Malibuites trying to get a cup of coffee at Diedrich early last week might have found it a bit difficult, even finding it posed a challenge. That’s because the local coffee shop was temporarily turned into “Malibrew,” the place where Brad (B-Rad) Gluckman and his hopeful rapper friends hang out, discussing dreams of rapper stardom and picking up chicks.
Diedrich was one of a few local stores used as film sets for the film, starring Jamie Kennedy and directed by John Whitesell (“See Spot Run”). The tall, lanky blond-haired Kennedy currently stars in Warner Bros. TV show “JKX: The Jamie Kennedy Experiment,” where Kennedy turns himself into various quirky characters, surprising innocent victims, reminiscent of “Candid Camera.” The scene shot at Diedrich is a principal one where boy meets girl. Kennedy plays Brad (B-Rad) Gluckman, a white would-be rapper from Malibu whose lifestyle hinders his father’s bid for governor. In this scene, Brad meets Shondra (Regina Hall), a business-savvy “hottie” who is from Compton and eventually lures Gluckman into the “hood.” The film also stars Ryan O’Neal, Taye Diggs, Blair Underwood, Tom Gibbons, Anthony Anderson, Regina Hall and Damien Wayans.
The character Gluckman is a breakout character from “The Jamie Kennedy Experiment.” And prior to that, Kennedy used the character when he was a stand-up comedian.
As far as the logistics for shooting in Malibu go, George Parra, assistant director and 22-year Malibu resident, says it was fairly difficult to get a permit to film in Malibu. He said it took a “friend of a friend” to actually get the three-day permit to shoot.
“It was worth the difficulty,” Parra says. “Why shoot in Palos Verdes [where the film was originally to be shot] when you have Malibu?” The film shoot is on a short, hectic schedule, with six weeks to complete.
Kennedy said he enjoyed working in Malibu. “Malibu has been nothing but gracious and loving,” Kennedy says. “But when I tried to go to a party in the Colony last night, they wouldn’t let me in!”
The actor laughed, still in character, “I guess I’ll know when I’m a big star-when I can get in to parties at the Colony!”
The untitled film, a Warner Bros. Picture, is produced by Mike Karz of Karz Entertainment Production, which also produces “JKX: The Jamie Kennedy Experiment.” Fax Bahr, Adam Small, Jamie Kennedy and Nick Swardson wrote the screenplay.