youth with full scholarships to the year-long academy, and joined AIDS Project Los Angeles in encouraging testing and fighting stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS.  As part of his Unity Campaign, Brown joined forces with LA City officials, Los Angeles Police Department and gang interventionists to produce a series of South Los Angeles neighborhood events aimed at preventing violence and promoting unity. Brown brought the Unity Campaign events to his hometown of Tappahannock and Richmond, VA and plans to continue promoting the campaign’s message of individuality, creativity and community through his philanthropic and creative endeavors.  Brown collaborates with other acclaimed artists including Romero Britto, Slick and Ron English and leverages his extensive social media reach and fan base to raise funds and awareness for his Symphonic Love partners.

            The 23-year old finds a sense of self in an art form that is reflective of the moment. Brown, already a widely accomplished multi-platinum, Grammy award-winning artist, builds upon his creativity through his art. “Graffiti exemplifies the many types and colors of art, music and fashion that I love and how I express myself,” he explains. “It’s my art... my graffiti.” Brown donates a portion of every painting to his Symphonic Love Foundation. Symphonic Love believes in the capacity of love and art to change the world.  Brown recently showed his painting entitled ¨Chompuzz¨ at Art Basel, in Miami, to rave reviews.

Brown takes another step in expression through fashion with his already highly successful international clothing line Black Pyramid, often collaborating with others such as Brooklyn Projects and BAPE.  Black Pyramid, and all-things interesting to Brown, can be found at his website www.mechanicaldummy.com. 

In 2005, show business natural 16-year old Brown emerged from small town Tappahannock, Virginia. His star rose swiftly, as his promising skills drew comparisons to his idols Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. His self-titled debut album, which was certified double-platinum, featured the #1 Scott Storch-produced smash hit “Run It!” (featuring Juelz Santana) and the Top 10 pop singles “Yo (Excuse Me Miss)” and “Gimme That.”

ABOUT THE DANCERS

Ivan “Flipz” Velez (Flipz) was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico in 1979. He began tumbling at age 7, and was hugely inspired by the Olympics. Soon thereafter, he began flipping off everything he found in his path. In 1984, he saw the movie “Beat Street”, which ignited his desire for a new art form. Having little luck attempting hand spins and windmills, Flipz gave breakin’ a rest. His father relocated his family to Florida for a better life in 1991. Looking for the next adrenaline rush, he spotted BMX Freestyle in the XGames. Watching the creativity of the riders in the air triggered his curiosity. Flipz saved his money to buy a bike  and then built a ramp in his front yard.  He hoped one day that he too could be in the X Games.

At 15, Flipz was attending King High School in Tampa, Florida and it was there at a talent show where he crossed paths with Richie “Abstrak” Soto, who soon became his best
friend and new partner in crime. It was thanks to Abstrak that his passion for b-boying
was born. With his new partner, they formed Skill Methodz Crew in 1995. In 1999, Flipz relocated to Orlando after landing a contract with Universal Studios as a stunt/acrobatic dancer.

            His search for success in the commercial industry brought him to New York where he landed a series of jobs off Broadway including “BreakThe Urban Funk Spectacular”, “Forever Swing”, “Solar Powered”, and Rennie Harris’s  “Rome and Jewels”, “Facing Mekka”, “Repertory”, and “Illadelph Hip Hop Legends”. After filming 4 commercials and 2 films (Tracks and Honey), he thought it was time to give LA a try. While in LA, he’s been hugely blessed to work with the biggest choreographers and alongside Hollywood’s biggest stars.

            His film credits include Tracks, Honey, You Got Served, Be Cool, Idlewild, Chicken Little, Stick It, Bring It On 3, and Spider Man 3.  He has worked with Madonna, Missy Elliot, Gwen Stefani, Eve, Shania Twain, Paulina Rubio, Tweet, Destiny’s Child, Pink, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Deborah Cox, Queen Latifa, Will Smith, 50 Cent, B2K, Marques Houston, Akwid, Ricky Martin, Master P and Little Romeo, Nelly, LL Cool J, P Diddy, Fat Joe and R Kelly, and Kumbia Kings. He was fortunate enough to perform for the Queen of England at her 50th
Golden Jubilee and on the Oprah Winfrey Show as a special guest for Madonna. Flipz is also a member of the street dance company Groovaloos which have appeared on So You Think You Can Dance, Battle Cry, and The Wayne Brady Show. He currently stars in their off-Broadway production Groovaloo.

           

Jonathan Cruz (DoKnock) won the US American Star Search show 3 times in the years 2003 and 2004. DO-KNOCK is a born entertainer and his mission in life is to entertain and move crowds. In the 90's DoKnock studied Michael Jackson and tried to imitate him. He especially admired the way Michael could entertain thousands. DoKnock is a member of The Groovaloos as well as Super CR3W (pronounced "Super Crew") which won the 2nd season of America's Best Dance Crew.

            Richard Maguire (Lil Adonis) was born in New Rochelle NY.  Childhood hyper activity would eventually cause Richie’s mother to enroll him in the local YMCA gymnastics program where he quickly excelled as a gymnast.  At 13 years old and upon invitation, Richie left his family to train full time at the International Gymnastics School in Pennsylvania. 

            His talents won him a full athletic scholarship at Temple University in Philadelphia where he studied Marketing while participating and winning a number of conference championships for the school.  It was during this time that Richie was exposed to the world of B-boying.  He initially focused on flairs, mills, and swipes followed by a back flip or so and had no clue what the dance was about.  After being labeled “nothin but a gymnast white boy,” by a few of Philly’s more accomplished b-boys, Richie decided to learn the culture and discover the dance.  He bought VHS tapes from skate shops that showed him b-boying mixed in with skating, and graffing.  Night clubs would eventually become his training ground.

            In 2004 Richie hung up his gymnastics grips and entered the world of b-boy performing.  Cast from a worldwide audition, he went on to be a key contributor and original member of Le Reve directed by Franco Dragone (Cirque du Soleil).  A herniated disc and a shoulder surgery would effectively end his time as a member of le Reve.

            An exhaustive regiment of self-lead rehab would slowly begin the healing process, but determination and a hunger to return to dancing and acrobatics overtook his pain. His recovery was slow but eventually Richie healed and met  the members of Full force and Super crews, of  which he would eventually become a member.

            More recently Richie was a principal performer in “ID” by Cirque Eloize and appeared in Hephaestus at the Looking Glass Theater in Chicago.  In Addition, Richie has appeared on SNL for roughly 10 seconds and has performed alongside Neil Young, Chaka Chan, N.e.r.d., T.I., and M.I.A, and for two years represented the American Heart Association in its hands only CPR campaign.

            Richie Currently Resides in Brooklyn NY, is the Son of Retired Fire Fighter Donald Maguire and of Mother and World Champion of caring for her children Diane.  He is proud of his sister Heather, who is a U.S. representative at the world amateur muay thai kickboxing championship.

            Jesse ‘Casper’ Brown (Rebel) grew up in a small Canadian town and started dancing as a small child.   In a little town with nothing to do, Jesse listened to music and danced every chance he got.  Beat Street, Michael Jackson and James Brown are some of his early favorites.  Jesse's father was a musician who showed Jesse the importance of music and soul. Jesse took what his father showed him and pursued his dream of dance.  When he was 10, his mother put him in a dance school, where he became an award-winning dancer at the age of 11.   At age 12 Jesse moved to Los Angeles and began working as a professional at 14.   It wasn't until he saw a group of b-boys performing on the street that he realized this is what he wanted to do.  Jesse is now one of the most acclaimed and well respected b-boys across the world, and has worked with such artists as P Diddy, Usher, Busta Rymes, Missy Eliott, KRS-1 and many more. His crew and family are Boogie Brats and the Mighty Zulu Kings.

            Jesse’s feature film work includes Honey 1 & 2, The Princess & The Frog, B-Girl and Kickin’ Ol School.  He has also appeared in the short film The Ho Down and the award-winning documentary All Out War.  He recently choreographed West Ghost Musical which will be released in late 2012.  On the smaller screen he was seen in the critically acclaimed HBO series Treme, in Disney Channel’s Lemonade Mouth, Star Camp, Spring Break ’83 and in the award winning LXD: The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers by visionary writer/director Jon M. Chu.   He has appeared on Jimmy Fallon, Conan O’Brian, Dancing with the Stars, Teen Choice Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, Glee, Good Morning America and So You Think You Can Dance.

            David ‘Kid David’ Shreibman (Kid) started b-boying in 2000 after being inspired by the movie Breakin’.  He soon took classes offered at a dance studio where his mother taught ballet. With a ballet and jazz dancer for a mom and a professional pantomime for a dad, it was hard for him to deny this passion. Dedicated to the art, he left the classes and began practicing on his own. In 2003 he entered the competitive scene, winning many regional competitions. His reputation grew rapidly as he became recognized as one of the top up-and-comers in the Bay area.

            In 2004 Kid David was recruited into the legendary Renegades crew. With his new knowledge of b-boying, he was able to take his style to the next level. In 2005, he severely injured his knee. Over time this injury developed into something more serious; but after eight months off the floor he started dancing again, and in June of 2006, with a new hunger and motivation, he came back strong. Since then, he has consistently maintained a high level of performance in battles.  Today, he is known for his original style and outstanding musicality. He has a strong foundation based on footwork, glides, freezes and overall finesse.  Recognized as one of the top B-boys in the world, Kid David continues to prove his skill whereever he goes.

