Movie reviews, production notes, and more! - "Undisputed"

Movie Production Notes: Undisputed

Notes provided by Miramax Films

UNDISPUTED SYNOPSIS

In the world of boxing, there's only one prize that matters - the title of undisputed champion.

Ten years ago, Monroe Hutchen (WESLEY SNIPES) was a rising boxing star in California. But one night, in a fit of passion, he committed a crime that led to a life sentence without the possibility of parole. He's serving his time in the newly built Sweetwater Prison in the Mojave Desert- a maximum security level 5 state correctional institution for murderers, armed robbers, rapists, and those connected to gangs and organized crime. Hutchen continues boxing in the Inter-prison Boxing Program with a record of 67 wins and no losses. The prisoners consider him their hero... their undisputed champion boxer. Resigned to spending the rest of his life in prison, Hutchen still harbors the haunting question as to whether he would have amounted to anything as a boxer outside the prison walls.

Now, the toughest guy on the inside of Sweetwater gets the chance he never expected: to fight the World Heavyweight Champion George "Iceman" Chambers (VING RHAMES), who's just been sent to prison. Regarded as one of the greatest offensive fighters in the history of boxing- on par with Jack Dempsy, Joe Lewis, Rocky Marciano and Joe Frazier- Iceman is sentenced to 6-8 years on a charge of rape, which he vigorously denies. He's angry that at the peak of his career he's being kept from enjoying and protecting his undisputed champion status. The arrogant Iceman considers himself more gladiator than sportsman, saying, "people play baseball... nobody plays boxing".

Also serving time at Sweetland is Emmanuel "Mendy" Ripstein (PETER FALK), whose gangland ties can be traced back to Batista's Cuba. Though in prison, he's still well connected with the Mob, the State government, and even the Department of Corrections parole board. Serving a life sentence for tax evasion, the grizzled old man (and boxing afficionado) hasn't lost his edge even though his health is fading.

In the tension that exists between the two fighters, Mendy sees his opportunity to promote one last big fight- even if it's behind bars- between the Heavyweight champion of the world and an unbeaten prospect. Mendy lures Iceman into the fight by promising him a chance to get released on special parole. Getting Hutchen into the ring is harder. He's a gentler soul, who has accepted his life behind bars. Hutchen imagines sending the prize money to his sister and her three kids, and is intrigued by having a shot at fighting a professional champion.

Mendy's Mob ties "soften" the resistance of the prison by undercutting Warden Dick Lipscomp (DENNIS ARNDT) and chief guard A. J. Merker (MICHAEL ROOKER).

Iceman's cellmate Mingo (WES STUDI) and another prisoner Ratbag Dolan (FISHER STEVENS) assume the jobs of the fighters'"managers". Iceman's outside manager Yank Lewis (DATON CALLIE) supports the fight if it means an early release for his client. Lewis even accepts Mendy's choice for the fight's London Prize Ring rules, which mean lighter gloves, no referee and a fight to the finish.

With the fight set, the prison warden conveniently goes on vacation, after a conversation with Mendy. The chief guard assumes the role of timekeeper and an in-prison rap group (led by MASTER P) provides the pre-fight entertainment. For security, the ring is enclosed in a giant iron combat cage topped with razor wire. Bleachers on all four sides are filled with raucous inmates who know they'll be the only witnesses to this moment in boxing history.

One man fighting for his honor, another fighting for his future... only one will emerge from the ring UNDISPUTED.

UNDISPUTED is rated R for strong language

Running time: 90 minutes

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

UNDISPUTED had its origins when writer-producer David Giler sat down to lunch with his longtime partner director-writer-producer Walter Hill and the two filmmakers looked through the daily sports pages. "We were talking about the Mike Tyson story - this was right after he had gone through all of his trials and tribulations - and how much the film business had changed," Giler recalls. "In the old days, Hollywood would have churned out five films based on that story by that time. But up to that moment, there hadn't been a single one."

Hill and Giler agreed the opportunity was ripe to center a major motion picture around a heavyweight champion who is sent to prison. However, while the project may have initially been inspired by Mike Tyson, the working script started to move away from that one specific case. "There are a number of prize fighters and champions who have had trouble with the law," Walter Hill says, "and our story started to take the form of how a real tough guy and celebrity would handle life in prison. The more we wrote, the more we wrote away from the Tyson story."

As a longtime fan, Hill - the director of such acclaimed films as "48 Hours" and "The Warriors" - was especially excited at the prospect of capturing the world of boxing on film. "Boxing is a unique and totally universal sport. It's really the most basic sport of all. You put two guys together and see who wins. That is the basis for the popularity of boxing around the world. There are no artificial boundaries or goals and you don't have to understand any complicated rules."

In crafting a setting for their story, the filmmakers opted to frame the main action around a prison rather than a more familiar boxing venue such as Las Vegas or Madison Square Garden. "Setting the film in a prison freed us from having to focus on the circus-like atmosphere and commercialism that consumes modern boxing: the hype, the press conferences, the infighting, the questionable decisions. For the final fight in the film between Wesley Snipes and Ving Rhames, we employ the London Prize Rules (as revised by the Pugilistic Association in 1853), which simply means a fight to the finish".

Throughout the writing process, Hill and Giler had one actor already in mind for one of the two lead roles: Wesley Snipes, an international star whose body of work demonstrates his ability to tackle both action ("Blade") and dramatic ("Jungle Fever") roles. Hill met with Snipes to discuss the story even before the script was even completed. "Wesley expressed great interest in the project, even though we didn't know how the script would turn out and which would be the more interesting character for him to play". When the script was finished, both filmmakers and Snipes agreed on the answer - he would take on the role of Monroe Hutchen, a fighter whose career was ended in his prime by a prison sentence.

For the role of George "Iceman" Chambers -- Hutchen's ultimate competitor and the reigning Undisputed Champion of the world - the filmmakers tapped Ving Rhames, an actor already accustomed to working around the confines of a boxing ring. Rhames came to the project on the heels of an acclaimed performance as legendary boxing promoter Don King HBO's "Don King: Only in America," a role that earned him both an Emmy and Golden Globe Award.

