The comedy ‘Bodied’ is from director who helmed Eminem’s ‘Without You’ video
His name is what? His name is Eminem, movie producer. The Detroit icon is a producer of a rap comedy that’s stirring much interest at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.
“Bodied” debuts tonight at the Midnight Madness program of the Toronto event, which opens the same day and draws entertainment writers, movie critics, producers and distributors from around the globe.
It’s another rap battle film foray for Eminem, who made his acclaimed film acting debut in 2002’s rap battle-themed “8 Mile.”
The film made the Hollywood Reporter’s Toronto hot list t his week of movies that will appeal to the movie market. It’s directed by Joseph Kahn, a Grammy-winning music video director who’s helmed titles like “Without Me” for Eminem, “Say My Name” for Destiny’s Child and most recently Taylor Swift’s buzz-worthy “Look What You Made Me Do, ” among others.
Eminem is one of the producers, along with his longtime manager Paul Rosenberg (recently named CEO of Def Jam Recordings) . Jil Hardin, a producer of several Swift videos, and Adi Shankar, an executive producer of the Detroit-filmed “Machine Gun Preacher, ” also are on board as producers.
The movie stars Calum Worthy (Disney’s “Austin & Ally” series) , Debra Wilson (“Mad TV”) , veteran actor Anthony Michael Hall of “The Breakfast Club” fame and several real-life battle rappers. It’s described as a satire about race relations centering on a white graduate student’s introduction to performing in the world of rap battles, which is sparked by his thesis topic.
Already, the movie is being talked about as a potential stirrer of controversy. “Every racist, misogynist and homophobic insult gets lobbed around like grenades in “Bodied” — along with winking pop culture zingers and heady references to tomes like “The Brothers Karamazov” — which Kahn financed himself and is shopping to distributors in Toronto…” writes the Los Angeles Times.
This is the first feature film producing credit for Eminem, who’s executive produced several projects including his own documentaries and the “Detroit Rubber” TV series. Traditionally, producers are more directly involved with productions than executive producers, which often is the title used for investors, deal-makers or honorary participants.
A few hours in advance of the screening, Toronto rapper Alex Larsen (Kid Twist) , who co-wrote the script with Kahn, is scheduled to promote the movie with an appearance at an “epic showdown” with battle rapper Madness, according to the Toronto festival.
Contact Julie Hinds: 313-222-6427 or jhinds@freepress.com.