            He has been seen on film in Step Up 3D, Footloose and Glee Tour.  For television he  appeared in the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, So You Think You Can Dance, and  Dancing With the Stars.  He danced in Miley Cyrus’ music video and appeared in Lemonade Mouth, a SONY spot, bam! and Face Off.

            Anis Cheurfa (Anis) is a pioneer in Martial Arts Tricking (“Tricking”), a combination of Martial Arts Kicks, Acrobatics, Gymnastics, and Break Dancing.  He has won every major Tricking title across the globe including back to back “The Big Trick” titles in Germany, ESPN2’s US Open ISKA Trick Battle, and has performed for audiences in places such as France, Poland, Czech Republic, and Thailand.  In August of 2005, Anis captured a Guinness Book World Record for performing 18 gainer full twisting back flips in one minute.

            Cheurfa’s high flying Martial Arts Tricking is a unique and exciting style that he has perfected and become world-famous for.  His characteristic moves have made him not only an internet sensation, a world record holder, and a champion but also a leader in the Martial Art Tricking community. Born in Paris, France, and starting Tae Kwon Do at the late age of 13 his style became unique as he would emulated moves from action karate movies and comic books.  

            Cherufa’s popularity skyrocketed when people began posting videos of him performing his dazzling maneuvers on the internet.   Millions of views later, these videos caught the eye of David Leitch and Chad Stahelski at 87 Eleven, the award-winning action design group in Hollywood, California.  With major blockbuster movies to their credit, they helped Cheurfa to further develop his skills.    He was finally able to fulfill a lifelong dream of performing on screen.  His role in Disney’s Tron: Legacy is his most ambitious project to date.

            Steve Terada (Sight) has roots as an iconic martial arts “tricker,” so it was a natural transition for him to enter the world of entertainment.  Terada’s notable television dance credits include winning Randy Jackson’s America’s Best Dance Crew with Quest Crew and Thirty Seconds to Fame.

            He has made recurring appearances on So You Think You Can Dance and ABDC including a special solo guest appearance.  Other credits include American Idol, American Idol Gives Back, Shake It Up, Kickin’ It, Supah Ninjas, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Lopez Tonight, Late Night with Snoop Dogg, TMZ, Inside Edition, and the NBA All-Star Opener with Usher.  Film credits include Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, MacGruber, Indiana Jones/Crystal Skull, Honey 2, Crank, Memoirs of a Geisha, and Baby; Commercials for Nike, Kelloggs, and Dell and a coveted Intel International Multiply campaign.

Terada has toured extensively nationally and internationally, both with Quest Crew and individually.  A career highlight for him was being featured on the Black Eyed Peas “Pump It” music video, as well as performing in music videos with Snoop Dogg and Far East Movement, among others.  LMFAO’s Party Rock Anthem/Everyday I’m Shufflin’ music video led to a three month stint on their recent national/Canadian tour.  He opted out of the Asia Tour to be included in Planet B Boy!

            Gil Brace-Wessel (Gillatene) has been performing dance and aerosol art on an international level for years.  As a B-boy, he has competed in countless contests and performances including Dance and the Child International in Brazil, Freestyle Sessions in Los Angeles, SPIN Crew Anniversary in Japan, and many others.  As an artist he has shared his mural walls with a grateful public in Brazil, Japan, Canada and the USA.  His greatest joy comes from performing, executing a piece, and teaching others, especially kids. 

            Joshua Lee ‘Milky’ Ayers (Mayhem) takes b boying to new heights with his signature moves and impeccable musicality, and continues to be one of the most respected artists in both the mainstream and underground b boy circuit.  He is a world renowned b boy who has been seen gracing the stage with Black Eyed Peas’ front woman, ‘Fergie’ and on screen in the 2007 award-winning documentary Inside the Circle and Step Up 3D.

            Ayers experienced hardships throughout much of his adolescent years but the b boy circuit quickly became his saving grace. He moved several times between Texas and Florida but settled in Los Angeles to pursue career aspirations.  He is a member of the Masterz of Mayhem and M.I.N.D. 180 crews, and formerly of House of Samurai.  He has performed internationally, receiving numerous accolades and winning hundreds of b boy competitions and battles.  He can be seen in several music videos and commercials along with a number of television appearances including Ellen DeGeneres and Today Show.

            Sammy Soto (SamO) was born and raised as a "New Yorker", and the idea of dance was something SamO randomly stumbled upon. Gradually falling into it through life experiences, it just felt like a natural talent. First starting off as a B-Boy, he then branched off to other styles; such as House and Hip-Hop, including choreography.

            Most envision B-Boying as dynamics and high flying moves, but what makes him stand out is his burst of energy and high confidence while on the dance floor. Being somewhat of an outcast, what took so many years of dedication to develop has finally paid off.  In the course of 10 years, he's been in music videos, commercials, and live performances. Currently representing super B-Boy crew "X-Fenz", SamO is now traveling the world, displaying his talent and inspiring others through competitions; workshops; and shows.

            Richard ‘Abstrak’ Soto (Abbstarr) is a versatile dancer and poet born and raised in NY City. His love for music and movement started at a very young age; and over the years he has become known for his extreme ground control and innovative style of B-boy dance both nationally and internationally.  This recognition has afforded him the opportunities to travel the world teaching, learning, sharing and performing this universal language of dance.

            ‘Abstrak’ is the founder and president of a world famous B-boy group Skill Methodz based out of Florida.   He has choreographed and worked commercially as well as in theatre, making him well rounded in every aspect of this hip-hop culture. In 2004 he completed and performed his first theatre play, 4 Bellies (an exploration; a battle of the mind and soul through abstract language and dance). Abstrak’s recent credits are How to Make in America – Ducksauce, Step Up 3D and When In Rome.

            Abstrak Dance is an urban movement that takes hip-hop dance (breaking and house) beyond the circle and mind. An unorthodox blend of disparate forms, it defies cultural and artistic stereotypes. Its versatility of all forms of dance creates a whole new world of movement. Abstrak Dance reveals the pure foundation of dance in the most inventive way, without losing its essence. It is both an homage to and a departure from street art.

Luis Rosado (Bambino) was born in Germany and grew up in Italy. At age 7, he moved to Florida. Later on in life, he moved to Los Angeles and has appeared in commercials and movies. He is a member of the legendary "Skill Methodz" crew and takes part in tournaments around Europe, Asia, USA, and Canada.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

BENSON LEE (Director) is an award winning, Korean American filmmaker who has worked in drama, documentary, and commercial production for over 15 years. Mr. Lee's first feature film, Miss Monday, was accepted in the Dramatic Competition of the '98 Sundance Film Festival where it was awarded a Special Grand Jury Price for Best Actor. His most recent film, the documentary Planet B-boy, was one of the top grossing theatrical documentaries in the U.S. in 2008. His work has aired on HBO, MTV, the Sundance Channel, and theatrically distributed to over 30 countries worldwide.

BEAU FLYNN (Producer) In the summer of 2011, Beau Flynn announced the formation of his new solo venture, Flynn Picture Company, where he continues to produce high concept, franchise and genre projects across all media platforms, building on nearly 17 years of producing feature films.  Prior to launching FPC, Flynn co-founded production company Contrafilm in March 2004.  Over the course of his career, Beau Flynn has produced films that have earned more than $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office.

Currently in production in Budapest, Flynn is producing Hercules for MGM and Paramount with Dwayne Johnson starring in the title role and Brett Ratner directing.  Evan Spiliotopoulos wrote the script based on the Radical comic book property, “Hercules: The Thracian Wars.”

Flynn just wrapped principal photography on Solace starring Anthony Hopkins, Colin Farrell, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Abbie Cornish. Afonso Poyart, director of the Brazilian film Two Rabbits, made his US directorial debut on a script by Sean Bailey and Ted Griffin, James Vanderbilt, and, most recently, Academy Award-winning writer, Peter Morgan.

Flynn recently completed post production on the 2011 Black List title Two Night Stand, penned by Mark Hammer, starring Miles Teller and Analeigh Tipton, on which Max Nichols made his feature directorial debut. He produced with director and first time producer Ruben Fleischer. This is the first film produced under the FlynnPictureCo. banner.

In January of this year, Paramount released the Flynn-produced Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters 3D, starring Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton and Famke Janssen. To date the film has grossed over $225M worldwide. Paramount has announced a sequel.

Prior to those films, Flynn produced Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3D, the sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D, which starred Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens and Luis Guzman, and grossed over $330 million worldwide after it bowed in February of 2012. It was a top twenty grossing film of 2012. In addition, the MGM remake of Red Dawn, produced by Flynn, starring Chris Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, hit theatres during Thanksgiving 2012 and was released by FilmDistrict in conjunction with Open Road.

In 2011 Flynn released the modestly budgeted The Rite, starring Anthony Hopkins and directed by Mikael Hafstrom, for New Line, which grossed $100 million worldwide. He also released What’s Your Number? for Regency/Fox, starring Anna Faris and Chris Evans.

