Love & Basketball (2000)

Director:

Gina Prince-Bythewood

Writer (WGA):

Gina Prince-Bythewood (written by)

Release Date:

21 April 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

A story of the passion it takes to keep your dreams alive.

Plot:

In 1981 in L.A., Monica moves in next door to Quincy. They're 11, and both want to play in the NBA, just like Quincy's dad...

Plot Keywords:

Student Athlete | Love | Male Female Relationship | Los Angeles California | Friendship

Awards:

9 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Glenndon Chatman	...	Young Quincy
Jess Willard	...	Jamal
Chris Warren Jr.	...	Kelvin
Kyla Pratt	...	Young Monica
Alfre Woodard	...	Camille Wright
Naykia Harris	...	Young Lena
Harry J. Lennix	...	Nathan Wright
Debbi Morgan	...	Nona McCall
Dennis Haysbert	...	Zeke McCall
Sanaa Lathan	...	Monica Wright
Omar Epps	...	Quincy McCall
Colleen Matsuhara	...	UCLA Coach
Al Foster	...	Coach Hiserman
Nathaniel Bellamy Jr.	...	Highschool Referee #1 (as Nathaniel Bellamy)
Regina Hall	...	Lena Wright
Shar Jackson	...	Felicia
Gabrielle Union	...	Shawnee
James DuMont	...	Reporter
Christine Dunford	...	Coach Davis
April Griffin	...	Dorsey High School Player
Boris Kodjoe	...	Jason
Erika Ringor	...	Sidra O'Neal
Kara Brock	...	College Girl #1
Aichi Ali	...	College Girl #2
Charles O'Bannon	...	Reggie
Robin Roberts	...	Herself
Dick Vitale	...	Himself
Jimmy Lennon Jr.	...	Sports announcer
Terry Cummings	...	Himself
Andre Bellinger	...	College Referee
Monica Calhoun	...	Kerry
Dion Basco	...	College Student
Marta Bou Morera	...	Spanish Girl
Marta Crespo	...	Spanish Girl
Raquel Hurtado	...	Spanish Girl
Jordi Clemente	...	Security guard
Jesse Corti	...	Coach Parra
Leticia Oseguera	...	Luisa
Mar Castro	...	Lead Singer
Yussi Wenger	...	Guitar
Django C. Porter	...	Bass
Alberto de Almar	...	Guitar
Paris H. Rooks	...	Guitar
Julio Ledezma	...	Percussion
Chick Hearn	...	Himself
Stu Lantz	...	Himself
Trevor Wilson	...	Himself
Rebecca Patterson	...	Nurse
Tyra Banks	...	Kyra Kessler
Steve Spencer	...	Laker's Trainer
Lisa Barkin Oxley	...	Bank Officer
Madison Duvernay	...	Lena's Baby
Nairobi Dickens	...	Monica & Quincy's Baby
Sandra Von Embrigs	...	Assistant Coach
Yolanda Higgins	...	Assistant Coach
Wendy Levy	...	Shayla
Sandra Pérez	...	Sandra
Carla Houser	...	Lisa
Marigold Clark	...	Big Toni
Marte Alexander	...	Zvette
Sabrina Roberson	...	Lacresha
Audrey Gomez	...	Audrey
Erica Jackson	...	Erica
Valerie Agee	...	Maryen
Afton Thompson	...	Crenshaw High School Girl's Basketball Team
Chevana Player	...	Crenshaw High School Girl's Basketball Team
Lorna Monique Clemmons	...	Crenshaw High School Girl's Basketball Team
Carenda Saunder	...	Crenshaw High School Girl's Basketball Team
Chandra Cole	...	Crenshaw High School Girl's Basketball Team
Shawnte Watson	...	Crenshaw High School Girl's Basketball Team
Krystal Braden	...	Crenshaw High School Girl's Basketball Team
Lakesha Willingham	...	Crenshaw High School Girl's Basketball Team
Jenece Johnson	...	Crenshaw High School Girl's Basketball Team
Erika Wilson	...	Crenshaw High School Girl's Basketball Team
Sharon Vigne	...	Crenshaw High School Girl's Basketball Team
Major Dennis	...	Assistant Coach
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeff Coopwood	...	Game Announcer (uncredited)
Gary Cruz	...	Handsome Spaniard (uncredited)
Gina Prince-Bythewood	...	Diving Basketball Player (uncredited)

