WASSUP ROCKERS
Year: 2005
USA: First Look Pictures
UK: Revolver Entertainment
Cast: Jonathan Velasquez, Francisco Pedrasa, Milton Velasquez, Yunior Usualdo Panameno, Eddie Velasquez, Luis Rojas-Salgado, Carlos Velasco, Iris Zelaya, Ashley Maldonado, Laura Cellner, Jessica Steinbaum, Chris Neville, Jeremy Scott, David Livingston, Joe Myles, Janice Dickinson, James Martinez, Alex Gonzalez, Orlando Ramirez, Sergio Mangana, Roman Ruiz, Magnolia 'Claudia' Riva, Ana Maria, Sharmane Stokes, Monique Patrice, Hakika Schuler, Terrence 'Reemo' Pierson, Bettye C Poydras, Cindy Velasquez, Jorge Melendez, Carlos Melendez, Lilliana Rodriguez, Michael Ng, Michael Groeneveld, Bryce Blue, Andrew Cohen, Annique Delphine, Jacque Brautbar, Sam Spiegel, Andres Londono, Scott Jerell, Zumi Rosow, Chris Thurman, Fanny Veliz, Cynthia Alvarado, Nubit Arevalo, Wanda Rovira, Margarita Lugo, Ron Martinez, J Aviance, Heidi Lee Hawking, Christian Redd
Andre Nickerson, Brittany Dixon
Director: Larry Clark
Country: USA
USA: 111 mins
USA Rated: R for pervasive language, some violence, sexual content and teen drinking
USA Release Date: 23 June 2006 (Limited Release - New York)
USA Release Date: 21 April 2006 (Limited Release - New York)
UK DVD Release Date: 26 February 2007
Synopsis
Ten years after KIDS, Larry Clark hits the streets of South Central Los Angeles.
Skate-boarding, sex, violence, racism and punk rock collide on the streets of South Central LA in the effortlessly cool WASSUP ROCKERS is a blend of gritty documentary realism and stylish urban drama.
WASSUP ROCKERS follows a pack of teenage Latino misfits who run into trouble when they leave the comfort zone of their tough neighbourhood and roll into unfamiliar territory. Starring genuine South central teens, WASSUP ROCKERS displays the raw energy of skate culture and is a must see for any wannabe punk rock rebel.
Following the success of director Clark's Kids and Bully, WASSUP ROCKERS is a real life story based on the experiences of a group of Latino teens who instead of conforming to the predominant hip hop culture of their neighbourhood, wear their clothes tight, ride their skateboards, and listen to punk rock. Constantly harassed for being different, they have to fight to be themselves and avoiding the violence of their dangerous home turf is an everyday challenge.
One morning, the Rockers decide to travel by bus to skate the world famous "Nine Stairs" at Beverley Hills High School that is featured in their skateboarding videos. There they meet some rich local girls who are attracted to the 'punks from the ghetto' - but they soon find themselves in trouble with the girls' rich boyfriends, and are ousted by the Beverley Hills Police simply because they don't belong there.
Trying to escape arrest by the police and fighting local kids, the Rockers run from house to house and yard to yard in a desperate attempt to escape this wealthy foreign world and get back to the normality and relative safety of their South Central homes.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Larry Clark (Kids, Bully, Another Day in Paradise) Wassup Rockers stars South Central Los Angeles Street Kids in the leading roles - Jonathan Valesquez (Jonathan); Francisco Pedrasa (Kico); Milton Valesquez (Milton) and also features international supermodel, Janice Dickinson.