Let It Shine (film)

Plot

In Atlanta, Georgia, Cyrus DeBarg is a musically talented choir director who writes rap lyrics under the pseudonym "Truth" because of his father Pastor Jacobs disapproval of hip hop music and his shy demeanor compared to his more outgoing best friend Kris McDuffy. Cyrus also secretly works as a busboy at a club, Off the Street, where the music label of their childhood friend, teenage singing sensation Roxanne "Roxie" Andrews, is sponsoring a songwriting contest. Roxie chooses Truths heartfelt song "Dont Run Away" as the winning entry but misidentifies Kris as Truth because the photo Cyrus submitted was of them both. Kris convinces Cyrus to let him take credit for the song because he has feelings for Roxie. As Kris uses Cyrus verses to get closer to both Roxies heart and his newfound fame, Cyrus begins to resent his best friend.

Cyrus and Roxie get to know each other and Roxie says she can talk to him better than she can talk to Kris. Cyrus invites Roxie to perform with the choir at his church. Right after their rousing performance, Pastor Jacob humiliates Roxie in front of the congregation by calling out people who are living in "hip-hop-crisy". At the urging of his wife, Pastor Jacob goes to the club to apologize to Roxie, where he catches his son working at the club, and learns that Cyrus writes rap lyrics. Although furious at first, Pastor Jacob comes to realize his sons raps carry positive messages and rescinds his initial disapproval.

The conflict between Cyrus and Kris comes to a head when they have a physical altercation at the club. Levi, the club owner, convinces the two not to let their friendship die. The two mend their friendship and during a duet with Roxie, Cyrus takes Kris place on the stage to sing "Me and You", revealing through the lyrics that he was Truth all along. Cyrus apologizes and confesses his true feelings but Roxie storms from the stage and wants nothing to do with either of them. At a hip hop battle contest, Cyrus calls out the winner, an arrogant rapper named Lord of Da Bling. The two battle for the trophy, which Cyrus wins by rapping to the audience that Bling is not in fact rich, but a normal person, which he found out by seeing Bling work his day job as a taxi driver.

Kris eventually tells Roxie that Cyrus is a great person and only pretended he wasnt Truth for Kris, and they didnt try to hurt Roxie: he also says Cyrus is real and thats who she needs to be with. Roxie goes to church and hugs Cyrus and they sing "Let it Shine".

Cast

Production

The movies soundtrack features 13 original songs by acclaimed music producers/songwriters/performers Rock Mafia, Toby Gad, David Banner, Antonina Armato, Andy Dodd, In-Q, Adam Hicks, Tim James, Lindy Robbins, Dapo Torimiro, Thomas Sturges, Jon Vella and Adam Watts.

The movie was shot in Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia. The DVD was released on August 7, 2012.

Reception

The premiere of Let It Shine garnered 5.7 million viewers and was the most watched Disney Channel Original Movie of 2012 and was also currently the #1 movie of the year across kids 6–11, tweens and teens.

In its original airing, the movie was watched by 5.7 million people, the high cable rating of the day, and obtained an adult 18-49 rating of 0.9, second only to Family Guy. The Rap Battle Edition, which aired on June 30, was watched by 2.54 million people. In the UK, the film was watched by 545,000 people

Broadcast

The movie aired worldwide on Disney Channel. It premiered on June 15, 2012 in Canada, on July 20, 2012 in the United Kingdom and Ireland, on August 3, 2012 in India, and on September 28, 2012 in Australia and New Zealand. In Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines it previewed on October 19, 2012 and premiered on November 10, 2012.

Rap Battle Edition

It aired on July 6, 2012 in Canada, on August 17, 2012 in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and on November 9, 2012 in Australia and New Zealand.

In the Spotlight Edition

It aired on November 23, 2012 in Canada.