Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority member Johnny Hensley has sent a letter to director Spike Lee inviting him to film parts of his upcoming James Brown biopic in the late entertainer’s hometown.
Mr. Hensley, chairman of the authority’s Marketing, Entertainment and Public Relations committee, sent the letter Monday.
“We, here in Augusta, have been VERY EXCITED to hear that you have the film rights to the James Brown bio/pic,” the letter says. “I spoke with our Mayor today, Deke Copenhaver, and we are totally in agreement that we here in the City of Augusta would and WILL do anything in our power to assist you and your company in any production requirements you may have that we can facilitate. That includes, but not limited to, locations shots and the use of the James Brown Arena, which, of course, was named in the Godfather’s honor.”
Mr. Hensley said he would hate to see the movie filmed elsewhere, which could be done without audiences knowing the difference.
“I think it would be a big plus for them to say, ‘Filmed on location in Augusta’,” Mr. Hensley said. “Wouldn’t that be tremendous?”
Mr. Lee bought the movie rights after Mr. Brown’s death in 2006. He’s since said Wesley Snipes will star, with Mr. Brown’s voice used in music numbers.
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This is a great idea to honor James Brown the entertainer.
They should give patriciathomas a "cameo" he may fit in well with yester year.
This will be great for the city. The tax dollars from shooting the movie here. But also the publicity Augusta will get. When the movie comes out in theatres. Excellent idea Augusta!
Wesley Snipes is a good actor no doubt about it. But can he dance at all. James brown is the greatest dancer of all time with Michael Jackson. What about Usher to play james brown in the movie.
True, Usher can dance but I've only seen him act in one movie. His acting skills are ok but I think it would be painful to watch him imitate James Brown for 2 hours.
wesley snipes is in jail on tax fraud. I doubt that movie will be made anytime soon if he is part of it.
who gives a crap about james brown..all he did was beat his wifes
how many number 1 hits you got there rooster?...How many superstars list you as a major influence?...
who gives a $#$%@$@#
Who would go see such a^$%^%^%@@ anyway
Enough about James Brown!! Why does Augusta insist on idolizing a wife-beating drug addict? Surely there has to be someone in our community more deserving to be worshipped!
Oh no...here comes the perfect people posts...quick someone quote the fornification laws!
please say this ain't so........this sounds like one of those ellis street canal whitewater rafting deals....
spike lee is a great film director and we would be lucky to have him come to augusta to shoot this movie whenever it comes to fruition......this is just another example of the power of james brown and his world wide influence.....long live the GFOS!!!
instead of pointing out the negatives in james browns life, focus on some of hte positives,,,nobodys perfect
instead of pointing out the negatives in james browns life, focus on some of hte positives,,,nobodys perfect
I think it is a good way of showing both james brown's good sides and bad sides so that people would know all about james brown
Excuse me while I get sick--here we go again, paying tribute to a criminal who was a doper and a wife-beater. Take the garbage somewhere else; Augusta may need money, but not this kind.
Well??????Let me see Elvis, wow can you say overdose.... Jerry Lee Lewis, having incest relationships not to mention they were minors...Oh he married his cousin (a minor). HMM!! All entertainers have issues but this would be a great exposure for Augusta regardless of the praise value. Also let's not forget if it wasn't for him alot of entertainers would not have made it, white or black, dopers or wife-beaters... Please watch sober house, all former entertainers that are as you say dopers.....Please choose your comments more wisely.....And remember he is the Godfather of Soul!!! He will be remembered for his music not the dope or crazy wives. What are your flaws, and what are folks going to remember about you if we had to do a story about you????? Oh who is MABLE8???? That is what I thought, nodody knows or cares...MABLE8
instead of pointing out the negatives in james browns life, focus on some of hte positives,,,nobodys perfect
instead of pointing out the negatives in james browns life, focus on some of hte positives,,,nobodys perfect
When there are sooooo many negatives, they far out way the positives. He was a mean, cheating, man. He treated his back up singers like dirt and brought his tramps to check into local hotel rooms to cheat on his wife. Why would we look up to him?
Make sure to get a location shot at the Aiken jail also.
You know I think you all are bashing James because of the obvious. Need I call it out. Because again he has done bad things, we know that and this movie will i'm sure show all the things he was most likely ashamed of but not one of you commented on one good thing he has ever done in his lifetime. And MartinezMom, who is asking anybody to look up to him? And were you at those hotel rooms or were you one of his background singers? You don't know what went on and most of the people around him probaly just used him for his money. And Jim-Bob there have been several famous folks besides him that have seen the inside of jail. And yes it is fact and Im sure it would be included in the movie.
Augusta should have a 'name that movie' contest. Mine would be --- Sex Machine --- Can I count it off?
Th James Brown Arena is a venue that never really contributed anything to his career. The "Authority" is simply trying to profit off Mr. Brown's name.
Lets see Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis. All have had movies made based on their lives and all failed to walk on water and part seas. Like the television in your homes if you do not like what on do not look. As for the Mable8s of the world. No one outside your family and from all your negative posts you have made, the few friends you have, will notice when you die. The whole world noticed when James Brown died. I believe that like the majority of people around the world, I look forward to seeing the movie.
Rooster, you need to know how to spell the plural form of wife; it is wives. Why don't you beat a book!
I gave the godfather a boost at a Washington Rd. gas station in the early 80's. He and his ugly-bugly were in a jumbo r.v. If I had to wake up to that hag, I'd run a hundred on flat tires on I-20 too.
Make your movie, Spike.
Pitiful.
ss
JB deserves a movie. Hey, you got movies about lesser-knowns like the Big Bopper, Jerry Lee Lewis, Prince and Notorious Biggie. So, why not a flick on JB. And Otis Redding too, for that matter. Filmed in Augusta? Thanks Mr. Hensley, great idea. And Snipes is a great choice. Just as good would be Larenz Tate, he also played Frankie Lyman in Why Do Fools Fall in Love. Tate is about 5-5 and has an athletic build like Mr. Brown.