{"id":78332,"date":"2017-01-24T20:00:52","date_gmt":"2017-01-24T20:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2017\/01\/24\/insiders-view-new-edition-story\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T02:42:22","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T02:42:22","slug":"insiders-view-new-edition-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/insiders-view-new-edition-story\/","title":{"rendered":"An Insider’s View To The New Edition Story"},"content":{"rendered":"

An Insider’s View To The New Edition Story<\/strong>By Dominga Martin<\/p>\n

January 24, 2017<\/p>\n

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From the streets of Roxbury to a Hollywood Star, BET holds no punches in this 3 part mini series about the boy band that changed the game.<\/p>\n

1983. Orchard Park projects was buzzing\u2014-this was my neighborhood and those of us who grew up there, call Orchard Park \u201cOP\u201d for short; a sentiment you will hear throughout the New Edition Story, airing in three nights beginning January 24th on BET. OP is a housing development with three story brick buildings, residing a hop skip and a jump from the Downtown, Boston skyline. We had one black radio station: W.I.L.D AM, where Stephen Hill, now President of Programming for BET, was the former Program Director. W.I.L.D went off the air at 4PM like a strict curfew. Static. It was also located atop a hill, just a few steps away from the project. I was just a little girl at this time and the radio station blared from many project windows throughout the day, especially as I was getting ready for school. So one morning, the song \u201cCandy Girl\u201d came on the radio, and as my mother helped me get dressed for school, she excitedly asked: \u201cDo you know who that is on the radio?\u201d I replied: \u201cNo.\u201d She responded back with: \u201cThat\u2019s Bobby!\u201d I asked; \u201cBobby, who?\u201d<\/p>\n

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Bobby Brown lived on the 3rd floor above my grandmother, in Orchard Park (and) even though I was \u201cthe little girl downstairs,\u201d which Bobby still refers to me, to this day\u2014my upstairs neighbor was becoming a star and the whole neighborhood could feel it. There was magic in the air. Our building, which I grew up in, was like a close knit family. What I remember about Bobby was, he was always bouncing his basketball, he taught me how to \u201cgive dap\u201d, the \u201chood-swag\u201d hand shake and he looked out for the community by getting us backstage passes and free tickets to concerts. I remembered the whole neighborhood would come out in droves to the talent shows to see New Edition perform. Vividly, I recall the night they had one of their very last shows before their record deal. They were singing Kool and The Gang\u2019s \u201cGet Down On It\u201d, and Michael Biven\u2019s part was: \u201cSo what you gonna do? Do you wanna get down?\u2026\u201d The crowd in the school auditorium was jumping! Everyone went berserk. They were too cool to be so young, but they were from OP, so swag comes with the association.<\/p>\n

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Algee Smith<\/strong> who portrays Ralph Tresvant as he comes of age in the film, reveals:<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re (New Edition) super proud of being from OP and they dedicated all their swag and all their charisma from OP, from the things they had to endure growing up, the things they\u2019ve seen and learned (that) helped them grow. Ralph told me just the other day (that) the Orchard Park code is to stay fly and stay humble.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

At first glance, Algee immediately captivates with that \u201cRizz\u201d sparkle and charm, however, I didn\u2019t know what to expect as rumors began to circulate that a New Edition movie was in the making. I was a bit skeptical. Who would play them? Would the actors hail from Boston? How would the Director, Chris Robinson depict the projects which were torn down and developed into houses over a decade ago. Who on earth could play New Edition, because there\u2019s only five\u00a0originals.<\/p>\n

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NE Talent Show Days – Photo Credit includes Lawrence Dugan, SR and Brown Family Archives<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I will admit, it took awhile for me to warm up to the cast choices, however, the moment I saw Night 1, at the red carpet premiere in New York City, the cast stole my heart. I felt like I was reliving my childhood as I watched the actors morph from \u201cCandy Girl\u201d to \u201cCool It Now\u201d and beyond. BET cuts right to the chase\u2014straight no chaser, and takes viewers inside the solarplexus of a beloved group that has been admired for their Boston swagger and their music for over 30 years.<\/p>\n

