Killing time, I wondered over to the IMDB and was suprised to see him credited with Miscellaneous Crew in Malcom X. Anyone know more about this?

Miscellaneous Crew - filmography

"80s" (2005) TV Series (singer: "When Doves Cry") (archive footage)
Striptease (1996) (singer: "If I Was Your Girlfriend")

Malcolm X (1992) (thank allah)
... aka X (USA: poster title)

Batman (1989) (singer)
Risky Business (1983) (musician: vocal and guitar, "D.M.S.R.")
Summer Lovers (1982) (singer: "Sexuality" and "Sexy Dancer")

Look through the film credits and you will see a number of people listed, including Prince

http://www.imdb.com/title...ullcredits

Tracy Chapman
Peggy Cooper-Cafritz
Bill Cosby
Aretha Franklin
Janet Jackson
Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
Prince
Oprah Winfrey

The film ran out of funding and Spike Lee turned to these people to provide financial support to finish the film:

See November 18, 1992 entry here:

http://www.thehistorymake...tring=1992

and Spike Lee interview (1995):

"The only reason that Warner Brothers gave in and started to fund Malcolm X again was when Tracy Chapman, the artist formerly know as Prince, Michael Jordan, Magic [Johnson], Oprah [Winfrey], Bill Cosby, Janet Jackson and Peggy Cooper Cafritz down in D.C. came together on a joint venture the same way that Katzenberg, Geffen and Spielberg came together on Dreamworks.

"That's some heavyweights, and that's what it took, because otherwise that film was not getting made. Warner Brothers understood exactly what it was to have these people writing checks for me to continue. Two days later, they started funding us. That is power.

http://www.gobelle.com/p/...g_2?pi=gbl

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[Edited 11/23/05 3:57am]

That was such a bad movie, Prince should've saved his cash.

NouveauDance said:

Malcolm X was a bad movie???

Rhondab said:

Oh yeah, an awful bore.

Completely unbelievable and not enough guns and boobs.

And Denzel Washington?! They shoulda got someone big like Al Pachino, he could've played the part much better.

No wonder they never made a sequel.

Rhondab said:

Compared to the book. I'd say it was a not-so-great movie with oh-so-great performances. Delroy Lindo and Denzel were both awesome, but I don't know if Spike was the man for the job.

NouveauDance said:

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Dude, I guess you saw a different movie from the rest of us. Try reading the book.

I missed Malcom I through IX, so I didn't check this one out.

laurarichardson said:

Are there more guns and boobs in the book?

How about the space battle? I heard they didn't include that because of budget restrictions.

OdysseyMiles said:

did you expect the book?? I had no expectation that the movie would be anywhere near the book....


I don't think it was "awful" .....

Rhondab said:

Nah, I don't think it was awful either. The book tells such a marvelous story that it makes it difficult even for the best director to get the most moving elemts across, let alone Spike Lee. I loved the performances, but I just couldn't fall in love with the movie as a whole.

NouveauDance said:

Ok, for THIS is the most shocking opinion I have heard in a long while. And with all due respect, that comment spoke volumes. My goodness, that's like saying Stevie Wonder is a overrated artist.

I'm sorry but I have to tell my friends about this. Malcom X is a bad movie? Wow!

NouveauDance said:

Based on what? How could Maclolm X be a bad movie when it was an bio-pic on a HISTORICAL AMERICAN FIGURE?

OdysseyMiles said:

Delroy was brilliant, especially in the scene where he was ill - Classic! But who could have done a better job than Spike?

Aftershock said:

Like I said, there wasn't enough guns and boobs, and Al Pachino would've been a better choice for the lead.

NouveauDance said:

nouveau's obviously bullshittin, ya'll.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Yeah, I finally caught that.

Aftershock said:

Someone who didn't care so much about Oscars . Spike did o.k., the way he makes films just has a tendency to irk me here and there. Again, I'm not saying it's a bad film, Malcolm's story is so great it's hard to completely screw it up. After reading the book two or three times in high school, then seeing the film, it was just kinda "meh" for me.
[Edited 11/23/05 9:51am]

OdysseyMiles said:

You really think Spike is Oscar-struck? Not even. Where do you get that from?

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I prefer to use the phrase 'yanking the chain' - bullshittin' is so corse.

Aftershock said:

I remember him being interviewed by Donnie Simpson one time and he said he was "hoping to win 10 Oscars" with 'X'. I don't know if he was serious or if he was saying it just to say it. I don't think he's Oscar-struck in general, but I think he wanted serious recognition for that particular film.

OdysseyMiles said:

Oh ok. Well, I don't see anything wrong with wanting the proper recognition of a film he kinda new was gonna be great.

Also, in appreciation to Prince being 1 of the contributors to help finish the film, Spike directed "Money Don't Matter Tonight" for Prince.

NouveauDance said:

...and I don't think it would've killed 'em to have thrown in a talking baby.

How can Malcolm X be a bad movie? Malcolm X is Spike's masterpiece (even though one might argue that Do The Right Thing is his masterwork)! I mean, the first hour was a little stiff in places, but Denzel, Spike, and the crew were at the top of their game in that movie. I believe that this unbelievable 3+ hour film will go in my top 10 favorite movie list. Spike wanted this film to be epic in both scope and length. In my hearts of hearts, the reason why some people really consider this as a risky and partially disappointing film is because of the length and the myths that the film had during the pre and post production. Malcolm X kind've reminds of Oliver Stone's JFK though.
[Edited 11/23/05 17:41pm]

WOW...that movie was so good...awful tho???? thats...thats just crazy.Thats my opinion of ur opinion...

silverchild said:

Malcolm X was a brilliant movie. To say it was bad would be like saying Sign of the Times sucked. Utterly ridiculous

OdysseyMiles said:

Now I loved the movie but I can't say that I wasn't a tad disappointed! I had read the book first and it really helped me through a hard time. Then all those years later when Ali came out. I had a real feeling of disappointment. Not at Will Smith or the director but I guess since I saw the real Ali in "When We Were Kings" well nothing can compare to the real Ali. That's a great doc by the way I highly recommend it.

At any rate I had to ask myself why the feelings of disappointment? I think its because both of those men were so big! Truly larger than life and you can't really capture them in a 3 hour film. Its really impossible especially this close to their actual lives.

Now in the HBO show Rome the actor that plays Ceasar is awesome but whose to say if it was closer to his time someone might feel that he aint so hot.

Oh and back to the point of the thread. When Spike was making X he knew the budget he needed and the studio only wanted to give him so much money to make the film. So Spike went to the top celebs and asked for donations!! I believe if you see the credits on the DVD you will see pics of Bill Cosby and Magic many of the people that donated he gave a shout out to that way. If memory serves that is why they credited for the film.

Michael Jackson turned spike down for $.