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*Summer is here and the temperature is heating up, but according to author/director Buddy Giovanni, “Life is hot in Cracktown.”
*Summer is here and the temperature is heating up, but according to author/director Buddy Giovanni, “Life is hot in Cracktown.”
At least that’s the title of his best-selling novel-turned-film described as showing “the gritty, hard realities of a neighborhood” and the people who try to survive there.
The film stars Kerry Washington as Marybeth, a pre-op transsexual working as a prostitute, and also stars Evan Ross as gangbanger Romeo. These characters lead two of the weaving tales of how crack cocaine has infiltrated the inner-city streets.
“I didn’t know what I was going to do to figure out what this character was,” Ross said of his role. “I didn’t want it to be anything specific that I’ve seen before. I didn’t want it to be a stereotypical gangster that you already thought was going to be a gangster in the film. And I wanted to find something within myself that has to do with someone that’s gotten to the place where they just no longer human.”
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Evan Ross plays killer gangster Romeo in 'Life Is Hot In Cracktown'
Ross admitted that he had no personal experience that matched that of his character, but told reporters that he attached to the role the things that he thought made sense and developed the complex character.
“I was interested in something I had no idea about,” Ross said. His most notable roles in “ATL” and “Pride” were not nearly as ferocious as this one in “Life is Hot.”
“The great [thing] about being an actor is having a chance to play something that you may never have the chance to play,” he continued, “and experience some life things that you may never cross.”
He added that he has no intention of doing anything that he feels is a waste of his time.
“I just want to enjoy what I’m doing and be creative,” he said. “Who gets the chance to do that? People don’t get the chance to play certain things like this. People don’t have the chance to go someplace like this.”
When asked why he pursued acting instead of singing (his mother is singing legend Diana Ross), Evan replied that he does both and said that he also enjoys drawing.
“Sometimes roles aren’t coming, so being able to be creative is great,” the 20-year-old said.
The film’s writer/director Giovinazzo vouched for Ross’ creativity and talent.
“I’d seen ‘ATL’ so I knew he could act, but I didn’t know he could play this part. I didn’t see the color that he brought to this role,” Giovinazzo said. “He took it upon himself to videotape himself and send me two scenes. I saw the scenes and he basically cast himself. Meeting him was just a formality.”
Both Giovinazzo and Ross said that they had a pretty similar idea of what the film would be and what they wanted to create. The two often bounced ideas and questions off each other while filming.
“We both wanted to make the same film. It was great,” Ross said.
“With Evan, with everybody, we just wanted to tell the truth,” Giovinazzo added. “We had no money; it’s a low-budget film. The only thing we had was to give people something different.”
“Life is Hot in Cracktown” opens tomorrow in limited release. The raw and intense ensemble drama also stars RZA, Victor Rasuk, and Lara Flynn Boyle.
“Sometimes films should be provocative. There’s an audience of people that have said, ‘I’ve seen enough car crashes, I’ve seen enough helicopters explode, I’ve seen enough robots kill people – I just want to see a slice of life.”
Watch the trailer for 'Life Is Hot In Cracktown'