The Bros.
The Bros. is a 2007 independent film by writer/director Jonathan Figg, starring newcomers John Tindall and Joachim Wiese. The film was originally shot in 2000 and 2001; postproduction on the low-budget picture was finally completed in 2005. The Bros. was purchased by Barnholtz Entertainment in late 2006 and was eventually released on DVD by Lionsgate Films on February 20, 2007.
Synopsis
Based on a festival award-winning (9 total) short film, THE BROS. chronicles the adventures of underachieving misfits Pete and Lanny, a pair of wannabe "gangsta rappers," who set out on an all-night crime spree designed to establish their street cred. and provide the funding needed to pay for a studio recording session. Raised in a picket-fence paradise that's AbOUT as far removed from the ghetto as possible, this misguided pair of aspiring rappers determine to make a name for themselves by setting out on a manic night of low-level criminal conduct. When a bizarre twist of fate finds Pete and Lanny's incompetent criminal enterprise mistaken for benevolent heroism by the community, the pair quickly seize the opportunity to turn their fifteen minutes of fame into a successful hip hop career.
Celebrity Cameos
The hip hop crime comedy features appearances by Joey Fatone, Shaquille O'Neal, Ludacris, Vanilla Ice, Cindy Margolis, Carrot Top, Johnny Damon, Jimmy Hart and ex-NBA star Dennis Scott (also an executive producer). Many of the appearances occur in a "mockumentary" sequence in which celebrities discuss their "real-life" encounters with Pete and Lanny (a.k.a. the bros.). The producers were able to convince celebrities to appear in the film, by presenting a trailer assembled from a rough cut of The Bros.
About the Production
The Bros. was shot throughout Central Florida and South Beach/Miami in the fall of 2000 and spring of 2001. The production was shot entirely on 35mm Kodak color negative film, except for the aforementioned mockumentary portion that closes the film. Some additional scenes were shot in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Amsterdam. Postproduction was carried out in Los Angeles and Orlando, Florida between 2002 and 2005.