In the summer of 2008, he produced the family adventure hit Journey to the Center of the Earth, starring Brendan Fraser.  The first ever live-action film to be shot in HD 3D, it was the widest digital release in history, and grossed over $250 million theatrically worldwide.  In the fall of that year, Flynn released the Sundance hit Choke, based on the novel by acclaimed author Chuck Palahniuk, starring Sam Rockwell and directed by Clark Gregg.

Prior to these films, Flynn produced Scott Derrickson’s The Exorcism of Emily Rose, which grossed in excess of $150 million globally, as well as “After the Sunset,” helmed by Brett Ratner.  

Also, in 2007, Flynn released the thriller The Number 23, starring Jim Carrey and Virginia Madsen under the direction of Joel Schumacher. In Spring 2006, Flynn released his first CG-animated film, The Wild, which grossed over $100 million worldwide.  That fall, he produced The Guardian, starring Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Costner.  

Flynn’s first company, Bandeira Entertainment, independently produced such critically acclaimed films as Tigerland, Requiem for a Dream, The House of Yes, The Alarmist, Guinevere and Johns.   Flynn’s first job in the industry was as Scott Rudin’s executive assistant.

TRIPP VINSON (Producer) is a film and television producer with over 15 years of experience producing studio and independent films in the genres of action, horror and science fiction. Vinson’s credits include blockbusters such as Journey to the Center of the Earth, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, The Rite, The Guardian and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. In November 2011 Vinson launched his own production company, Vinson Films. Most recently, Vinson sold the Japanese Anime film Vexille to Universal Pictures with Evan Spiliotopoulis writing, Drone Program to Lakeshore Entertainment, High Value Target to Millennium Films, and the television show “Intelligence” to CBS, starring Josh Holloway.

Prior to opening Vinson Films, Vinson was partner at ContraFilm, a New Line Cinema based Production Company. The company boasts a worldwide box office gross of over $1 billion. The first release under their banner was After the Sunset, starring Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek and directed by Brett Ratner.  Also produced by Contrafilm, in conjunction with Lakeshore, was Screen Gem’s The Exorcism of Emily Rose, directed by Scott Derrickson, which not only grossed in excess of $150 million worldwide, but was also one the most profitable and successful films of 2005. In early 2006 Contrafilm released the CG-animated film, The Wild, for Disney, which has grossed over $100 million worldwide. That fall, Contrafilm produced The Guardian for Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, starring Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Costner.  In February of 2007, the company released the Jim Carrey thriller, The Number 23, starring Virginia Madsen and directed by Joel Schumacher for New Line Cinema.

            Contrafilm produced Journey to the Center of the Earth, the first ever live action film to be shot in Digital 3D.  Journey was a co-production between New Line Cinema and Walden Media and was the first live action film completely shot in digital 3D, grossing over $101 million domestically and $241 million internationally from its summer 2008 release.   In the fall of 2008, Contrafilm released their Sundance hit Choke, through Fox Searchlight.  Choke was based on the novel by acclaimed author Chuck Palahniuk, which starred Sam Rockwell and was directed by Clark Gregg.  New Line Cinema film, The Rite written by Michael Petroni, starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Colin O’Donoghue, was released in January 2011, grossing $96 million worldwide.  In the Fall of 2011, What’s Your Number? was released, starring Anna Faris and Chris Evans.  Journey 2: The Mysterious Island was released in February 2012, and currently has grossed $335 million worldwide.  Red Dawn was released by Film District / Open Road in the Fall of 2012, starring Chris Hemsworth. 

Currently in active development is Murder Mystery written by Jamie Vanderbilt, with Anne Fletcher directing, as well as Bob the Musical set up at Disney.  Along with that, Shadow Runner is set up at Sony Pictures Entertainment, starring Chris Hemsworth and Inside the Machine is in development with CBS Films, with Babak Najafi directing.  

AMY LO (Producer) has been awarded a 2010-2011 Sundance Creative Producing Fellowship and was the sole U.S. producer selected for the 2009 Berlinale Co-Production Market.

            Her producing credits include the documentary Planet B-Boy, which was released to critical acclaim from The NY Times, The LA Times, Variety, The Wall Street Journal, and Good Morning America, before going on to become one of the highest-grossing documentaries of the year. Planet B-boy further broke ground as an independent film securing innovative sponsorship deals with Samsung and Southpole, and engaging audiences across different platforms including mobile phone content, live events, fan videos, and a 24-hour takeover of the YouTube.com homepage.

            Amy associate produced On a Clear Day, which premiered in competition opening night at the Sundance Film Festival and was acquired for distribution by Focus Features. She previously worked as Head of Development for NY and London-based InFilm Productions; has served on review panels for the Gucci Tribeca film grants, the Global Film Initiative, the International Emmy® Awards; and sat on the Selection Advisory Committee for the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program.

            Her work as a writer has aired on PBS for the Foreign Policy Association and MTV, and prior to her start in the film business she lived and worked in Beijing, China as a freelance writer. Amy grew up in Alaska and graduated from Stanford University with a dual degree in International Relations and Economics.

BRINN HALL (Written by) just completed directing the feature “In Your Eyes.”  It is written and executive produced by Joss Whedon (“The Avengers”) with Michael Roiff and Kai Cole producing for micro-studio Bellwhether Pictures.  The film stars Zoe Kazan, Michael Stahl-David, Nikki Reed, Mark Feuerstein, Jennifer Grey, and Steve Howey, and will be released in early 2013.

Hill recently adapted the much acclaimed Young Adult novel Ball Don’t Lie, which he directed. The ensemble stars Nick Cannon, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Academy Award winner Melissa Leo, Rosanna Arquette, Emile de Ravin and streetball sensation Grayson “The Professor” Boucher.

Brin’s short film “The Ecology of Love,” staring music and fashion icon Pharrell Williams, and his moody short film “Morning Breath: A Brooklyn Love Story,” were critically acclaimed. Together, they have captured a handful of prestigious “best of” and top awards at numerous international festivals, including a Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Brin has been featured in Entertainment Weekly, Details, LA Weekly, Time Out, and The Village Voice. He has written and/or directed projects for HBO Films, Miramax Films, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Dimension Films, ESPN, AND1, MTV, Nike, Visa, Details, Powerade, Bombay Gin, Warner Bros., Spike-TV, Intel, Jean Paul Da’mage Jeans, Toyota, the NBA, the NFL, Kia, Nissan, Cadillac, Red Bull, and The History Channel among others. His profile journalism can be found in SLAM and Dime magazines, as well as other publications.

Brin is a former college athlete and still holds out hope that people recognize him as a sharpshooting two-guard on the hoops court.

CHRIS PARKER (Written by) wrote the upcoming Sony Pictures film Heaven is For Real, starring Greg Kinnear and scheduled for a Spring 2014 release.  He previously wrote the features Mulan II and Vampire in Brooklyn.

WILL PACKER (Executive Producer) has established himself as one of Hollywood's blockbuster hit makers.  Four of Packer's last five releases have opened #1 at the box office. Most recently, he produced Universal's Ride Along, starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, Screen Gems' About Last Night starring Hart, Michael Ealy, Regina Hall and Paula Patton, No Good Deed starring Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson and the highly anticipated Think Like A Man Too, all slated for release in 2014. He will next produce Screen Gems’ Wedding Ringers starring Hart and Josh Gad. He also inked a two-year overall deal with Universal Television in 2013.  Under the pact, his first overall television deal, Packer will develop new projects for the studio. 

Packer's biggest release to date, Think Like A Man, the film adaptation of Steve Harvey’s best-selling book, “Act Like A Lady, Think Like a Man”, opened number one at the box office, grossed over $96 million worldwide and won the 2013 BET Award for Best Movie.  Packer has also joined forces with Ambassador Andrew Young and Martin Luther King III to launch BOUNCE TV, the first ever over-the-air broadcast television network targeting the African-American audience. 

In 2007, Daily Variety magazine was on the right track when they selected him as one of their “10 Producers to Watch.”  Packer has also been acknowledged on several high profile lists including; Black Enterprise’s “Most Powerful Players Under 40”, JET Magazine's “Who’s Hot To Watch” and Giant magazine’s “The Giant 100”.  In March of 2008, Packer and his business partner Rob Hardy were honored by Black Enterprise as one of the “Top 25 Money Makers in Hollywood” and on Ebony magazine’s prestigious “Power 100” list.

Packer blazed the box office charts with his heist film Takers (2010) and continued his impressive string of movies taking the #1 spot.   Packer’s other number one films include:  Stomp The Yard (2007) and Obsessed (2009).  Additionally, Stomp The Yard held #1 for two weekends and received the 2007 Movie of the Year honors from the BET Hip Hop Awards while Obsessed, featuring mega-star Beyonce, was Sony/Screen Gems second highest opening in company history and holds the title of the biggest opening ever for a last-week-of-April release.  Shortly after, Packer enjoyed the success of his holiday film This Christmas, which grossed over $50 million worldwide.   With several exciting projects in various phases of planning and production, there are still more great things to come from Packer.   Packer is slated to produce the yet to be titled Kemba Smith story, a dramatic true story about young girl who made headlines after President Bill Clinton granted her clemency from a 24.5-year prison sentence for conspiracy to sell drugs.

