CHATSWORTH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Image Entertainment, Inc. (OTCQB:DISK) announces the acquisition of SOULJA BOY – THE MOVIE, a compelling documentary and concert film that features unprecedented and illuminating access to the life and backstory of one of this millennium’s most controversial and colorful music stars. Directed by Academy Award™ nominated director Peter Spirer (Notorious B.I.G. Bigger than Life, Tupac Shakur: Thug Angel), the film focuses on the many fascinating and fractious facets of DeAndre Cortez Way, otherwise known worldwide as Soulja Boy. This comprehensive film was initiated by Imprint Entertainment and is produced by their founder Michael Becker and Rugged Entertainment’s Joel Rutkowski. The film is set to be released in the fall across various platforms in the U.S. The announcement was made today by Bill Bromiley, Chief Acquisitions Officer for Image Entertainment and Brett Dismuke, Head of Image’s One Village Entertainment label.
“Few artists in the past decade have enjoyed such meteoric success as Soulja Boy,” explained Dismuke. “His talent has been heralded and his marketing and promotion instincts are legendary. The release will be a great addition to the One Village Entertainment release slate.”
Spirer added, "Soulja Boy is undoubtedly one of the most creative, entrepreneurial Hip Hop artists I have ever dealt with. His ability to monetize the internet and his grasp of social media is unparalleled. I think sometimes the press, the public and his peers dismiss him due to lack of understanding or jealousy, and that’s where I hope my film comes in -- a straight forward intimate look at a talented young man."
Soulja Boy has the distinction of being the youngest artist ever to write, perform and produce a number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2007, he released his first full-length album completely independently. “Unsigned & Still Major: Da Album Before Da Album,” served as a self-confident prophecy of the fame that would follow. That seemingly effortless confidence and determination is part of the magic of Soulja Boy’s cult of personality. The film candidly reveals Soulja Boy’s creative intensity and introduces his entourage; family and musical collaborators who help illustrate how someone so young achieved so much so quickly.
Born in 1990 in Chicago, Way moved with his father to Mississippi where in 2004 he began recording in his father’s studio and posted his music online. By 2007, his “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” became an internet sensation and he was signed to a contract with Collipark Records under the Interscope label. That same year, his first album, souljaboytellem.com, debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 100.
His phenomenal success sparked the expected detractors with whom Soulja cleverly engaged using various internet forums, further showcasing his preternatural marketing genius. By 2010 at age 20, Soulja left Collipark and signed with Violator, the label that boasts Missy Elliot, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Mariah Carey and LL Cool J. With ringtones, downloads and numerous projects in the works, in addition to his mastery of social media, Soulja Boy remains a high profile talent full of surprise. SOULJA BOY – THE MOVIE, provides a thorough understanding of the process and the potential for much more.
About Peter Spirer
Peter Spirer is an Academy Award™ and Emmy™ nominated director whose films have been Official Selections at the Sundance Film Festival twice. He recently produced and directed the feature film Just Another Day, starring Wood Harris and Jamie Hector (both from HBO's “The Wire”). In 2003, he was the winner of the Jury Award for the Ojai Film Festival for his debut narrative feature film Dunsmore. His vast catalogue of documentary work (Rhyme and Reason, Beef I-III, Tupac: Thug Angel, Notorious B.I.G.: Bigger Than Life) has received wide critical acclaim and many of his films air regularly across the cable dial. Two of his films are currently in rotation this month on Showtime -- “Kiss and Tail: The Hollywood Jump Off” and “Black and Blue: Legends of the Hip-Hop Cop.”
About Rugged Entertainment
Rugged Entertainment, LLC is a full service film and media production company. Rugged has produced Notorious B.I.G. Bigger Than Life, Ghost Ride The Whip, Kiss and Tail: The Hollywood Jump off, Rhyme and Punishment as well as Just Another Day.
About One Village Entertainment
Launched in 2007, One Village Entertainment, a division of Image Entertainment, is devoted to the development, production and acquisition of feature films, comedy specials, stage plays, documentaries and music content targeting the African-American consumer and urban market. The programming is distributed across multiple platforms including theatrical, broadcast, Blu-ray™/DVD and digital streaming and downloading. Among the more than 50 titles that carry the One Village imprimatur are live stand-up performances featuring Kevin Hart and Charlie Murphy, documentaries 2 Turntables and a Microphone: The Life and Death of Jam Master Jay and Soulmate, and the feature films American Violet starring Oscar-nominee Alfre Woodard and the acclaimed theatrical romantic comedy Russ Parr’s 35 & Ticking. Bestsellers in the One Village line also include the stage play productions What My Husband Doesn’t Know and Love in the Nick of Tyme by David E. Talbert, who is described by Variety as "the acknowledged kingpin of urban musicals."
About Image Entertainment
Image Entertainment, Inc. (OTCQB:DISK) is a leading independent licensee and distributor of entertainment programming in North America, with approximately 3,200 exclusive DVD titles and approximately 340 exclusive CD titles in domestic release and more than 450 programs internationally via sublicense agreements. For many of its titles, the Company has exclusive audio and broadcast rights, as well as digital download rights to over 2,100 video programs and approximately 400 audio titles containing more than 6,000 individual tracks. The Company is headquartered in Chatsworth, California. For more information about Image Entertainment, Inc., please go to www.image-entertainment.com.
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