Chocolate City (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Chocolate City

| image = Chocolate City.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Jean-Claude La Marre

| producer = Robert Aaronson
Jessie L. Levostre
Michael Mendelsohn
Melanie Levostre
Eurika Pratts
Jim Steele

| writer = Jean-Claude La Marre

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music =

| cinematography = Vladimir Van Maule

| editing = Yvan Gauthier

| studio = Nu-Lite Entertainment
Patriot Pictures

| distributor = {{Plain list|

Freestyle Releasing {{Small|(United States)}}
Paramount Home Media Distribution{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/vivica-a-fox-robert-richard-film-chocolate-city-to-get-paramount-bet-distribution-exclusive/|title=Vivica A. Fox, Robert Ri'chard Film 'Chocolate City' to Get Paramount, BET Distribution (Exclusive)|date=May 7, 2015}}
BET Networks

}}

| released = {{Film date|2015|05|22}}

| runtime =

| country = United States

| language = English

| gross = $212,662{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3159066113/|title=Chocolate City|website=Box Office Mojo}}

}}

Chocolate City is a 2015 American comedy-drama film directed and written by filmmaker Jean-Claude La Marre. The film stars Robert Ri'chard, Michael Jai White, Carmen Electra and Vivica A. Fox.{{cite web | url= http://www.abandomoviez.net/indie/pelicula.php?film=45378 | title=Chocolate City |date= |publisher=abandomoviez |accessdate=2014-10-28 }} The film centers on a struggling college student whose life changes when he tries amateur night at a male strip.{{cite web | url= https://www.facebook.com/chocolatecitymovie15 | title=Chocolate City Movie |date= |publisher=Facebook |accessdate=2014-10-28 }} This film was shot in Inglewood, California and was released in a limited release and through video on demand outlets on May 22, 2015.{{cite web | url= https://twitter.com/choccitymovie | title=Chocolate City the movie. Coming to theaters 2015! |date= |publisher=Twitter |accessdate=2014-10-28 }}

A 2017 sequel named Chocolate City: Vegas Strip is available on Netflix.{{Cite web |url=http://chocolatecity2vegasbattle.com/ |title=Chocolate City Vegas Battle casting on chocolatecityveasbattle.com |access-date=2016-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814182834/http://chocolatecity2vegasbattle.com/ |archive-date=2016-08-14 |url-status=dead }}

Synopsis

Michael (Robert Ri'chard) a college student takes a job as an exotic dancer to make ends meet, and as the money rolls in, he has to deal with the attention of the female club goers while hiding his job from his mother (Vivica A. Fox) and girlfriend (Imani Hakim).

Cast

{{castlist|

Robert Ri'chard as Michael McCoy
Vivica Fox as Katherine McCoy
DeRay Davis as Chris McCoy
Michael Jai White as Princeton
Tyson Beckford as Adrian "Rude Boy"
Darrin Dewitt Henson as Magnus
Jean-Claude La Marre as Pastor Jones
Ginuwine as Pharaoh
Ernest Thomas as Diner Manager
Carmen Electra as DJ
Eurika Pratts as DeDe
Andrea Kelly as Dance Instructor
Xavier Declie as Professor Lyons
Michael Bolwaire as Bolo
Gibert Salvidar as Slayer
Danny Mitchell as Jamaika
Brian Massey as Addiction
Aaron McNeal as Smoove
Carlito Olivero as Raphael
Maliah Michel as Kandi
Candice Craig as Cynthia
Johann J. Jean as Bartender
Cydney Davis as Sister Beatrice
Trae Ireland as Wade
Imani Hakim as Carmen
Jah Shams as D. Ice

}}

Production

The film is a black version of the 2012 male stripper movie, Magic Mike, starring Channing Tatum. According to the film's director, Jean-Claude La Marre, "There was one glaring omission in Magic Mike, and that was people of color. We figured that was a missed opportunity for them and we jumped on it."

Release

In the United States, the film was released in a limited release and through video on demand on May 22, 2015. Freestyle Releasing handled the theatrical release with Paramount Home Entertainment handling the video on demand and home media release of the film. The film also debuted on BET on June 10, 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://trailers.apple.com/trailers/paramount/chocolatecity/|title=Chocolate City - Movie Trailers - iTunes|website=trailers.apple.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://eurweb.com/2015/05/02/chocolate-city-in-theaters-and-on-demand-may-22/|title='Chocolate City' in Theaters and On Demand May 22|first=Billie Jordan|last=Sunshine|date=May 3, 2015}} It had 991,000 viewers in its first airing.{{cite web | url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-100-wednesday-cable-originals-6-10-2015.html | title=SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 6.10.2015 | Showbuzz Daily | website=Showbuzzdaily.com }}

Marketing

On April 24, 2015, the official trailer and poster were released.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42HA58cBHAM|title=Chocolate City Official Trailer #1 (2015) - Tyson Beckford Movie HD|via=www.youtube.com}}

Sequel

A sequel named Chocolate City: Vegas was released to BET on July 1, 2017. On August 12, 2017, it was added to Netflix behind the name Chocolate City: Vegas Strip.{{Cite web|url=https://www.netflix.com/title/80188580|title=Chocolate City: Vegas Strip | Netflix|website=www.netflix.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://whatsnewonnetflix.com/new-zealand/1311/chocolate-city-vegas-strip-2017|title=Is Chocolate City: Vegas Strip (2017) on Netflix New Zealand?|website=whatsnewonnetflix.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://usa.newonnetflix.info/info/80188580|title=Chocolate City: Vegas Strip (2017) on Netflix USA :: New On Netflix USA|via=usa.newonnetflix.info}}