PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: BET'S THE NEW EDITION STORY: WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING & CONVERSATION {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented at The Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles. This evening celebrates "The New Edition Story," the three-part miniseries depicting the creation and rise to fame of the R&B/pop boy band New Edition in the 1980s. After a screening of the first episode, Yvette Nicole Brown (comedian and cast member) moderates the following panelists: executive producer Jesse Collins; director Chris Robinson; and cast members Elijah Kelley (Ricky Bell), Woody McClain (Bobby Brown), Keith Powers (Ronnie Devoe), Algee Smith (Ralph Tresvant), Luke James (Johnny Gill), and Bryshere Y. Gray (Michael Bivins). Brown also acknowledges several other cast members in the audience, as well singer and co-producer Bobby Brown.
The panelists touch on such topics as: the actors' memories of their early introductions to New Edition's music; their strenuous "boot camp" experience with manager and choreographer Brooke Payne; how the band's well-received performance at the 2009 BET Awards encouraged Collins to make the film; why the story is better served by a miniseries than a feature film; praise for veteran casting director Robi Reed and the difficulty of accurately casting the band members and their relatives; the challenges of recreating the band's original music, particularly for the "tone-deaf" Powers; the nerve-wracking experience of performing in front of renowned musician Babyface, who produced the series' music, as well as the real New Edition members themselves; the cast's thorough research into their characters, including spending time with the real families and working with dialect coaches; Smith's real-life connection to the story through his father, who played guitar with New Edition; Kelley's memories of Bell's funny request that the actors should be "a little less corny"; depicting Bell's personal "downfall" and eventual recovery; exploring behind-the-scenes secrets unknown to most New Edition fans; the band's ongoing sense of obligation to their longtime fans; how the actors "turned into" their characters and emulated their interpersonal relationships; praise for the young actors portraying the child versions of the band members; and Robinson's lifelong love of the band and excitement at landing the job, including his commitment to extremely detailed historical accuracy.
Bobby Brown then briefly takes the stage with two of the child actors and praises the series, stating that he is "amazed" by its accuracy and quality.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics, among others: Kelley's sense of the cast's "harmonious spirit"; the impact of the project, which is several of the actors' first film, on their lives and careers; the most challenging moments of choreography, including the dance for "You're Not My Kind of Girl" and the song medley; Robinson's "brutal" callback style, in which actors competing for the same part were forced to work together; hints about a soundtrack release; and Yvette Nicole Brown's sense that her role as Michael Bivins' mother Shirley is "not a coincidence," as the real Bivins was instrumental to the start of her own career.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 30, 1999 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: N/A
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 128203
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: Women's Collection - Drama
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Yvette Nicole Brown … Moderator
- Jesse Collins … Panelist
- Chris Robinson … Panelist
- Elijah Kelley … Panelist
- Woody McClain … Panelist
- Keith Powers … Panelist
- Algee Smith … Panelist
- Luke James … Panelist
- Bryshere Y. Gray … Panelist
- Bobby Brown … Guest
- Babyface (see also: Kenneth Edmonds)
- Ricky Bell
- Michael Bivins
- New Edition
- Brooke Payne
- Robi Reed