contact: cody smith – [email protected]/wp-content/uploads/2016/... ·...

Contact:CodySmith–[email protected]


Can’tBeStopped

Logline: One of the most influential and recognizable graffiti crews to emerge out of the U.S. is Hollywood’s own Can’t Be Stopped crew. Since its inception in the early 1980’s the initials C.B.S. have been at the forefront of evolving graffiti art into a true and viable art form. The kinship that is forged by the crews’ father figure “Skate” creates a bond of brotherhood that is the focal point of this story. CBS became a surrogate family that was the buffer between these artists and the temptations of the Hollywood streets. Skate’s tutelage becomes the lore and mantra that is the driving force between these boys coming of age and their ultimate success. Unbeknownst to these young artists they were shaping the medium and ultimately becoming pioneers. With the success of CBS, their notoriety and acclaim was a transcending factor that evolved this contemporary art form. Skate had raised these boys from broken homes to prosperity, and left behind a legacy unrivaled with a standard of morality, respect and integrity in graffiti. These lessons became the staple instilled in the graffiti community today. Synopsis: The stigma and stereotypes that have been associated with graffiti since its infancy to landscapes worldwide have typically carried a negative connotation. This trend has only been deconstructed over the last couple decades due to the diligence, sacrifice, innovation, rigor and raw talent of particular artists and crews. As the art form has evolved along with its subculture, its popularity amongst the art world, marketing, clothing, print and multi-media has blossomed. Graffiti art has become a revolution throughout the world and has cemented itself as one of the largest art movements in history.

A vast majority of cutting edge contemporary artists have dabbled in graffiti at a certain point in their career. For every story of success, fame and wealth there is a back-story to the lowbrow level of the art form. The flip side to the pop status of graffiti art is the tragedy, gang violence, jail sentences and death, which in turn becomes the force driving the plot behind the “Can’t Be Stopped” documentary.


MARKETING “CAN’T BE STOPPED”

Main stream America is constantly bombarded with graffiti art thanks to companies like Nike, McDonald’s, Sprite, MTV, RVCA, Addidas, Zoo York, The Seventh Letter, Rebel 8, Echo, LRG, West Coast Customs, Famous Stars and Straps, DC, Tribal Gear, Joker, Osiris, Upper Playground and most skateboard companies. Graffiti art has been associated with marketing, product placement, movie/commercial backdrops and is a viable urban marketing tool. With the evolution of the art form and its association as a street level youth marketing tool, the transformation of its success has propelled the art into the mainstream and is even being applied in high-end fashion boutiques with companies like Louis Vuitton and Chanel.

The auto industry has also assembled artist line vehicles with companies by Scion and high-end luxury cars like Jaguar. Hollywood has also recognized its popularity, value and potential by placing art in music videos, commercials, T.V. (Anthony Bourdain’s, “The Layover”, “Iron Chef America”) and in movie scenes like (“The Hangover”, “This Is The End”), on backdrops and in the background of shots. This placement of graffiti artists work is used as a tactic to appeal to a new generation of urban social media consumers.


Now films are even being advertised with graffiti on billboards like “Gangster Squad”, on posters and in the main titles like “Sucker Punch”.


Along with movies the music industry has long used graffiti art on CD’s and album covers, marketing artists like “Linkin Park”, “Limp Bizkit” and “Slash”. Graffiti art has become such a large entity world wide that the medium of spray paint is even catered to the artist with paint specific to the art form with companies like Ironlak, Belton and Montana Colors.

The graffiti sub-culture is embedded in multiple forms of art from Rap, Producing, DJing, Rock, Punk, Breaking, Street Art and Fine Art, all fueling the art form. The merge of graffiti art and extreme sports, most importantly skateboarding and snowboarding, is another example of the industry recognizing graffiti as a cutting edge marketing tool and a means to connect with street culture.

There is also a body of documentary films promoting graffiti such as “Style Wars”, “Infamy,” “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” “Vigilant Vigilante,” “Dogtown” and “Bomb It”. One film documenting the history and development of the medium in the Los Angeles area since the early 80’s is missing in the catalogue of documentaries, that film is “Can’t Be Stopped.”


TRUE STORY: The word "graffiti" derives from the Greek word graphein meaning: to write. Today, we equate graffiti with the "New York" or "Hip Hop" style, which emerged in the early 1970's. Graffiti art quickly became a social scene and a subculture. Graffiti art has become a global phenomenon, and as graffiti has grown, so has its character. What began as an urban lower-income protest, nationally graffiti now spans all racial and economic groups. While many inner-city kids are still heavily involved in the graffiti culture, it is very misconstrued the graffiti is directly liked to gangs and violence. This is a stereotype that artists have been trying to break over the decades. Although there is a correlation to gangs marking their territory, this documentary is trying to convey that although similar, there is a major divide between graffiti artists and gangs.

