How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass (2003)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Mario Van Peebles

Writers (WGA):

Melvin Van Peebles (book)
Mario Van Peebles (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

17 March 2005 (Australia)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

A father. A son. A revolution.

Plot:

Mario Van Peebles's half documentary/half homage to his father Melvin's 1971 film, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song.

Plot Keywords:

Filmmaking | Prejudice | 1970s | Father Son Relationship | Punctuation In Title

Awards:

3 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Mario Van Peebles	...	Melvin Van Peebles
Joy Bryant	...	Priscilla
T.K. Carter	...	Bill Cosby
Terry Crews	...	Big T
Ossie Davis	...	Granddad
David Alan Grier	...	Clyde Houston
Nia Long	...	Sandra
Paul Rodriguez	...	Jose Garcia
Saul Rubinek	...	Howard 'Howie' Kaufman
Vincent Schiavelli	...	Jerry
Khleo Thomas	...	Mario
Rainn Wilson	...	Bill Harris
Karimah Westbrook	...	Ginnie
Len Lesser	...	Manny & Mort Goldberg
Sally Struthers	...	Roz
Jazsmin Lewis	...	Working Girl
Adam West	...	Bert
Ralph P. Martin	...	Tommy David (as Ralph Martin)
Robert Peters	...	Bob Maxwell
Glenn Plummer	...	Angry Brother
Khalil Kain	...	Maurice
Pamela Gordon	...	Ethel
Wesley Jonathan	...	Panther
Joseph Culp	...	Attorney
John Singleton	...	Detroit J
Joan Blair	...	Brenda
Penny Bae Bridges	...	Megan
Mandela Van Peebles	...	Angel Muse
E.J. Callahan	...	Bartender
Keith Diamond	...	Large Brother
Don Dowe	...	Officer
Brian 'Skinny B.' Lewis	...	Panther
Mickey Mello	...	David
Christopher Michael	...	Black Journalist
Tyrone M. Mitchell	...	Man
Alan James Morgan	...	Josh
David Alan Smith	...	Brewster
Nathan Wetherington	...	Jimmy
Robin Wilson	...	Excited Lady
Paul Roach	...	Pimpy Paul
Marley Van Peebles	...	Trick or Treater
Maya Van Peebles	...	Trick or Treater
Bridget Avildsen	...	Trick or Treater
Craig Jones	...	Trick or Treater
Kate Krystowiak	...	Moonbeam
Anthony Rodriguez	...	Fernando
Thomas Longo	...	Camera Assistant
Robert Yosses	...	Script Supervisor
Danny Hebert	...	Crew Member
Michele Hill	...	Biker Girl
Les Miller	...	Nora
Bob Primes	...	Union Thug
Buzzxsassy	...	Union Thug
Rey Riogo	...	Union Thug
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brent Schaeffer	...	Panther
Megan Van Peebles	...	Herself (also archive footage)

Directed by
Mario Van Peebles

Writing credits (WGA)
Melvin Van Peebles		(book "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song: A Guerilla Filmmaking Manifesto")
Mario Van Peebles		(screenplay) &
Dennis Haggerty		(screenplay)

Produced by
Bruce Wayne Gillies	....	line producer
Dennis Haggerty	....	associate producer
Dennis Haggerty	....	co-producer
Tobie Haggerty	....	associate producer
Tobie Haggerty	....	co-executive producer
Michael Mann	....	executive producer
Jerry Offsay	....	executive producer
G. Marq Roswell	....	co-producer
Mario Van Peebles	....	producer
Tal Vigderson	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Tyler Bates

Cinematography by
Robert Primes		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Nneka Goforth
Anthony Miller

Casting by
Anya Colloff
Amy McIntyre Britt

Production Design by
Alan E. Muraoka

Art Direction by
Jorge Gonzalez Borrelli

Set Decoration by
Galit Reuben

Costume Design by
Kara Saun

Makeup Department
Kokeeta Douglas	....	hair stylist
Kokeeta Douglas	....	makeup designer
Pat Harris	....	assistant hair stylist (as Patricia Harris)
Pat Harris	....	assistant makeup artist (as Patricia Harris)
Denise Pugh-Ruiz	....	assistant hair stylist (as Denise Ruiz)
Denise Pugh-Ruiz	....	assistant makeup artist (as Denise Ruiz)
Mark Starr	....	assistant hair stylist
Mark Starr	....	assistant makeup artist
Gianni Thomas	....	assistant hair stylist (as Gianni)
Gianni Thomas	....	assistant makeup artist (as Gianni)