            As Co-Founder and Chairman of the Atlanta-based production company, Rainforest Films, Packer is responsible for producing and overseeing the company’s studio-financed and self-financed films and distribution projects.  He co-founded Rainforest Films with his partner Rob Hardy in the summer of 1994 while both were engineering students at Florida A & M University.  After graduating magna cum laude from Florida A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1996, Packer decided to forego lucrative job offers in the field of engineering to capitalize on his entrepreneurial instincts and his passion for filmmaking.  Packer and Hardy also partnered with Sprite to produce the Sprite Step Off, one of MTV2's highest rated shows of 2010.   

Packer is a dynamic and inspiring speaker who delivers educational and motivational speeches to industry groups, as well as youth and community groups nationwide.  He has been honored with the key to the city of St. Petersburg, FL, and “Will Packer Day” has been proclaimed in the cities of Chattanooga, TN and Fort Lauderdale, FL.   Packer has also been honored with the Meritorious Achievement Award from his alma mater Florida A&M University, the highest honor the University bestows.

GLENN S. GAINOR (Executive Producer) is the senior vice president in charge of physical production for Screen Gems, a feature division of Sony Pictures Entertainment. He has held the position since January 2007. In addition to this position, Gainor has executive produced multiple projects for Screen Gems, including Friends with Benefits, Priest, Takers, Death at a Funeral and Obsessed, to name a few.

Gainor oversaw Straw Dogs, Easy A, Burlesque, Country Strong, The Roommate, Fired Up, Armored, The Stepfather, Lakeview Terrace, First Sunday, This Christmas and more. He has advised on co-financed and negative pickups such as Carrie, The Vow, along with the Resident Evil and Underworld franchises.

Gainor has pushed for new technology and a different way of thinking on productions. For About Last Night, the company used batteries over generators, plug-in lights that required no rigging, the 16 bit, 4K digital F65 camera and shot entirely in practical locations from Dodger Stadium to authentic downtown LA locations such as Cole’s, Casey’s, The Broadway Bar, The LA Athletic Club and various lofts. The result is a vibrant, honest-looking movie that uses everything the city has to offer to tell the best story it can.

Gainor produced the romantic comedy Think Like A Man, which also filmed entirely “off lot,” this time in Culver City and downtown LA, and was the first feature to be shot exclusively with LED lights, the most energy-efficient alternative to traditional movie lighting packages. Gainor’s dedication to maintaining environmentally sustainable productions began in 2007 when he oversaw the construction of the super structure built on Stage 23 at Sony Pictures Studios for Quarantine. The very same structure was repurposed on seven other Screen Gems productions, including The Stepfather, Takers and Obsessed. The Environmental Media Association has repeatedly recognized Gainor’s efforts and awarded Screen Gems with the Green Seal for implementing sustainable production practices and raising environmental awareness.
            Gainor believes that “green initiatives” also key into greater efficiency.  By using lower wattage lights such as LED’s, moving away from generators as everyday power sources and embracing digital technology that decreases production waste, Screen Gems has been able to produce with a lighter footprint, less waste and greater efficiency. For example, while in Atlanta for No Good Deed, the company shot in practical locations with minimum lighting.  It is also one of the first features to be shot and released in 4K, a topic Gainor touched upon when he spoke at the DGA’s Digital Day, 2012.
            At the end of 2011 Gainor wrapped Battle of the Year: The Dream team, a 3D feature film inspired by the documentary about a yearly international dance competition which re-discovers one of the most incredible dance phenomena the world has ever seen. This production was shot in Los Angeles as well as Montpellier, France. The picture culminates with the American cast performing in front of 12,000 hip-hop fans for the live event, “The Battle of the Year.”

In addition to his executive duties at Sony, Gainor has also been recognized by the city of Los Angeles for his donations to the non-profit organization Million Trees LA. Additionally, he was honored by the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for keeping film production in Los Angeles, and he was the 2009 keynote speaker and recipient of the California on Location “Signature Award,” given in appreciation for his efforts in preserving California’s film industry and culture. Gainor is also a contributing member to the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s Next Generation.
            Previous producing credits include three pictures for Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison––Strange Wilderness, Grandma’s Boy and Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo. Gainor produced Nicolas Cage’s directorial debut, Sonny, and served as line producer on the critically acclaimed Panic, directed by Henry Bromell. He co-produced George Hickenlooper’s The Man from Elysian Fields, as well as the top-selling Sundance picture, Happy Texas.  Gainor also produced for the stage, teaming with director Andy Fickman for the musical Sneaux.

A member of the DGA and PGA, a graduate of the film program at California State University at Northridge, a recipient of the 2010 Cinematheque Award from the Department of Cinema, Gainor launched his career in the film industry writing and producing an independent pilot which led to an offer to write for an ABC series. However, Gainor chose to pursue his career in producing.

RICH & TONE TALAUEGA (Executive Producers) extend their talents far beyond the reach of conventional dance choreographers, encompassing wide-ranging success as music video directors, musicians, producers, and performers who are at the forefront of today’s pop culture movement. As muti-faceted artists, they are able to achieve truly unique results in their work as choreographers, which continue to make them highly sought after by the top names in the industry.

As teenagers, Rich and Tone were discovered by Michael Jackson’s choreographers while free-styling at a club in Oakland, CA. Within a year, Rich and Tone were on their way to becoming legendary dancers and choreographers, having toured with both Diana Ross and Michael Jackson within months of moving to Los Angeles.

            Rich and Tone’s dedication, unique style, and creative abilities have translated into work in a range of artistic mediums. Their highly visible projects include work for iPod, Coca-Cola, Gap, Mitsubishi, as well as the feature films Take the Lead, Bring it on Yet Again, and Save the Last Dance. They also received an Emmy® nomination for their work on the 2005 NAACP Image Awards. In the fall of 2008 they served as artistic directors and choreographers for what was, “the biggest performance ever created for Dancing with the Stars -a piece celebrating Macy’s 150^th anniversary, in which they took viewers on a journey-“Dancing through the Decades”-the 1930’s, 1960’s, 1980’s, and the future. Rich + Tone returned to their roots, choreographing multiple numbers in the critically acclaimed “Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour,” which was the highest grossing tour in the US in 2011 and 2012.  They also are the choreographers for Cirque du Soleil's newest show "Michael Jackson ONE" at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, opening in May 2013.

            The list of artists seeking their collaboration have included Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Usher, Chris Brown, Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilara, Kylie Minogue, Missy Elliot, The Black Eyed Peas, The Backstreet Boys, Monica, Pink, and Dirty Vegas. Rich + Tone creative directed Madonna's MDNA Tour, the highest grossing tour of 2012, as well as her Super Bowl XLVI Half Time Show performance, which was the second most-watched  live televised event in US history only behind Michael Jackson, the King of Pop’s halftime performance.  2012 turned out to be a landmark year for Rich + Tone, as both the MJ Immortal World Tour and MDNA were among the top five highest grossing tours of the year.

They have been nominated for numerous MTV Video Music Awards for videos such as Chris Brown’s Fine China, Jennifer Lopez’s Get Right, Madonna’s Sorry and 4 Minutes, as well as Chris Brown’s Wall to Wall and Forever. They also received an Emmy® Nomination for their work on the 2005 NAACP Image Awards.

            Renowned photographer and director, David LaChappelle has often sought out the talents of Rich + Tone, working with them on several video and commercial projects.  Rich + Tone collaborated with LaChappelle on the critically acclaimed film “Rize” for which they served as producers of the film, choreography coordinators, and producers of the soundtrack. The film was released in June of 2005 by Lions Gate, and Peter Travers of Rolling Stone described the film as "A knockout! A visual miracle!"

            Further expanding their passion for filmmaking, at the end of 2009, Rich and Tone completed a directing program at the renowned New York Film Academy. They directed the video "One Shot" for the UK phenomenon and hit pop group JLS, which spent 6 weeks at the top of the charts.

MICHAEL BARRETT (Director of Photography) was born in Riverside, California. He received a BA in Art from UCLA and an MFA in Film from Columbia University. His credits include the feature films Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Goal! The Dream Begins, You don’t Mess with the Zohan, Bedtime Stories, Takers, Everything Must Go, Zookeeper, A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas, and the Golden Globe Best Picture nominated Bobby.  He recently completed photography on Seth MacFarlane’s feature directorial debut Ted starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis. He earned ASC Award nominations for outstanding cinematography on the CBS series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and won an ASC award for the pilot episode of CSI:Miami.

CHRIS CORNWELL (Production Designer) has a career that spans 20 years, during which time he has served as both production designer and art director for a number of feature films and television projects. In addition to Planet B-boy, he designed Think Like a Man for Screen Gems.  Prior to these films, he designed the feature film Cursed and several episodes of the television series “Glory Days” and “Wasteland” for creator Kevin Williamson.

Chris served as art director for the highly successful feature film Footloose, along with The Ides of March and The Roommate. His other film credits include Burlesque, Takers, Death at a Funeral, Armored, Obsessed, Quarantine, Prom Night, Gone Baby Gone, Vacancy, Crank, Stick It, The Dukes of Hazzard, 13 Going on 30, Daddy Day Care, America’s Sweethearts, Driven, Flick, Lost Souls, Instinct, Where’s Marlowe?, A Smile Like Yours, House Arrest, Black Sheep, Unstrung Heroes and While You Were Sleeping.

For television, he provided art director work for “Deep Red,” “Curacao,” “Cooperstown,” “Seduction: Three Tales from the ‘Inner Sanctum,’” “The Lounge People,” “Wildflower” and “Just Say Julie.”

