Official Press Release
Los Angeles, CA (Mar 23, 2009) – Winner of Audience Awards in Toronto, Seattle and Los Angeles, THIS IS THE LIFE chronicles the progressive hip hop movement that flourished in Southern California despite the world’s fascination with west coast gangster rap. The new documentary follows a close-knit group of young artists who resisted peer pressure to embrace imagination and integrity, and their subsequent influence on the hip hop art form. Directed and produced by 2007 Showtime Black Filmmaker Showcase honoree Ava DuVernay, THIS IS THE LIFE will make its television premiere across SHOWTIME Networks on Apr 4, 2009.
The documentary features fresh interviews, rare footage and vintage music from west coast hip hop legends Jurassic 5, Freestyle Fellowship, Medusa, Pigeon John, Abstract Rude and Busdriver.
,br> LA WEEKLY raves, “THIS IS THE LIFE vaults into the upper echelons of must-see hip-hop documentaries,” while VARIETY hails the film as “a product of real love, bubbling over with enthusiastic performances and an indelible sense of place.” The film has screened at more than twenty film festivals worldwide, including the invitation-only National Black Arts Festival.
THIS IS THE LIFE is DuVernay’s first feature film. The documentary opened theatrically in Mar 2009 through Forward Movement. She made her screenwriting and directorial debut with the festival award-winning short, “Saturday Night Life,” which was selected for national broadcast by Showtime in Feb 2007 through the network’s Black Filmmaker Showcase.
Related Reads:
INTERVIEW: THIS IS THE LIFE Director Ava DuVernay
LA’s Good Life
Chali2na discusses THIS IS THE LIFE
Abstract Rude & Pigeon John discuss THIS IS THE LIFE
THIS IS THE LIFE :: Screening & Reunion Show
THIS IS THE LIFE :: Preview Clip
URB Contests :: Win A Pair Of Tix To The ‘This Is The Life’ Reunion at House of Blues
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