| Show I Ravaged community ty turns to artistic expression Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times In David LaChapelle's enthralling Tommy Johnson explains that he was working toward his goal of becoming a time big-time drug dealer in South-Central South Los Angeles when he was derailed by jail time where he underwent a religious transformation and reappraised reappraised reappraised reap reap- praised his life Responding to the devastation and despair of the 1992 riots and answering answering answering answer answer- ing a friends friend's plea to provide entertainment for her childs child's birthday party Johnson was reborn as Tommy the Clown A burly outgoing young man Tommy inadvertently unleashed a new dance phenomenon phenomenon phenomenon phe phe- that he calls clowning clowning clowning clown clown- ing which in turn has given birth to an edgier more aggressive freestyle form called With his baggy jumpsuit rainbow wig and whitened face embellished with tiny red balloon designs Tommy looks like a classic clown But he discovered he is a veritable veritable veritable ver ver- Pied Piper reaching kids through dance humor and affection Through his street performances performances performances mances party entertainments entertainments entertainments entertain entertain- ments dance competitions and myriad related activities Tommy has laid the foundation foundation foundation tion for an alternative to gang life for countless young joung peo peo- Having achieved success as a photographer music video and commercials director director director tor and as director and designer of Elton Johns John's The Red Piano show at Caesars Palace LaChapelle now reveals he has the tary filmmakers filmmaker's gift for charting the evolution of a anew anew anew new form of artistic expression expression expression sion as a way of illuminating an entire world that of South-Central South Los Angeles where people of goodwill continue to form a warm mutually supportive community community community in the face of the omnipresent dangers of shootings drive-by drive gang With Tommy as the films film's anchor focuses considerable considerable considerable con con- attention on the especially the dynamic Dragon and the commanding Ms Prissy While Tommy is an entertainer entertainer entertainer enter enter- Dragon and his friends are arc attempting to connect intuitively with their tribal roots to create identity and Continued on Page 9 pg I I i y f i M f t. t U T ifs i f I x c cI h rr JY I r l J ii 4 a f r r j s l r. r y 1 1 tA l Continued from page 7 pride through an artistic expression that diffuses anger and frustration and transforms them into art The spontaneity and energy energy energy ener ener- gy with which the clowns and perform is breathtaking and at one point LaChapelle a performance with footage shot by Leni of the ritual often combative dances of Nuba tribesmen The effect is startling in the similarities similarities similarities ties although the designs the paint on their faces owe more inspiration to graffiti art than traditional tradition tradition- al African motifs Throughout the film mm there is the sense of individuals reaching deep within themselves themselves themselves them them- selves to find ways of expression that will give meaning to their lives The original music from Red Productions and II Amy Marie Beauchamp and lose Jose C Cancella's original score complement the tremendous wit vitality and sensuality of the dancers Dragon who was born Jason Green and his friends distance themselves from the commercial world of hop hip-hop and emphasize the purity of expression Yet so dazzling are he Ms Prissy Gardner is h her r real name and others that its it's difficult to imagine that is not bringing them unprecedented attention and opportunities LaChapelle could well be already thinking thinking thinking think think- ing of catching up with these engaging people several several several sev sev- eral years from now |
