Notorious (2009)

Director:

George Tillman Jr.

Writers (WGA):

Reggie Rock Bythewood (written by) and
Cheo Hodari Coker (written by)

Release Date:

16 January 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Tagline:

No dream is too big

Plot:

The life and death story of Notorious B.I.G. (a.k.a. Christopher Wallace), who came straight out of Brooklyn to take the world of rap music by storm.

Plot Keywords:

Death | Rap Music | Crack | Fame | 80s

Cast

Jamal Woolard	...	Christopher 'Biggie' Wallace
Mohamed Dione	...	Record Executive at Party
Derek Luke	...	Sean 'Puffy' Combs
Dennis L.A. White	...	Damion 'D-Roc' Butler
Marc John Jefferies	...	Lil Cease
Menyone DeVeaux	...	Hot Girl
Ginger Kroll	...	Debbie
Ricky Smith	...	Wally
Christopher Jordan Wallace	...	Biggie (age 8-13)
Amanda Christopher	...	Keisha
Angela Bassett	...	Voletta Wallace
Nina Daniels	...	Street Commentator
Jasper Briggs	...	Damion (age 8-13)
Cyrus Farmer	...	Selwyn
David Costabile	...	Mr. Webber
Julia Pace Mitchell	...	Jan
Jermaine Denny	...	Primo
Naquon 'Nino Brown' Jackson	...	Nino Brown
Naturi Naughton	...	Lil Kim
Aunjanue Ellis	...	Sandy
Jason Croasdaile	...	Security Thug
Valence Thomas	...	50 Grand
Edwin Freeman	...	Mister Cee
Kevin Phillips	...	Mark
John Ventimiglia	...	Detective Farelli
Cimone Campbell	...	Cute Girl Assistant
Duane Nakia Cooper	...	Howard Emcee (as Duane Cooper)
Anthony Mackie	...	Tupac Shakur
Miya Granatella	...	Hot Lady
Charles Malik Whitfield	...	Wayne Barrow (as C. Malik Whitfield)
Susie Da Silva	...	Jessica
Antonique Smith	...	Faith Evans
Sean Hall-Earl	...	Heavy Set Guy Fan
Jelani Mashariki	...	Rough Guy
Tony Mui	...	Asian Hip Hop Guy
Atalya Slater	...	Female Fan
John Hills	...	Justice of the Peace
Lamont 'Money L' Mosley	...	Money L
Hisham Tawfiq	...	Fatigue Guy
John Sierros	...	Cop (Quad Studios) (as I.N. Sierros)
Sean Ringgold	...	Suge Knight
Marco Best	...	'Person on the Street'
Erskine Bonilla	...	'Person on the Street'
KeShauna White	...	'Person on the Street'
Andre Roberson	...	'Person on the Street'
Donté Kinsey	...	'Person on the Street'
Adre'an Simms	...	'Person on the Street'
Brandi Nicole Feemster	...	'Person on the Street'
Corey Browne	...	'Person on the Street'
Grant Hayes	...	'Person on the Street'
Denae Innis	...	T'yanna - age 3
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brandon Bailey	...	Fan #1
Taylor Dior	...	Tyanna Wallace
Corey Hibbert	...	Investor #1
Robert Oppel	...	Pool Player
Ilya Jonathan Zaydenberg	...	California Beach Dude
Cheryl Alessio	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Jonathan Charles	...	Howard student (uncredited)
Shawntay Dalon	...	Howard University Member (uncredited)
Rico Devereaux	...	Puffy's Bodyguard #1 (uncredited)
Mike Hurt	...	Crack head (uncredited)
Osas Ighodaro	...	Party Girl (uncredited)
Alina Kaufman	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Ebony J Lewis	...	Source Awards Envelope Giver (uncredited)
Monica Moore	...	VIP Guest at Party (uncredited)
Simone Moore	...	Person on the street (uncredited)
Alan Mueting	...	Record Executive (uncredited)
Kevin Navayne	...	Junior Mafia Crew (uncredited)
Richard Pryor	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Gordon Ramsey	...	Long haired sound Engineer (uncredited)
Jessica Rich	...	Party Girl (uncredited)
Ahmad Russ	...	Record Producer at Party (uncredited)
Craig Scribner	...	Fan (uncredited)
Harry L. Seddon	...	Jail Guard walking Biggie (uncredited)
Usman Sharif	...	Guy #1 (uncredited)
Lisa Stansbury	...	Concert Fan (uncredited)
Jen Steele	...	Groupie (uncredited)
Norman Wakefield	...	Suge Knight crew (uncredited)

Directed by
George Tillman Jr.