Snipes and Rhames represented a dream pairing for the filmmakers - two actors who were both proven dramatic heavyweights, and convincing boxing heavyweights. "We needed athletic actors who would not look like actors boxing, but would look like real boxers fighting, and we got them," Giler expains. "UNDISPUTED is probably the first boxing movie where you can literally see the guys going at it. There are no body doubles in this film- Wesley and Ving did it all themselves."

To join Snipes and Rhames in the ensemble cast, the filmmakers tapped several notables drawn from several different areas of the entertainment industry. Veteran actor Peter Falk signed on to the role of Emmanuel "Mendy" Ripstein, the grizzled boxing aficionado who orchestrates the film's final championship fight. The cast also includes actors Michael Rooker, Wes Studi and Jon Seda; actor and filmmaker Fisher Stevens, and two stars pulled from the world of music, rapper Master P and deejay Ed Lover.

With the cast assembled, the mission for stars Snipes and Rhames was to get themselves into true "fighting" condition. To prepare for their roles, Snipes and Rhames both underwent training fitting of a heavyweight champion. To that end, Snipes trained extensively with Emmanuel Steward, who had personally trained 29 world champions at Kronk's Gym in Detroit including Lennox Lewis (the current heavyweight champion), and Prince Naseem Hamed (the current featherweight titleholder). "I'd trained professional boxers, numerous amateur and Olympic champions, but never trained a movie star," says Steward. "I was very excited to train Wesley, because I've always believed he was the one actor who could've been a professional fighter. He has an unbelievable ability to learn and remember- if you show him something once, you don't have to show it to him again. I trained him in the same manner I would train a professional boxer. When we worked out in a gym in Los Angeles no one recognized him- they thought I was just training another one of my professional fighters. Working with Wesley on the set with the fight scenes, I got the same excitement and thrills as at an actual world championship fight."

For his training regimen, Rhames worked out at Las Vegas' famed Golds' Gym, which has served as a training venue for literally every great boxing champion in recent history. During one morning session, he even worked out alongside Mike Tyson.

The task of staging and choreographing the film's action-packed fight sequences fell to stunt coordinator and fight choreographer Cole McKay. "Ving was always a boxing enthusiast," says McKay, "and Wesley had to adapt his Martial Arts discipline- where foot movement is key- and focus on the boxing discipline." McKay brought the two actors into Las Vegas, the film's setting, about three weeks before shooting, taking them from their individual training regimens and working out their fight scenes. "Both were well tuned athletes, but their punches, jabs and upper cuts needed to be straightened. The actors had to work hard to learn how to respond to those kinds of hits- the 'John Wayne' punch that has the stunt receiver doing the famous neck snap doesn't work here."

The brunt of the action in UNDISPUTED takes place at fictitious Sweetwater Prison, a remote location in the Mojave Desert. "We needed a prison we could work in for the duration of the shoot, because 90% of the film takes place there," producer Andrew Sugerman says. "We started scouting in California, but the prisons were occupied and functioning, and it would've have been very difficult to move inmates around to accommodate a film's schedule. Then we found this new prison an hour's drive north of Las Vegas, The High Desert State Prison, where a whole pod hadn't opened yet."

That pod became the setting for UNDISPUTED - and presented its own slew of security challenges. To enter the set, the film's cast; crew and extras all had to submit to FBI checks. The production was notified that blue was the color reserved for the prison's real-life inmates, and the prison security requested that, in addition to name tags, the crew wear a color other than blue when they were on prison grounds. But some real-life Nevada prisoners did get the opportunity to make it on screen. To populate the penultimate final fight scene with the required boisterous, enthusiastic masses, High State Prison Warden George Grigas recalls how the prison helped come up with a solution. "I'm also the warden for the Indian Springs Conservation Camp, with minimum security inmates who are toward the end of their sentences and have proven their trustworthiness and reliability. They got a kick out of getting their mug on camera for a few seconds and some money added to their account. So it was a win-win situation."

Miramax Films will release UNDISPUTED in theaters nationwide on August 23, 2002.

ABOUT THE CAST

WESLEY SNIPES (Monroe Hutchen) has distinguished himself as one of the most talented and respected leading men in the entertainment industry. Evidenced by his numerous starring roles in action-adventures and thrillers, as well as comedic and dramatic feature films, starring opposite such noted actors as Robert De Niro and Sean Connery.

Snipes has also successfully ventured into the creative aspects of filmmaking while steadily building his resume with a cache of box office hits. In 1991, he formed his own independent production company, Amen Ra Films, Inc., and its subsidiary Black Dot Media Inc. to develop projects for film and television.

In recent years, Snipes' creative slate has included a wide spectrum of projects for both film and television. Released in the summer of 2000 by Warner Bros., "The Art of War" was a Filmline International production directed by Christian Duguay ("Joan of Arc"). Snipes served as one of the executive producers together with Elie Samaha and Dan Halsted in addition to starring in the lead role as the top-secret U.N. operative who is framed for the murder of a Chinese ambassador.

His most recent vehicle, "Disappearing Acts," was written by Terry McMillan and aired on HBO. This feature was directed by Gina Prince Bythewood and co-starred Sanna Lathan. 1998 was an especially rewarding year for Snipes with the successful opening of the year's cult hit "Blade" for New Line Cinema, which grossed over $150 million worldwide. He was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, SUNY/Purchase for his outstanding achievements in film.

Snipes also produced "The Big Hit" for TriStar Pictures, which starred Mark Wahlberg and was executive produced by John Woo and Terrance Chang, and the critically acclaimed Miramax feature, "Down in the Delta," which marked the directorial debut for Dr. Maya Angelou. This unforgettable story of discovery starred the multi award-winning actress Alfre Woodard and garnered several awards including a Christopher Prism and nominations in multiple categories for the Acapulco Black Film Festival, as well as a NAACP Image Award for Best Motion Picture.

Additionally, television projects distinguished Snipes as a creative force with the feature presentation "Futuresport" for ABC, in which he co-starred with Dean Cain and Vanessa L. Williams. Snipes also produced TNT's "The First Tribute to the Martial Arts Masters of the 20th Century," which showcased some of the greatest innovators of the martial arts.