Chris got his start in the world of art direction as an assistant working on such films as Wedlock, Phenomenon, Teaching Mrs. Tingle and The Kid.   

PETER S. ELLIOT (Editor) most recently completing editing for the huge box office hit Iron Man 3 for writer/director Shane Black and Marvel Studios. This was the first time he collaborated with Black but it was the second feature where he has joined forces with Marvel.  Prior to this Elliot was brought in to do some additional editing on Captain America: The First Avenger.

Tim Story is a director who Elliot has worked with a number of times. In 2012, Elliot edited the box office hit Think Like a Man for Story and Screen Gems. This was the third feature that he joined forces with Story on as he edited 4-Rise of The Silver Surfer and was also his Visual Effects Editor on Fantastic Four.

            Tim Hill is another Director who Elliot has worked for numerous times. In 2010 Elliot edited Hop for Hill and Illumination Entertainment. This was their third feature together.  The other two films were Alvin & The Chipmunks and Garfield: Tale of Two Kitties. Prior to taking on “Hop” he collaborated with Director Paul Scheuring on his suspense/thriller The Experiment starring Forest Whitaker and Adrien Brody.

Elliot has also enjoyed a long relationship with Director Roland Emmerich.  He edited the disaster film 2012 which he received a nomination for a Golden Satellite Award. Prior to 2012 he was an Additional Film Editor on The Day After Tomorrow. He also worked as Emmerich’s Visual Effects Editor on high profile films Godzilla and Independence Day. He first worked with Emmerich in 1991 as the Additional Film Editor on Universal Soldier.

            Additional Feature credits include Elliot’s work as a Visual Effects Editor on films such as Daredevil, Blade II, Dr.Doolittle 2, Hollowman II, Stigmata and Volcano.

Elliot’s career dates back three decades to 1987 where he began his work in the field of Post Production first as an Assistant Sound Editor.  Elliot first became interested in filmmaking as a teenager and began to pursue his career while studying film at California State University Northridge where he attended and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Film.

SOYON AN (Costume Designer) is the two-time Emmy® Award winning costume designer of So You Think You Can Dance and the stylist for American Idol. In addition to the shows, Soyon also designs the costumes for American Idol Live and So You Think You Can Dance Tour. She is the former designer of Forever 21’s high end line Twelve by Twelve. Soyon is also the Contributing Fashion Director of California-based Jimon Magazine. Her celebrity clientele have included Carrie Underwood (Play On Tour), Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Kate Bosworth, Mia Maestro, and Avril Lavigne. Soyon’s work has been covered in Glamour, People, OK! Magazine, Seventeen, LA Times, AOL’s Stylelist, WWD, InStyle, Hollywood Life, USMagazine.com and more.

DAVE SCOTT (Choreographer) danced his way “straight outta Compton” and straight into Hollywood and a multi-faceted career in dance, choreography, and artist development spanning music, film, television, and commercials.

He has been filming several projects for both film and television this year, including Mindless Behavior on Ellen, So You think You Can Dance and The Black Eyed Pea Experience for Kinect on Xbox, where he lends his voice and moves to the game. You can also see Dave’s moves on the big screen in the 3D phenomenon- Step Up 3D and the romantic comedy Maid of Honor.  Dave has also been featured on Dancing with the Stars and has hosted hit MTV show Countdown to American’s Best Dance Crew.

Other theatrical credits include Dance Flick, Stomp the Yard, You Got Served (which garnered him the 10^th Annual Choreography Award for Best Choreography in a Feature).  In addition; Scott was the key ingredient behind the success of B2K, giving them their name, style, hot dance moves, and all out sex appeal. In just two years, B2K scored two platinum albums; and headlined sold-out tours nationwide. 

            Scott has molded and shaped the images and careers of many other hot artists, including the newest boys group Mindless Behavior, Tyrese, Marques Houston and the musically renowned Brian McKnight, allowing them to reach new and unexpected heights in their careers. Scott has lent his talents to several commercial campaigns including Chevy and Pantene, the Fox TV success Bones, and choreographed dance sequences in 2004’s Coach Carter starring Samuel Jackson.

            Scott has graced the covers of virtually every industry publication including Dance Spirit and Arena Magazine, as well as features in LA Times West Magazine, King, Vibe, and Grip, and has performed at nearly every major award show. Scott continues to teach master classes in dance nationwide, and to inspire kids and adults of all ages. 

 “Oscar®” and “Academy Award®” are the registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 

“Emmy®” is the trademark property of ATAS/NATAS.

