Hollywood Celebrities Super-Freaked Over Rick James Tell-All
Tension mounts in celebrity circles as Rick James' big
screen documentary begins production
HiddenDoor Documedia announced
some of the names of celebrities involved in the big screen
documentary "I'm Rick James."
"I'm Rick James" reveals the behind-the-scenes life of the
music legend and his love of partying. Many big names are
purportedly on board to reveal their wild exploits with
James. Some celebrities may be warned to prepare their
alibis now. According to Janice Dickinson, whose interview
is "in the can," Rick's all-nighters with celebrities in
Studio 54's VIP room are notorious. She also claims James'
penchant for women was as legendary as his music. Stories of
James staying up late with Tatum O'Neal, Elisabeth Shue,
Linda Blair, Prince, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart and Eddie
Murphy are on the buzz list. And there's a tale of a wild
car ride with Rick and a Hollywood star on Park Avenue that
ended in a crash. Rick's security guard allegedly took the
blame while Rick and his celebrity pal drove away in another
vehicle.
Producer Perry Santos, of HiddenDoor Documedia, claims it's
a snapshot of history: "The eighties were a party era.
Everyone was living large. It just happens to be the era of
Rick James. You can't tell the story of Rick without
conveying the historical context." Santos explains that
there are many dimensions of Rick, like his overwhelming
generosity, the genesis of his musical talent and his
fascination with religion. In fact, Santos says, Rick was
also something of a revolutionary, and his battles with the
establishment are as legendary as his party lifestyle. The
film will weave the facts and stories of his life into a
gripping narrative no one will want to miss, especially the
celebrities who lived it all with Rick.
The film is being co-produced by the star's daughter, Ty
James, who shares her memories and offers commentary. Also
look for commentary from current artists like Dave
Chappelle, Charlie Murphy, Busta Rhymes, and Snoop Dogg. A
soundtrack of well-known and previously unreleased musical
tracks is also in the works.
James died in August 2004. Just two months before, he talked
about making a film of his life: "My life has not been a
total comedy, I'm sorry. But there's been some tragedy here
too, you know. It's got a lot of stuff in it. It's basically
drugs, sex, funk'n'roll."
