Tag - "Two guys, two turntables, a microphone and big dreams!"

In late 1970's Long Island, a shy new kid on the block joins forces with an ambitious rapper and begins a fledgling DJ group in the early days of "Hip-Hop".

SYNOPSIS:

“HOLLYWOOD HOUSE” is a coming of age “dramedy” that takes place in the late 1970’s during the birth of an underground music genre that would later be known as “hip-hop”.

An African-American family begins a new life, moving from a tough Brooklyn housing project, to their new suburban home in Uniondale, Long Island. All seems to be well with William Parker and his wife, Alice. That is, except one of their sons, Clayton, is not very enthusiastic about his new home. He’s a shy and reserved teen who is very reluctant to accept his new surroundings. Upon arriving, he meets a new neighbor, Keyon Mitchell (self nicknamed “K-Dog”) an ambitious teen, whose interests includes rap music, girls and basketball.

During a game of one-on-one basketball, Keyon invites Clay to a late summer jam at a local high school just before the start of the new school year. There, Clay becomes fascinated by the newly created art of “scratching”, or the use of records to sample individual record tracks and “rapping”, or rhyming on the microphone to music. Keyon also introduces Clay to three of his friends. Jason, a long time buddy, who goes to a rival Catholic high school, Alex, a fellow deejay, also interested in the genre, though not as much as Keyon, and Bubba, a rapper with a major problem with stealing.

After the dance, the four teenagers go to a local ice cream parlor to hang out after hours. They decide to start a deejay group called, “Hollywood House.” They pool their summer money and buy the equipment (turntables, speakers, mixers, etc.) to get the business started. But the new venture doesn’t go right for the group. Bubba gets busted for stealing at the Parker house and is abruptly kicked out of the group. A “gig” arranged by Jason at his Catholic high school turns into a technical nightmare. Keyon’s obnoxious behavior leads to further friction among the rank in file. Meanwhile, Clay’s school grades begin going downhill and his parents ground him from participating in deejaying until they improve.

Meanwhile, Clay meets a girl named Angela. Cute, flirtatious but highly intelligent, she takes an interest in Clay during the dance at the Catholic high school and they develop a friendship. Upon hearing his plight, she offers Clay her assistance with his schoolwork. Back at Uniondale High School, “Hollywood House” receives a challenge from a rival deejay group, the “WD” Crew, now assisted by former member, Bubba. A prize of $500 dollars and bragging rights in the area is put together, to be played out at the Roosevelt roller rink.

Despite Clay’s improving grades, his parents ban him from further participating with “Hollywood House”. Clay’s fractured friendship with Keyon and the group becomes further strained by his non-participation and the fact that Clay’s new-found friend’s skin color becomes a factor. The added stress at home leads Clay to make some drastic decisions in his young life and his future with the fledgling group.

“HOLLYWOOD HOUSE” is one of those Spike Lee-type comedy/dramas that harkens to the early days of rap & hip-hop. Growing up in a racially charged world, teenagers trying to find their place and high school love are just some of the themes the film covers. The story will resonate with anyone who had a dream in high school and made a naive attempt to make it happen.