Production Management
Bruce Wayne Gillies	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tamu Blackwell	....	second second assistant director
Rachel Dickson	....	second assistant director (as Rachel M.S. Dickson)
Bruce Wayne Gillies	....	first assistant director
Bruce Wayne Gillies	....	second unit director
Brian 'Coach' Rosett	....	additional second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jake Blecha	....	leadman
Mark Henderson	....	art department intern
Kevin Hummel	....	swing gang
Robert Hummel	....	assistant property master (as Bob Hummel)
Ryan Kriss	....	swing gang
Dana MacDuff	....	property master
Jeff Powers	....	graphic designer
Jeffrey Powers	....	graphic artist
Roni Spitzer	....	buyer

Sound Department
Hennie Britton	....	foley recordist
Derrick Cloud	....	boom operator
Benjamin L. Cook	....	supervising sound editor (as Benjamin Cook)
Carlos Delarios	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Paul Demers	....	foley assistant
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Robert Getty	....	dialogue editor
Frederick Howard	....	sound effects editor (as Fred Howard)
Craig Jurkiewicz	....	sound effects editor
Michael Keeping	....	foley artist (as Michael P. Keeping)
Dave Kustin	....	assistant sound editor
David Parker	....	sound mixer
Jason Schmid	....	sound re-recording mixer
Anne Slack	....	sound effects editor (as Anne-Marie Slack)
Brian Slack	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Beverley Hartigan	....	special effects (as Beverly Hartigan)
John C. Hartigan	....	special effects (as John Hartigan)
Albert Lannutti	....	special effects (as Albert Lanutti)

Visual Effects by
Craig Kuehne	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Kim Robert Koscki	....	stunt coordinator (as Kim Koscki)

Camera and Electrical Department
Marty Boger	....	grip
Paul Cuffee	....	gaffer (as Paul Cuffe)
Ian Dodd	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Frank Gardner	....	best boy
Paul Gibilisco	....	second assistant camera
Steve Gurklys	....	videographer: behind-the-scenes
Freeman Hardin	....	electrician
Kaiser 'Kai' Kim	....	electrician (as Kaiser Ki-Pyo Kim)
Dan Kneece	....	Steadicam operator
Dan Kneece	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Steven Mann	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Johnny W. Martin	....	key grip (as Johnny Martin)
Skip Mobley	....	second assistant camera
Michael O'Connor	....	still photographer
Heather Page	....	camera operator
Cricket Peters	....	best girl electric (as Crickett Peters)
Ann Rosencrans	....	electrician
Omari Thomas	....	electrician
Gary Katsuya Ushino	....	first assistant camera (as Gary Ushino)
Michael Valenzuela	....	grip
Charly Winzer	....	grip
Jason Wood	....	electrician
Dan Kneece	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Gary Katsuya Ushino	....	digital imaging technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Laura Cataldo	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Erick Anderson	....	wardrobe assistant
Kassie Byrd	....	wardrobe intern
Tasha Monique Carter	....	on-set costumer
Tanya Sanchez	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Patrick S. Clark	....	post-production coordinator (as Patrick Clark)
Tim King	....	executive in charge of post-production
Amy B. Melendez	....	post-production assistant
Jay Melzer	....	digital editor
Nathan Novero	....	assistant editor
Tom Overton	....	colorist
Robert C. Rodriguez	....	assistant editor
Robert C. Rodriguez	....	on-line editor: HDTV
Michael Stahlberg	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Tree Adams	....	composer: additional music
Christopher S. Parker	....	music coordination and clearances (as Chris Parker)
G. Marq Roswell	....	music supervisor
Adam Swart	....	music coordination and clearances
Frank Macchia	....	musician: sax and flute (uncredited)
Garth Trinidad	....	music supervisor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Matthew Ballard	....	transportation coordinator
Julius M. Fletcher	....	driver (as Julius Fletcher)
Mark Garrett	....	driver