Born in Orlando, Florida, Snipes moved to the South Bronx as an infant and went on to attend the High School of Performing Arts. Much to his dismay, his mother decided to move the family back to Orlando, where he completed high school and teamed up with friends to form Struttin' Street Stuff, a traveling puppet troupe that performed in public parks and schools. In 1980, Snipes returned to New York to attend SUNY/Purchase, where he was "prepared to be a well-trained actor for the classical American stage." He subsequently landed roles on Broadway in such productions as "Boys of Winter," "Execution of Justice," and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka's "Death" and "The King's Horsemen."

In 1985, while working the audition circuit in New York in between installing public telephones, Snipes auditioned for a role in the Warner Brothers' Comedy "Wildcats," starring Goldie Hawn. The distinct impression he made on the casting agent earned him a role in the film.

In 1987, Snipes appeared as Michael Jackson's rival gang leader in the Martin Scorsese directed music video "Bad," and his feature "Streets of Gold," which brought him to the attention of director Spike Lee. He auditioned for and was offered a small role in "Do the Right Thing," but turned it down for the larger part of Willie Mays Hayes in "Major League," opposite Tom Berenger and Charlie Sheen. This began what would become a succession of box office hits for Snipes, while also securing his position as a leading man in Hollywood. Lee would later cast Snipes as the confident and skilled jazz saxophonist Shadow Henderson in "Mo Better Blues," and as the lead in the interracial romance/drama "Jungle Fever."

Arguably, Snipes' most recognizable film role is the brilliant drug lord Nino Brown in "New Jack City," which was written specifically for him by writer Barry Michael Cooper, who recalled Snipes'work in the "Bad" video.

As the star of "New Jack City," "Jungle Fever," "White Men Can't Jump" and the critically acclaimed feature "The Waterdance," Wesley Snipes continued to showcase his broad range as a dramatic and comedic performer, while his role in the action/adventure "Passenger 57" featured his martial arts expertise. He has showcased his effortless style in such films as "Rising Sun," in which he portrayed an intense LAPD special detective working to solve a murder opposite Sean Connery; "Demolition Man," opposite Sylvester Stallone as the diabolical Simon Phoenix, and re-teamed with "New Jack City" scribe Barry Michael Cooper for the dramatic feature "Sugar Hill."

In 1994, Snipes completed the extreme sky-diving action picture "Drop Zone" under John Badham's direction for Paramount, and elevated the standard of comedic acting by portraying one of a trio of drag queens stranded in a small midwestern town in Universal's "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar," for director Bieban Kidron. In 1995, he re-teamed with Woody Harrelson for the action picture "Money Train," and in 1996, Snipes starred opposite Robert De Niro in TriStar's action/thriller "The Fan," directed by Tom Scott.

1997 brought Snipes to the screen in New Line Cinema's dramatic tale of infidelity, "One Night Stand," directed by Mike Figgis, which won him the Best Actor Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival for his unwavering performance. Snipes was also notably lauded by critics worldwide for his uncompromising performance in "U. S. Marshals," the highly anticipated sequel to Warner Brothers' 1993 box office hit, "The Fugitive."

In addition to his craft on screen, Snipes also serves as executive producer of a series of documentaries that he personally finances through Black Dot Media, Inc. Acting as a forum for some of the most illustrious minds and creative thinkers from the African and Afro-Caribbean cultures, Black Dot Media streamlines a myriad of information to an unserved educational market. The films pay homage to distinguished visionaries around the world, including historians, poets, anthropologists and academically esteemed scholars, while maintaining the integrity and fundamental principles of the true African and Afro-Caribbean experience.

The first in the series, "John Henrik Clarke: A Great and Mighty Walk," chronicles the life of the late Dr. John Henrik Clarke (1915-1999), a preeminent voice and authority on African and Afro-Caribbean studies. The film won critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival in 1987, and won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Urbanworld Film Festival in New York. The second documentary features the renowned Egyptologist, Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan, and was shot on location in Egypt.

Snipes is a seasoned, trained martial artist in a number of different disciplines including Karate, Kung Fu and Caper, an African/Brazilian martial art.

VING RHAMES (George "Iceman" Chambers) plays a professional heavyweight boxer who's at the top of his game, when a felony conviction lands him in the same prison that has its own inmate champ.

Named 2000 ShoWest Supporting Actor of the Year, Rhames' recent films include "Mission Impossible II," which was the top grossing film of the summer of 2000, "Bringing Out the Dead" with Nicolas Cage, and the thriller/love story "Entrapment" with Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones. He has also starred with George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez in "Out of Sight" and in HBO's highly acclaimed "Don King: Only in America," earning Rhames a Golden Globe Award as well as an Emmy, SAG and Image Award nominations for his portrayal of the tenacious boxing promoter.

Rhames' other feature credits include the films "Rosewood," "Dangerous Ground" and "Con Air." His portrayal of shadowy drug dealer Marsellus Wallace in Quentin Tarantino's critically lauded "Pulp Fiction" was pivotal in Rhames' career, leading to his role in "Mission Impossible" and soon after "Striptease," in which he starred with Demi Moore. Other feature film credits include "Dave," "The Saint of Fort Washington," "Jacob's Ladder," "Drop Squad," "Homicide: Blood In... Blood Out," "The Long Walk Home,""Flight of the Intruder," "Patty Hearst," "Kiss of Death," "Dark Blue" with director Ron Shelton, "Sins" with Gary Oldman and John Singleton's "Baby Boy"." His recent television credits include "UC: Undercover," "Holiday Heart" for Showtime Network and the CBS miniseries "American Tragedy" in which he portrayed attorney Johnnie Cochran.

Born and raised in Harlem, Rhames attended the High School of Music and Performing Arts in New York, and was graduated from the Drama Division of the Julliard School in 1983. His Broadway credits include "The Boys of Winter," and off-Broadway he appeared in "Map of the World," "Short Eyes," "Richard III" and "Ascension Day."