Writing credits (WGA)
Reggie Rock Bythewood		(written by) and
Cheo Hodari Coker		(written by)

Produced by
Wayne Barrow	....	producer
Edward Bates	....	producer
Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs	....	executive producer
Trish Hofmann	....	producer
George Paaswell	....	co-producer
Mark Pitts	....	producer
Robert Teitel	....	producer
Voletta Wallace	....	producer

Original Music by
Danny Elfman

Cinematography by
Michael Grady

Film Editing by
Dirk Westervelt

Casting by
Twinkie Byrd
Pamela Frazier

Production Design by
Jane Musky

Art Direction by
Laura Ballinger

Set Decoration by
Alexandra Mazur

Makeup Department
Germicka Barclay	....	department head hairstylist l.a. unit
Christine Domaniecki	....	make-up artist: uncredited
Geneva Nash Morgan	....	key makeup artist
Alex Noble	....	makeup artist: second unit
Laini Thompson	....	makeup: Los Angeles unit

Production Management
Blair Breard	....	unit production manager: additional photography
Ged Dickersin	....	production supervisor
Stuart Macphee	....	post-production supervisor
George Paaswell	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jasmine Alhambra	....	second second assistant director
David Catalano	....	additional second assistant director
Marc Garland	....	second assistant director
Greg Hale	....	second assistant director: Los Angeles
Cal Naylor	....	assistant director: second unit
Kenyon Noble	....	second second assistant director
Jono Oliver	....	first assistant director
Yari Schutzer	....	second unit director
Ken Twohy	....	crowds assistant director
Aurora Warfield	....	additional second assistant director

Art Department
JoAnn Atwood	....	set dresser
Madeline Austin-Kulat	....	set decoration assistant
Lou Charles	....	additional set dresser
Krysten Childs	....	prop coordinator
David Cooney	....	storyboard artist
Steven T. Duke	....	set dresser
Jeff Errico	....	storyboard artist
Malchus Janocko	....	assistant art director
Kevin Ladson	....	property master
Jim Lillis	....	on-set dresser
Michele Mayas	....	camera scenic
Eric M. Metzger	....	props
Timothy Metzger	....	leadman
Don O'Reilly	....	props
Kevin L. Raper	....	graphic designer
Diana Salzburg	....	shopper
Annie Spitz	....	production designer: second unit
Oscar Thompson	....	leadman
Greg Voth	....	graphic artist: props

Sound Department
Bobbi Banks	....	supervising adr editor
Wade Barnett	....	adr recordist
Shaun Brennan	....	foley artist
Laurel Bridges	....	boom operator
David Briggs	....	dialogue editor
Rachel Chancey	....	foley artist
Rachel Chancey	....	foley supervisor
Rusty Dunn	....	sound designer
Rusty Dunn	....	sound effects editor
Robert Fernandez	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lewis Goldstein	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lewis Goldstein	....	supervising sound editor
Richard Kamerman	....	sound intern
Nathan Lindsey	....	adr recordist
Travis MacKay	....	adr recordist
Anthony M. McCovey	....	sound utility: Los Angeles
Daniel McIntosh	....	production sound mixer: additional photography
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Christopher Mills	....	epk sound
Cate Montana	....	dialogue editor
Julio Neira	....	looping
Brendan Jamieson O'Brien	....	sound utility
Egor Panchenko	....	ProTools playback mixer
Lisa Pinero	....	sound mixer: Los Angeles
Mathew Price	....	production sound mixer
David Raymond	....	boom operator: Los Angeles
Tom Ryan	....	apprentice sound editor
Abigail Savage	....	sound editor
Timothia Sellers	....	sound utility
Jason Stasium	....	ProTools playback
Michael Suarez	....	sound
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Aaron Zeller	....	on-set playback: Los Angeles

Visual Effects by
Anton Agerbo	....	visual effects producer: previz
Glenn Allen	....	visual effects producer: Brainstorm Digital
Joseph DiValerio	....	visual effects
Richard Friedlander	....	visual effects producer: Brainstorm Digital
Lucien Harriot	....	visual effects producer: Mechanism Digital
Lucien Harriot	....	visual effects supervisor: Mechanism Digital
Ted Keenan	....	visual effects producer
Ted Keenan	....	visual effects producer: Mechanism Digital
Emil Kerie	....	visual effects
Eric J. Robertson	....	visual effects supervisor: Brainstorm digital