Other crew
Sabrina Ballard	....	life guard
Luis Brito	....	caterer
Marty Carlin	....	studio teacher (as Martin Carlin)
John Carlson	....	digital transfer engineer
William Clark Coit III	....	location manager (as William Coit)
Laura Collier	....	assistant production accountant
Nathan Crum	....	digital utility
André Devantier	....	caterer (as Andre Devantier)
Rex Dominguez	....	set production assistant
Kevin Dreher	....	production assistant
Phil Eisenhower	....	studio teacher
Jena English	....	researcher
Guy Flint	....	studio teacher
Dale V. Franz	....	script supervisor (as Dale Franz)
Jose Garcia	....	consultant
Mimi Gillies	....	production coordinator
Kristina Granai	....	craft service assistant
S.J. Granai	....	craft service (as Stephanie Granai)
Jennifer Hill	....	animal wrangler
Meica Kelly	....	office production assistant
Kanchan Kurichh	....	production assistant
Robert Lewis	....	location assistant
Michael Matus	....	medic (as Michael Matis)
Keana McGee	....	assistant production coordinator
Jaime R. Mejia	....	production assistant (as Jaime Mejia)
Jeff Milcheck	....	production assistant (as Jeff Millcheck)
Les Miller	....	assistant: Mr. Van Peebles
Bobbie Nanfito	....	animal wrangler
Shonta Odom	....	office intern
Greg Pacificar	....	production assistant (as Gregory Pacificar)
Stella Pacific	....	studio teacher
Anjoli Rountree	....	production assistant
Raul Sanchez	....	animal wrangler
Jessica Shannon	....	production accountant
Michael Thomas	....	office intern
Tom Vice	....	account service representative
Keana McGee	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Chad Tomasoski	....	title designer (uncredited)

Thanks
Eothen Alapatt	....	special thanks: Stone Throw Records
Marc-Magnum Davis	....	special thanks
Pamela Gordon	....	in memory of
Stephen A. Housden	....	special thanks (as Steve Housden)
Vicki Letizia	....	special thanks
Summer Mann	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Bad Aaas Cinema
• MVP Films (as MVP Filmz)
• Showtime Networks

Distributors

• Imagine Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Miracle Voice (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2005) (Argentina) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar (2005) (Brazil) (VHS) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2004) (USA)

Special Effects

• Ultimate Effects (special effects)
• Bang FX (special effects)

Other Companies

• Apple/Final Cut Pro  edited with
• Celebrity Suites  transportation
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies by
• Christopher Gray Casting  extras casting
• Cinelease  lighting equipment
• Cinema Vehicle Services  transportation
• Columbia Pictures  poster: "Watermelon Man"
• Donna Daniels Public Relations  publicity
• Entertainment Industry Development Corporation (EIDC)  special thanks
• Entertainment Partners  payroll company
• FILM Archives  additional clips
• Greg & Meica  animal wrangling
• Hollywood Camera Cars  transportation
• Hollywood Caterers  catering
• Hollywood Script Research  script clearance
• Ipostini  post-production editorial
• Kodak  film provided by
• Laser Pacific Media  high definition laboratory (as Laserpacific Media Corp.)
• Media Distributors Film Source  tape stock
• Orpheum Theatre  special thanks
• Paramount Pictures  film clips: "Home of the Brave"
• Photo Fest  stills courtesy of (as Photofest)
• Sony Pictures Studios  additional re-recording facility
• Specialty Vehicle Association  transportation
• Star Waggons  transportation
• Studio Services  transportation
• Suzy Vaughan & Associates  clip clearance
• Thomson & Thomson  title search
• Truman Van Dyke Company  insurance company
• Turner Entertainment  film clips: "Gone With the Wind"
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation  film clips: "Little Rebel"
• Widget Post Production  re-recording facilities
• Wilcox Communications  walkie talkies
• Xenon Pictures  film clips: "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song"

Also Known As:

Baadasssss! (USA) (new title)
Badass (USA) (alternative title)
Gettin' the Man's Foot Outta Your Baadasssss! (USA) (new title)

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language and some strong sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

Canada:108 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Argentina:108 min | Australia:109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:R | UK:15 | Canada:18A | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bad Aaas Cinema

Trivia:

Troy Garity appears uncredited as the singer Donovan.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Forty-seven minutes into the film, Van Peebles hands his lead actress a few fifties to be in his film and they are the new $50 bills.

