Film: Graffiti Bridge

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1987: Filmsign o the times-movieposter.jpg Sign O' The Times Movies Television Films And Specials None: NoPreviousAlbum.png See Films & videos
Graffiti Bridge

Graffiti Bridge movie poster

Movie details


Premiere: 1 November, 1990: Ziegfeld Theatre, New-York, NY, USA
Released: 2 November, 1990 (USA)
Director: Prince
Writers: Prince
Producers: Peter MacDonald (Executive producer)
Randy Phillips (Producer)
Arnold Stiefel (Producer)
Craig Laurence Rice (Co-producer)
Simon Edery (Associate producer)
Productions Companies: Warner Bros.
Paisley Park Films
Music by: Prince
Genre(s): Music Drama, Musical
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 95 minutes
Technical Specification(s): Country: USA
Language: English
Sound Mix: Dolby SR
Color: Color
Aspect Ratio:1.85 : 1
Distributor(s):

Warner Bros. (1990)

Box Office, Nominations & Awards


Box office

  • Opening Weekend (4 Nov. 1990)
USA: $2,447,000 (688 Screens)
  • Gross:
USA: $4,562,778

Nominations

  • Razzie Awards 1991
Worst Picture for Arnold Stiefel and Randy Phillips
Worst Actor for Prince
Worst Director for Prince
Worst Screenplay for Prince
Worst New Star for Ingrid Chavez

Awards

  • ASCAP Award 1991
Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures for Prince for Thieves In The Temple

See also


Graffiti Bridge
(album)
Graffiti Bridge
(home video)
Graffitibridge.jpg border

Graffiti Bridge is a 1990 American rock musical drama film directed and written by Prince, filmed on locations in Minneapolis and in Paisley Park Studios.

Even though the movie isn't a sequel per se to Purple Rain, it revived key characters from that movie: Prince played the character of "The Kid", Morris Day played his own character, both as club owners competitors.

The story revolves around "The Kid" and "Morris Day" rivalry over the ownership of the "Glam Slam" club.

The premiere and party took place in Ziegfeld theater, in New-York, and was attended by the film co-stars Morris Day, Jerome Benton, Ingrid Chavez, Robin Power and Tevin Campbell. MTV covered the premiere on a one-day delay (MTV 24 hours Street party). prince attended the screening, but didn't appear at the party.

The reviews for Graffiti Bridge were quite negative, and the film wasn't a commercial success, grossing only 4,5 million dollar at the box office, before being removed from most screens within a month. The film having cost $7 million to make, it was estimated that Warner Bros would have needed a gross of $14 million in tickets to recover all costs.

Prince won an Ascap Award for Thieves In The Temple as 'Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures'.


First Steps
Under construction.

The first version of Graffiti Bridge was delivered to Warner Bros in April 1990. From there, the film went through several cuts and many changes.


Cast & Crew
Cast

Kid's Band

The Time Band

Melody Cool Choir

  • Jearlyn Steele (as Jearilyn)
  • Jevetta Steele (as Jevetta)
  • Fred
  • Patrick Adams

George Clinton's Funkestra

Glam Slam Dancers

  • Tracey Bass (as Tracey M. Bass)
  • Kimberly Arland (as Kimberly Dionne)
  • Barbara Koval
  • Monique Mannen
  • David Robertson
  • Rocky Santo
  • Jonathan Webb
  • J.D.

Other Cast

  • Shari Bridell - Female On-Looker
  • David E. Williams - Male On-Looker (as David Earl Williams)
  • Scott Parham - Clinton's House Bouncer
  • Todd Rask - Limo Driver
  • Joel Edwards - Doorman (uncredited)
  • Keith E. Lane - Street Vendor (uncredited)
  • Adam Ward - Little Benny (uncredited)
Main Crew
  • Lynn Blumenthal - Casting
  • Bill Butler - Cinematography
  • Vance Lorenzini - Production design
  • Conrad M. Gonzalez - Film Editing
  • Rebecca Ross - Film Editing
  • Hubert de La Bouillerie - Film Editing (uncredited)
  • Jerry Wanek - Set Decoration
  • Helen Hiatt - Costume Design
  • Jim Shearon - Costume Design
  • Azzedine Alaïa - wardrobe (for Jill Jones)
  • Earl Jones - Hair stylist
  • Michael Koppelman - Music score mixing
  • Martin Maryska - Supervising sound editor
  • Steve Purcell - Supervising video editor
  • Leroy Bennett - Theatrical lighting director
  • Phillip Billey - Transportation coordinator
  • Gilbert Davidson - Head of security
  • Jill Willis - Public relations
Other Crew

Credits
Company Credits
  • Azzédine Alaïa (Jill Jones' gowns)
  • Butler Express (catering)
  • Catered Concepts (catering)
  • D. Bassett & Associates (negative cutting) (as D. Bassett & Assoc.)
  • Hair Police (hair exteriors)
  • Helen Horatio Design (costumes by)
  • KO Creative (package design and layout)
  • Meridian Studios (sound re-recording)
  • Pacific Title (titles and opticals)
  • Prep Shoot Post (post-production accounting)
  • TAJ Soundworks (foley)

Synopsis

"The Kid" is a performer and shares "Glam Slam" club ownership with "Morris Day". Morris also owns his own club, "Pandemonium" and two other clubs in the "Seven Corners" area. Both were bequeathed half of the club in a will, but have different views on marketing strategies for each of their halves. Morris envision a club as a profiting asset, with a commercial strategy (mainstream music, dancers, public pleasers), while "The Kid" club concept is a spiritual journey, a forum to present music that uplift the soul.

Because "The Kid"'s music doesn't attract a lot of public, and in consequence, puts "Glam Slam" club finances in disarray, Morris Day wants to put "The Kid" out of business. To save his assests, "The Kid" will have to pay Morris Day $10,000 in order to pay off the mayor; a condition to keep co-ownership of his club. Losing clientele, "The Kid" soon challenges Morris Day to a music battle for ownership of "Glam Slam".

"The Kid"'s faith in his music is restored by Aura (Ingrid Chavez), who materializes out of nowhere and is first seen sitting on a graffiti-painted bridge. Aura, who describes herself as belonging to "him above", serves as guardian angel to "The Kid", appearing every time "The Kid" is on the verge of losing "Glam Slam". Her mission is to encourage "The Kid" to pursue his spiritual journey, and fight for his ownership of the club.

In an attempt to help "The Kid", Aura tries to seduce Morris Day and change his heart. Alas, she soon dies in a car accident. The incident redeems the "Seven Corners" community. While "The Kid" leads the mourners in lamentations, Morris Day's stooges join the thong, and Day himself finally relents, hugging "The Kid" and letting him "Glam Slam" ownership.

Making of
Shooting
Shooting Schedule & Locations
 
Additional Information

Promotion (at time of release) Trivia

  • The title "Graffiti Bridge" comes from a now torn-down bridge located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota which served artists, poets, protesters and suitors for half a century. Of note, one piece of artistry was a 10-foot-high portrait of Prince astride a motorcycle, which appeared shortly after Purple Rain movie came out. The bridge was torn down in the early 1990s to make way for new construction.

References
Filmsign o the times-movieposter.jpg 1987
Sign O' The Times
Movies Television Films And Specials None
See Films & videos
NoPreviousAlbum.png