Rhames is currently developing "Night Train," the highly anticipated story of boxer Sonny Liston's life, in which he will play Liston for Twentieth Century Fox. The film will be produced by Rhames and Cruise/Wagner Productions, and will be directed by Albert and Allen Hughes. It's been a busy year for Rhames, who starred in the recent Disney film, "Lilo and Stitch" and has just signed on for a reoccurring role on The District as a US Attorney General. Rhames is currently shooting Barry Levinson's new film "Envy" with Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Christopher Walken.

PETER FALK (Emmanuel "Mendy" Ripstein) made his professional debut Off-Broadway in Moli�re's "Don Juan" in 1956 and the following season he was in the Circle in the Square's highly-successful revival of "The Iceman Cometh" with Jason Robards.

Falk left New York and moved to Hollywood where he landed his first movie, "Murder Incorporated," and was nominated for an Academy Award. He was nominated the same year for an Emmy playing a drug addict in "The Law and Mr. Jones". Frank Capra's "A Pocketful of Miracles," with Bette Davis and Glenn Ford, was Falk's second feature in 1961 and with it his second Oscar nomination. Also, that same year he got a second Emmy nomination for The Dick Powell Playhouse's presentation of "The Price of Tomatoes," and this time took home the prize.

It was as the inimitable character of Lt. Columbo that the actor collected four Emmys for "Columbo." The successful series started as tele-movies in 1968's, "Prescription: Murder" and the 1971 "Ransom for a Dead Man."

Falk returned to Broadway in Neil Simon's "The Prisoner of Second Avenue," for which he received a Tony Award. He followed writer Simon to the films "Murder by Death," "The Sunshine Boys" and "The Cheap Detective."

Some of Falk's numerous feature film credits include "A Woman Under the Influence," "Husbands," "Mikey and Nicky," "The In-Laws," "The Princess Bride," "Wings of Desire," and "Cookie."

Most recently, Falk has appeared on screen in 1999's "A Storm in Summer" and "Lakeboat", as well as 2000's mobster drama, "Made". He has continued his stage career, starring in Arthur Miller's "Mr. Peter's Connections" in 1998 and sharing the stage with Jason Alexander in the Geffen Playhouse's "Defiled" in 2000.

MICHAEL ROOKER (A. J. Mercker) has most recently been seen opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in "The Sixth Day," opposite Jean Claude Van Damme in "The Replicant," opposite Denzel Washington in "The Bone Collector", and in "Here on Earth," Oliver Stone's "JFK," Renny Harlin's "Cliffhanger," and Angelica Huston's "Bastard Out of Carolina."

Rooker received high praise for his striking performance in the critically acclaimed "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer." Some of his other outstanding performances have included the baseball great Chick Gandil in John Sayles'"Eight Men Out," a brutish KKK member in Alan Parker's "Mississippi Burning," Jessica Lange's blue collar brother in Costa Gavras'"Music Box," and a competitive race car driver challenged by Tom Cruise in Tony Scott's "Days of Thunder."

Rooker has created a collection of indelible characters in such hits as George Cosmato's "Tombstone," John Singleton's "Rosewood," a psychopathically jealous husband in Harold Becker's "Sea of Love," in the Pate Brothers'"Deceivers" and in "The Replacement Killers" for Columbia Pictures.

Born in Jasper, Alabama, Rooker moved with his family to Chicago in the mid-1960's. He studied the Japanese martial art of Aikido and earned his B.F.A. from the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago. After graduating in 1982, he quickly began to make a name for himself in the Chicago theatrical community, appearing in "Union Boys," "The Crack Walker," and "The Hostage" among others. Off-Broadway, he performed in Beth Henley's "Abundance."

Recently, Rooker has proved that his talents go beyond just acting. In the feature "Table for One," not only does he star opposite Rebecca DeMornay, he produced the film, as well.

FISHER STEVENS (Ratbag) stars in Walter Hill's "Undisputed" as the in-prison manager for their local boxing champ, a lifer played by Wesley Snipes.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, he and his mother moved to New York's Greenwich Village when he was 12 years old so she could pursue a career in painting. To stay solvent, they rented out their loft to an acting school, and classes were held in his living room four nights a week. Stevens has been involved in show business ever since.

As an actor, Stevens made his Broadway debut at the age of 18, in the Tony Award-winning play "Torch Song Trilogy" went on to star in such films as "The Flamingo Kid," "Short Circuits I & II," "Hackers," "Only You," "Reversal of Fortune," "The Marrying Man," and "Brother from Another Planet." Other acting credits include two years as a series regular on CBS-TV's "Early Edition" (where he also directed numerous episodes). Stevens was also seen on TV in Fox's "Key West" as well as appearances on "Columbo,""Frasier" and "Friends."

On the production side, in 1986, Stevens co-founded the New York-based theater company Naked Angels, which is still going strong fifteen years later (members include Rob Morrow, Marisa Tomei, Jon Robin Baitz, Kenneth Lonnergan, Matthew Broderick and Gina Gershon). Stevens has produced and directed a number of Naked Angels productions, and recently completed acting in their critically acclaimed production of "Shyster" by Brian Goluboff with Annabella Sciorra and Phyllis Newman. On stage, he starred in Lincoln Center's revival of "Carousel," Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs," Terence McNally's "A Perfect Ganesh," Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at The New York Shakespeare Festival.

Fisher will make his feature directorial debut with "Just A Kiss" starring Marisa Tomei, Kyra Sedgwick, Ron Eldard, Marley Shelton and Taye Diggs for Paramount Classics on September 20, 2002. Fisher made his short film-directing debut in 1995 with "Call of the Wylie," starring Amy Irving and Patrick Breen. The film was in competition at the Sundance Film Festival and was produced by John Penotti. It was after this successful collaboration that they formed GreeneStreet Films.

Stevens is Creative Director at GreeneStreet Films where he also oversees development. Through GreeneStreet, Fisher executive produced the digital feature "Lisa Picard is Famous" directed by Griffin Dunne and produced by Mira Sorvino (released by First Look Pictures in August 2001). He also executive produced Todd Field's Oscar nominated "In The Bedroom" as well as Leon Ichaso's Benjamin Bratt starrer, "Pi�ero" (both released by Miramax Films). Additionally, Stevens co-executive produced "Swimfan" with Further Films starring Erika Christensen and Jesse Bradford which will be released by Twentieth Century Fox in August 2002.

