Street Shooter
The actors in Bruce Brown's film may never win Oscars. And the dialogue may be a bit stunted. But his characters wouldn't be caught dead rolling up their pant legs.
Cover Story
When Bruce Brown drives through Anacostia, the outing is akin to a homecoming king riding a float down Main Street. People who recognize the filmmaker wave to him and shout, "Bruce!" and he honks his horn and waves back. While in his old neighborhood, Brown scans the streets for familiar faces and revisits old haunts. He passes through the scenic make-out spot of his youth, rides past homes that he has lived in, and otherwise takes in the sights and sounds of Southeast.
If Brown were a wealthy Hollywood director, his trip through the old neighborhood would be cliche--perhaps even ending with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting to dedicate some youth center or movie theater named after him. But Brown is not a big-time movie director.
The 39-year-old filmmaker has not only failed to make it to Hollywood--he still hasn't produced a film that breaks out of the confines of his old neighborhood.
Both of his films to date depict the essential dilemma of Southeast--the struggle of residents to cope with violence and poverty while surrounded by power and wealth. 1997's Streetwise, his first film, examined the Southeast of the late '80s and early '90s, when crack-related violence made every corner the potential scene of a shootout. The movie screened for a few months at the AMC Rivertown theater in Prince George's County and can now be found in about 20 video stores in the District.
Divided City, which premieres next month, explores the neighborhood in the midst of urban renewal. ... Continued 
Issue of Feb. 7 - 13, 2003
News and Features
- Street Shooter
Cover Story - Deep Freeze
The City - St. Elsewhere
The City - Opening Shot
The City - 7103, 7105, 7107 and 7109 Georgia Ave. NW
The City - One for the Money
The City - Tongue-Tied?
The Mail - How Low Does It Go?
The Mail - Equity Investment
The Mail - Burning Shame
The Mail - Pretzel Logic
The Mail
Columns
- The Class of 2009
Cheap Seats - Party Line
Loose Lips - A Little Light Reading?
Dept. of Media - Temptations of the Flesh
City Desk - Verbatim
City Desk
Eats
Movies
- A Death Less Ordinary
Film Review - Sad Little Lives
Film Review - Apocalypse Then
Film Review - How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Film Review - The Recruit
Film Review - Shanghai Knights
Film Review - Hidden Wars of Desert Storm
Film Review
Music
- Joan the Apostate
Music Review - Accumulation: None
Music Review - Down at the End of the Garden
Music Review - Hey You!
Music Review - Juvenilia
Music Review - I See a Darkness
Music Review - The Golden Palominos
Music Review - Maxinquaye
Music Review
Theater
- Someone to Watch Over Me
Theater Review
Arts and Events
- Lights Out
Books - Knowing When to Fold 'Em
Artifacts - Everybody Back in the Water
Artifacts
City Lights
This week's best in Arts and Entertainment.
- P[OP]
City Lights - Kevin Barnes
City Lights - Robert Alexander
City Lights - African Connection: Portraits From Mozambique and Tanzania
City Lights - Germany in the Crosshairs
City Lights - DJ Renegade
City Lights - Curtis Eller's American Circus
City Lights - So Much Things to Say: A Bob Marley Birthday Tribute
City Lights - Aminatta Forna
City Lights - Nevada Barr
City Lights - Laser Mission
City Lights - Crimson Sweet
City Lights - Decasia
City Lights
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Oct. 2 - 8, 1998 - Fare Elections
Oct. 3 - 9, 2003 - Kicking and Screaming
Oct. 3 - 9, 2003
