EXCLUSIVE: Travis Scott will executive produce, along with Isaac Yowman, a DJ Screw biopic for Columbia Pictures, a Sony subsidiary that is producing the film under the direction of vice president Maia Eyre. November 16 is the 22nd anniversary of DJ Screw’s death.
As DJ Screw’s sister Michelle Wheeler put it, “Carrying on my brother’s legacy is the most important thing… The process was honestly exciting. I’m like wow we’re actually going to make a movie. We’re through approached by almost a dozen film directors and producers over the years, but now, for the first time, I really felt comfortable. I’m very grateful that Sony and Travis are on this journey with us and helping to carry on my brother Screw’s legacy to sit.”
Scott’s involvement in the project began when I went to the LA office with my brother Earl and the entire Cactus Jack team was there. Trav and I talked for over an hour about how epic it could be… ideas were flowing,” explains Isaac Yowman. “The love for Screw was mutual and he told me I had his full support. We both grew up in Mo. City, so it means a lot more to include him.
Jeron Smith, who initiated the first Life Rights Agreement, says: “This film is the ethos of what the Incubation Lab partnership is all about. Bringing together Isaac and Travis, who are both non-traditional storytellers, is what it’s all about.” But beyond Yowman and Scott’s unique perspective, making this film required a tremendous amount of research, writing and development.
As Yowman explained in a recent interview, “So much work has been done over the past year. The studio and I, along with Travis’ team, have been reaching out to writers to determine the best way to tell this story on paper. Screw is a music icon, down south he’s like a god, so there’s a certain sweetness in tapping into his story, yet I’m very grateful to have his sister Michelle and brother Charles in my corner as a support system I don’t know everything and there is so much information out there that talking to legends like Lil’ Keke, Bun B and D-Reck and getting unbiased perspectives helped guide the process.
Writer: Valerie complex
Source: Deadline
Bernice Bonaparte is an author and entertainment journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a passion for pop culture and a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest entertainment news, Bernice has become a trusted source for information on the entertainment industry.
