Premium

Dorian Missick pumps gas at the station owned by his mother's boyfriend. He goes on an endless round of auditions for dumb roles: the drug dealer, or the mugger, or the rapist. He hasn't gotten a part since a burger commercial. Then, one day Zoe Saldana drives up. He and she are ex-lovers, and he's never gotten over her. She's engaged to be married in a couple of days. So in between the gas station and the auditions, he makes one last try for her.

Pete Chatmon's movie is .... well, it's mostly the portrait of what appears to be a loser, but there's an undertone of life going on while you seem to be stuck. The performances are excellent, but despite some clever bits in the editing, in which scene-setting credits appear like a script, this appears to be less of a story than a tale of desperation, and Missick's struggle to keep a positive attitude in the midst of slow-motion disaster.

I usually don't do this but I've recently started following the chat rooms on PREMIUM and it's been very rewarding to see the response. When we set out to make this film, from a script I started writing in 1999, our objective was to show that emotion and the human experience is something that is universal. I believe we have succeeded in doing that. Putting black characters in the film does not make it only accessible to black people and this film has something for everyone. After all the festivals, reviews, comments, and awards the film has received, it seems like we're striking the right chord and people agree. PREMIUM is all about adding more to the cinematic menu so be sure to check it out when we hit theaters and DVD later this year! Spread the word...

I'm a filmmaker myself and I see quite a few films. Premium was one of the most enjoyable and well done films I've seen on the festival circuit this year. Part of the genius is the direction. Pete Chatmon confidently lets this perfectly cast group of actors perform without trying to use any tricks to make the story more interesting or feel like a studio project. Zoe Saldana was excellent as usual but I was pleasantly surprised by the way the lead actor, Dorian Missick was able to handle himself in a cast that includes Hill Harper and Frankie Faison. Something is wrong if Missick does not get more leading roles. I did some research and discovered that the writer/director took his time and developed the script over a number of years. It shows. This is a film that any demographic group would enjoy. I expect to see it in THEATERS early next year.

Apparently the MANY movies that imizrahi2002 claims to have seen have not opened his brain to great film making!! LOL (you shouldn't toot your horn so much) Thanks for not writing that book you said you could write. (close call there)

Anyway...This is a simple movie with a timeless story told in a very new way. It shows how a story doesn't have to be convoluted to be interesting. And how complicated life can get in the blink of an eye.

If you like the same story, but told with amazing Hollywood special effects, explosions and Harry-Potter-type plots..... Then listen to IMIZRAHi2002's review. (he or she should see a lot more independent and story-based films before talking the way he/she has about this type of movie. (that is MY opinion on his/her review ) 8-) Judge for yourself....

Great film for a night when explosions and effects are not what you are looking for. A funny, smart, heartfelt, intelligently written film.

I am not a "film person," per se. I accompanied my 17 yr. old son to the Newark Black Film Festival because he wants to be a film person, and I wanted to introduce him to the Film Festival world. I found Premium to be witty and hip, as well as, textured and sophisticated. A Black man's story about male/female relationships, strike that, any man's story about non-buddy relationships....now that is groundbreaking in the film world. Not only was it new, it was fun. I also found Chatmon's and Missicks' handling of the Q and A after the film aired kind of engaging, like the entertainment I had seen on the screen, which leads one to believe there is more good film where Premium came from. Premium showcases the strong and confident voices of the cast and the writer/director that deserve to be heard, because they "get it," and give it right back...so that you can be in on the fun and "get it" too!