SCREEN GEMS PRESENTS

A CONTRAFILM PRODUCTION

JOSH HOLLOWAY

LAZ ALONSO

JOSH PECK

CAITY LOTZ

FLIPZ

JON DO-KNOCK CRUZ

ANIS CHEURFA

JESSE CASPER BROWN

KID DAVID

SAWANDI WILSON

RICHARD MAGUIRE

STEVE TERADA

LUIS ROSADO

JOSHUA LEE “MILKY” AYERS

SAMMY SOTO

RICHIE “ABSTRAK” SOTO

GIL BRACE-WESSEL

TERRENCE J

SWAY CALLOWAY

AND CHRIS BROWN AS ROOSTER

CASTING BY

TWINKIE BYRD

COSTUME DESIGNER

SOYON AN

CHOREOGRAPHY BY

DAVE SCOTT

CHOREOGRAPHY BY

RICH + TONE TALAUEGA

MUSIC SUPERVISION BY

PILAR MCCURRY

MUSIC BY

CHRISTOPHER LENNERTZ

CO-PRODUCERS

DAVE SCOTT

LISA ZAMBRI

EDITOR

PETER S. ELLIOT

PRODUCTION DESIGNER

CHRIS CORNWELL

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

MICHAEL BARRETT

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

WILL PACKER

GLENN S. GAINOR

RICH + TONE TALAUEGA

PRODUCED BY

AMY LO

PRODUCED BY

BEAU FLYNN AND TRIPP VINSON

INSPIRED BY THE DOCUMENTARY “PLANET B-BOY” BY

BENSON LEE

WRITTEN BY

BRIN HILL

AND

CHRIS PARKER

DIRECTED BY

BENSON LEE

CAST

                                                                   JASON BLAKE         JOSH HOLLOWAY

                                                             DANTE GRAHAM         LAZ ALONSO

                                                                         FRANKLYN         JOSH PECK

                                                                               STACY         CAITY LOTZ

                                                                          ROOSTER         CHRIS BROWN

                                                                                   FLIPZ         FLIPZ

                                                                       DO KNOCK         JON DO KNOCK CRUZ

                                                                                   ANIS         ANIS CHEURFA

                                                                                 REBEL         JESSE CASPER BROWN

                                                                                     KID         KID DAVID

                                                                               SNIPER         SAWANDI WILSON

                                                                       LIL ADONIS         RICHARD MAGUIRE

                                                                                 SIGHT         STEVE TERADA

                                                                          BAMBINO         LUIS ROSADO

                                                                           MAYHEM         JOSHUA LEE “MILKY” AYERS

                                                                                SAMO         SAMMY SOTO

                                                                         ABBSTARR         RICHIE “ABSTRAK” SOTO

                                                                         GILLATINE         GIL BRACE-WESSEL

                                                                       AS HIMSELF         TERRENCE J

                                                                       AS HIMSELF         SWAY CALLOWAY

                                                                                 SWAT         JONATHAN LEGACY PEREZ

                                                                         KILOWATT         MICHAEL CARRASCO

                                                                                 ACES         VICTOR KIM

                                                                              VILLIAN         DONNIE CRUMBS COUNTS

                                                                                  FLAIR         J D RAINEY

                                                                             GRIFTER         DOMINIC SANDOVAL

                                                                         INTRICATE         MORRIS ISBY

                                                                                  DANI         DANIEL LIECHTY

                                                                          COLDEYE         OREN PINCHAS MICHAELI

                                                                              GATLIN         KEITH STALLWORTH

                                                                                  PAUL         PAUL KIRKLAND

                                                                                SCOTT         DEMETRIUS GROSSE

                                                                               JAMES         JESSE ERWIN

                                                                             BENSON         JAY LUCHS

                                                                             VALERIE         KRISTY M. JOHNSON

                                                                                BRIAN         GIOVANNI GIUSTI

                                                                              JANICE         NATALYA OLIVER

                                                                       LA’S FINEST         LUIS DALMASY

                                                                                                     TONY STYLES

                                                                                                     JACOB LYONS

                                                                                                     JOEL TEKNYC MARTINEZ

                                                                                                     JEFFERY MACHINE MCCANN

                                                                                                     JOSH ORTIZ

                                                                                                     MICHAEL SILVA

                                                                                                     JOSE RUIZ

                                                                            DANCER         HITCLIFF LEIGH TAN

                                                                       AS HIMSELF         KAMEL

                                                                       AS HIMSELF         STORM

                                                                       AS HIMSELF         THOMAS HERGENRÖTHER

                                                                              JOLENE         WERONIKA ROSATI

                                                                          MC SPAX         RAFAEL “SPAX” SZULC-VOLLMANN

                                                                             MC TRIX         ALBERT “TRIX” THOMPSON

                                                               BOTY OFFICIALS         MARINE BOHIN

                                                                                                     JULIEN BEAUVOIS MOCHOT

                                                                     BOTY HOSTS         MALEEK MOUJOUIL

                                                                                                     NASTY MOURAD SAADI

                                                         MTV FRANCE HOST         CHINA MOSES

                                                            TELECINCO HOST         TANIA LLASSERA

                                                        MUSIC ON TV! HOST         TAKAHIRO UENO

                                                           MTV RUSSIA HOST         ARTEM KOROLEV

                                                              SKY ITALIA HOST         FRANCESCO CASTELNUOVO

                                                                  KISS UK HOSTS         RICKIE HAYWOOD WILLIAMS

                                                                                                     MELVIN ODOOM

                                                           PROSIEBEN HOSTS         JOKO WINTERSCHEIDT

                                                                                                     KLAAS-HEUFER UMLAUF

                                                                  FRENCH TEAM         SMOCKEMON

                                                                                                     FARIOUSS

                                                                                                     B-UYSS

                                                                                                     RIYAD

                                                                                                     NIGGAZ

                                                                                                     WAZZ

                                                                                                     MEDOX

                                                                                                     BILLY BOY

                                                                                                     MAXTENDAX

                                                                                                     MONCEF

                                                                 RUSSIAN TEAM         ROBIN

                                                                                                     KOSTO

                                                                                                     KOMAR

                                                                                                     DISCO T

                                                                                                     FLYING BUDHA

                                                                                                     TONY ROCK

                                                                                                     SIMPSON

                                                                                                     WOLT

                                                                                                     REZKY

                                                                 KOREAN TEAM         JOTEE

                                                                                                     FLEX

                                                                                                     NAUGHTY 1

                                                                                                     DUCKY

                                                                                                     THE END

                                                                                                     KILL

                                                                                                     TRICKX

                                                                                                     ROOKIE

                                                                                          

                                                   STUNT COORDINATOR         LANCE GILBERT

                                                                                          

                        STUNT COORDINATOR (MONTPELLIER)         PASCAL GUEGAN

                                              STUNT FRENCH PUNK GUY         SEAN GUEGAN

                                                                FRENCH PUNKS         COLIN DELEAU

                                                                                                     JEROME GASPARD

                                                                                                     KARIM KERBOUA

                                                                                                     ALEXANDRE MARTIN

UNIT PRODUCTION MANAGER

GLENN S. GAINOR

FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

MARK ANTHONY LITTLE

SECOND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

JASON ROBERTS

                                     DANCE SEQUENCES EDITED BY         HARVEY WHITE

                                           PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR         VALERIE BLETH SHARP

                                                               CO-PRODUCER         RAPHAËL BENOLIEL

                                                                 ART DIRECTOR         CHARLIE CAMPBELL

                                                             SET DECORATOR         DENA ROTH

                                                         PROPERTY MASTER         GUILLAUME DELOUCHE

                                                        SCRIPT SUPERVISOR         JODY BLOSE

                                              “A” CAMERA OPERATOR         DAVID LUCKENBACH

                                               “B” CAMERA OPERATOR         ALLEN EASTON

                                              “C” CAMERA OPERATOR         JOE CHESS

                                     “A” CAMERA FIRST ASSISTANT         MICHAEL WELDON

                                      “B” CAMERA FIRST ASSISTANT         JOHN HOLMES

                                     “C” CAMERA FIRST ASSISTANT         JOHN YOUNG

                              “A” CAMERA SECOND ASSISTANT         KIRK BLOOM

                               “B” CAMERA SECOND ASSISTANT         AMI HOWARD

                              “C” CAMERA SECOND ASSISTANT         SARAH GALLEY

                 CONVERGENCE PULLER/RIG TECHNICIAN         MARKUS LANXINGER

                                                       3D RIG TECHNICIAN         SCOTT STEELE

                                   DIGITAL IMAGING TECHNICIAN         MICHAEL DEGRAZZIO

                                                  COSTUME SUPERVISOR         JACQUELINE ARONSON

                                                               SET COSTUMERS         KATHRYN BUCHER

                                                                                                     LISA MARIE HARRIS

                                                                                                     LEA EDSON

                                   ASSISTANT COSTUME DESIGNER         JOAN LEE

                                        MAKEUP DEPARTMENT HEAD         ANGIE WELLS

                                                                    KEY MAKEUP         KOKEETA DOUGLAS

                                                             MAKEUP ARTISTS         NATHALIE ALLEN

                                                                                                     VONDA MORRIS

                                              HAIR DEPARTMENT HEAD         COLLEEN LABAFF

                                                             KEY HAIR STYLIST         ROBERT WILSON

                                                                   HAIR STYLISTS         KIMBERLEY SPITERI

                                                                                                     JOCELYN CARPENTER

                                                                                                     COREY HILL

                                       CHIEF LIGHTING TECHNICIAN         RUSSELL CALDWELL

                                                         BEST BOY ELECTRIC         BRIAN HARTLEY

                                                           RIGGING GAFFER         WILLIAM PAVLU

                                                                           KEY GRIP         RICHARD MALL

                                                                 BEST BOY GRIP         THOMAS CRAWFORD

                                         RIGGING KEY GRIP         BLAKE PIKE

                            DIGITAL ACQUISITION SUPERVISOR         TOBY GALLO

                                                                  SOUND MIXER         DOUGLAS AXTELL

                                                          BOOM OPERATOR         GUNNAR WALTER

                                                                   VIDEO ASSIST         DAVID KATZ

                                                   LOCATION MANAGER         BRIAN O’NEILL

             ASSISTANT LOCATION MANAGERS         S. DYLAN KIRKLAND

                                                                                                     MORGAN PATTERSON

                                     PRODUCTION COORDINATOR         VICKIE M. HSIEH

                 ASSISTANT PRODUCTION COORDINATOR         MICHELLE POOLE

                            2ND SECOND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR         LILLIAN AWA

                     ADDITIONAL 2ND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR         LAUREN PASTERNACK

                                       PRODUCTION ACCOUNTANT         CHRIS ROMBERG

                                      1ST ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT         NICHOLAS BROWN

                                               PAYROLL ACCOUNTANT         LORI IKEDA

                                 CONSTRUCTION COORDINATOR         KAREN HIGGINS

                                                       GENERAL FOREMAN         DAVID OTT

                                                             PAINT FOREMAN         DAVE GOLDSTEIN

                                                            LABOR FOREMAN         JOHN LOZANO

                                                                         LEADMAN         JOHN NAEHRLICH

                                                              ON SET DRESSER         PHILLIP THOMAN

                                                                   SET DRESSERS         BROCK HELFER

                                                                                                     PAUL CUNNINGHAM

                                                                                                     ROBERT GREENFIELD

                                                                                                     JAMES BOYCE

                                   PROPERTY MASTER ASSISTANTS         TAYLOR VAUGHAN

                                                                                                     HAYDEN BILSON

                              ART DEPARTMENT COORDINATOR         REGINA HERMOSILLO

                                                                                          

                                                                  UNIT PUBLICIST         LINDA BROWN-SALOMONE

                                                     STILL PHOTOGRAPHY         MATT KENNEDY

                                                                         SET MEDIC         SUSAN BANNOUT

                                      SPECIAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR         TOM FRAZIER

                                           ASSISTANT TO MR. VINSON         TARA FARNEY

                                                    ASSISTANT TO MR. LEE         NICK MONGONI, JR.

                                          ASSISTANT TO MR. GAINOR         JAMIE LIEBERMAN

                                             PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS         MATTHEW CUNY

                                                                                                     JOSH BENAVIDEZ

                                                                                                     SAM MCDONALD

                                                                                                     DANNON TAYLOR

                                                                                                     ANDREW CALVER

                                   ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHERS         KOUNTRY VACULIK

                                                                                                     KRISTI CRADER

                                                       B-BOY CONSULTANT         MIRI PARK

                                                     CASTING ASSOCIATE         MICHELLE ADAMS

                                                            EXTRAS CASTING         BRANDI HAWKINS

                                         TRANSPORTATION CAPTAIN         DAN BRIZENDINE

                                 TRANSPORTATION CO-CAPTAIN         JAYSON EHLERS

                                                                        CATERING         GALA CATERING

                                                                CRAFT SERVICE         CHARLIE SCOTT, JR.