WES STUDI (Mingo) plays Ving Rhames' cellmate who becomes his in-prison trainer for the big fight in "Undisputed." Studi made his most memorable impression on moviegoers as the villainous Indian "Magua" in Michael Mann's "The Last of the Mohicans," starring Daniel Day-Lewis, and Walter Hill's "Geronimo: An American Legend." Studi was the first actor to receive the Totem Award for Outstanding Performance from the First Americans in the Arts Organization, and the Council of Energy Resource Tribes presented him with the Mary G. Ross Award for his body of work.

Studi's other feature film credits include "Dances with Wolves," "Pow Wow Highway," "Streetfighter" with Jean Claude Van Damme and Raul Julia, "Heat" with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, "The Killing Jar," "Wind River" and "The Mystery Men." Studi also appeared in "Streets of Laredo," a five hour mini-series for CBS, directed by Joe Sargent from a Larry McMurty teleplay, co-starring James Garner, Sissy Spacek, Sam Shepherd and Sonia Braga. He recently completed filming "Skinwalker" for the PBS series "Mystery" in which he stars as Detective Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal Police.

Studi is the recipient of seen First American in the Arts Awards and is the national spokesman for the Indigenous Language Institute of America.

JON SEDA (Jesus "Chuy" Campos) made his feature debut in the role of the boxer, Roman in Columbia Pictures'"Gladiator". He co-starred with Woody Harrelson in Warner Brothers' "Sunchaser", directed by Michael Cinimo, and starred opposite Jennifer Lopez in the Warner Brothers box-office hit "Selena". Some of Seda's other film credits include Garry Marshall's comedy "Dear God", Terry Gilliam's "12 Monkeys", Greg Hoblit's "Primal Fear", Brian DePalma's "Carlito's Way", Darnell Martin's highly acclaimed feature "I Like it Like That" and New Line Cinema's "Price of Glory" with Jimmy Smits. Most recently, Seda completed shooting Heywood Gould's "Double Bang".

Seda's television credits include the series regular role of Detective Paul Falsone on "Homicide", the recurring role of Matty Caffey on "Third Watch", guest starring roles on "Oz," "NYPD Blue," and "New York Undercover." as well as the A&E film "Into Thin Air" and the HBO films "Mistrial" and "The Daybreak" starring Cuba Gooding Jr. Seda currently plays the series regular role of Jake Shaw on 20th Century Fox/Jersey T.V.'s television show "U.C.: Undercover."

Seda has been nominated for two Best Actor awards. He was nominated for a Spirit Award by the Independent Feature Projects Committee for his portrayal of Chino Linares, a young father who learns to take responsibility for his own actions in "I Like it Like That." Seda was also nominated for the esteemed Palme d'Or Award at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival for his portrayal of Brandon "Blue" Monroe, a leukemia victim searching for a mystical place of healing that he believes will cure his ailing body in "Sunchaser."

MASTER P (Rapper 1) has appeared on the cover of Fortune Magazine as one of the "40 Richest Under 40;" and on Forbes' "Top List of Highest Paid Entertainers" two years straight. He is in the Guiness Book of World Records as the highest paid entertainer in hip hop and The Source Magazine has crowned him the number-one most powerful player in rap music for the past two years. Not bad for a little boy from the projects.

But the success of Master P, n�e Percy Miller, is not just about lists and titles and riches. It's not solely about selling millions of records and building a massive empire that is unsurpassed by that of any other hip hop artist in history. Master P's success is about determination, vision, and triumph of human spirit. Master P's success is about backbreaking, sweat-pouring hard work.

Growing up in New Orleans' violent Calliope Projects, Percy Miller was the boy next door, not unlike any other kid in his neighborhood: a bodacious hoopster, devoted to family and to his high school sweetheart, Sonya, whom he later married. A young man surrounded by mayhem and impossible despair. But unlike many in his neighborhood, P saw his dreams so clearly he could touch them. And, like a relentless hunter in pursuit of his prey, he followed those dreams. "I'm a soldier," he proclaims. "I've been a soldier for life," he says in that familiar New Orleans-seasoned accent. And as a soldier, Miller has waged a gallant war against those who believed that hip hop was the sole property of the East and West coasts.

From a small record store in Richmond, California- one he funded with $10 000 in inheritance money- to a small Indie record label, No Limit, Master P bum-rushed the scene issuing a loud and decisive wake-up call to those who thought they had the hip hop game on lock.

Without waiting for a record deal, Master P put out his own records, literally selling them from the trunk of his car, until, eventually, Priority Records stepped in and offered him a national distribution deal. Some 50 million records later, P has brought his No Limit brand under the umbrella of Universal Records and is preparing for a new era as The New No Limit. "With The New No Limit growing, we need to be able to keep up with what's going on and what's new," says P.

Master P and The New No Limit is - limitless. With the new projects such as "Gameface," the latest release by Master P; and new ventures such as "Pieces of the Puzzle," a new Nickelodeon sitcom executive produced by Master P and starring P and son Lil' Romeo; a new Lil' Romeo album, "Game Time," released in June; thriving businesses that include No Limit Clothing (P. Miller Signature Collection, P. Miller Passion for Women and P. Miller Shorties for Kids), No Limit Toys, PM Properties, Advantage Travel; a retail shoe chain called Master Feet and, of course, No Limit Films which released his first film, 1997's smash "I'm 'Bout It."

Since that time, Miller has appeared in over a dozen films, including major studio releases such as "Gone in 60 Seconds" with Nicholas Cage and Angelina Jolie, "The Players Club" with Ice Cube and "Foolish" with Eddie Griffin. In addition to "Undisputed", P will also star in several films to be released in 2002 including "Popcorn Shrimp" written and directed by Christopher Walken and "Plague Season" opposite Kurt Russell. Master P has written more than six films and has directed four. Currently in development at No Limit Films is the comedy "Unc."