Directed by
Gina Prince-Bythewood

Writing credits (WGA)
Gina Prince-Bythewood		(written by)

Produced by
Andrew Z. Davis	....	executive producer
Cynthia Guidry	....	executive producer
Sam Kitt	....	producer
Spike Lee	....	producer
Jay Stern	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Terence Blanchard

Cinematography by
Reynaldo Villalobos

Film Editing by
Terilyn A. Shropshire

Casting by
Aisha Coley

Production Design by
Jeffrey Howard

Art Direction by
Sue Chan

Set Decoration by
Dena Roth

Costume Design by
Ruth E. Carter		(as Ruth Carter)

Makeup Department
David Abbott	....	additional makeup artist
Laverne Caracuzzi	....	makeup artist
Sterfon Demings	....	key hair stylist
Anita Gibson	....	key makeup artist
Isabel Harkins	....	makeup department head
JoAnn Stafford-Chaney	....	key hair stylist
Carme Tenuta	....	makeup artist
Laini Thompson	....	makeup artist: Mr. Epps
Brian A. Tunstall	....	key hair stylist (as Brian Andrew Tunstall)
Gisella Tutusaus	....	makeup artist: Spain
Felicia Herron	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Phyllis Williams	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Ricardo Ceballos	....	unit production manager: Spain unit
Ric Keeley	....	post-production supervisor
JoAnn Perritano	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Danny Green	....	assistant director: additional photography
Danny Green	....	second assistant director
Mark Anthony Little	....	first assistant director
Cristobal Martin	....	assistant director: Spain
Eric Oliver	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Eduardo H. Esparza	....	carpenter
Dervon 'Von' Herron	....	assistant property master
Jimmie Herron Jr.	....	property master
Bill Holmquist	....	construction coordinator
Kathy Orlando	....	buyer
Edward J. Protiva	....	set dresser
Brett C. Smith	....	leadman

Sound Department
Willie D. Burton	....	sound mixer
Mark Choi	....	sound effects editor
Marc Fishman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Robert Getty	....	adr editor
Robert Getty	....	dialogue editor
David Grant	....	dialogue editor
Kevin Hamilton	....	dialogue editor
Kevin Hamilton	....	sound editor
Frederick Howard	....	supervising sound designer
Frederick Howard	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Kamper	....	sound effects editor
Marvin E. Lewis	....	boom operator
Derek Marcil	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Mullane	....	sound effects editor
Johanna Turner	....	transfer engineer
James Wright	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby

Stunts
Jack Carpenter	....	stunts
Manny Perry	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Ambrose	....	set lighting technician
Reggie Rock Bythewood	....	photographer: Hi-8 footage
Dwight Campbell	....	gaffer
Joe Chess	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Joe Chess	....	steadicam operator
James F. Cornick	....	rigging best boy
Pat Dames	....	rigging grip
Jim Gordon	....	grip
Lamarr Gray	....	rigging electrician
Michael Lyon	....	electrician
Ray Milazzo	....	assistant camera
Simone Perusse	....	best boy electric
Michael Starkey	....	key rigging grip
D. Stevens	....	special photographer
R. Michael Stringer	....	key grip
Monte Swann	....	24 frame video operator
Michael Tolochko	....	electrician
Joseph D. Urbanczyk	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Jerald L. Wilson	....	lamp operator

Casting Department
Sande Alessi	....	extras casting
Cash Oshman	....	crowd casting
Alex Ruttenberg	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Karen Aviles	....	costumer
Conan Castro Jr.	....	set costumer
Marion Kirk	....	key costumer
Helen Monaghan	....	costumer supervisor
Lisa D. Quercioli	....	PR costumer

Editorial Department
Lara B. Grant	....	editorial production assistant
John Hendrickson	....	assistant editor
Alexis Seymour	....	assistant editor: avid