                                                                                                     STEPHEN SCOTT

                                                     TRAVEL PROVIDED BY         AIR TAHITI NUI

MONTPELLIER, FRANCE CREW

                                           PRODUCTION SERVICES BY         FIRSTEP

                                              PRODUCTION MANAGER         ROZENN LE PAPE

                                           FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR         ELIOT MATHEWS

                                    SECOND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR         DELPHINE BERTRAND

                                        THIRD ASSISTANT DIRECTORS         NICOLAS DESSOMMES

                                                                                                     AURORE COPPA

                                                             SET DECORATOR         BENOÎT TETELIN

                                               “B” CAMERA OPERATOR         HUGUES ESPINASSE

                                              “C” CAMERA OPERATOR         VASCO NUNES

                                      “B” CAMERA FIRST ASSISTANT         DAVID CHAMBILLE

                                     “C” CAMERA FIRST ASSISTANT         MARTIN LEVENT

                               “B” CAMERA SECOND ASSISTANT         JÉRÉMY MAUROY

                            ADDITIONAL CAMERA OPERATORS         EMMANUEL DE FLEURY

                                                                                                     TIM MENDLER

                             ADDITIONAL CAMERA ASSISTANTS         MAEYA DRECQ

                                                                                                     FOREST FINBOW

                                                       3D RIG TECHNICIAN         CÉLINE TRICART

                                                  COSTUME SUPERVISOR         PATRICIA COLIN

                                                 ASSISTANT COSTUMERS         SARAH MONFORT

                                                                                                     OLIVIER LIGEN

                                                                     COSTUMERS         MAGALI BONNOT

                                                                                                     AURORE PAGEOT

                                                                                                     AURÉLIE DOLBEAU

                                                                                                     RAFAEL STORA

                                                             MAKEUP ARTISTS         FABIENNE ROBINO

                                                                                                     KARINE HAMELLE

                                                                   HAIR STYLISTS         VÉRONIQUE BOSLE

                                                                                                     CATHERINE JABES

                                                                                                     OLIVIER SEYFRID

                                                                             GAFFER         THIERRY BAUCHERON

                                                         BEST BOY ELECTRIC         JEAN FRANCOIS DRIGEARD

                                                                           KEY GRIP         CYRIL KUHNHOLTZ

                                                                  SOUND MIXER         JEAN-MARIE BLONDEL

                                                          BOOM OPERATOR         FRÉDÉRIC PARDON

                                            VIDEO ASSIST SUPERVISOR         THIERRY POUFFARY

                                                   LOCATION MANAGER         ARNAUD DUTERQUE

                             ASSISTANT LOCATION MANAGERS         JEREMY BAU

                                                                                                     CHRISTEL RASQUIN

                                     PRODUCTION COORDINATOR         LAURENCE COUTAUD GARNIER

                 ASSISTANT PRODUCTION COORDINATOR         JENNIFER SIMONNET

                                       PRODUCTION ACCOUNTANT         BERNARD LAMY

                   ASSISTANT PRODUCTION ACCOUNTANT         KIM COURCELLE

                                               ACCOUNTANT/CASHIER         BÉATRICE GIRAUD

                                        PRODUCTION ACCOUNTING         ASTRID MONARQUE

                                                              STANDBY PROPS         OLIVIER CRESPIN

                                          ASSISTANT STANDBY PROPS         PIERRE MAXIME DUVAL

                                                                   SET DRESSERS         JONATHAN LACOUR

                                                                                                     THOMAS LEMIERRE

                                                                                                     SIMON STEHLE

                                                   STILL PHOTOGRAPHER         LOHIM CARRAU

                                                                       UNIT MEDIC         ZACCARIA ERRABIH

                                             PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS         GIANCARLO AZZARELLI

                                                                                                     HELOISE MARSAND

                                                                                                     AURIANE LACINCE

                                                                                                     DIMITRI CESARIDIS

                                                                                                     NAI MA

                                                                           CASTING         SAMIA FADLI

                                                            EXTRAS CASTING         ELSA BRUGIÈRE

                             TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR         NATHALIE ANSELME

                                         TRANSPORTATION CAPTAIN         CÉDRIC ALLARD

                                                                        CATERING         LOCAFÊTE – JLG RECEPTION

POST PRODUCTION

                                                                       CO-EDITOR         PATRICK GALLAGHER

                                                        ASSOCIATE EDITOR         JOHN DIETRICK

                                                        ASSISTANT EDITORS         STACEY CLIPP

                                                                                                     ALAIN ROMI

                                                                                                     BOB BERMAN

                                                 RE-RECORDING MIXERS         DEB ADAIR

                                                                                                     CHRIS CARPENTER

                                        SUPERVISING SOUND EDITOR         RICHARD YAWN, M.P.S.E.

                        SUPERVISING DIALOGUE/ADR EDITOR         BERNARD WEISER, M.P.S.E.

                                            ASSISTANT SOUND EDITOR         LYNN SABLE

                                                 SOUND EFFECTS EDITOR         DANIEL PAGAN, M.P.S.E.

                                                          DIALOGUE EDITOR         DAVID WILLIAMS

                                                                  FOLEY ARTISTS         SARAH MONAT

                                                                                                     ROBIN HARLAN

                                                                                                     ANITA CANNELLA

                                                                    FOLEY MIXER         RANDY K. SINGER

                                                                     ADR MIXERS         BRIAN SMITH

                                                                                                     DAVID A. WEISBERG

                                                        VOICE CASTING BY         RANJANI BROW

                                                                                                     WENDY HOFFMAN

                         POST SOUND SERVICES PROVIDED BY         SONY PICTURES STUDIOS

                                                                                                     CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA

                                         SUPERVISING MUSIC EDITOR         TODD BOZUNG

                                                                  MUSIC EDITOR         JACLYN NEWMAN

           ADDITIONAL BEATS AND PROGRAMMING BY         DJ NU-MARK

                                                SCORE PRODUCTION BY         DREW SILVERSTEIN

                                                                                                     ALEX BORNSTEIN

                                                               CONDUCTED BY         ALLAN WILSON

                                                         ORCHESTRATED BY         MICHAEL J. LLOYD

                                                   ADDITIONAL MUSIC BY         PHILIP WHITE

                                                                                                     JAMIE CHRISTOPHERSON

                                                                                                     TIMOTHY MICHAEL WYNN

                                                                                                     AARON KAPLAN

                                                        PROGRAMMING BY         CHRIS NEWLIN

                                                                           MIXED BY         JEFF VAUGHN

                                                                 MAIN TITLES BY         PICTURE MILL

                                                                    END TITLES BY         SCARLET LETTERS

                                             DIGITAL INTERMEDIATE BY         COLORWORKS

                                                          DIGITAL COLORIST         TRENT JOHNSON

                          3D CAMERA SERVICES PROVIDED BY         3ALITY TECHNICA

VISUAL EFFECTS

ZOIC STUDIOS

                                               SENIOR VFX SUPERVISOR         ROCCO PASSIONINO

                                           EXECUTIVE VFX PRODUCER         RAOUL YORKE BOLOGNINI

                                                             VFX PRODUCERS         ANDREW COX

                                                                                                     JOEY BONANDER

                                                     VFX COORDINATORS         EMILY KISTER

                                                                                                     DEANNA LOUIE

                                       DIGITAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR         JEFF BAKSINSKI

                                         COMPOSITING SUPERVISOR         RANDY BROWN

                                                                COMPOSITORS         DYLAN YASTREMSKI

                                                                                                     RAFAEL PEREZ

RELIANCE MEDIAWORKS

                                                   EXECUTIVE PRODUCER         SANJOT SONALKAR

                                                       PRODUCTION HEAD         SUDHIR REDDY

                                                             VFX PRODUCERS         CINDY BOND

                                                                                                     LIAM TULLY

                                       COMPOSITING SUPERVISORS         JOSEPH VINCENT PIKE

                                                                                                     PRASHANTH VS

                                                                            2D LEAD         ANGELO PERROTTA

                                                                 STEREO ARTIST         BRANDO BENAWAY

                                                                      VIDEO - I/O         JEFF SCHIFFMAN

                                                                                     I/O         PAUL JACKSON

3D STEREOSCOPIC CONVERSION

VENTURE 3D

                                                            STEREOGRAPHER         TODD COGAN

                                               TECHNICAL SUPERVISOR         CHANGWON CHOI

                                                               COORDINATOR         INA SHIN

                                                                       PRODUCER         SUNGMOON LEE

                                                         LEAD DEPTH ARTIST         KEVIN JEONG

                                                          LEAD PAINT ARTIST         YEONGJOO SHIN

                                                      PROJECT MANAGER         TOMMY LEE

RELIANCE MEDIAWORKS

                                                        OPERATIONS HEAD         INDRANEEL GUHA

                                             CONVERSION PRODUCER         PREET SINGH

                                           CONVERSION SUPERVISOR         SUHEL KHAN

                                        SR. PRODUCTION MANAGER         SACHIN BHANUSHALI

                                              PRODUCTION MANAGER         DEVENDRA DURGE

                                                 ASST. STEREOGRAPHER         SUBODH SOMAN

                                                     ROTO & PAINT LEADS         SARFARAZ UDDIN

                                                                                                     SAMEER KUDALE

                                                                       VFX EDITOR         LINDA SUNDLIN

                                                       VFX COORDINATOR         BRYCE BRECHEISEN

MUSIC

“FREE FALLING”

WRITTEN BY RYAN BUENDIA

PERFORMED BY THE BANGERZ

COURTESY OF JBWKZ RECORDS

“IN THE CITY”

WRITTEN BY ERIC GOLDMAN

AND MICHAEL CORCORAN

PERFORMED BY THE LA OUTFIT

COURTESY OF KEEP SMILING MUSIC

“NEED A CAPTAIN”

WRITTEN BY ERIC GOLDMAN

AND MICHAEL CORCORAN

PERFORMED BY THE LA OUTFIT

COURTESY OF KEEP SMILING MUSIC

“RUN!!!!”

