5 Things You Didn't Know About 'Stomp the Yard'
'Stomp the Yard' follows DJ, an L.A. kid who moves to Atlanta, goes to college and joins an African-American fraternity -- and the all-important step team. Think 'Boyz 'N the Hood' meets Spike Lee's 'School Daze.' We talk to producer Will Packer, who spills some secrets from the set of the urban dance drama.
More About 'Stomp the Yard'
1. No Short Shrift
“When Columbus [Short, who plays the lead role of DJ,] came out to audition for the film, he created his own step routine to show us that he was right for the role,” Packer reveals. Short is nothing if not versatile; he's currently a regular on TV's 'Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip' -- no stepping required.
2. Method Acting Is Alive and Well
Packer tells us: “The actors who portrayed the rival fraternities in the movie acted like rival fraternities on set. They did not talk to each other, they did not eat together, they did not hang out, they did not socialize together. Each of these teams really wanted to beat the other team."
3. Ne-Yo Is Super Dedicated
"Ne-Yo was touring while we shot this film," Packer reveals, "so he would come in and work all night long on the steps. He would work sometimes until three or four in the morning to learn the step routines, go and shoot his scene the following day, then that following day go and do a concert in some other part of the country."
4. She Has a Good Resume
Star Meagan Good has come a long way since her first role -- for a commercial when she was 4. The 25-year-old actress, who's appeared in such acclaimed films as 'Eve's Bayou' and 'Roll Bounce,' has produced her first film (in which she also stars), 'Miles From Home.' Director Sylvain White sings her praises in the film's production notes, "She's one of the smartest actors I've ever come across."
5. The Producer Was a Stepper
Packer himself, an alum of Florida A&M, was a step team member in college. In production notes for the film, he says "Mainstream America isn’t really familiar with stepping -- yet. We had a chance to create a rich view of this world that is relatable to people who know nothing about it. At the same time, even stepping aficionados will find it realistic."
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