''Punks'' is a 2000 film produced by
Babyface Babyface or Baby Face can refer to:
Nicknames
* Lester Joseph Gillis a.k.a. Baby Face Nelson, an infamous 1930s bank robber
* Roosevelt "Baby Face" Willette (1933–1971), an American hard bop and soul-jazz musician
* "Baby Face", Jimmy McLarnin ...
, directed by
Patrik-Ian Polk
Patrik-Ian Polk (born July 29, 1973 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi) is an American director, screenwriter, and producer. Polk, who is gay, is noted for his films and theatre work that explore the experiences and stories of African-American LGBT pe ...
, and starring
Rockmond Dunbar
Rockmond Dunbar (born January 11, 1973) is an American actor, best known for his roles as Baines on the NBC series '' Earth 2'', Kenny Chadway on Showtime family drama ''Soul Food'', and Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin on the Fox crime drama '' ...
,
Seth Gilliam
Seth Gilliam (born November 5, 1968) is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayals of Ellis Carver on ''The Wire'', Clayton Hughes on '' Oz'', Detective Daniels on ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' (2007–2008), Dr. Alan Deaton on ''T ...
,
Renoly Santiago
Renoly Santiago (born March 15, 1974) is a Puerto Rican actor, singer and writer known for his appearances in films such as ''Dangerous Minds'', ''Hackers'' and ''Con Air'', and in television series such as ''Touched by an Angel'' and ''Law & Or ...
,
Jazzmun
Jazzmun (born February 10, 1969) is the stage name of Jazzmun Nichala Crayton who is an American actress and nightclub performer, often working in the Los Angeles Area.
Background
Originally from San Diego, California, Jazzmun made her first n ...
, and
Dwight Ewell
Dwight Edward Ewell (born 1968) is an American actor known for his roles in films such as ''Chasing Amy'', ''Amateur'', ''Party Girl'' and '' The Guru''.
Career
Ewell was born in Williamston, North Carolina to teenage parents. His father fought i ...
.
The film follows the trials and tribulations of a group of
gay
''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'.
While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late 1 ...
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
friends. While
black gay life is explored in the film, universal aspects of friendship plays at the plot's forefront. The film's themes were later used for the 2005
Logo
A logo (abbreviation of logotype; ) is a graphic mark, emblem, or symbol used to aid and promote public identification and recognition. It may be of an abstract or figurative design or include the text of the name it represents as in a wordma ...
cable television series ''
Noah's Arc
''Noah's Arc'' is an American cable television comedy-drama series that aired for two seasons on the Logo network from October 19, 2005 to October 4, 2006. The show centered on the lives of four Black gay friends who share personal and professio ...
''.
The film was popular at film festivals but never had distribution due to rights issues with the
Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge is an American musical vocal group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formed in 1971, the group consisted of sisters Debbie, Joni, Kim, and Kathy Sledge. The siblings achieved international success at the height of the disco era. ...
songs featured prominently in the story. It was shown on Logo on August 7, 2011. Otherwise it remains unavailable through home media but has occasional private screenings.
Cast
*
Seth Gilliam
Seth Gilliam (born November 5, 1968) is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayals of Ellis Carver on ''The Wire'', Clayton Hughes on '' Oz'', Detective Daniels on ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' (2007–2008), Dr. Alan Deaton on ''T ...
as Marcus
*
Dwight Ewell
Dwight Edward Ewell (born 1968) is an American actor known for his roles in films such as ''Chasing Amy'', ''Amateur'', ''Party Girl'' and '' The Guru''.
Career
Ewell was born in Williamston, North Carolina to teenage parents. His father fought i ...
as Hill
*
Renoly Santiago
Renoly Santiago (born March 15, 1974) is a Puerto Rican actor, singer and writer known for his appearances in films such as ''Dangerous Minds'', ''Hackers'' and ''Con Air'', and in television series such as ''Touched by an Angel'' and ''Law & Or ...
as Dante
*
Rockmond Dunbar
Rockmond Dunbar (born January 11, 1973) is an American actor, best known for his roles as Baines on the NBC series '' Earth 2'', Kenny Chadway on Showtime family drama ''Soul Food'', and Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin on the Fox crime drama '' ...
as Darby
*
Jazzmun
Jazzmun (born February 10, 1969) is the stage name of Jazzmun Nichala Crayton who is an American actress and nightclub performer, often working in the Los Angeles Area.
