ATL is a 2006 American comedy-drama film, and the feature film directorial debut of music video director Chris Robinson. The screenplay was written by Tina Gordon Chism from an original story by Antwone Fisher, and is loosely based on the experiences of the film's producers Dallas Austin and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins (of the R&B group TLC) growing up in Atlanta, Georgia. The film is a coming-of-age tale concerning Rashad, played by rap artist T.I. in his film debut, and his friends in their final year in high school and on the verge of adulthood. The film also stars Antwan Andre Patton, aka Big Boi of the rap group OutKast, Evan Ross, Jackie Long, Lauren London, and Mykelti Williamson.
ATL was the first feature film produced by its director and the majority of its cast. Filming took place during the summer over a forty-five day schedule in Atlanta. As the film was produced in Atlanta, director Chris Robinson was able to get many celebrities from the city to make cameo appearances, including Jazze Pha, Killer Mike, and Monica. ATL opened on March 31, 2006, and on its opening weekend the film grossed a total of $11,554,404, ranking third in the U.S. box office. It eventually went on to gross approximately $21 million, replenishing the film's $20 million budget. ATL received generally favorable reviews from critics, and was nominated for numerous awards.
Plot
Rashad (Harris) is a teen living in Atlanta with his Uncle George (Williamson) and his little brother Ant (Ross). He and his brother have been raised by George since their parents died in a car accident, and they work with him at the Swann Cleaning Service, the family's business which George took over when Rashad's parents passed. When not working or finishing his last year of high school, Rashad spends most of his time with his friends Brooklyn (Albert Daniels), Teddy (Jason Weaver), and Esquire (Jackie Long). Rashad is a talented artist but doesn't see much of a future in that field as he's become accustomed to working the family business. Esquire, Rashad's best friend, goes to a prep school on the opposite side of town from where they live, and is trying to attend an Ivy League college after senior year. However, he finds out that he'll need a letter of recommendation from someone of high stature to better his chances of acceptance at the school he wants to attend.
Rashad and his friends are also a skate crew on Sunday nights at Cascade, a local skating rink where local teens hang out. While there, Rashad catches the eye of New New (Lauren London), a round-the-way girl with a mysterious background, since he only sees her around when she's hanging out with her friends Veda (Khadijah Haqq) and Star (Malika Haqq). The two become attracted to one another and they later kiss when he gives her a ride home; in contrast, Esquire instantly develops a disliking for Rashad's new love interest, considering her bad company. Meanwhile, no longer under Rashad's watchful eyes, Ant becomes involved with a drug dealer named Marcus (Patton) and begins to sell for him. He also wins his dreamgirl, his classmate Tondie (April Clark) and they make love in the back of a car.
At work one day, Esquire meets John Garnett (Keith David), a millionaire who heads a successful business venture called the United Express. The two quickly become friends, with Garnett's admiration for Esquire's ambition and Esquire's respect for Garnett's success driving the relationship. Esquire sees an opportunity to obtain the letter of recommendation that would bring about his acceptance to his primary college choice. When Esquire goes to Garnett's house to pick up the letter, he meets his daughter Erin, who, to his surprise, turns out to be New New. Erin says she'll reveal where Esquire is really from (something he lied to her father about) if he tells Rashad about her.
Things soon begin to fall apart for Rashad; Ant is arrested for selling weed, and later Rashad finds out the truth about Erin. He no longer speaks to his friends, realizing Esquire knew about Erin the whole time. Esquire, feeling guilty about the way he obtained the letter, decides to return it to Garnett, and reveals the truth about himself and his background. He, Brooklyn, and Teddy attempt to make peace with Rashad and ask him to attend Skate Wars, Cascade's annual skate competition, with them; Rashad, however, refuses their offer. Just as he decides he'll go after being persuaded by his uncle, he finds out that Marcus is looking for Ant on the streets, searching for cash that Ant owes to him. Although Rashad is able to track the two down, Ant is shot by Marcus, albeit not fatally. At the hospital, Rashad and Ant are able to reconnect; likewise, Erin, Esquire, and Rashad make peace, as the scene ends with the poem "A Love's Deceit" by rapper Big Rube playing.