Stunts
Roy T. Anderson	....	stunt driver
Mike Burke	....	stunt driver
Rico Devereaux	....	stunt driver
Roy Farfel	....	stunt driver
Justin Rodgers Hall	....	stunt double
Cerrone may	....	stunt performer
Jeff Sanders	....	stunt driver
Ray Siegle	....	stunt coordinator: Los Angeles
Manny Siverio	....	stunt performer
Aaron Vexler	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Eli Aronoff	....	additional first assistant camera
Christian Baird	....	additional rigging electrician
Bob Becchio	....	assistant camera
Phillip V. Caruso	....	still photographer
Andrew Casey	....	Steadicam operator
Andrew Casey	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Kai Wai Cheng	....	extra grip
Rashad Clinton	....	grip
Alisa M. Colley	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Tom Concordia	....	additional photographer
Lamont Crawford	....	key grip
James Daly	....	camera production assistant: additional photography
Chris Drechsler	....	lighting technician
David Harges	....	electrician
Kira Hernandez	....	assistant camera: second unit
John Hockenberry	....	electrician
Andy C. Huber	....	gaffer: second unit
Larry Huston	....	First Assistant Camera ("a" camera )
Travis Huston	....	key grip: second unit
Christophe Johnson	....	camera loader
Denny Kortze	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Martin Linss	....	cinematographer: second unit
Michael C. Maronna	....	electrician
Michael Marzovilla	....	gaffer
Frank McCormack	....	best boy electric
Paul C. McKenna	....	technician: Technocrane
Doug Meils	....	generator operator
Gary Molyneux	....	dolly grip
Ed Nessen	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Rome Petersson	....	additional rigging electrician
Linda Phillips	....	electrician
Irv Press	....	generator operator: Los Angeles
Andrew Priestley	....	first assistant camera
Guillaume Renberg	....	remote camera operator
Donald Russell	....	additional camera operator
Daniel D. Sariano	....	assistant camera
Brooke Stanford	....	generator operator: base camp
Nicky 'Nuckles' Vaccaro	....	key rigging grip
Jason Warow	....	assistant camera: second unit
Joe 'Jody' Williams	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Joe 'Jody' Williams	....	director of photography: second unit

Casting Department
Eric Arriola	....	casting assistant
Lori Eastside	....	extras casting
Chris Gray	....	extras casting
Robert Oppel	....	extras casting assistant
Parker Randal	....	casting coordinator
Zoe E. Rotter	....	casting associate
Ryan Torres	....	casting coordinator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Pattie J. Barbosa	....	key background costumer
Janicza Bravo	....	wardrobe: second unit

Editorial Department
Julia Bloch	....	assistant editor (as Julia Devi Bloch)
Brandon Bussinger	....	digital intermediate colorist
Tom Foligno	....	associate editor
Gordon Grinberg	....	associate editor
David Massachi	....	associate editor
Daniel Schloss	....	post-production assistant
Gilbert Carreras	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Bill Abbott	....	music editor
Barry Cole	....	music supervisor
Chris Cozens	....	auricle control systems
Tass Filipos	....	music editor
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Sam Jones	....	assistant score recordist
T.J. Lindgren	....	additional music programmer
Jamie Lowry	....	music editor
Yann McCullough	....	auricle operator
Edgardo Simone	....	orchestrator
Kevin Teasley	....	composer: Rappers Won't Survive
Kevin Teasley	....	composer: Wheels of Steel
Rick Wentworth	....	conductor
Nick Wollage	....	score engineer & mixer

Transportation Department
Tom Hallowell	....	driver: Los Angeles
Rick Kelleher	....	generator operator/driver: Los Angeles
Jeremy Morgan	....	transportation captain: Los Angeles
Irv Press	....	generator operator/driver
Sean Shepherd	....	generator operator/driver: Los Angeles
Noel Edwin Silva	....	driver: Los Angeles
Jerry Smith	....	transportation coordinator: Los Angeles
Andy Spilkoman	....	picture car coordinator: Los Angeles

