September 28, 2011
With the lack of black films in theaters these days, it’s pretty evident that many completed films are having a tough time getting off the ground or getting distributed by big studios. While directors and actors come in and do their work, it’s much harder for a producer to get funding, secure distribution rights, and then promote the film.
One producer consistently on a good roll and continues to be blessed with work is Debra Martin Chase, who’s ready to start production of two films. One is the ABC Family film, ‘Elixir,’ which is the channel’s first musical and reunites her with ‘Just Wright’ director Sanaa Hamri. Chase produced that romantic comedy that starred Queen Latifah and Common. The other project is the remake of the 1976 film ‘Sparkle,’ with screenwriter Mara Brock Akil and her husband, director Salim Akil (‘Jumping The Broom’) on board.
The cast of ‘Sparkle’ was recently announced with American Idol winner Jordin Sparks set for the lead role. Also featured in the musical are Carmen Egojo, Tika Sumpter, Omari Hardwicke, Derek Luke, Mike Epps, Cee-Lo Green, and Grammy winning artist/ actress Whitney Houston returning the screen as the mother.
For the Chicago native Chase, venturing into musicals isn’t new to her, having produced hits with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s ‘Cinderella’ and ‘The Cheetah Girls 2′ on the Disney channel, and some Hollywood blockbusters including ‘The Princess Diaries,’ and ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.’
In speaking with Blackfilm.com, Chase talks about her current projects, working with Whitney Houston again, casting Sparks in ‘Sparkle,’ and the remake of ‘Dirty Dancing‘
What’s the attraction to producing ‘Elixir?’
Debra Martin Chase: It’s great script. It’s a great story. It’s an original. It’s like ‘Mamma Mia’ meets ‘Freaky Friday.’ It was written by Terry Rossio, who writes the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise, and a new writer Jaylynn Bailey. We just loved it.
What is it an easy sell for ABC Family to do their first musical?
DMC: They actually brought me on to it. They bought the script in a non-musical version and decided to turn it into a musical. They came to me and asked if I wanted to produce it. They have been wanting to get into the musical business for a while and thought this was the right time.
You will also be working with (director) Sanaa Hamri again after ‘Just Right.’
DMC: Yes, this is her first time bringing all her tools in her bag to the table. She’s going to knock this musical out of the park. I’m so thrilled that she wanted to do this and was able to do it. She’s so hugely talented and has great movies under here belt and has been doing high end television work with John Wells and is a great video director. She’s worked with Prince, Mariah Carey, and Nicki Minaj. She did the ‘Super Bass’ video with Nicki that won Best Hip Hop Video Award at the MTV Awards and has over 100 million views on Youtube. I think it broke the record. She’s wonderfully creative and we’re friends and we have the same vision. I think she’s fantastic.
Outside of Tom Wopat, who’s done some singing on Broadway, does the the rest of the cast have musical background?
DMC: When you’re doing an ensemble musical, people are stronger in some areas than others. Chelsea Kane can sing and is an amazing dancer. Jane Seymour is an amazing and she can sing. Drew Seeley can do it, and so can Adrienne Bailon. That’s the hard thing about casting a musical. People need to sing, dance, and act. There are a few that can do all three and with others, you have to balance it out and get something fabulous.
Although it’s been years since you produced ‘Cinderella,’ the ABC musical that starred Brandy and Whitney Houston, will you come into this film with that same approach?
DMC: Yes and no. Yes in a sense with the elements of a musical. ‘Sparkle’ and ‘Elixir’ are my fifth and sixth musical and along the way, I’ve learned more about the genre. So, hopefully I’m bringing more to the table with each time out.
Your other project is the remake of ‘Sparkle,’ in which Whitney Houston will be back on the screen acting again. Was it easy to convince her to come back to the acting world?
DMC: I was Whitney’s producing partner for five years. We had a company together called Brownhouse Productions. I’ve had ‘Sparkle’ for 11 years. Whitney and I were developing it under Brownhouse at Warner Bros. for Aaliyah. We had the green light when Aaliyah tragically died. Then it went on the shelf and I kept going back to Warner Bros. every year to see if I could get rolling. They were doing it and while we were having dinner one night, Michael Lynton, who’s Chairman and CEO over at Sony Pictures, and a good friend of mine, mentioned that he loved the movie. Years later, here we are and ready to start production. Whitney will be getting executive producer credit on this because of the history she’s had with the project. We have a longstanding relationship.
Did Whitney want to be in the film as an actress as well?
DMC: She’s always the love project and wanted to be a part of it. We spoke about the role nearly a year ago. This is the right film for her to come back. Mara wrote a fantastic script. I’m involved and with our history, it just made sense.
Can you talk about casting Jordin Sparks in the lead role? This will be her film debut.
DMC: I think she’s perfect for the role. She’s Sparkle in terms of her spirit. She has amazing abilities and great instinct. She’s led an interesting life and that comes through in her acting. She was one of the first ideas we had and when Salim (Akil) met with her one-on-one first, he came back and was like, ‘This is Sparkle!’ She and Derek Luke, who will play Stix, should have great chemistry. The clothes will be provided by costume designer Ruth Carter, who’s a two-time Oscar nominee (‘Malcolm X’ and ‘Amistad’), and it will be fabulous. We want to pay homage to the period (1968 Detroit) but still be very accessible today. So, we’re really excited.
These two projects should be more than enough to fill your plate, but you are also producing the remake of ‘Dirty Dancing.’ What’s the status with that project and why are musicals ever so popular now?
DMC: We will be shooting that next summer. Kenny Ortega is directing and choreographing the film and Maria Maggenti is writing the screenplay. With ‘Footloose’ coming out in October, and although ‘A Star is Born’ with Beyond has been delayed for now, the American audience have rediscovered the musicals. With the phenomenal success of ‘Glee,’ ‘High School Musica,l’ ‘Chicago’ and ‘Hairspray,’ it’s pretty clear that people loved them and want more. Just in general, Hollywood is looking to break titles and beloved stories and seeing if there’s a way to freshen them and appeal to the people who loved them and also have something fresh for the people who are discovering them for the first time and ‘Dirty Dancing’ falls in that cate
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and Miss Ross
Beyonce is getting ready to star in yet another remake of A Star Is Born.I'm beginning to think that Hollywood doesn't have any more original ideas.
will ALWAYS think of 
like a "ACT OF GOD"! N another realm. 
There's only so many plots that can be done. Just like all music is a copy of something else.
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