June 20, 2007 –
Largo, MD
The Last Stand, a film that chronicles the lives and events of four would-be comedians in their quest for Hollywood
fame and stardom, premiered at the Magic Johnson Theatre in Largo, MD this past week.
Written, produced, and
directed by former stand-up comedian turned DJ, Russ Parr of 93.9's Russ Parr Morning Show, the movie is Parr’s way of revealing the not so esoteric truth behind trying to make
it as a comedian in Hollywood and how families, friendships, and even souls are comprised by dishonesty, trickery, and even
suicide in the name of pursuing the American dream.
Character Bo Clarke, played
by Todd Williams, works several day jobs delivering pizza, washing dishes, and delivering newspapers to make ends meet. Not
willing to give up on his comedic aspirations, he refuses the full-time FedEx job offer, arranged by his sometimes
unsupportive wife. His chance at acting finally arrives when fellow comedienne
and friend De De Calvin, played by Tami Roman, lands him a gig through her agent. His acting career is short lived, however,
due to the mounting pressures of home and family life.
Says Russ Parr when asked
by DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine what the hardest part of becoming a stand up comedian is explained, “It was rough dealing with the hecklers, watching
all the people who were dealing with drugs, sexual harassment, the fights back stage, and the truly brutal existence of Hollywood.”
Parr further explained
that the life of a comedian is a “very sad existence” citing that comedians live for the laugh from the audience. “When you don’t get it, it hurts.”
The last stand does feature
that particular dynamic when wanna-be comedian, Reggie Sinclair (Guy Torry) is not well received by comedy club audiences
his first few times out. When offered advice on how to ‘spice up’
his comedic format to get better audience response, he takes offense to that notion. His fear of failing and facing the
pointed finger of his overbearing father eventually leads him into the world of heavy drug use, and having an alcohol relapse.
The movie, written as
a true story ten years ago by Parr, included appearances by Kevin Hart (Soul Plane), Derrin Henson, Anthony Anderson (Kings
Ransom, and All About the Andersons) as well as members of the Russ Parr Morning Show, 'Shaquanna', 'Alfredas', and 'Purcell'.
The Last Stand, available
on DVD July 10th, won Honorable Mention at the Pan African film festival, and was nominated for Best Black Film
at the HBO film festival in Miami, said Parr.
Russ Parr’s follow
up movie, Color Lines, detailing the internal racism and the notion of self-hatred among African Americans
is due in August, 2007.
The movie’s Red
Carpet premiere event was host to hordes of celebrities, athletes, actors, government officials, and entertainment moguls
which boasted the likes of Radio One’s Kathy Hughes, R&B singer Mya, Redskins’ Clinton Portis and Jason Campbell, Fox 5 News Alyson Seymour, The Wire actors Thuliso Dingwall and Nathan Corbett, Mayor Adrian Fenty, Washington Wizards’ Etan Thomas, and others.
The post-premiere
dinner reception was hosted by The Carolina Kitchen, the down home Southern style eatery.