Never forgetting where he came from, Master P started the Los Angeles-based Master P Foundation to help provide over 7000 jobs for inner city kids nationwide as part of its "Stop the Violence" peace campaign. Master P also spends part of each summer coaching the junior Olympics for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball association, which helps keep inner city kids off the street.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

WALTER HILL (Director/Producer/Writer) has directed, written and produced some of the biggest film successes in the action/adventure, science fiction and Western genres. A sampling of Hill's feature films include "48 Hrs." and "The Warriors," "Hard Times," "Southern Comfort," "Trespass," "Johnny Handsome," "Streets of Fire" and "Last Man Standing."

A native of Long Beach, California, Hill came to directing through screenwriting, quickly making his mark in the action field with solo credits on films such as "Hickey and Boggs" and the original of "The Getaway," which was directed by Sam Peckinpah and starred Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw.

Since making his directorial debut from his own screenplay with the 1975 Charles Bronson/James Coburn starrer "Hard Times," Hill has become one of the American cinema's most prolific and at times controversial filmmakers.

Among his honors are a Best Director Award from the Cowboy Hall of Fame, a Golden Spur Award for his Western Trilogy ("The Long Riders," "Wild Bill" and "Geronimo: An American Legend"), Best Director at the Cognac Film Festival for Mysteries and Thrillers ("48 Hrs."), a Cable ACE Award as Best Director for "Deadline" and a Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film. Hill has executive produced (with David Giler, Richard Donner, Joel Silver and Robert Zemeckis) HBO's "Tales from the Crypt." As a producer, Hill's credits include (with Gordon Carroll and David Giler) the science fiction phenomenon "Alien" and its sequels.

DAVID GILER (Producer/Writer) began his career in television at the age of 18, recruited by his father. As his talents were quickly recognized, he wrote several television programs including "The Gallant Men," "Kraft Suspense Theatre," "Burke's Law," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," "The Girl from U.N.C.L.E." and a pilot for MGM-TV.

Giler worked on "April Fools" for Jack Lemmon's company while under contract and a shared credit for the screenplay of "Myra Breckenridge." Some of his numerous other film credits include "The Money Pit," and "Southern Comfort" (winner of the London Observer's American Movie of the Year Award in 1981), which he wrote and either produced or executive produced. As a producer, Giler's credits include (with Gordon Carroll and Walter Hill) the science fiction phenomenon "Alien" and its sequels.

Giler has directed "The Black Bird," and produced "Let It Ride" starring Richard Dreyfuss and "Rustler's Rhapsody" starring Tom Berenger and Sela Ward. He wrote "Fun with Dick and Jane" starring George Segal and Jane Fonda, and "The Parallax View" starring Warren Beatty.

Giler co-executive produced HBO's Cable Ace Award-winning "Tales from the Crypt," and was the executive producer on "Demon Knight," "Bordello of Blood" and "Revelation" with Richard Donner, Walter Hill, Joel Silver and Robert Zemeckis.

DANNY DIMBORT (Executive Producer)

Born in Israel in 1944, Danny Dimbort started his career in films as general dogsbody for the Israeli distribution company Golan Globus Films becoming managing director within two years. In 1980, he moved to Los Angeles to join Cannon Films as head of foreign sales, returning to Israel to produce several feature films prior to joining Cannon-Pathe in charge of distribution in L.A. He was president of international distribution at MGM until 1991 when he formed Nu Image with Avi Lerner, as partner in charge of sales and marketing.

TREVOR SHORT (Executive Producer)

Born in Harare, Zimbabwe on July 4, 1955, Trevor attended the Prince Edward School in Harare before studying law at the University of Zimbabwe. He also obtained an MBA degree at the University of Cape Town, South Africa and was awarded the Gold Medal of Merit.

After successfully obtaining his law degree, Trevor entered the world of banking and commerce. Trevor headed the Corporate Finance Division at Investec Bank in Johannesburg before joining Nu Metro Entertainment (Pty) Ltd. as Managing Director.

Nu Metro Entertainment comprised a large cinema chain, a video and distribution company as well as a film production company. Following the acquisition of Nu Metro by CNA/Gallo, a retailing giant, Trevor has become the Managing Director of Nu World Services (Pty) Ltd., a film production company based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In addition to the many films produced in South Africa, Trevor has produced a number of movies outside of South Africa, including "Blood Run," "Beyond Forgiveness," "Hard Justice," "Project Shadowchaser III" and "F.T.W."

BOAZ DAVIDSON (Executive Producer)

As a successful screenwriter-director-producer, Boaz Davidson has perfected his craft for over 25 years. Three years ago, Davidson teamed up with his long-time associate, John Thompson, to produce.

Some of Davidson's directorial credits include "Looking for Lola," "Lunar Cop," "Blood Run," "American Cyborg," "Delta Force 3," "Crazy People," "Salsa" (also writer), "Going Bananas" (also writer), "Dutch Treat," "Alex" (also writer), "Baby Love" (also writer), "Private Popsicle" (also writer), "The Last American Virgin" (also writer), "Hot Bubblegum" (also writer), "X-Ray," "Seed of Innocence" (also writer), "Tzanani Family" and "The Wonder Dog."

Other writer-director credits include "Going Steady," "Funny, Funny World," "Lemon Popsicle" (Israeli Academy Award winner), "Lupo Goes to New York," "Snooker," "Charlie and a Half," "Fifty Fifty" and "Snail."

JOHN THOMPSON (Producer) grew up in Rome in the Italian film industry and represents a fine body of work that includes Franco Zeffirelli's "Otello," Lina Wertmuller's "Camorra", Liliana Cavani's "Berlin Interior", Paul Schrader's "Comfort of Strangers", "Haunted Summer" by Ivan Passer and Giuseppe Tornatore's "Everybody's Fine". Thompson returned to Los Angeles and partnered with long time friend and colleague Boaz Davidson. The duo brought Susanna Styron's "Shadrach" and Rory Kelly's "Some Girls" and George Hickenlooper's "The Big Brass Ring" to Millennium Films. And now they bring "The Fourth Floor".

