Taglines: In this game every shot counts.
Leslie Wright, a straight-shooting physical therapist, gets the gig of a lifetime working with NBA All-Star Scott McKnight. All is going well until Leslie finds herself falling for Scott, forcing her to choose between the gig of a lifetime and the tug-of-war inside her heart.
Oblivious to her romantic overtures, McKnight is instead drawn to the affections of Leslie’s gorgeous childhood friend Morgan, who has her sights set on being an NBA trophy wife. Is Leslie destined to play the role of “best friend” forever or will Scott finally see that what he always wanted is right in front of him?
The inspiration for Just Wright came from a deceptively simple concept: a Cinderella story set against the backdrop of the NBA. That phrase turned out to be the beginning of a six-year journey for Queen Latifah and her longtime producing partner Shakim Compere. “It’s art imitating life,” says Compere. “When you think about it, Latifah’s life has been a Cinderella story.”
The film’s journey began modestly, in a barbershop in Studio City just north of the Hollywood Hills. That’s where Compere, a childhood friend of Latifah and her partner in Flavor Unit Entertainment for over 20 years, ran into screenwriter Michael Elliot. “I mentioned that Latifah grew up playing basketball and Mike and I started talking about creating a movie based on that conversation,” remembers Compere.
Combining romance and basketball seemed like a sure thing to the producer. “Anything basketball I’m a fan of,” says Compere. “Two of my favorite movies are LOVE AND BASKETBALL and HOOSIERS. Our main character, Leslie Wright, is a basketball fanatic who basically bumps into her favorite Nets player, played by Common. He invites her to a party. She brings her friend Morgan along and the guy ends up falling in love with Morgan.”
The idea was an easy sell to Queen Latifah. “It wasn’t a stretch for me,” says the Grammy winning rapper-singer turned Oscar nominated actress. “I definitely love basketball. And it’s about the fact that it’s not always what you look like, it’s who you are from the inside. Beauty from the inside out is one of the themes that I have been interested in throughout my career. A lot of that comes across in this movie, and it comes across with humor, with sexiness, with style-and with basketball. Being from New Jersey and getting to work with the NBA and the Nets made it even sweeter.”
The pair enlisted the help of Debra Martin Chase, who produced THE PRINCESS DIARIES and THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS, to develop the idea into a screenplay. “From their concept, Mike Elliot and I crafted a story and created characters for a script that they loved,” says Chase. “At its heart, the film is about figuring out what’s important in life. Should you be guided by what other people think about you and their values-or what’s in your heart?”
The part of Leslie Wright was tailor-made for Queen Latifah and her down-to-earth style, says Chase. “It is her story. It is her voice. There’s nobody else who could play her. Leslie is really centered throughout the entire movie. She knows who she is when we meet her. She’s got a good job. She’s got a new house. She loves her family and she’s got great friends.
Although Leslie is extremely capable and independent, so far her love life has come up short. “She always winds up being that cool girl you can talk to for hours,” says Latifah, “but that romantic connection isn’t there. She hasn’t given up, but she’s willing to wait for someone special. Until she finds him, she’ll always have basketball.”
The filmmakers knew the script would require a director with the skills to balance the emotional nuances of the love story with the high-energy action of the basketball sequences. Sanaa Hamri had previously worked with Chase on THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2 and had helmed fast-paced music videos for recording artists including Prince, Sting and Mariah Carey.
“The game here was to make a movie that is heartfelt, romantic, sexy and thrilling,” says Chase. “Sanaa brought a strong sense of narrative. She also knows how to shoot beautiful scenery and beautiful composition. There’s something very sexy about the way she puts the camera movements and the frames together.”
Hamri was attracted to the easy way the script combined two seemingly disparate worlds. “The romantic comedy aspect of it is completely integrated with the NBA world,” she says. “It is a fresh, unique approach to a classic form. We remain true to it as a romantic comedy, but the sports aspect feels authentic and true as well. We brought in NBA stars to help foster that feeling.”
The director played basketball herself as a teen, and brought that understanding of the game to the table. “For me, film is about capturing motion and space,” says Hamri. “It really doesn’t matter what the motion is. Whether it’s filming a sport or dance, it’s just about capturing it as organically as can be.”
Hamri came to the first meeting with a concept that dovetailed perfectly with the producers’ vision for the film. “Sanaa had the right understanding of what this film could be from day one,” says Latifah. “We knew we wouldn’t have a whole lot of money to shoot it, and she was very specific about the look it should have and how polished it could be. Her presentation was a cut above anyone else who wanted the job. It has been a great working experience. I think we’re bonded for eternity over this movie.”
“When I got this script it was evident to me who should play Leslie,” says the director. “You really feel Queen Latifah’s voice in it. It’s a great piece for her because she has that vulnerability and great comedic chops. She’s hilarious, she’s smart, and she gets it. I could give her a small note and she understood exactly what I was talking about. Sometimes, all it took was a look.”
That’s par for the course with Latifah, according to those who know her best. “Latifah’s so honest in everything she does,” says Compere. “She’s a real person. In the past 21 years, we’ve missed flights or we’ve been late because she has to stop and acknowledge the people that have watched her all these years. She has remained the everyman and I think that’s why she’s been so successful.”
The actress and producers promise JUST WRIGHT’s combination of sports and romance make it an ideal date movie. “The basketball is going to appeal to guys for sure,” Latifah says. “And the romance and humor will appeal to women as well. People are going to crack up at it and they are going to cry too. I love a movie when you laugh, you cry and it gets you excited.”
Just Wright (2010)
Directed by: Sanaa Hamri
Starring by: Queen Latifah, Common, Paula Patton, Michael Landes, Pam Grier, Phylicia Rashad, Dwyane Wade, Michael Landes, Laz Alonso, Deborah S. Craig, Rashard Lewis, Brely Evans, Kim Strother
Screenplay by: Michael Elliott
Production Design by: Nicholas Lundy
Cinematography by: Terry Stacey
Film Editing by: Melissa Kent
Costume Design by: David C. Robinson
Set Decoration by: Susan Kaufman
Art Direction by: Robert Pyzocha
Music by: Lisa Coleman, Wendy Melvoin
MPAA Rating: PG for some suggestive material and brief language.
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Release Date: May 14, 2010
