Does anybody know what happened to the upcoming Rick James

documentary?

According to imdb it was released in 2009

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0992972/

but it was never released was it?

Also I remember seeing this awsome trailer of a documentary

about his life.It was never on youtube.The documentary had an own

site but all of a sudden it was gone.It was a few years ago but I've never seen it since.

I think it's a shame how quite it has been according to releases after his passing.

/peace Manki

Yeah,this project is a mystery.Several years ago,there were many articles about it....

RICK JAMES DOCUMENTARY DUE IN THE FALL: ‘I’m Rick James’ chronicles life and career of funk legend.

Posted at 6/21/2006 11:03:00 AM

In October, HiddenDoor Documedia will release a new feature-length documentary about the life and times of late funk master Rick James.

The film will feature reflections from his daughter Ty and offer a rare glimpse into the musician’s childhood in Buffalo, N.Y. during the 1950s, including his experience learning different instruments and the influence of his mafia-connected mother.

"We're trying to give people an accurate glimpse into the energy, charisma and magnetism that Rick James possessed throughout his life and used to become a superstar," said Perry Santos, producer and co-director of the documentary. "Through his own words and many interviews with everyone from club owners to Hollywood's biggest celebrities, you really get a good look at Rick in all his glory."

The film also chronicles James (born James Ambrose Johnson, Jr.) as he travels to Toronto and forms a band with Neil Young and Bruce Palmer. He learns to play the sitar during his stint as a drug runner and pimp in South America and Asia, and he later returns to the streets of Buffalo to craft his famous song "Superfreak."

After Rick's music launches him into stardom, he becomes a well-known figure at the legendary Studio 54, an energetic rival of Prince and a close buddy of Eddie Murphy. Throughout the documentary, HiddenDoor relies on existing camera footage of James to give the artist an active presence in the film and includes extensive interviews with many of his closest friends, colleagues and contemporaries.

Tales of James' encounters with the U.S. Navy, Rod Stewart, parking attendants, and his personal crack cook, Chef Boy R Dee, keep the documentary moving at a brisk pace. James' candid comments and thoughts are heard throughout the documentary, including "I abuse drugs, not women," "Cocaine is a hell of a drug," and the famous line, "I'm Rick James, b*tch."

-article courtesy of EurWeb.Com (2006)

I don't think it was ever released anywhere

wikipedia even has a page devoted to it

I'm Rick James
Directed by	Perry Santos
Produced by	Perry Santos
Written by	Perry Santos
Starring	Rick James Eddie Griffin Charlie Murphy George Clinton Janice Dickinson
Music by	Levi Ruffin Jr.
Cinematography	Hank Baumert Jr. Andrew Parke
Editing by	Christian Stoehr
Distributed by	Shoreline Entertainment
Release date(s)	September 8, 2007
Running time	90 min.
Country
Language	English
Budget	$1.2 million

and the famous line, "I'm Rick James, b*tch."

Wasn't it established at some point that Rick himself never actually used that particular line, i.e. it was invented by Dave Chappelle for his skit? If I remember correctly, Rick was credited with using something along the lines of "I'm Rick motherfucking James!".

Then again, I could be mistaken

LoveIsTheMessage said:

Wasn't it established at some point that Rick himself never actually used that particular line, i.e. it was invented by Dave Chappelle for his skit? If I remember correctly, Rick was credited with using something along the lines of "I'm Rick motherfucking James!".

Then again, I could be mistaken

In the "Glow" video (from 1985),Rick yells at his girlfriend: "I'm Rick James!" I think that's where Dave Chappelle got it from,he just added the word "bitch",lol.

SoulAlive said:

LoveIsTheMessage said:

In the "Glow" video (from 1985),Rick yells at his girlfriend: "I'm Rick James!" I think that's where Dave Chappelle got it from,he just added the word "bitch",lol.

Ah, that could very well be

I have to admit, it has been ages since I've seen the Glow video. Looks like I have to check it out again

Looks like the film was produced independently

If thats the case, then don't expect to see this film for two more years unless a major distribution company picks it up.

