"Summertime"

 

We get a quick drive by Grauman's Chinese in the first few moments of "Summertime" (Good Deed Entertainment, 2021). Carlos Lopez Estrada directed this delightful story of 27 young Angelenos and how their lives intersect on a hot summer day. Much of the material for the "spoken word poetry musical" was written by the young stars of the film. The cinematography is by John Schmidt. The film's impetus was the Get Lit classes and poetry workshops offered to high school students. 

 

 

Before a show at the United Artists/Theatre at Ace Hotel, 933 S. Broadway.  The performers they're waiting for are unlikely stars played by Bryce Bank and Austin Antoine. When we first meet them they're rapping on the sidewalk in Venice and getting no attention whatever.

 

 

In the line at the United Artists. 

 

 

Another pre-show view at the United Artists.

 

 

Maia Mayor across the street from the United Artists. Her boyfriend has just dumped her as being too needy and depressed. Later she meets Marquesha Babers on a bus who suggests "Maybe we're not depressed. Maybe we're just hungry?" Thanks to Conor Holt for locating this shot, one that appears on IMDb.

 

 

Looking north toward the Arcade Theatre, 534 S. Broadway. That's Tyris Winter, strolling the downtown streets reciting his poetry. The big quest in his wanderings around town is the hunt for a cheeseburger. He's finding a number of places places have changed their menus or have been transformed through gentrification.

 

Tyris hits the other side of the street and gives us a bit of poetry on his iPhone while under the marquee of the Los Angeles Theatre, 615 S. Broadway. Some of the gang ends up at a burger joint where they're offered the use of a limo by the two newly-minted rap stars. 

 

The white limo wanders all over town. Here it's sailing past the Vista Theatre in Los Feliz, 4473 Sunset Dr. Of course they're running Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood." He didn't own the theatre at the time of the 2019 filming but he bought it in 2021.

On IMDb: "Summertime"    Website: gooddeedentertainment.com/summertime

 

 

 

A shot from a Get Lit youth poetry festival held at the Orpheum, 842 S. Broadway. It's from one of the "Making of Summertime" videos on the Good Deed Entertainment website.