Details

Release year: 2000

Storyline

A frustrated African-American TV writer proposes a blackface minstrel show in protest, but to his chagrin, it becomes a hit.

Top credits

Directors

Spike Lee

Writers

Spike Lee

Cast

Damon Wayans — Pierre Delacroix
Savion Glover — Manray, Mantan
Jada Pinkett Smith — Sloan Hopkins
Michael Rapaport — Dunwitty

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Did you know

• Most of this film was shot only on digital (Mini DV) camcorders, which can be purchased over the counter at any consumer electronics store. While this choice of technology sacrificed quality, it allowed the cinematographers to film with 15 cameras at a time, and it also allowed Spike Lee to get all the footage he needed shot within the film's modest budget. The "Mantan: The New Millennium Minstrel Show" sequences were the only scenes shot using 16mm film.

• At the end of the film, The Mau Maus are killed in a shootout with police; the only survivor was the only white member of the group. It was based on a real-life California incident in the early 1990s. A California street gang was in a shootout with police, and the only 2 white gang members survived.

• Alec Baldwin was supposed to appear in the film as himself, but didn't show up on the day of filming. Lee called Matthew Modine to quickly take Baldwin's place.