THE FILM \ SOCIAL MEDIA \ ABOUT \ CONTACT
THE FILM
MAKE A WISH
Based on an original screenplay, Hip Flop is a full-length comedy about a mega famous, egotistical rapper who accidentally goes back in time to the late 1950’s and must win a Rock and Roll contest in order to return to the present.
The rapper, Larsiny, 25 is obnoxious and self-centered. He has threatened to leave Hawk Records unless they renew his contract. He has broken up with his girlfriend, and is now turning down movie offers because he wants to play a cowboy. His crew destroys another hotel room, and the hotel manager’s job in the process. On his way to Hawk Records, a new penny falls into his shoe. He arrives late for his appointment with Wendell Johnson, head of Hawk Records, and demands a $150 million contract. Johnson tells him that he is untalented and full of himself. Johnson mentions the great singers he signed in the 50’s and tells Larsiny he wouldn’t have made it back then. Larsiny leaves, furious, the contract unsigned.
Larsiny gets into the freight elevator, makes a wish in anger and is suddenly transported back in time to 1959. He walks out of the building, bumps into Millie, 20 and then a cab hits him. Millie goes with him to the hospital and watches over him. When they release Larsiny, she takes him to a homeless shelter. The shelter matron, Miss Prune, gives him three weeks to find a job.
A REAL LOVE SONG
Larsiny goes to see Young Wendell Johnson at Hawk Records, but Johnson’s sister Ola kicks him out. Larsiny goes to an amateur music night and scares the clientele with his Hip Hop. An inexperienced Millie offers to be his manager and get him an audition at Hawk Records. She advises Larsiny to make a record for her contact, Doris, but his lyrics horrify them. Millie challenges Larsiny to write a real love song.
Larsiny tries to deliver his record to Johnson, who turns him down. Larsiny gets into the freight elevator and attempts to return to 2017, but remains stuck in 1959. Defeated, he reluctantly takes a job at Ruby’s Diner. Millie and Larsiny are out driving when they come across a pianist, Percy, who was just thrown out of a funeral. They hire Percy for their new band, The Twilights. Millie introduces Larsiny to Grady, an old school music man. Grady doesn’t think much of Larsiny, but he likes Millie and introduces them to Jimmy and Marcus, who also join the band. Odell, an old family friend visits, surprising Millie and her mother. Odell sees Larsiny as competition. Odell announces that his singing group also plans to compete for an audition at Hawk Records. Grady and Percy teach Larsiny how to sing, dance and play properly. Percy gets bounced out of a club for dating the owner’s wife and Larsiny has to play the piano, which he does poorly.
The Twilights win third place at the contest. Millie and Larsiny make love that night. The next morning, she finds the 2017 penny in Larsiny’s shoe and realizes that he is from the future. She takes Larsiny to see Toni, a gorgeous Native American bookworm, about time travel. Toni explains a way to go back. The Twilights audition and get signed, except for Larsiny. Before Young Johnson can tell him the truth, that he did win, Larsiny storms off into the elevator and makes it back to his own time. Larsiny has changed and signs a contract with the older Johnson. Millie travels forward in time shortly after. They connect and later, Larsiny does a concert for the homeless, singing a Hip-Hop homage to old school music pioneers.
ABOUT THE PRODUCERS
DAVID SHEPPARD
PRODUCER, SCREENWRITER
David W. Sheppard hails from Chicago. He is a playwright, novelist and songwriter. He co-wrote the Rock and Roll, Doo Wop and Hip-Hop songs for Hip Flop. David has completed a romance comedy screenplay and novel with Margie Baker and former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield, entitled Lightfoot. David has produced several plays in Chicago. He has adapted his award nominated musical stage play, Sing, Sister, Sing, for the big screen. He has also written other comedy screenplays, as well as action, thriller and drama.
RAY ELLINGSEN
PRODUCER
Ray Ellingsen began his film career in 1987 as a writer. He has since gone on to pursue numerous aspects of filmmaking, from directing and producing, to supervising post production of feature films, documentaries, and commercials. In 1999, Ellingsen helped form the motion picture entertainment company, Ugly Old Bird Productions, which produced a number of film and video projects during its five years of doing business.
Ellingsen moved to Arizona in 2005 to manage the largest motion picture film studio in the state of Arizona, Hollywood-Phoenix Film Studios. Within a year, Ellingsen brought in three feature films, numerous commercials, as well as a television series for the studio to produce. Ellingsen left the studio and moved back to Los Angeles to further his filmmaking career.
To date, Ellingsen has written and directed two documentaries and a feature film, along with a multitude of commercial, instructional and industrial projects. He has also produced nine feature films and over 30 video and commercial projects, with two feature films currently in development.
MARGIE BAKER
PRODUCER, SCREENWRITER
Margie Baker is also a novelist and songwriter. She is a former script supervisor and production coordinator, working on PSAs and independent films. She co-wrote the Rock and Roll, Doo Wop and Hip-Hop songs for Hip Flop. She is also the co-author of the screenplay and novel, Lightfoot, and the novel Bloodline Volume 1: Out of the Shadows and Volume 2: The Great Gathering with David Sheppard. She has written other comedy screenplays, as well as action, thrillers and dramas.
PETER WISE
PRODUCER, CASTING DIRECTOR
Peter Wise is a 25-year entertainment industry veteran. After a successful career in acting, Wise decided to combine his eye for talent and experience to become a casting director. In 1990, he launched Peter Wise and Associates which soon became one of the most successful independently owned casting agencies, with Wise becoming the most sought after casting director on the east and west coasts. As a producer, Peter has nineteen film credits.
CONTACT
SOCIAL MEDIA