Background
Originally from San Diego, California, Jazzmun made her first n ...
as Chris/Crystal
*
Rudolf Martin
Rudolf Martin (born 31 July 1967) is a German actor working mainly in the United States. He first appeared in off-Broadway productions and then moved on to extensive TV and film work. He has made guest appearances on numerous hit television seri ...
as Gilbert
*
Vanessa Estelle Williams
Vanessa Estelle Williams (sometimes professionally credited as Vanessa A. Williams) is an American actress and producer. She is best known for her roles as Maxine Joseph–Chadway in the Showtime drama series, ''Soul Food'' (2000–04), for whi ...
as Jennifer
*
Devon Odessa
''My So-Called Life'' is an American teen drama television series created by Winnie Holzman and produced by Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz. It originally aired on ABC from August 25, 1994, to January 26, 1995. It is distributed by The ...
as Felicity
*
Loretta Devine
Loretta Devine (born August 21, 1949) is an American actress, singer and voice actor. She is known for numerous roles across stage and screen. Her most high profile roles include Lorrell Robinson in the original Broadway production of ''Dreamgir ...
as Health Counselor
*
Rodney Chester as Alexis Carrington Colby Dexter
*
Thea Vidale
Thea R. Vidale (born November 20, 1956) is an American stand-up comedian and actress. Vidale is perhaps best known for her role as Thea Armstrong-Turrell in the ABC sitcom '' Thea'', which originally aired from 1993 until 1994. Vidale is noted as ...
as Nurse
Awards and nominations
*
Black Reel Awards
The Black Reel Awards, or BRAs, is an annual American awards ceremony hosted by the Foundation for the Augmentation of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF) to recognize excellence of African Americans, as well as the cinematic achievements of the Afr ...
**Best Independent Actor - Theatrical:
***(
Rockmond Dunbar
Rockmond Dunbar (born January 11, 1973) is an American actor, best known for his roles as Baines on the NBC series '' Earth 2'', Kenny Chadway on Showtime family drama ''Soul Food'', and Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin on the Fox crime drama '' ...
) Winner
*
Cleveland International Film Festival
The Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) is an annual film festival based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is the largest film festival in Ohio. It was first held in 1977, showing eight films over a period of eight weeks at the Cedar Lee Theatre. It ...
**Best American Independent Feature Film: Winner
*
GLAAD Media Awards
The GLAAD Media Award is an accolade bestowed by GLAAD to recognize and honor various branches of the media for their outstanding representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and the issues that affect their live ...
**Outstanding Film - Limited Release: Nominated
*
Independent Spirit Awards
The Independent Spirit Awards (abbreviated Spirit Awards and originally known as the FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards), founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with Poly(methyl m ...
**
John Cassavetes Award The Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award is presented to the creative team of a film budgeted at less than $500,000 by the Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers. It is named after ac ...
:
***(
Patrik-Ian Polk
Patrik-Ian Polk (born July 29, 1973 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi) is an American director, screenwriter, and producer. Polk, who is gay, is noted for his films and theatre work that explore the experiences and stories of African-American LGBT pe ...
,
Tracey Edmonds
Tracey Elaine Edmonds (née McQuarn; born February 18, 1967) is an American businesswoman, television producer and personality. She is the CEO of Edmonds Entertainment Group Inc and Alrightnow.com and is a former host of the television show '' E ...
and Michael McQuarn) Nominated
*
L.A. Outfest
**Outstanding Emerging Talent:
***(
Patrik-Ian Polk
Patrik-Ian Polk (born July 29, 1973 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi) is an American director, screenwriter, and producer. Polk, who is gay, is noted for his films and theatre work that explore the experiences and stories of African-American LGBT pe ...
) Winner
References
External links
*
*
2000 films
2000 comedy films
2000 LGBT-related films
African-American comedy films
African-American LGBT-related films
American LGBT-related films
Brookwell McNamara Entertainment films
Films directed by Patrik-Ian Polk
Transgender-related films
2000 directorial debut films
2000s English-language films
2000s American films
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