This is the fate of Indie movies, unfortunately. They get very limited screening and then they end up collecting dust in the vaults, even if some of them garnered positive reactions from their screenings.

I went to see this new film in the IFC theatre(that was back in 2004) it was never released on DVD untill THIS VERY YEAR. Supposedly, the director put all of his life savings on this film and when nobody picked it up to distribute it, he spent the last 6 years saving money to distribute this film himself.

Hopefully, Rick's film won't go through the same ordeal.

SoulAlive said:

LoveIsTheMessage said:

In the "Glow" video (from 1985),Rick yells at his girlfriend: "I'm Rick James!" I think that's where Dave Chappelle got it from,he just added the word "bitch",lol.

Somebody posted an audio clip from one of his "Street Songs" concert back in 1981 here couple of years ago where he shouted "I'm Rick James" at the end of one of the songs.

LoveIsTheMessage said:

SoulAlive said:

In the "Glow" video (from 1985),Rick yells at his girlfriend: "I'm Rick James!" I think that's where Dave Chappelle got it from,he just added the word "bitch",lol.

Ah, that could very well be

I have to admit, it has been ages since I've seen the Glow video. Looks like I have to check it out again

here ya go I don't know why it says "featuring Smokey Robinson".He doesn't appear in this video,lol.

Harlepolis said:

Looks like the film was produced independently

If thats the case, then don't expect to see this film for two more years unless a major distribution company picks it up.

This is the fate of Indie movies, unfortunately. They get very limited screening and then they end up collecting dust in the vaults, even if some of them garnered positive reactions from their screenings.

I went to see this new film in the IFC theatre(that was back in 2004) it was never released on DVD untill THIS VERY YEAR. Supposedly, the director put all of his life savings on this film and when nobody picked it up to distribute it, he spent the last 6 years saving money to distribute this film himself.

Hopefully, Rick's film won't go through the same ordeal.

that's a shame.

SoulAlive said:

LoveIsTheMessage said:

Ah, that could very well be

I have to admit, it has been ages since I've seen the Glow video. Looks like I have to check it out again

here ya go I don't know why it says "featuring Smokey Robinson".He doesn't appear in this video,lol.

"I'm Rick James! I don't need you! I don't need nobody!"

Oh, I don't know how I had forgotten about that

Thanks for posting the link. I was going to check it out on the DVD (I'm Rick James - The Definite DVD), but this saved me some time

I guess the uploader of the video knew about Smokey's and Rick's collaboration (Ebony Eyes) but got the song wrong . In his defense though, the opening shot with Rick running on the beach is a bit Ebony Eyes -esque

I've been waiting for this documentary for years now, I hope it sees the light of day soon, but I stopped checking for it out of pure frustration. Hopefully things will change and I'll have a copy in my hands sooner than later.

Yeah his tagline was always "I'm Rick James." And that was enough. Dave Chappelle did add the "bitch" at the end of it for humorous reasons (which obviously worked of course).

According to Charlie Murphy in the unedited interview he had about Rick, he said that he approached some woman with this: "COME HERE BITCH, I'M RICK JAMES!"

SoulAlive said:

Harlepolis said:

Looks like the film was produced independently

If thats the case, then don't expect to see this film for two more years unless a major distribution company picks it up.

This is the fate of Indie movies, unfortunately. They get very limited screening and then they end up collecting dust in the vaults, even if some of them garnered positive reactions from their screenings.

I went to see this new film in the IFC theatre(that was back in 2004) it was never released on DVD untill THIS VERY YEAR. Supposedly, the director put all of his life savings on this film and when nobody picked it up to distribute it, he spent the last 6 years saving money to distribute this film himself.

Hopefully, Rick's film won't go through the same ordeal.

that's a shame.

I hope it gets picked up by a distribution, really want to see this documentary, wonder if a petition can be started! As if anyone would do anything because of it lol

[Edited 6/3/10 10:12am]

To be honest I'd rather see this docu than Rick "Hollywood" bio-pic.

Saw the A-Team marathon last weekend with Rick as the special guest. Hilarious!

Now,when are they going to release this show on DVD???

Long Beach 1981!

http://www.youtube.com/wa...re=related

/peace Manki