Film: Graffiti Bridge

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{{Movie| | Movie name = Graffiti Bridge | Movie poster = FilmGraffiti_bridge-movieposter.jpg | Premiere = 1 November, 1990: Ziegfeld Theatre, New-York, NY, USA | Date = 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)
| Production = Warner Bros.
Paisley Park Films | Music = Prince | Genre = Music Drama, Musical
MPAA Rating: PG-13 | Runtime = 95 minutes | Technical = Country: USA
Language: English
Sound Mix: Dolby SR
Color: Color
Aspect Ratio:1.85 : 1 | Distributors = Warner Bros. (1990) | Previous year = 1987 | Previous image = Image:Filmsign_o_the_times-movieposter.jpg | Previous film = Film: Sign O' The Times | Previous film name = Sign O' The Times | Next year = None | Next image = Image:NoPreviousAlbum.png | Next film = Films-videos | Next film name = See Films & videos | Introduction = Graffiti Bridge is a 1990 American rock musical drama film directed and written by Prince, filmed on in Paisley Park Studios and on location in and around Minneapolis and. 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 owner 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. Prince attended the screening, but didn't appear at the party.

The film was initially scheduled to open in 14,000 US cinemas on 7 August, 1990, but it was ultimately only released in 688 US cinemas on 2 November, 1990

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 in the category '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 originally tracked in 1985.

After Madonna turned down the project on in mid-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

By early July 1989, Prince struck up a friendship with actress Kim Basinger and together they started working with on a new script for the "Graffiti Bridge" film project.

In 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. [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples] traveled to Minneapolis to record vocals for Melody Cool, while Tevin Campbell recorded his vocals for Round And Round; both were now part of the film cast.

In late October 1989, Prince met Robin Herron, a rapper and former dancer on US Television show "Soul Train". After being invited to Minneapolis to work on a rap album project, Prince, rechristening her Robin Power, offered 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, formed by Arnold Stiefel and Randy Phillips, previously working for [[Prince as accountants 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 off 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.

In late January 1990, after Prince and Kim Basinger parted ways, a fourth draft of Graffiti Bridge was completed. It combined the former character 'Angel' played by Kim Basinger and "Sura" planned for Jill Jones into one, again named "Aura" but now to be played by Ingrid Chavez. Jill Jones was given a new, less prominent role in the film, as "The Kid's" girlfriend.

A fourth slightly revised draft was ready on 7 February, 1990, the version which was used as the shooting script.

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


| 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), 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. | 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)

| 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


| OtherCrew = Production Department

  • Celestine Crofton - Assistant production accountant
  • Simon Edery - Unit production manager
  • Louis G. Friedman - Production manager
  • Steve Harding - Assistant: Mr. Macdonald (Executive producer)
  • Julie Hartley - Production coordinator
  • Maureen Herman - Production aide
  • Darry Johnston - Production assistant
  • Eric Mueller - Production secretary (as Eric West Mueller)
  • Abby Ruben - Production secretary
  • Larry Sherwood - Electronic post-production supervisor
  • Jonathan Wolf - Production accountant (as John Wolf)
  • Jim Lillhei - Location manager
  • Amy Rick - Assistant: Mr. Rice
  • Therese Stouul - Administrative assistant: PRN
  • Randall Scott Barton - Unit publicist (as Randall Barton)
  • Linda Kuusisto - Script supervisor
  • Wrye Martin - Assistant script supervisor

Casting Department

  • Peter Wise - Additional casting
  • Scott McCullough - Casting coordinator (uncredited)

Second Unit

  • Frank Davis - First assistant director
  • Robert C. Ewald Jr. - Second second assistant director
  • Jack Gallagher - First assistant director
  • Lee McConnell - Second assistant director
  • Diana Pappajohn - Second second assistant director
  • Kelly Schroeder - First assistant director

Camera and Electrical Department

  • Don Bixby - Gaffer
  • Elden Bleck - Still photographer
  • Greg Bubb - Steadicam operator (as Gregg Bubb)
  • John Burch - Best boy grip
  • Peter Clemence - Dolly grip: B camera
  • Charles Cochran - lighting and design technician
  • Tom Countryman - Dolly grip
  • Joe D'Alessandro - First assistant camera (as Joe D'Allessandro)
  • Nick Dangeur - Second assistant camera
  • Peter J. Donoghue - Best boy
  • Moe Flaherty - Second assistant camera
  • Craig Foster - Grip
  • Timothy Gannon - Second assistant camera
  • Ezra Gold - Video assist
  • Mark Karen - Camera operator
  • Joel King - Camera operator
  • Victor Korte - Key grip
  • Ron Kunecke - Musco light operator
  • Mac Mosier - Theatrical lighting operator
  • Mike Moyer - Gaffer
  • Doug Pipan - Electrician
  • Jerry Pope - Camera operator
  • Greg Potter - First assistant camera
  • Jay R. Schwartz - Lighting and design technician (as Jay Schwartz)
  • Michael Shanman - Rigging gaffer
  • Bob Vaaler - Playback operator
  • Joseph F. Valentine - Camera operator
  • Greg Winter - Camera operator
  • Jim Zabilla - First assistant camera
  • Dale Polansky - Veri light tech
  • Mark Carlisle - Veri light tech

Music department

  • Kevin Nolting - Assistant music editor
  • Ted Whitfield - Music editor
  • James D. Young - Music editor
  • Matthew Larson - Band crew chief technician (as Matt Larson)
  • Bradley Marsh - Drum technician (as Brad Marsh)
  • Bob Reddy - Keyboard technician