Music Department
Terence Blanchard	....	conductor
Terence Blanchard	....	orchestrator
Robin Burgess	....	music session coordinator
Tony Dimito	....	music editor
Michael Dittrick	....	music editor
Erika Duffee	....	music session assistant
Paul Holliday	....	music assistant
Pilar McCurry	....	executive soundtrack producer
Dana Sano	....	music executive
Kip Smedley	....	assistant music engineer
Melodee Sutton	....	music supervisor
Jay Weigel	....	music preparation

Transportation Department
Richard Burch	....	driver
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car
Ted Moser	....	transportation coordinator
Jeff Woodward	....	driver

Other crew
Rod Bacote	....	assistant location manager
Heath Banks	....	assistant production coordinator
Maeyen A. Bassey	....	assistant: Ms. Prince-Bythewood
Lamonte Bell	....	payroll accountant
Denise Blasor	....	voice-over artist
Brett Boydstun	....	production coordinator
Jennifer Conroy	....	assistant production coordinator
Jamala Gaither	....	set production assistant
Judy Heinzen	....	assistant location manager
Dwight Hovey	....	studio teacher
Jeremy Kendall	....	production assistant
Colleen Matsuhara	....	basketball advisor
Colleen Matsuhara	....	basketball coach
Carol McConnaughey	....	unit publicist
Melanie Miller	....	clearance coordinator
Alexander Nicolas	....	marketing
Maxine Parker	....	production coordinator: Spain
Steve Spencer	....	basketball advisor
Steve Spencer	....	basketball advisor
David Sporn	....	contract administrator
Marilyn Tasso	....	production accountant
Jeff Valeri	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• WB Television Network, The (2003) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (Canada)
• Aurum Producciones (Spain)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (Germany)

Other Companies

• Custom Film Effects  main and end titles designed by
• Custom Film Effects  titles and opticals
• Executive Cutting Service Inc.  negative cutting (as Executive Cutting)
• Hollywood Rentals Productions Services  grip and lighting equipment (as Hollywood Rentals)
• Overbrook Entertainment  soundtrack
• Sportsrobe  costumes
• Sundance Institute, The  miscellaneous assistance (developed with the assistance of)

Also Known As:

Love and Basketball (USA) (closing credits title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexuality and language.

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #36989) | Australia:M | Germany:6 | Spain:T | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain

Company:

40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Goofs:

Continuity: Monica skins her face when she falls down. When Monica's mother cleans her face after she falls over, the washcloth starts off scrunched up and in the next shot is folded nicely.

Quotes:

Monica: [reads note] "Q, you are *so0o0o* fine. I been wantin' to get with you. Take me to the Spring Dance and I promise I'll leave you satisfied."
[Disgusted]
Monica: Ughh... What a *HO*
Quincy: Why she gotta be a ho? Cuz she wan' get wit me?
Monica: She's a *ho* 'cause she's sending her *coochie* through the mail
Quincy: At least she's honest
Monica: Yeah... an honest tramp ass ho
Quincy: Didn't know you cared so much
Monica: I don't.
Quincy: Good.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Even Stevens: Love and Basketball (#2.9)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Morning Star

The title says it all

Love and Basketball: Monica and Quincy have lived beside one another since they were kids, and they only care about two things in life - basketball and each other.

I am definitely more of a movie fan than a basketball fan, thus I went in expecting a jock flick with a token relationship thrown in to justify the title. I could not have been more wrong. Unlike "He Got Game" (another very good film), which dwells solely on the negative aspects of the sport - hustlers, hookers, drugs and death, L&B concentrates on the positive things in life and basketball serves as the background rather than the focus. The story is very well written and works on several levels - it refuses to be pinned down as simply a romance or drama, choosing instead a careful blending of different elements. My only complaint - minor at that - would have to be the ending (and no I'm not going to tell you).

First, how could I find fault with a film that actually does a great casting job with Tyra Banks? She has a small cameo role- she plays a beautiful stewardess, small stretch - with some great lines. Omar Epps brings his trademark cockiness to the role, and although it took me awhile to buy him as a basketball player -he's not exactly Goliath -he grows on you. More importantly, he exhibits and a depth and range that he's never shown before. Sanaa Lathan however, goes one step further, and demonstrates an intensity both on and off the court that puts her in a league all her own. Her performance can be summed up as superb.

L&B is real, engaging, and enjoyable.

Don't miss it.