AVI LERNER (Executive Producer) is the co-chairman of Nu Image, Inc. and

Millennium Films, Inc. and is one of the most experienced producers and distributors of independent films in the international motion picture industry.

In 1996 Nu Image formed Millennium Films to address the market's growing need for quality art films and higher budget action films, while Nu Image continued to cater to the lucrative world home video market. Between the two divisions, over 100 films have been produced since 1992. Nu Image titles include several extremely successful franchises: "Shark Attack," "Crocodile," "Spiders," "Octopus," "Operation Delta Force" and "US Seals." Under the Millennium label Lerner has produced numerous titles including "Replicant" starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, directed by Ringo Lam; "The Last Days of Frankie the Fly" starring Dennis Hopper, Kiefer Sutherland and Daryl Hannah, directed by Peter Markle; "Shadrach" starring Harvey Keitel and Andie McDowell, directed by Susan Styron; "Fourth Floor" starring Juliette Lewis and William Hurt, directed by Josh Klausner; "Forever Lulu" starring Melanie Griffith and Patrick Swayze, directed by John Kaye; "Guinevere" starring Sarah Polley and Stephen Rea, directed by Audrey Welles; "Nobody's Baby" starring Gary Oldman and Skeet Ulrich, directed by David Seltzer; "How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog" starring Kenneth Branagh and Robin Penn Wright, directed by Michael Kalesniko, which was selected as the gala closing film of the Toronto International Film Festival, in 2000.

Upcoming projects include "Prozac Nation" starring Jessica Lange and Christina Ricci, directed by Eric Skjoldbjaerg; "Edges of the Lord" starring Haley Joel Osment and Willem Dafoe, directed by Yurek Bogayevicz; and "The Grey Zone" starring Harvey Keitel, Mira Sorvino, David Arquette and Steve Buscemi, directed by Tim Blake Nelson, produced in association with Killer Films.

Nu Image and Millennium Films currently have a co-production deal with Miramax/Dimension. Between Nu Image and Millennium, Lerner produces 12 to 15 pictures annually.

ANDREW SUGERMAN (Producer) most recently was the line producer on the Miramax/ Millennium/ Nu Image feature film "Prozac Nation," based on Elizabeth Wurtzel's best-selling book. The drama was directed by Erik Skjoldbjaerg ("Insomnia") and starred Academy Award-winning Jessica Lange, Christina Ricci and Anne Heche.

Sugerman was the line producer on Nu Image's "Spiders" starring Lana Perillo and Josh Green, Moonstone Entertainment's "The Prophet's Game" starring Dennis Hopper, Stephanie Zimbalist and Sondra Locke, Moonstone's "Kimberly" starring Gabrielle Anwar, Sean Astin, Molly Ringwald, Patty Duke and Lainie Kazan, and Redwood Entertainment's "The Sterling Chase" starring Alanna Ubach, Jack Noseworthy and Nicholle Tom.

He also line produced Arama Entertainment's "Michaelangel" starring Dennis Hopper and Richard Grieco, and AMCO's "Blue Motel" starring Sean Young, Soleil Moon Frye and Robert Vaughn, and executive and line produced "Love Kills" starring Mario Van Peebles, Leslie Ann Warren, Daniel Baldwin and Louise Fletcher.

Sugerman's numerous producing credits include "McCinsey's Island," "Mercy Street," "Somebody Is Waiting," "Savate," "Spilt Milk," "Deadly Rivals" among others. He shared the writing credit for the story of the NBC Family Special, "A Place at the Table," starring Danny Glover, Susan Dey and Lukas Haas, and directed The Movie Store/Manson International's feature film "Basic Training," starring Ann Dusenberry and Marty Brill.

BRAD KREVOY (Producer) is founder of Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA), one of the leading independent production companies, has produced such motion pictures as "Dumb and Dumber" starring Jim Carrey for New Line Cinema, "Kingpin" starring Woody Harrelson and Randy Quaid for MGM, "Beverly Hills Ninja" starring Chris Farley for Columbia TriStar, and "Jungle 2 Jungle" starring Tim Allen for Disney (as executive producer), as well as recent commercial and critical successes "The War at Home" directed by Emilio Estevez and "Albino Alligator" directed by Kevin Spacey. In total, Krevoy has produced over 75 motion picture and television projects that collectively have grossed over $350 million worldwide.

In 1996, MPCA was acquired by John Kluge's Metromedia International Group and operated as part of Metromedia's Orion Pictures Corporation. Krevoy managed the production and distribution operations of Orion Pictures, producing films for such respected individuals as Academy Award winner Tom Schulman ("Dead Poets Society") and releasing such films as 1997's Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, "Prisoner of the Mountains", directed by Sergei Bodrov, and the critically acclaimed "Ulee's Gold" directed by Victor Nunez, presented by Jonathan Demme, and starring Peter Fonda.

In July 1997, Orion was sold to MGM/UA, whereupon MPCA's management separated from Orion/MGM and exercised its option to reacquire the MPCA name and certain of its key former employees to rebuild the Company as an independent entity.

Recently, Brad Krevoy co-produced the 1999 Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated ABC television musical "Annie" for ABC's Wonderful World of Disney (the series' highest-rated offering of 1999), produced "The Breed" starring Adrian Paul and Bokeem Woodbine for Screen Gems, and executive produced the MGM release "3 Strikes" and "The Eli�n Gonz�lez Story" for Fox Family Television. Krevoy also produced "The Suburbans" starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ben Stiller, and Will Ferrell, and produced the highest-rated television movie of 1998 in Germany, "Breakfast with Einstein", starring Thomas Gottschalk and Priscilla Presley, for SAT 1.

Krevoy also executive produced the film "A Rumor of Angels" starring Vanessa Redgrave and Ray Liotta, to be released through MPCA's distribution arrangement at MGM/UA. MPCA is developing for production a slate including the comedies "Thirty Wishes" and "Rocker", the war drama "Dear Johnny Pogue" with Academy Award-winning director Roland Joff� and award-winning writer E. Max Frye, and the action thrillers "Borderline", "Entangled", and "Half Past Dead".

