LOS ANGELES (Black Entertainment Television/ www.bet.com) - What do you do when your past catches up with you? It's the question at the heart of this new-school classic depicting a young man at life's crossroads. Emmy Award and Golden
Globe winner Ving Rhames (Mission Impossible, Don King: Only In America) and platinum-selling rapper
Ja Rule (Assault on Precinct 13) star in the complex urban drama BACK IN THE DAY, making its worldwide broadcast premiere on BET on Friday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT.
In addition, the BACK IN THE DAY DVD will debut in stores on May 24. Directed by
James Hunter, this gritty tale of love and redemption features an all-star ensemble cast including Pam Grier (The L Word), Frank Langella (Unscripted),
Tatyana Ali (The Brothers), Giancarlo Esposito, (Law & Order), Tia Carrere (Supernova), Debi
Morgan (Eve's Bayou), and Joe
Morton (Ali). Hunter shares co-screenwriting credits on BACK IN THE DAY with Michael Ruffanello.
In BACK IN THE DAY, Ja Rule portrays Reggie Cooper, a young man from the rough side of the tracks who lives with his divorced, affluent father (Esposito) in order to avoid the gang activity that almost claimed his teenage life in his mother's neighborhood (Grier). When Reggie reconnects with a recently paroled friend from his past (Rhames), he slips back into a life of crime with fatal consequences. Reggie becomes involved in the murder of a local preacher (Morton) and in the aftermath of this crime, he falls in love with the preacher's daughter (Ali). Ultimately, he must choose between losing everything he cares about and his lifelong loyalty to his oldest friend. BACK IN THE DAY chronicles the powerful story of one man's search for personal redemption.
"BET is very excited about this relationship with DEJ Productions on BACK IN THE DAY, a film that depicts urban life with dramatic realism and emotional depth," said Herbert Niles, BET Vice President of Film Development & Program Acquisitions. "The performances by Ving Rhames and Ja Rule are compelling and unforgettable, and BET is pleased to have the opportunity to introduce this riveting and unique story on our network."
Ja Rule is confident that viewers will relate to the film's strong message. "Almost every aspect of life involves choices, and this film deals with some of the hardest choices any man might face - choosing between the love of a woman and loyalty to a long-time friend," said Ja Rule. "Anyone who has ever been at an important crossroads in their life will really feel the drama and pressure facing these characters."
BACK IN THE DAY was produced by DEJ Productions, a subsidiary of Blockbuster, Inc. and is distributed by First Look Home Entertainment. Marketing support for the DVD release includes trailers on premium DEJ and First Look titles, an extensive BET on-air and online promotional campaign, as well as national radio promotions in Top 30 markets.
