Film: Graffiti Bridge

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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. It is Prince's last large-scale film to date.

Even though the movie isn't a sequel per se to Purple Rain, it revives key characters from that movie: Prince plays the character of "The Kid" and Morris Day plays 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 film was initially scheduled to open in 1,4000 US cinemas on 7 August, 1990; it was released on 2 November, 1990 in 688 US cinemas.

The reviews for Graffiti Bridge were 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. Allowed an original budget of $8 million, the film had cost $7 million to make, it was estimated that Warner Bros should have grossed $14 million in tickets sales to recover all costs.

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


First Steps

From mid September 1987 onwards, Prince started to record songs and gather material for a musical film project called "Graffiti Bridge". A first script was finished on 22 September, 1987 in which Prince would play "Camille Blue", Madonna a character named "Ruthie Washington" and Cat Glover a character called "Vienna".

Other characters would be played by band members: "Angel" by Sheila E., "Almost" by Dr Fink, "Big Sister" by Boni Boyer, "Joshua" by Atlanta Bliss, "Sax" by Eric Leeds, "Gruff" by Greg Brooks, "Puff" by Wally Safford and "The Brothers" by Miko Weaver and Levi Seacer, Jr..

Songs for this first script included: Ruthie Washington Jet Blues, Graffiti Bridge, Camille, Everything Could Be So Fine, The Question Of U, XYZ, Crucial, Power Fantastic, Beat Town, Melody Cool, Big Tall Wall, The Grand Progression. Most of these songs were recorded between July and September 1987, although 3 of them were leftovers from 1986 projects, and The Question Of U was originaly tracked in 1985.

After Madonna turned down the project on 13 October, 1987, the film was put on hold, and it wouldn't be before late 1989 that Prince would be able to focus again on the project.


A New Script

Early July 1989, Kim Basinger started working with Prince on a new script for the "Graffiti Bridge" film project.

Mid September 1989, Prince started recording sessions for the film, cutting 2 new songs, Round And Round and New Power Generation and reworking already existing songs from various projects, including some from the defunct first script. Mavis Staples traveled to Minneapolis to record vocals for Melody Cool, as well as Tevin Campbell on Round And Round; both were now part of the film cast.

Late October 1989, Prince met Robin Herin, a rapper and former dancer on "Soul Train" US Television show. After being invited to Minneapolis to work on a rap album project, Prince proposed her a role in the cast of "Graffiti Bridge"; of the two songs they cut together, Undercover Lover and Number One, only the latter was finally included in the film soundtrack.

When, in November 1989, Prince and Albert Magnoli, who had together created the joint venture Paisley park Films, decided to part ways. A new production team (Arnold Stiefel and Randy Phillips) were hired to secure a deal for the film with Warner Bros Film Division, which had showed very little interest in the project. Their strategy to sell the film to WB as a sequel to Purple Rain paid well, and they were given a go-ahead.

On 19 December, 1989, a third draft of "Graffiti Bridge" was completed, featuring Kim Basinger and Jill Jones in the leading roles.

Late January 1990, after Prince and Kim Basinger parted ways, a fourth draft of Graffiti Bridge was completed. It featured a new character, "Aura" (a mix of former characters played by Jill Jones and Kim Basinger) to be played by Ingrid Chavez while Jill Jones was given a new, less prominent role in the film, as "The Kid's" girlfriend.

On 7 February, 1990, after being slightly revised, the script was finally approved to be the shooting script.

Thieves In The Temple was the last song recorded for the project, on 11 February, 1990.


Delivery

The first version of "Graffiti Bridge" film was delivered to Warner Bros on 19 April 1990.

Unsatisfied with the cut, Warner Bros Pictures organized test screenings to audiences in Pasadena, CA, USA, at the theater that had earned the highest grosses in the US for Purple Rain film. As the screenings resulted disappointing, Warner Bros Pictures decided to bring in their own editor, Steve Rivkin (brother of David Rivkin and Bobby Z.) into the project.

On 30 July, 1990, while on The Nude Tour, Prince flew back to the USA for additional work on the movie. He supervised 4 days of editing on the film as Warner Bros.'s editors had proposed two versions that were rejected. Subsequently, the initial release date for the movie scheduled on 7 August, 1990 had to be postponed since the editing wasn't completed in time.

4 days after the japanese leg of the The Nude Tour had closed, on 14 September, 1990, Prince resumed work on "Graffiti Bridge" in Hollywood, as a few scenes needed re-shooting. More editing and post-production work followed until 24 October, 1990.

Of the musical scenes filmed, Can't Stop This Feeling I Got, The Question Of U, Graffiti Bridge, The Latest Fashion and longer versions of We Can Funk and Joy In Repetition didn't make the final cut.


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 pleaser), 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 assets, "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 clients, "The Kid" soon challenges Morris Day to a music battle for the 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

On the week of 12 February, 1990, shooting began in Minneapolis. Most of the scenes were filmed on the Paisley Park Studios soundstage. Paula Abdul worked with prince on choreograpy (although she's uncredited in the film crew).

On 23 March, 1990, Prince completes shooting of "Graffiti Bridge".

On 14 September, 1990, several scenes were re-shot in Hollywood, CA, USA.

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