WRITTEN BY A. ZHARKEVICH AND B. BULATOV

PERFORMED BY NEWTONE

COURTESY OF PIGFACTORY USA LLC

“BOOM”

WRITTEN BY ANTONIO HARDY, KARL JENKINS,

MELVIN LEWIS, MARLON WILLIAMS,

NATHANIEL WILSON AND TARIK COLLINS

PERFORMED BY THE ROOTS

COURTESY OF GEFFEN RECORDS

UNDER LICENSE FROM

UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES

“FAST MAN (BOOTY MAN)”

REMIX PRODUCED BY Z-TRIP

“TEMPERATURE IS RISING”

WRITTEN BY ERIC GOLDMAN

AND MICHAEL CORCORAN

PRODUCED AND PERFORMED BY

THE LA OUTFIT

“DAD AND MCDONALD UPSET”

WRITTEN BY CHRIS LENNERTZ

“THE DREAM TEAM

IS IN THE HOUSE”

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL PERISON

AND RUFUS PERISON

PERFORMED BY L.A. DREAM TEAM

COURTESY OF GEFFEN RECORDS

UNDER LICENSE FROM

UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES

“MR. BLUE SKY”

WRITTEN BY JEFF LYNNE

PERFORMED BY ELO

COURTESY OF BIG TRILBY RECORDS

“SAME SONG”

WRITTEN BY TUPAC AMARU SHAKUR,

RONALD R. BROOKS, GREGORY E. JACOBS,

GEORGE CLINTON JR., WILLIAM COLLINS,

JAMES VITTI AND WALTER MORRISON

PERFORMED BY DIGITAL UNDERGROUND

COURTESY OF TOMMY BOY MUSIC

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH

WARNER MUSIC GROUP FILM & TV LICENSING

CONTAINS ELEMENTS FROM

“THEME FROM THE BLACK HOLE”

“ORISHA”

WRITTEN BY LEIGH MCALLISTER GRACIE

PERFORMED BY SPEEDOMETER

COURTESY OF FREESTYLE RECORDS LTD.

“A JOURNEY INTO STEREO SOUND”

NARRATED BY GEOFFREY SUMNER

COURTESY OF TRANSACORD LTD.

“PAPA’S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG”

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY JAMES BROWN

COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL RECORDS

UNDER LICENSE FROM

UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES

“GIVE IT UP OR TURN IT LOOSE

(IN THE JUNGLE GROOVE REMIX)”

WRITTEN BY CHARLES FRED BOBBITT

PERFORMED BY JAMES BROWN

COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL RECORDS

UNDER LICENSE FROM

UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES

“SOUL MAKOSSA”

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY MANU DIBANGO

COURTESY OF MERCURY FRANCE

UNDER LICENSE FROM

UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES

JAMS”

BY DJ NU-MARK

“TREAT ‘EM RIGHT”

WRITTEN BY MCKINLEY JACKSON,

RICHARD SIMPSON, MELVIN STEALS,

MERVIN STEALS AND HOWARD A. THOMPSON

PERFORMED BY CHUBB ROCK

COURTESY OF SELECT RECORDS

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH FINE GOLD MUSIC LLC

“UNIVERSAL MIND CONTROL (UMC)”

WRITTEN BY CHAD HUGO,

LONNIE RASHID LYNN AND PHARRELL WILLIAMS

PERFORMED BY COMMON

COURTESY OF GEFFEN RECORDS

UNDER LICENSE FROM

UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES

“SOUTH KOREA (AEGUKGA)

(NATIONAL ANTHEM)”

(TRADITIONAL)

“BREAKERS DEDICATION”

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL DIPPON

AND DAMON TALTON

PERFORMED BY COLOURS UNITED

FEATURING DJ MIKE MD

COURTESY OF ASR RECORDS GERMANY

“BACK N FORTH”

WRITTEN BY ERIC GOLDMAN

AND MICHAEL CORCORAN

PERFORMED BY THE LA OUTFIT

COURTESY OF KEEP SMILING MUSIC

“ZG FREESTYLE THROWBACK #2”

WRITTEN BY STEVEN ROYBAL

PERFORMED BY ZULU GREMLIN

“CELEBRITY MASHUP”

WRITTEN BY BRET AUTREY

PERFORMED BY BLUE STAHLI

COURTESY OF FIXT/POSITION MUSIC

“B BOYIN FREAK FREAKIN!!!!”

WRITTEN BY ALLAN PETER GRIGG

PERFORMED BY KOOL KOJAK

COURTESY OF KOJAKTRAX

“FAST MAN (BOOTY MAN)”

WRITTEN BY ROBERT DAVIS

PERFORMED BY PC’S LTD.

COURTESY OF BOYKINS MUSIC

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH JAZZMAN

AND NOW-AGAIN RECORDS

“I’M OK YOU’RE OK”

WRITTEN BY CHRIS LENNERTZ

“COACH TAKES THE JOB”

WRITTEN BY CHRIS LENNERTZ

“TOUGH BREAK”

WRITTEN BY MARK ALI POTSIC

PERFORMED BY DJ NU-MARK

COURTESY OF HOT PLATE RECORDS

“ROLLOVER DJ”

WRITTEN BY CHRISTOPHER JAMES CESTER

AND NICHOLAS JOHN CESTER

PERFORMED BY JET

COURTESY OF ELEKTRA ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH

WARNER MUSIC GROUP FILM & TV LICENSING

“LES CITES BLEUES”

WRITTEN BY SAMY HASSID

AND PASCAL VENTURINI

PERFORMED BY PANAME DANDIES

COURTESY OF CRUCIAL MUSIC CORPORATION

“KICK OUT THE EPIC

MOTHERF**KER”

WRITTEN BY STEFAN ENGBLOM

AND OLLE CORNÉER

PERFORMED BY DADA LIFE

COURTESY OF SO MUCH DADA,

UNIVERSAL MUSIC AB

& THE ISLAND DEF JAM MUSIC GROUP

UNDER LICENSE FROM

UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES

“KOREAN BATTLE”

WRITTEN BY ERIC GOLDMAN

AND MICHAEL CORCORAN

PRODUCED AND PERFORMED BY

THE LA OUTFIT

“SING, SING, SING (WITH A SWING)”

WRITTEN BY LOUIS PRIMA

PERFORMED BY

BENNY GOODMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA

COURTESY OF BLUEBIRD/NOVUS/RCA VICTOR

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH

SONY MUSIC LICENSING

“LOVE THANG”

WRITTEN BY MCKINLEY JACKSON,

MERVIN STEALS AND MELVIN STEALS

PERFORMED BY FIRST CHOICE

COURTESY OF SALSOUL RECORDS

UNDER LICENSE FROM VERSE MUSIC GROUP

“STYLE WARS”

NARRATED BY SAM SCHACHT

COURTESY OF PUBLIC ART FILMS, INC.

“GO”

BY DJ NU-MARK

“LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT BEAT”

WRITTEN BY AFRICA BAMBAATAA,

ROBERT ALLEN, ARTHUR BAKER, JOHN B. MILLER,

JOHN ROBIE AND ELLIS WILLIAMS

PERFORMED BY AFRICA BAMBAATAA

AND SOULSONIC FORCE

COURTESY OF TOMMY BOY RECORDS

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH

WARNER MUSIC GROUP FILM & TV LICENSING

“KNOW THE LEDGE”

WRITTEN BY ERIC BARRIER AND WILLIAM GRIFFIN

PERFORMED BY ERIC B. & RAKIM

COURTESY OF GEFFEN RECORDS

UNDER LICENSE FROM

UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES

“DIRTY WEATHER”

WRITTEN BY THOMAS CHAPMAN

PERFORMED BY DIRTY WORMZ

COURTESY OF BIELER BROS. RECORDS, INC.

“AS YOUR FRIEND (DANNY HOWARD REMIX)”

WRITTEN BY CHRISTOPHER MAURICE BROWN, JAMAL F. JONES,

NICK VAN DE WALL, LEROY P.L. GHAZI,

ALI N. NADIR SAKIR AND URALES VARGAS

PERFORMED BY AFROJACK FEATURING CHRIS BROWN

COURTESY OF ISLAND DEF JAM RECORDS

UNDER LICENSE FROM UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES

COURTESY OF THE ISLAND DEF JAM MUSIC GROUP

AND UNIVERSAL MUSIC B.V.

UNDER LICENSE FROM UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES

CHRIS BROWN APPEARS COURTESY OF RCA RECORDS

©2013 SCREEN GEMS, INC.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

SCREEN GEMS, INC., IS THE AUTHOR OF THIS FILM

(MOTION PICTURE) FOR THE PURPOSE OF COPYRIGHT AND OTHER LAWS.

CETTE OEUVRE A BÉNÉFICIÉ DU CREDIT D’IMPÔT EN FAVEUR DE LA PRODUCTION

DE FILMS ÉTRANGERS EN FRANCE.

THIS FILM HAS BENEFITED FROM THE TAX CREDIT FOR FOREIGN FILM PRODUCTION IN FRANCE.

STEVE JOBS PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ALBERT WATSON

CLUB MONSTER ARTWORK BY FRANCOIS XAVIER DONGUY

BATTLE OF THE YEAR POSTER AND ARTWORK BY MODE 2

MTV LOGO USED WITH PERMISSION BY MTV. ©2012 VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.

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SPECIAL THANKS TO

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON CINÉMA FILM COMMISSION (MARIN ROSENSTIEHL/

SANDRINE COUROUBLE/DELPHINE JOUAN)

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ELODIE LIGUORI/CRISTOBAL NAVARETTE)

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SUD DE FRANCE

STEVE TERADA

BRAUN GMBH

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