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Rollercoaster Journey: The Unpredictable Saga of One Them Days

Captures the essence of laughter while simultaneously celebrating the South L.A. area familiarly referred to as the Jungles, in its heartfelt comedic portrayal, "One of Them Days". The creator aimed to express his affection towards the neighborhood in this production, as shown through his...

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In a blend of humor and heart, the movie One of Them Days pays tribute to South L.A.'s famed...
In a blend of humor and heart, the movie One of Them Days pays tribute to South L.A.'s famed neighborhood, The Jungles, cherished by its locals. The filmmaker's attempt is to capture the essence of this cherished community.

Rollercoaster Journey: The Unpredictable Saga of One Them Days

In an entertaining ode to the vibrant South Los Angeles neighborhood known as the Jungles, "One of Them Days" serves as a warm, humorous love letter to the diverse community residing there. Screenwriter Syreeta Singleton reveals her ambition to portray the neighborhood's heart and soul authentically in her writing.

Films set in the Jungles are not frequent, making it a rare treat for residents to see themselves represented in a light-hearted story. Historically, the neighborhood has been portrayed negatively in films like Training Day. Producers like Deniese Davis emphasize that the Jungles is merely another neighborhood, filled with residents, families, and individuals vital to the community.

To create an accurate representation of the community, Singleton incorporated various roles in her script, such as the neighborhood's matriarch or the local hairdresser. Each character reflects the unique dynamics within the Jungles. Incidents involving Dreux and Alyssa, the film's protagonists, were inspired by Singleton's own experiences in the neighborhood, where she often found herself in unexpected, adventurous situations.

Humorous moments related to gentrification were also drawn from the filmmakers' personal experiences in South L.A. As the neighborhood evolves due to gentrification, alterations like the arrival of a candy house or an ice cream truck increasingly become common sights.

Issa Rae, the media mogul, spearheaded the project through her production companies, Hoorae Media, and ColorCreative. ColorCreative's focus is on cultivating stories, especially humorous and rarely-told stories, for the entertainment industry. Rae's support enabled Singleton to develop her first feature film project within the studio system.

Singleton was one of the first writers that Rae and Davis incubated, over a decade ago, with a pilot titled "So Jaded." Singleton went on to play a significant role in "Insecure" as an assistant to the showrunner before joining the show's writing staff. Later, she served as the showrunner for the project "Rap Shit."

The film boasts an all-star cast of two certified comedic actors, allowing the filmmakers to develop an undeniable chemistry between the two leads, echoing the first Black women-led buddy comedy since the premiere of B.A.P.S. nearly 30 years ago.

Recognizing the authenticity and humanity in the story, executive producer Charles D. King, CEO of MACRO, hailed the opportunity to collaborate with Rae, Davis, and the team. A perfect blend of missions, the project aligns with MACRO's commitment to cinematic excellence and showcasing stories from people of color.

In terms of comic inspiration, the film draws heavily from classics like Friday and Superbad. Additionally, it pays homage to Robert Townsend's B.A.P.S. in numerous ways, reflecting Singleton's desire to create a fresh, relatable, and uproarious coming-of-age comedy.

Shot on location in the Jungles, the film authentically captures the essence of the neighborhood. The community's warmth, light, and colors play a crucial role in setting the scene and creating an authentic atmosphere.

For Lawrence Lamont, the film's director, maintaining authenticity was essential. With a substantial number of reference photos taken while scouting the area, the production designed sets that amplified the spatial personas of the neighborhood rather than producing a contrived landscape. In capturing the inner workings of the community, the film seeks to present the residents as real people overcoming everyday struggles with a dash of humor.

  1. Syreeta Singleton's script for "One of Them Days" incorporates various roles such as the neighborhood's matriarch and local hairdresser, reflecting the unique dynamics within the Jungles.
  2. Issa Rae, through her production companies Hoorae Media and ColorCreative, has supported Singleton in developing her first feature film project, focusing on humorous and rarely-told stories for the entertainment industry.
  3. The film boasts an all-star cast, fostering an undeniable chemistry between the two leads, reminiscent of the first Black women-led buddy comedy since the premiere of B.A.P.S. nearly 30 years ago.
  4. Lawrence Lamont, the film's director, emphasized the importance of maintaining authenticity by designing sets that amplified the spatial personas of the neighborhood, capturing the inner workings of the community and presenting the residents as real people overcoming everyday struggles with a dash of humor.

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