Prior to founding MPCA, Krevoy worked with Roger Corman to form Concorde Pictures, where he served as President, overseeing the production of more than 200 motion pictures. Krevoy is a graduate of Stanford University and Hastings College of the Law. He has also served as a Legislative Fellow in the California State Legislature and worked as an entertainment attorney at a prominent Los Angeles law firm.

Krevoy continues to call on his experience in government as an advisor to the California Legislature on entertainment industry-related issues. He has been a guest speaker at the Tokyo, Munich, and Milan Film Festivals, and a lecturer at UCLA, USC, Stanford, the American Film Institute, and the Independent Film Project. He was the youngest member ever elected at that time to the executive branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and currently serves on the admissions committee/executive branch. He sits on the board of directors for the American Film Marketing Association, is a member of the Foundation of the Motion Picture Pioneers, and participates in The Next Generation Council of the Motion Picture & Television Fund Foundation. Additionally, Krevoy sits on the executive board of the United Jewish Fund Entertainment Division and the board of directors for D.A.R.E. America and the California State Summer School for the Arts Foundation, a summer program for gifted schoolchildren promoting the arts and humanities.

With an eye toward the future of the entertainment industry, Krevoy founded the Hollywood Internship Program (HIP) in 1996 to create opportunities for underprivileged youths in feature film and television production. HIP is dedicated to placing inner-city youths in paid entry-level production positions and is administered by and operated in conjunction with the Office of Mayor Richard Riordan and the Entertainment Industry Development Corporation (EIDC).

SANDRA SCHULBERG (Executive Producer) served as Executive Producer of UNDISPUTED, on behalf of Hollywood Partners, a private German film fund, which has co-financed a dozen movies since 1996. Her other Executive Producer credits for Hollywood Partners include the Oscar-nominated "Quills", starring Geoffrey Rush and Kate Winslet, produced with 20th Century Fox Searchlight; "In A Savage Land", "Passion", "I'll Take You There", and "The Last Yellow". Under her own banner, Schulberg Productions, Schulberg co-produced Ann Hu's "Shadow Magic" (Sony Classics), and raised completion monies for Barbara Kopple's Woodstock epic, "My Generation", which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

In 2000, with partner Moon Cho, she created the multi-media company PHOBOS Entertainment Holdings, to develop and license science fiction properties. She currently serves as President and CEO of PHOBOS, overseeing the company's book publishing, video game and movie production divisions.

In 1989, Schulberg created the international arm of American Playhouse (American Playhouse Abroad), and in 1994 she co-founded and served as Senior Vice President of its for-profit movie production subsidiary, Playhouse International Pictures. Playhouse movies included "I Shot Andy Warhol," "Amateur," "Safe," "Angels and Insects," "Reckless," and "Palookaville." Her previous individual movie credits include: "Waiting for the Moon," "Wildrose," "Belizaire the Cajun," "Roosters," "Shimmer," "Northern Lights," and "Alambrista."

In 1980, Schulberg co-founded First Run Features, which still operates in its niche market, and is where Spike Lee got his first job. In 1979, she served as Founding Director of the Independent Feature Project, and created the first IFP Market. For 23 years, she was an active Board Member of the IFP, including many years as President. She was also one of the first nominators to the Sundance Institute's Filmmakers Lab, and served on the Sundance Festival Advisory Committee for 5 years.

Born in Paris, Schulberg grew up in a family of boxing buffs. Her father Stuart produced a groundbreaking NBC special, "Boxing in America," among other documentaries about the sport; and her uncle Budd Schulberg is the author of numerous books set in the world of boxing, including The Harder They Fall, Loser and Still Champion, and The Four Seasons of Success.

BARBARA INGLEHART's (Costume Designer) imagination and creativity has guided her through many costume challenges from designing the alternative universes of the SciFi Channel's "Sliders," the darkly comic tones of the critically-acclaimed "Good vs. Evil," and the underwater action of the movie-of-the-week "Avalon." Inglehart was the supervisor on the feature "Baby Geniuses," the stylist for the talk show "Turn Ben Stein On," costumer on Fox's "X-Files" and served as the personal designer for David Lee Roth's international tour.

She served as the costume designer for three years at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, where she remains a member of the National and Regional Executive Boards. Inglehart obtained her Masters Degree in Costume Design from the California Institute for the Arts and is also a co-author of "Shopping LA: The Insiders' Sourcebook for Film & Fashion" now in its 3rd edition.

JACOB GOLDSTEIN (Sound Mixer) has been honored by the Academy of Television's Emmy Awards four times for Outstanding Sound Mixing for Drama Series or Special; "Challenger," "Sarah", "Plain and Tall," "Barbarians at the Gate" and "To Dance with the White Dog."

Goldstein's feature film credits include "Missing in Action 1 & 2," "A Dog of Flanders," "The Reef," "Ed," "Mistress" and "The Marrying Man." Some of his additional television work includes the series "Martial Law," "The Blackout Effect," "The Devil's Child," "Riot," "O Pioneers," "Skylark" and "When the Cradle Falls." Goldstein is also noted as the composer of "Sheder Min Ha'Atid" (Message from the Future) in 1981.

COLE McKAY (Stunt Coordinator/Fight Choreographer) began his motion picture career in 1979 when he attended the Bobby Ball Talent Agency classes in Arizona. These classes taught on camera acting and basic stunts. Being athletically inclined, and using his racing and boxing experiences, he found himself drawn toward the action side of the film industry.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1984, he acquired numerous credits as an actor/stuntman, and was able to move behind the camera setting up unique action sequences as a stunt coordinator. His keen eye for action and camera placement didn't go unnoticed and quickly moved him up as a second unit director.

Cole has acquired over 300 film credits and thousands of hours on set working in front of and behind the camera. His ability to direct actors plus film high intensity action eventually led to the opportunity to direct. To date he has directed 12 projects as a 1st unit director (including "The Game," "The Secret of the Golden Eagle" and "Star Hunter") and 43 films as a 2nd unit director (including "Hitman's Run," "Protector" and 22 episodes of "L.A. Heat").

Official Web Site:

http://www.miramax.com/undisputed/index.html

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