I thought I knew everything about New Edition and although my cousin and I were dancers for Bobby Brown\u2019s youngest sister Carole (AKA Coupe) on the Home Again Tour, I did not know the inner turmoil happening between the group (because) Bobby was extremely protective of family.<\/p>\n

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When The New Edition Story opens up with Bobby singing \u201cMy Prerogative,\u201d and performing over time, bleeding into BBD\u2019s set, I was just as surprised as the concert audience when a fight broke out between Bobby, BBD (Bell, Biv, DeVoe) and their entourages. It was so heartbreaking to see, however, their bond and professionalism overcame the drama (because) the show must go on and one of Orchard Park\u2019s codes are: LOYALTY, above all else.<\/p>\n

Algee, who spent time with Ralph and remaining members of the group, learned first hand that the group\u2019s professionalism was the key to their success. \u201cEven after everything that was going on, after Ralph losing his baby, going through it with his mom, all the pressure and fighting with the guys everyday (but) every night they were back on that stage with a smile, doing this for the fans, no matter what was going on back stage.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s magical the way these young actors embodied and channeled the New Edition. As a fan, you find yourself remembering the moments you discovered which N.E. member was your favorite, for they captured the essence of each member.<\/p>\n

For the actors who played New Edition in the early years, the group was way before their time\u2014their knowledge of the group came through their parents:<\/p>\n

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\u201cMy mom was the biggest Michael Bivens fan,\u201d<\/strong> says Dante Hoagland<\/strong>, a 13 year old, who portrays the young Michael Bivens. He continues with a big smile: \u201cI didn\u2019t even know that (she was a fan), she was more excited than I was.\u201d He continues, \u201cI didn\u2019t know who New Edition was, but I did know who BBD was and I knew \u201cPoison\u201d\u2014I did not know that the people who were in BBD were originally in New Edition.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Both sets of actors had a chance to gel with the group when the original New Edition members rehearsed for their tour. New Edition first in line, followed by the teen actors, and then the child actors, moving in sync and learning the songs.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the footwork, in the performance scenes that are New Edition\u2019s trademark, thanks to choreographer Brooke Payne. The six guys cast as New Edition were put through a 4 week boot camp, 8 hours a day, to become the super group. Elijah Kelley<\/strong>, who plays Ricky Bell shared that after one rehearsal, Ricky walked up to him and said: \u201cI like everything you\u2019re doing, just not so corny.\u201d<\/p>\n

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There is one moment where manager \u201cGary\u201d (Michael Rapaport<\/strong>) tells them to leave their Roxbury attitude at home, in which Ronnie replies: \u201cIt\u2019s our Roxbury attitude that got us here.\u201d<\/p>\n

The attitude New Edition draws from were from the humble beginnings of hip hop, influenced and threaded throughout the film. Boom Boxes, Adidas, Kangols and Members Only jackets added to their edge. They were on the cusp of the changing of the guard, and often ahead of their time. The first R&B group to include rapping and singing in their music. They blended both worlds of Hip Hop and R&B very early in their career (and) it\u2019s that hip hop attitude that has sustained them through decades.<\/p>\n

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The Real Orchard Park – Photo Credit includes Lawrence Dugan, SR and Brown Family Archives<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

New Edition is all about attitude, bravado and talent. They are the first \u201cboy band\u201d. They are pop stars. Legendary. They\u2019ve given birth to a movement of young men in this business from Usher to Chris Brown. They are the blue print for New Kids on the Block. They are trendsetters who have inspired many with their je ne sais quoi, authenticity and creativity. Their blend of street and soul put Boston on the map and the music industry took notice.<\/p>\n