Graffiti is a grassroots level art form that young artists can pick up early and develop their craft on an affordable level. This movie dives into the foundation of the arts’ roots and the fraternity and bond between graffiti artists. This connection happens to be a very sociable outlet and compensates for many of these young artists adjusting to growing up in low income and broken homes and their transcendence to ultimate success in the art world. The worldwide graffiti market, both retail and on-line, sell a wide variety of items. Caps, markers, magazines, videos, clothing and paint just to name some tools of the trade. Over 25,000 graffiti sites exist on the World Wide Web; the majority of these are pro-graffiti.


ARTIST INTERVIEWS: Many artists are featured in the film, as well as members from many more old school and emerging punk/alternative/hip hop bands. It will be also fun for viewers and fans of the bands to try to spot members of their favorite artists in the cast of the film. Some of the artist interviews include:

- Mear (Los Angeles Graffiti Legend/Fine Artist ) - Risky (The Seventh Letter) - Greg “Craola” Simkins (Fine Artist) - Mickey Avalon (Musician) - Andre Legacy (Musician) - Existereo (Shape Shifters) - Rakaa Iriescience (Dilated Peoples) - Shifty (Crazy Town/Celebrity Rehab) - Chali 2na (Jurassic 5) - Seen (NYC Graffiti Pioneer) - DJ Lethal (House of Pain/Limp Bizkit) - Circus (Shape Shifters) - Axis (Fine Artist/Musician) - Anger (I Wuz Here)

and many more…

ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK: The movie has a very powerful soundtrack produced by a wide range of music producers like Sid Roams (of Dilated Peoples, Mobb Deep and Eminem fame), Avatar, Presto (Concrete Grooves) and L.A. Jae (Shape Shifters). Accompanied with the composed music will be songs performed by the Shape Shifters, Mickey Avalon, Andre Legacy, One Word Solution, Ares, Awol One, 2mex, Downset, Rakaa Iriescience, DJ Rob One and the Ex Vandalz. These musicians have a vested interest in the graffiti movement, producing tracks specifically tailored for the movie.


BUZZ MARKETING: In fact, part of the value of this film lies in the marketing. With so many artists, bands and retail partners involved in the film, we plan to market the film through their websites and their audiences as well as our own. Graffiti art itself is a free form of advertising and will be implemented with a street campaign intertwined with social media. We will create contests linking the film to CBS graffiti spotted world-wide. Contests created via social media will get people involved in seeking out graffiti whether old (freight trains, rooftops, billboards, etc.) and sharing/trading photos. The website and Facebook page will also host excerpts/trailers/out takes to hype up the release of the film. CAN’T BE STOPPED, itself, has an extensive mailing list and viewership. This is the perfect film to think “outside the box” in terms of marketing. Once the film is released, in addition to the traditional theatrical release, we plan to have screenings at clubs, with bands from the film playing live. We will also do guerilla-style secret screenings on sides of buildings outdoors that would help generate buzz.

Approximate Cumulative Internet hits:

Mear One- 444,661 Andre Legacy- 17,293,525 Mickey Avalon- 31,246,673 Axis- 61,851 Greg Simkins- 351,427 Existero- 102,277 Rakka Iriescience- 1,711,533 Shifty- 5,071,991 Chali 2na- 3,489,488 Seen- 3,263,934 DJ Lethal- 8,378,704 Circus- 246,919 Risk- 334,969 Total You Tube Views: 71,997,952


“CAN’T BE STOPPED” – THEATRICAL FILM COMPARISONS

“CAN’T BE STOPPED” has the potential to become a break-out indie cult classic. Below are films that have similarities in that they were also breakout edgy indie hits:

"EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP"

With a unique grassroots campaign, the film grew to a US theatrical gross of $3.29MM and a $5.3MM worldwide. The film received overwhelmingly positive reviews, holding 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and was nominated for Best Documentary at the 2011 Academy Awards. The film is now a top hit on Netflix.

"DOGTOWN AND Z BOYS"

The film's $400,000 budget was financed by Vans, Inc., whose skateboarding shoes Stacy Peralta had been paid to endorse during his days as a professional skateboarder. Peralta was not the only Z boy to work on the film. According to Stacy Peralta in a 2004 interview, "Dogtown" has sold over a million DVDs and more than 700,000 VHS." In 2001, Stacy Peralta won the Sundance Film Festival Award for Directing Award Documentary.

“CAN’T BE STOPPED” Documentary TRT: 104 min.

contact: cody smith – [email protected]/wp-content/uploads/2016/... ·...

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