| Hav Plenty |
 |
| Directed by |
Christopher Scott Cherot |
| Produced by |
Bridget D. Davis, Christopher Scott Cherot, Dana Offenbach, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Robyn M. Greene, S.J. Cherot, Tracey Edmonds |
| Written by |
Christopher Scott Cherot |
| Narrated by |
Christopher Scott Cherot |
| Starring |
Christopher Scott Cherot
Chenoa Maxwell
Reginald James
Robinne Lee
Tammi Katherine Jones |
| Music by |
Lisa Coleman
Wendy Melvoin |
| Cinematography |
Kerwin DeVonish |
| Editing by |
Christopher Scott Cherot |
| Distributed by |
Miramax Films |
| Release date(s) |
June 19, 1998 (U.S.) |
| Running time |
92 min. |
| Country |
U.S.A. |
| Language |
English |
| Budget |
$65,000 |
| Gross revenue |
$2,284,034[1] |
Hav Plenty is a 1998 American independent film released by Miramax Films, based on an eventful weekend in the life of Lee Plenty (Christopher Scott Cherot), written and directed by Cherot. The film is based on the true story of Chris Cherot's unrequited romance with Def Jam A&R executive Drew Dixon.
Production
Financing for the film came from Cherot's time as a New York City cab driver,[2] and a third mortgage on his mother's home. Principle photography took eighteen days in and around New York City and New Jersey.
Upon completion of principle photography, Cherot was out of money again, and it took him almost a year to complete his edit and make a screening print of the film.[3] In May 1997, at his first "cast-and-crew screening" in a small screening room in New York City, Hav Plenty producer Robyn M. Greene by chance ran into Warrington Hudlin and Bill Duke in the lobby of the building and invited them up to view the film. Immediately after the screening, Hudlin invited Cherot to participate in the inaugural year of the Acapulco Black Film Festival, now the American Black Film Festival. Cherot accepted on the spot, and one month later, in June 1997, Hav Plenty was the opening night film in Acapulco, the first film at the first festival.[4]
After seeing Hav Plenty at the Acapulco Black Film Festival, Tracey Edmonds and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds offered to attach their names to the film and record a new soundtrack, consequently attracting an intense amount of media attention to what was previously a small, obscure independent movie. Three months later, after a screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in September of '97, Harvey Weinstein offered to buy Hav Plenty for an amount somewhere between 1.5 - 2.3 million dollars. The entire time that passed between Cherot's first obscure screening in New York City to Weinstein's multi-million dollar handshake-deal in Toronto was four months.[5]
According to an interview with Chris Cherot, Miramax wanted to give the movie a happier ending. They compromised by adding the "one year later" scene which shows a happier ending, while at the same time leaves room for argument that Hav and Lee didn't end up together.
After screenings at the Sundance Film Festival in January 1998 to start the official "buzz", Miramax theatrically released Hav Plenty in the United States on June 19, 1998, with worldwide distribution following afterward.
Cast
- Christopher Scott Cherot — Lee Plenty
- Betty Vaughn — Grandma Moore
- Chenoa Maxwell — Havilland Savage
- Chuck Baron — Mr. Savage
- Hill Harper — Michael Simmons
- Kim Harris — Bobby Montgomery
- Margie St. Juste — Alexandria Beaumont
- Reginald James — Felix Darling
- Robinne Lee — Leigh Darling
- Tammi Katherine Jones — Caroline Gooden
Cameo appearances by:
Critical reception
Upon initial release, the film received near unanimous praise from major trades and newspapers. Stephen Holden (The New York Times) said, "With his self-deflating cool and amused insight into the shallowness of the buppie world in which he drifts, Lee is one of the most original and likable characters to pop up in a movie in quite a while."[6] Emanuel Levy (Variety) said, "Christopher Scott Cherot makes a splashy debut as writer, director, editor and star of this fresh, bittersweet, modern-day love story that recalls the early work of Woody Allen."[7] Duane Byrge of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Screenwriter-director Cherot has dished up a dicey, romantic riposte, stuffing it with the real makings of romantic comedy: individual insecurities, desires and fears."[8] Lisa Schwarzbaum (Entertainment Weekly) wrote: "[Cherot] may be new to the movie game, but he announces himself with such confidence and force of personality, you know a noteworthy talent has arrived."[9] Kevin Thomas at The Los Angeles Times observed, "The pleasure in watching Hav Plenty comes from seeing Cherot discover the possibilities of the medium as he goes along... As it unfolds, repartee gives way to an increasing sense of the visual, and by the time the film is over, Cherot has discovered how potent [his actors] can be in repose.." [10]. And The San Francisco Chronicle remarked, "Hav Plenty harks back to a different temperament with considerable charm."[11] With the exception of Roger Ebert, [12], nearly all major reviewers were particularly impressed with Cherot’s absurdist, witty writing and personable, on-screen charisma; Entertainment Weekly included Cherot on its year-end "It-List"[13].
Awards & nominations
1997 Acapulco Black Film Festival
1998 Sundance Film Festival
- Grand Jury Prize, Dramatic — Christopher Scott Cherot (nominated)
1999 Acapulco Black Film Festival
- Best Screenplay — Christopher Scott Cherot (winner)
Trivia
- Hill Harper was originally cast to play the lead character, "Lee Plenty". Harper spent months rehearsing and exploring the character, but two weeks before principle photography, dropped out to take a smaller role in Spike Lee's Get On The Bus. The break from Cherot's production was amicable, with both Cherot and Harper agreeing it was the right move; Harper even volunteered to come back and play the smaller part of "Michael Simmons". Cherot, however, was forced to find another lead actor, and at the last minute ended up playing the role himself.
- The photo Havilland finds in Lee's bible is a real photo of Cherot, taken in a hospital after a fight.
- Although not officially a sequel, Chris Cherot and "The Real Havilland" Drew Dixon starred in the short film "Vivian", directed by Dixon's younger sister in 2001.[14] The film does not continue the story of Havilland and Lee; rather, it tells the story of a career woman (Dixon) and her weary boyfriend (Cherot) visited by a mysterious "old friend". It is rumored that Dixon and Cherot were dating at the time of filming.
Soundtrack
A soundtrack containing hip hop and R&B music was released on June 9, 1998 by Sony Music Entertainment. It peaked at #39 on the Billboard 200 and #6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
References
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]
External links
References
