Im Rick James

Appearances

Production

In a recent radio interview, the director said,

"This was one of the most difficult projects Ive ever been involved with...Rick was a complicated guy, with a crazy lifestyle... most of the people that were involved with him are pretty complicated too. Dozens of interviews were set up where the people just didnt show. We had crews sitting at rented locations or on built sets, for hours waiting for them. Most of the big stars that were really close to Rick, didnt want to be interviewed or participate. I guess they were afraid of revealing their party times with Rick. Even Eddie Murphy wouldnt do an interview for us...Eddie went back over 20 years with Rick... But I tell ya, the stories that we got from the ones that did show, are incredible! Some of the stories were too heavy to make the cut, but Im sure theyll make the bonus materials on the DVD. In the end, it was worth it. You really get an inside look at this guy...all his talents for making music, his incredible career, all the money he made and blew...his wild lifestyle...then losing it all to drugs...going to jail...the Dave Chappelle thing...and just as he starts to get his life back, he checks out. Its quite a story. Eddie Griffin described Ricks life as a beautiful tragedy and thats truly what it was. But three years on the same movie? It just wiped me out."