Other crew
Ajeenah Abdus-Samad	....	production coordinator: second unit
Allison Adamovic	....	production assistant: second unit
Keith Adams	....	location manager: additional photography
Jessica Archer	....	location scout
Michael Barnes	....	financial legal services
Geoffrey Booth	....	location assistant
Amanda Boyd	....	production assistant: second unit
Rebecca Breckel	....	additional script supervisor
Lauren Brundage	....	first assistant accountant
Cassandra Butcher	....	unit publicist
John Calvin Byrd	....	assistant publicist
Adam M. Carr	....	office production assistant
Manie D. Chery	....	production assistant
Martin J. Cummins	....	location scout
Cody D'Ambrosio	....	additional set production assistant: Los Angeles
Dante	....	warm-up comic
Alison Davis	....	assistant production coordinator
Patricia de Paula	....	production coordinator
Michael DeRoker	....	assistant location manager: additional photography
George Easley	....	location assistant
Phil Eisenhower	....	studio teacher: second unit
Kimberly Feinman	....	assistant location manager
Jared Ferrie	....	assistant: producer
Aaron Fiesell	....	production assistant: second unit
Dann Fink	....	adr loop group director
Hal Fuchsman	....	staff set production assistant
Kevin Funston	....	location manager: Los Angeles
Jordan Gilbert	....	office production assistant: LA Unit
Dave Ginsberg	....	assistant location manager
Andrea Greer	....	script supervisor
Phyllis Johnson	....	adr loop group
Jason Kadlec	....	location scout
Joanna Klein	....	assistant to director: reshoots
Russ Klein	....	background production assistant: reshoots
Rich Koski	....	production assistant: re-shoots
Rich Koski	....	production assistant: reshoots
Peter LaSala	....	office production assistant
Anthony McClendon	....	location scout
Kathy McHugh	....	script supervisor: Los Angeles
Amy Meisner	....	production assistant
Damien Noguer	....	office intern
Brieann Rich	....	craft service
Nicholas Rich	....	set medic
Anthony Rue II	....	assistant choreographer
Tanisha Scott	....	choreographer
Michael Sgalambro	....	production assistant
Kate Sharp	....	production secretary: second unit
Jonathan Silver	....	main title sequence designer
Greg Sucharew	....	production assistant
George L. Tarrant Jr.	....	assistant to director
Duffy Taylor	....	key assistant location manager
Natalie Threlkel	....	assistant production coordinator: second unit
Samantha Treiber	....	production assistant
Clinton Trucks	....	office assistant
Aimee Urmanita	....	production assistant: second unit
Jason Veley	....	assistant: director
Lena Waithe	....	writing assistant
Jacob Wasserman	....	production assistant
Steven Weisberg	....	location manager
Michael Woody	....	second assistant accountant
Oren Yaniv	....	production secretary
Ilya Jonathan Zaydenberg	....	photo double
Bianca Giancoli	....	body double (uncredited)
Terricka Hudson	....	stand-in: Julia Pace Mitchell (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (presents)
• Voletta Wallace Films
• Bystorm Films (as By Storm Films)
• State Street Pictures
• Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group (as Bad Boy Films)

Distributors

• 20th Century Fox (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Fox Searchlight Pictures (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (Belgium) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• FS Film Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Brainstorm Digital
• Mechanism Digital
• Space Monkey (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Liquid Soul Media  marketing and promotion
• Atlantic Records  soundtrack
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Dakota Music Services  music preparation
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• Professional Sound Services  sound equipment provided by
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Sony Pictures Stock Footage  stock footage
• Wildfire Studios  adr recording facility

Also Known As:

Untitled Notorious B.I.G. Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language, some strong sexuality including dialogue, nudity, and for drug content.

Runtime:

122 min | 128 min (unrated director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Ireland:16 | UK:15 | Australia:MA | New Zealand:R16 | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 | Finland:K-15 | Philippines:R-18 (MTRCB) | Netherlands:12 | USA:R (certificate #44759)

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

Jamal Woolard heavily prepared for his role for months, which includes listening and remembering the lyrics to all songs by Biggie, gaining weight and vocal lessons at Juilliard School to get the voice right.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the scene where Biggie walks across the street to sell crack to Sandy there is a 2008-2009 Ford E150 or E250 Van in the street, yet Biggie died in 1997.

Quotes:

Voletta Wallace: What kind of grown-ass man calls himself "Puffy?"

Movie Connections:

Features Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip (1982)

Never was a fan until now

Back in the 90's as a teen, I never really got in to Biggie's music or lyrics. I never knew the correlation between he and all these artists like "Puff Daddy" Faith Evans, Lil Kim all came up together. I never understood how the East Coast West Coast feud got started.

This film gave me a new respect for Christopher Wallace. His intelligence and how he tied that in to his passion for music and lyrics. He had a dream as a child and in the end he achieved that dream of not just becoming a success as a performer, but a success as a father to his children, a good son to his mom, and a good man to himself.

I love that line in the move "If you wanna change the world, First you've got to change yourself"

Inspirational film, even if you're not a fan of his music or hip hop, you can still appreciate the story behind this man.