Sound Department

  • David A. Arnold - Sound editor
  • Gregg Barbanell - Foley artist
  • Gerard Bonnette - Boom operator
  • Charles Cochran - Sound technician
  • Patrick Cyccone Jr. - Sound mixer
  • Christine Danelski - Sound editor (as Chris Danielski)
  • Harald Danker - Sound engineer
  • Susan Dudeck - Sound editor
  • Arnold Finkelstein - Assistant sound editor
  • Christopher Flick - Sound editor
  • Tommy Goodwin - Adr mixer / foley mixer
  • Allen Hartz - Supervising adr editor
  • Dave Kulczycki - Sound editor
  • Maria Lee Silver - Assistant sound editor
  • Amy Morris - Assistant sound editor
  • Preston Oliver - Adr recordist
  • Matthew Quast - Sound mixer
  • Demetrius Ross - Recording artist
  • Jay R. Schwartz - Sound technician (as Jay Schwartz)
  • Robert Thirlwell - Sound mixer
  • Dan Wallin - Sound mixer
  • Christopher Weir - Assistant sound editor (as Chris Weir)
  • David Williams - Foley editor

Costume and Wardrobe Department

  • Sister A. Daniels - costumer (as Sister Daniels)
  • Sara Daubney - costume supervisor
  • Lou Eyrich - Assistant: Helen Hiatt (costume design)
  • David Maderich - costumer

Editorial Department

  • Christopher S. Capp - Assistant film editor: Los Angeles
  • Peter Fandetti - First assistant editor
  • Daniel J. Geiger - Assistant editor: Minneapolis
  • Paula Greatbatch - Assistant editor: Los Angeles (as Paula Suhy)
  • Lucinda Guard - Assistant editor: Minneapolis
  • Jimmy Hill - Assistant editor: Los Angeles (as James B. Hill)
  • Darren T. Holmes - Assistant editor: Los Angeles (as Darren Holmes)
  • Martin Allan Kloner - Assistant editor: Los Angeles (as Martin Kloner)
  • Ruben R. Munoz - First assistant editor
  • Carolyn Olman - Post-production coordinator
  • David Pincus - Editor: video tape
  • Charles Randazzo - Editor: video tape
  • Richard Stachelek - Assistant editor: Minneapolis
  • Ann Trulove - Assistant editor: Los Angeles

Make-Up Department

Make-Up
  • Cheryl Ann Nick - Head makeup artist (as Cheryl Nick)
  • Donna Deisher - Makeup artist
  • Jeannie Holmes - Assistant makeup artist
  • Deborah Lake - Makeup artist
  • Bethany McCalla - Makeup artist
Hair
  • Phillip Carreon - Hair Stylist
  • Andrea Morgan - Hair Stylist (Morris Day)

Choreography

  • Kimberly Arland - Assistant to choreographer (as Kimberly Dionne)
  • Kirk Johnson - Additional choreographer
  • Otis Sallid - Choreographer

Art Department

  • Paul Balelo - Assistant property master
  • David Benrud - Set dresser
  • Marty Cusack - Property master
  • Damon Hight - Lead carpenter
  • Sean Hobbs - Assistant production designer
  • Mike Lanham - Lead man
  • Brick Mason - Production illustrator
  • Guy Mennano - Construction coordinator
  • Sotera Tschetter - Assistant set dresser
  • Guy Messenger - Set production assistant
  • Shannon Thew - Set production assistant
  • Andrew von Bank - Set production assistant
  • Olivia - Art murals
  • Douy Swofford - Title designer
  • Perry George - Set live cable
  • Ezra Gold - Set live cable

Special Effects

  • Jor Van Kline - Special effects coordinator
  • Thomas M. Ficke - Special effects technician
  • Michael Berglund - Special effects
  • Tom Flicke - Special effects
  • Paul Murphy - Special effects
  • Chuck Schulthies III - Special effects (as Chuck Schultes Jr.)

Stunts

  • Jophery C. Brown - Stunt coordinator (as Jophery Brown) / stunt double: Clinton's Guard (as Jophery Brown)
  • Janet Brady - Stunt double: Aura
  • Jaimi Cavitt - Motorcycle stunt double
  • Brad Orrison - Motorcycle stunt double

Transportation

  • Jeff Ferraro - Transportation captain
  • Grant Hutchins - Transportation
  • Kean Mayers - Transportation
  • Robbe Paster - Transportation

Security

  • Hucky Austin - Security officer
  • Derick Henry - Security officer
  • Duane Nelson - Security officer
  • Mark Hanft - First aid

Miscellanous

  • Sharon Birkebek - Craft service
  • Robert Borm - Intern technician
  • Caryn Countryman - Craft service
  • Harry Brand - Stand-in: Morris Day
  • Danetta DePietro-Dykstra - Stand-in: Ingrid Chavez
  • Paul Froid - Assistant technician
  • Sal Greco - Chief technical engineer
  • Mitch Mortenson - Assistant technician
  • Demetrius Ross - Funkologist

| 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 completed shooting of "Graffiti Bridge".

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. | Location info = |- align="left" |style="vertical-align:top;border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|12 Feb. 1990 - 23 Mar. 1990 |style="vertical-align:top;border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|#? |style="vertical-align:top;border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Chanhassen, MN, USA
Paisley Park Studios soundstage set |style="vertical-align:top;border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Whole script scenes shooting. |style="vertical-align:top;border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|? |- align="left" |style="vertical-align:top;border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|14 Sep. 1990 |style="vertical-align:top;border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|#1 |style="vertical-align:top;border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Hollywood, CA, USA
Unknown set |style="vertical-align:top;border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Additional shooting |style="vertical-align:top;border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|? | 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)

| BoxOffice = 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 = ! colspan="2" align="left" style="font-size:100%;color:#AB3E00"| See also

|- |colspan="2" |

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

| Promotion = MTV covered the premiere on a one-day delay (MTV 24 hours Street party). | 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 = ImDB

| Categories = }}

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