Movie Connections:

References Home of the Brave (1949)

Soundtrack:

Damn All the Fallacies

Mario Van Peebles pay a stunning tribute to his father's landmark film,and does him one better in the one of the best indy films I've seen this year

This is now just being shown in select theaters across the country and I got the chance to see this film just the other night,and it is a welcome sigh of relief from the outcome of summer rubbish that is clogging the nearby multiplexes. But with "Baadasssss!",co-writer and director Mario Van Peebles has offered a stunning tribute to his father,Melvin Van Peebles,whose groundbreaking 1971 classic film became one of the highest-grossing independent films of that year,and also opened the floodgates for a string of blaxploitation movies to come throughout the decade of the 1970's. The film is also a case of cinematic one-upsmanship in which Mario Van Peebles,himself,plays his father Melvin,warts and all,during the course of the older man's production of his greatest claim to fame,the cult sensation independent film of 1971,"Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song",which was in fact a film that didn't get much hearsay when it first came out,but by word of mouth became the surprise hit of that year since the 1971 film was "X" rated by an all-white jury for some outlandish content and shocking scenes.

For those individuals who have never seen this blaxploitation classic,or who have managed to see it in its entirely in the video store or in college film courses or during midnight screenings on college campuses(where it is shown during Black History Month)or most recently during Black Film Festivals where panel discussions are formed regarding this landmark cinematic piece of African-American film-making. The picture "Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song",stars Melvin Van Peebles himself as a bordello stud performer in Los Angeles who gets arrested and beaten by racist White cops,kills two of them,and manages to escape(the movie concluded with Van Peebles running endlessly over hill and dale)while he stays on the lam,while the chants throughout blasts out: "You killed my momma!","You killed my poppa!","You killed my brother!", "You killed my sister!"......."But you won't killed me!"............. The picture was very low budget making it grainy and hallucinogenic in the fashion of that era and it featured a throbbing,Greek chorus style accompaniment from an unknown band at the time...Earth,Wind,and Fire who would go on to become one of the most successful funk/R&B bands of the 1970's. "Sweetback" is credited with being the first film to have a black man taking charge of his own production and his own financing of the film and his own representations through his own independent film company,which was a bold and prosperous move at the time. "Sweetback" introduce to the world black street language and attitudes plus it wa also a winner to celebrate a lawless hero who stood up to the wrongful doings of the Man and came up a bonafide winner.

In "Baadassss!",Mario Van Peebles re-creates from start to finish the making of "Sweetback" and the convulsive life around the production. Now in his mid-forties,he plays his father at roughly the same age,and following his father,he wrote the screenplay for the movie(with Dennis Haggerty),co-produced,and directed it. He has not just stepped into his father's shoes,but captured every stanza and every body movement and it works very well here. The story of this famous tale of Melvin Van Peebles goes this way:in 1970,after directing the controversial successful comedical satire "Watermelon Man",starring Godfrey Cambridge,Van Peebles(who had a three-picture deal with Columbia Pictures at the time)turning his back on the glad-handing executives at Columbia,and the way Hollywood portrayed blacks on film,was thinking of explaining his vision to his agents whom turned him down so instead to make this film he had to be manipulative and devious enough to pull off the impossible,and he did. As far as the story goes,he did a lot of hustling to get this film made whatever the odds were against him which was a phenomenal amount of accomplishments he had to face to get this off the ground and running. Melvin passes the film off as a black "porn-movie" and shoots a scene to further that impression,but he had to enlists the help of a lot of people including a white stoner,a black porn producer,a reclusive gangbanger,and other social undesirables which includes a Bob Evans-style producer that turns out to be a gay-shooter too(and that is played by Adam West....yes,that Adam West. That's right boys and girls....Batman himself)not to mention using his own kids for this project as well. The movie captures some of the desperation and the easy pleasures of the period which turns out to be an exhausting,pleasurable,great piece of entertainment for a great summer escapism. However,"Baadassss!" is a celebration of sorts,which in turn reminds us that the political fervor that animated the films of Melvin Van Peebles and his contemporaries has largely disappeared from the American scene which there are notable exceptions such as Micheal Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11",and Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing". In an era where black entertainers are producing too many borderline minstrel entertainment like "Barbershop","White Chicks","Soul Plane",Mario Van Peebles' "Baadassss!" is a welcome call to arms,and its a grand honor to represent one of the great pioneers of Black Cimema. But it is also a mystery to this day for the son of Melvin Van Peebles,Mario whose greatest achievement as a film director,the 1991 crime-drama,"New Jack City",and the 1992 all-black western "Posse",and as an B-listed actor doesn't get the ultimate respect he greatly deserves. Let's hope he gets some respect here with this stunning tribute.