In the film's final scene, Teddy opens his own business concerning the production of gold teeth, Brooklyn finds a job at a Krystal restaurant, while Esquire receives a mysterious letter of recommendation (presumably from Garnett) and is able to attend his college. The twins Veda and Star remain in the old neighborhood and hang out at Cascade on Sundays, while Erin goes to Spelman College, the school she wanted to attend. Ant changes direction, discarding the notion of drug dealing, finds a new girlfriend and begins to focus on his studies in school. Rashad, lastly, becomes a comic artist for the Sunday edition of the Atlanta Evening Standard , the city's newspaper.
Cast
T.I. as Rashad , the protagonist and narrator of the story. Chris Robinson had directed Harris' first music video four years prior to the creation of ATL , and was very impressed by his charisma and presence. "But on this film he came to the table, worked so hard and never tried to be T.I. — he became Rashad." On being a part of the film's production, Harris said he felt "it was the most honest representation of my culture and my city ever to be put on screen and the largest production to be ever filmed in Atlanta, so I somewhat obligated."
- Evan Ross as Ant , the film's second protagonist and Rashad's younger brother. ATL marks Ross' film debut, which he says actually made his first foray easier, since it was also co-star T.I.'s debut. "It’s his first movie too, and that has been good because we’ve been able to find ways of doing it together that has made it a lot easier for each of us."
- Lauren London as New New , Rashad's love interest and John Garnett's daughter. The character of New-New was loosely based on R&B group TLC's "T-Boz as a kid," said London. "I talked to her about my character... she explained to me how it was when she was young — the attitude and the flavor. And it’s funny, a lot of people say that I act like she used to act at the skating rink.” Director Robinson was impressed by London and "everything from her look, to the fact that she's new. And there's just so much truth in her, and she doesn't know how to lie yet as an actress. It was perfect."
- Jackie Long as Esquire , a close friend of Rashad's. The character of Esquire was inspired by a friend of producer Austin's, who worked at a country club but would tell his friends he worked at a hot dog joint. "And you’d think his family had money, but he lived in the projects." Long auditioned a year prior to shooting the film at the director's home in California. "And he was a long shot but he came in and he became that character," said Robinson.
- Albert Daniels as Brooklyn , a New York transplant and one of Rashad's closest friends. Robinson had known Daniels since he was a fifteen-year-old production assistant on his music video shoots in New York. "He was an annoying little kid who got fired everytime he was a P.A. because he was so inquisitive. But everytime they fired him I'd bring him back because I felt like he always had something." Eight years later, Robinson ran into Daniels at a poetry reading in New York City, and told him to audition for the film. Daniels didn't have any money to get to Atlanta where he had to audition, so he hustled money doing poetry in subways, and bought a bus ticket to get there.
- Jason Weaver as Teddy , a close friend of Rashad's. Weaver impressed producer Austin in his previous film Drumline enough to get a role in ATL . The director felt that Weaver, the veteran of the young cast, and his experience would be helpful to the other cast members.
- Big Boi as Marcus , the drug dealer Ant begins to work for. The film also marked Big Boi's film debut. As said by director Robinson in reference to Big Boi's performance, "he wasn't the normal kind of a bad guy. He put so much charisma and flavor behind it. We loved it."
- Nicholas Sheriff as Zero the leader of the gang D-Boys. Nick is a great actor and a pleasure to work with.As said by director Robinson in reference to Nick's performance, "he wasn't the normal tpye of gang member. He put so much charisma and attitude behind it.
- Keith David as John Garnett , Erin's father and Esquire's acquaintance. He is unaware of the fact that Esquire is lying about who he really is.
- Mykelti Williamson as Uncle George , Rashad and Ant's uncle and guardian. George means well but he is very stingy with his snacks so he keeps them locked up in his room or labels them "
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