Friday Widely regarded as one of the funniest and overall best pothead comedies made in the last 25 years. The film, written by Ice Cube and DJ Vinnie, tells the story of friends Craig (Cuoper) and Smokey (Chris Tucker) in South Central Los Angeles on a leisurely Friday with a man named The story of Big Bug (Faison Love) who gets mixed up with dangerous drug dealers. ).
The production cost is approximately US$3.5 million, Friday The budget doubled during its opening weekend in April 1995, and the film became an instant hit at the U.S. box office.The film grossed more than $28 million at the global box office and spawned a sequel next Friday, After next Friday, and upcoming last Friday.This year the film celebrates its 25th anniversary, here are 10 behind-the-scenes facts about its making Friday.
writing process
When Ice Cube and DJ Pooh first conceived of the film, they realized that the black community in Los Angeles was struggling with issues such as Boyz N Hood and color. Instead of depicting gang violence, the pair set out to reimagine the “hood” as an entertainment venue.
As such, much of the script is autobiographical. The plot of Craig (Cooper) stealing the box comes from a real-life incident involving Cooper’s cousin. Many other aspects of the story are based on Cooper and Vinnie’s time growing up in South Central.
clerk inspiration
It’s time to pitch Friday Cube and Pooh cited Kevin Smith’s work to New Line Cinema clerk as a template and then modeled for production. It was suggested that an independent comedy be filmed in a location with a small cast as a cost-saving measure. The idea of filming in black and white was also briefly considered.
In terms of the tone of the film family gathering Also considered an inspiration, New Line Cinema also produced the film in 1990. New Line Cinema agreed to produce the film and gave Cube the power to hand-pick the director.
F. Gary Gray’s Involvement
When Cube was given carte blanche to select the filmmakers, he chose to hire longtime music video director F. Gary Gray to helm the project. In addition to working with Gray in the past as a musician, Cooper chose the filmmaker because of his upbringing in a similar neighborhood to the film’s setting and his otherworldly understanding of the material.
Gray was initially hesitant about making his first film an Ice Cube comedy, but eventually agreed to direct the film. Gray also has a cameo in the film as Izar (Anthony Johnson), a liquor store employee who slips and falls.
Casting Smokey
Co-writer DJ Pooh was originally scheduled to play the role of Smokey in the movie. Friday. However, when New Line opted for someone larger and more experienced, Chris Tucker ended up getting the role. As a result, Pooh accepted the small role of Red.
In addition to Pooh, Chris Rock and Tommy Davidson were also considered for the role of Smokey. After the film’s release, Tucker became a big movie star and never returned to movies. Friday Franchising again. To play Smokey, Tucker improvised many of his own lines.
original opening
In the theatrical version of the movie, Friday First, an introduction to Craig Jones’s (Cube) family. However, in the extended cut, several supporting characters are introduced before meeting the Joneses.
Among the scenes that were altered/deleted were a shot of Deebo (Liszt Jr.) sleeping in a garage, and a shot of two kids on the sidewalk witnessing Izar running down the block with a pair of speakers in his hands. Another shot shows Stanley spraying water on the children to keep them away from his lawn, followed by Smokey’s introduction in bed.
theatrical premiere
Two now-famous actors make their film debut Friday. The late Michael Clarke Duncan appears as an uncredited background extra in a black-and-white flashback scene where Red confronts Deebo over his stolen bike. Duncan went on to star in the following iconic films: Green Miracle, Armageddon, Sin Cityand more.
Additionally, 13-year-old Megan Goode plays “Child No. 2,” who Smokey pushes away as he talks to a giant bug in an ice cream truck.Goode has a role in a TV series moesha The following year.
near director
The shooting location is Friday The story takes place in director F. Gary Gray’s private childhood community in South Central Los Angeles. The streets on which the film was filmed were the same neighborhood where Gary grew up, and many of the homes used for filming belonged to several of his real-life friends.
More specifically, in a flashback scene where Deebo meets Vinnie over a stolen bicycle, Gray’s former home is used.
Surrounded by gang violence
Friday The film was shot over 20 days on 126th Street between Halldale and Normandy in south-central Los Angeles. Given the dangerous nature of the neighborhood, the cast and crew were deliberately told not to wear red while filming because it might annoy the blue-clad street gangs.
Therefore, the actors’ wardrobe mainly consists of blue. Smokey wears a blue shirt and hat, Deebo wears a blue plaid shirt, Mrs. Parker (Katherine Bradley) wears blue shorts, Meagan Good wears a blue hat and overalls, and so on.
Two real-life gang members took issue with the South Central filming and refused to obey the filmmakers’ instructions in one particular scene.
In a flashback scene where Smokey accidentally smokes angel dust with Hector and his friends, two men can be seen sitting on the wall in the background. These weren’t hired extras, but disgruntled locals who didn’t like being filmed in their neighborhood. Despite offers of walk-on roles, the men declined and insisted on remaining on camera.
craig’s clothing
Outfit worn by Craig (Cube) at the end and beginning Friday Exactly the same outfit his character Dough Boy wears at the end of the film Boyz N Hood. The clothing included khaki shorts, a dark green T-shirt, white socks and a pair of dark slippers.
Additionally, the outfit Craig wears for the rest of the film—dark pants, a black-and-white plaid long-sleeved shirt, and black Nike shoes—was designed by Ice Cooper’s son O’Shea Jackson. Straight Outta Comptonin which he played a version of his father.