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Watching the New Edition Story, Episode 1, immediately jarred my memory. I was one of the little kids chasing them around the project when they bought scooters. I can still hear the roar of the bikes as they circled the bricks. I recalled peeking through the crack of the double doors of our Rec Center, which we affectionately called \u201cThe Neighborhood House\u201d to watch them practice their dance steps. I went back in time to the day \u201cPopcorn Love\u201d became a single and all the neighbors from our building had a block party outside, blasting the Candy Girl album and the newly released track. I immediately felt, once again, the pride the whole neighborhood experienced, from the beginning.<\/p>\n

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Young New Edition is exquisitely performed by Caleb McLaughlin<\/strong> (Ricky Bell) best known for his Netflix hit, \u201cStranger Things.\u201d He revealed that he learned about New Edition on road trips.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t actually know who New Edition was,\u201d <\/strong>he says and continues. \u201cI thought they were the Jackson 5. When I was in the car listening to \u201cCandy Girl,\u201d I was like \u2018Oh! I never heard that song.’ I never really asked because I already knew it was the Jackson 5, but it really wasn\u2019t, (but when) I really knew who New Edition was, was when I auditioned [and] I really knew the back drop and whole history of it, so I was just really excited to be in it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

He added: \u201cI learned that they were just kids who wanted to pursue their dreams with singing and dancing. They never had any doubt with singing, just hope\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

The young cast is completed with: Jahi Winston<\/strong> (Ralph Tresvant), Myles Truitt <\/strong>(Ronnie DeVoe), Tyler Williams<\/strong> (Bobby Brown).<\/p>\n

The whole cast revealed that they had a running joke and rivalry between the older actors who portrayed the adolescent New Edition, and the younger version:<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt was terrifying!\u201d<\/strong> Says Algee, \u201cThey got so much life and energy. The little kids was out shining us. We we\u2019re supposed to be the evolution after they set the tone, so we had to step our game up.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

The youngsters take command of the screen when performing New Edition\u2019s first hit, Candy Girl. The moment the \u201cyoung Ralph\u201d belted out the first lyrics, the whole theater audience sang along. There was an extremely proud moment for me, as I watched, when \u201cyoung\u201d Ralph Tresvant declines dropping the four remaining members of the group for a solo deal, at the request of their soon to be music producer, Maurice Starr.<\/p>\n

Ralph states: \u201cIf I cut out my boys, the whole OP will hate me. I don\u2019t know where you\u2019re from, but we don\u2019t get down like that here.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

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And that is the truth and the glue which holds these five friends together. Through the fist fights, the family feuds and the hard reality of growing up in a business without the proper professional guidance\u2014aside from their mothers, who did the best they could to guide and protect their sons, fiercely and unapologetically.<\/p>\n

Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike and Ralph were five young boys from the projects of Boston who wanted to \u201cmake it\u201d out by pursuing their dreams in a cut throat business. However, even though they were from the hood, they were not \u201cstreet.\u201d They were impressionable, naive and malleable, and for those reasons, amongst others, they were burned (and) taken advantage of for lack of exposure and knowledge about the game. This is an inspirational film for young black boys to identify with and to be empowered.<\/p>\n

The New Edition Story: Night One is the beginning of a journey that is healing, educational and lets fans go behind the curtain to see a side of the group we never knew.<\/p>\n

Hold on to your seat, and don\u2019t blink!<\/p>\n

Additional Cast Includes: Woody McClain (Bobby Brown), Luke James (Johnny Gill), Keith Powers (Ronnie Defoe), Bryshere L. Gray (Michael Bivens), Monica Calhoun (Pat, Ralph\u2019s Mom) and LaLa Anthony (Flo, Ronnie DeVoe\u2019s mother). Wood Harris (The WIRE) portrays their long time choreographer Brooke Payne.<\/p>\n

The New Edition Story airs for 3 nights on BET beginning January 24th. 9PM<\/p>\n