Jessica Alba and Lil' Romeo film "Honey" Completes Filming
Principal photography has wrapped on Universal Pictures' "Honey", a contemporary urban drama starring Jessica Alba (television's "Dark Angel") in the title role, opposite Lil' Romeo, the 13-year-old winner of the 2001 Billboard Music Award for "Rap Artist of the Year", and Mekhi Phifer ("8 Mile").
Bille Woodruff, who has directed music videos for top stars including Britney Spears, Toni Braxton and Usher, makes his debut as a feature film director with "Honey". Veteran filmmaker Marc Platt ("Legally Blonde") and music mogul Andre Harrell ("Strictly Business") are producing. All of the songs in "Honey" are original compositions by songwriter-producer Rodney Jerkins, who has created hits for artists including Spears, Braxton, Brandy, Monica, Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Lopez.
Jessica Alba stars as Honey Daniels, a dancer and choreographer working as a bartender and record store clerk until she gets that one break. When she finally succeeds, it feels too good to be true. And it is until Honey gets a new dream fuelled by the exuberant energy of a group of neighborhood kids who bring her back to the sheer joy of letting it all out on the dance floor.
Lil' Romeo, winner of the 2001 Billboard Music Award for "Rap Artist of the Year", plays Benny, a kid who needs a break even more than Honey does, and Mekhi Phifer ("8 Mile") portrays Chaz, a good guy with the connections that count. The young, high-energy cast also includes David Moscow, Zachary Williams, Joy Bryant and Lonette McKee, with cameo appearances by hip hop/R&B stars Missy Elliott, Genuine, Third Story, Sean Desmond, Tweet, and Jadakiss and Sheek of The L.O.X.
"With Honey, we have the opportunity to tell a classic story in a really fresh way," said Mary Parent and Scott Stuber, presidents, production, Universal Pictures. "All of the elements the filmmakers, the cast, the music and the dancing are exciting, authentic and of the moment, and should result in a movie that is a vibrant personal expression of youth struggling to find a voice in society."
Woodruff surrounded himself with a strong team of behind-the-camera artists for Honey including director of photography John Leonetti ("The Scorpion King"), production designer Jasna Stefanovich ("The Virgin Suicides"), costume designer Susan Matheson ("Blue Crush"), editor Emma Hickox (Blue Crush) and choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson, a former "Fly Girl" on In Living Color, who has served as director of choreography at Motown Records and Bad Boy Entertainment. Honey filmed in locations throughout the Toronto area.
