Production Companies Spelling Bee Productions Inc., 2929 Productions, Cinema Gypsy Productions, Lions Gate Films, Out of the Blue... Entertainment, Reactor Films, Starbucks Entertainment
Atchison was ecstatic when Fishburne came on board to play Dr. Larabee, especially since he feels the audience will get to see a side of the actor they haven’t seen before. “Larabee is vulnerable and we discover a very sensitive guy. Laurence plays that extremely well. Yet, he brings to the screen a quiet moral authority that this character has and, working with him, I’ve learned that he can just sort of be there and do very small things and communicate a lot to the camera and to the audience.” Producer Michael Romersa adds, “He liked the project so much that he was willing to come onboard at an affordable rate for us. He's an incredibly strong actor and has an incredible presence.”
Fishburne’s response to the script was immediate. It played on themes that he took to heart. “I read the script and I was really moved by it. The heart of the story is the relationship between Akeelah and Dr. Larabee. But also important is the story about community. This young girl doesn't think too highly of the place she comes from. Then she begins to learn through her experience that, in fact, she does come from a very tight-knit supportive and concerned community. People do care, love and support her.”
Angela Basset joined the production soon afterwards to play Akeelah’s mother, Tanya. Of course, the re-teaming of Fishburne and Bassett got everybody excited because it evoked memories of “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” the Tina Turner biopic. Hult Ganis says, “They have a history together that helps this film because people know them already and therefore have certain expectations. Ours is a small movie in terms of the budget but big in terms of what it wants to do in its heart. So, it's not usual to get actors of that stature and caliber to be in a film like this.”
For Bassett, it was a wonderful story to tell, the perfect vehicle for her and Fishburne to re-unite on and remind everyone of their amazing on-screen chemistry. “We just talk to each other and we trust each other,” says Bassett. “I think that's the main thing - it's safe to fall and dive. We don't really chat a lot about what we're doing. We just really go with it, feed off and listen to each other, look into the other sides.”
Atchison concedes that Bassett brings things to her character that he could never have written or thought. “Angela made Tanya a real person,” says the writer/director, “because she understood the thought process of the character, a mother who wants the best for her daughter but is afraid that the dream will fail and make things worse. Angela embraced those facets of the character and gives a very powerful performance.”
The team was also thrilled when Curtis Armstrong, who plays Mr. Welch, joined the cast, coming onboard directly off a strong performance in “Ray.” “Curtis is a character actor with a huge resume,” says Atchison, “who was the perfect choice for the school principal. Welch is very excitable and provides a lot of the comic relief in our story. Curtis is hilarious in this part.”
Movie Database
In Theaters
