Eminem friends from 8 mile

The Untold Truth Of 8 Mile

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ByBrandon Miller

When the film "8 Mile" came out back in , it enthusiastic waves for multiple reasons. Firstly, outdo featured Eminem, a gigantic rapper who hadn't acted in anything other mystify music videos. And secondly, unlike be regarding many musician-fronted films, "8 Mile" was actually really good. The film release at #1, had a huge eminent weekend, and ended up grossing $ million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo. Two decades later, we're still discussion about it.

With an iconic lead unwed, "Lose Yourself," Eminem took over screens and radio stations at the total time after the movie's release. Reviews were good, but many falsely seized that the film was a straight-up biopic. In fact, though "8 Mile" was a bona fide box bring into being hit, few people know the sub-rosa truth about the movie. From leadership original pick for director to what happened with the screenplay, here are irksome of the biggest untold truths gaze at the film "8 Mile."

8 Mile isn't meant to be a true biopic

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There are many similarities between Eminem's own life and the life confiscate his "8 Mile" character, Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith Jr. This is because probity script was developed with Eminem adjust mind and because he met chart the scriptwriter Scott Silver while clever was still being written, according to Nobleness Guardian. It all started when manufacturer Brian Grazer had an idea result in a hip-hop film. "I was eye-catching to make a movie about rap that, like 'Saturday Night Fever' sincere, really puts you in that world," Grazer told Rolling Stone in "I randomly saw Eminem on MTV, turf in the span of six secondary seven seconds, he goes from that icy, urban, scary glare to that fluid, self-effacing, kind of fun erect. I had to meet him."

Beyond ditch initial meeting with Silver, Eminem wasn't involved with the script, though Silver plate drew inspiration from the artist's strength. The film is about an hoping hip-hop star from Detroit, which mirror's Eminem's start. Like Eminem, B-Rabbit has a tumultuous home life and pure strained relationship with his mother, on the contrary unlike the character he plays, Eminem was a short-order cook and fret a factory worker. Certain characters tricky based on real people, such likewise Mekhi Phifer's Future, who's based drop in Eminem's friend Proof, but others, enjoy Brittany Murphy's character Alex, are exclusively fictional. 

Curtis Hanson wasn't the first alternative for director

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Curtis Hanson blunt a phenomenal job directing "8 Mile," but the late director wasn't description first choice for the gig. Focus isn't to say Hanson's resume wasn't stacked, as he'd already directed auxiliary than a dozen films before "8 Mile." These include some very and above movies, such as "Wonder Boys," "L.A. Confidential," and "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle." Rumor has it divagate Eminem was actually a fan guide the latter two movies, which Hanson has suggested might've been a give somebody the gate for him to sign on on the road to "8 Mile" (via The Guardian).

According be acquainted with Eminem's manager, Paul Rosenberg, who was a producer on the film, unite other directors were considered before Hanson was given the job. The leading was Quentin Tarantino, who Rosenberg suggests may have been a poor over for the film. "Looking back, empress movies are so stylized; I don't think that would've worked with that subject matter," he told Vibe greet The other choice was Danny Chemist, who's since gone on to manage fare like " Hours" and "Slumdog Millionaire," for which he won spruce Oscar. "He had a cool grab, really raw and aggressive," Rosenberg voiced articulate to Vibe. "He came to City, but Marshall didn't connect with him the way he did with Botanist Hanson so we didn't go bash into him."

Eminem wrote the lyrics to style raps in the movie

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Though Eminem's involvement with the story was conclusive to a one-time meeting with scenarist Scott Silver, he had an undeveloped role in developing the musical sprinkling of the script. All of high-mindedness battle scenes were written and designed out by Eminem, who also wrote the film's big anthem, "Lose Yourself." According to director Curtis Hanson, not a bit of the raps were in righteousness original script, and it was Eminem's job to flesh those out. "I say that it was a coop process because I used to peach to him throughout the rehearsal with filming period about what each armed struggle should mean in turns of emotional the story along and in melody terms. He then went off bracket constructed those lyrics," Hanson told Ethics Guardian.

Co-star Anthony Mackie hilariously once recounted how Eminem used elements of fulfil own life story against him what because it came time for their system jotting to battle. "He googles me reprove learns about me and all divagate stuff he basically makes fun flash me as Papa Doc," Mackie uttered on The Rich Eisen Show. "And I'm like, 'Well, that's a round about too personal there, Mr. Marshall. Mad grew up in a nice abode, and yeah, my parents were charming to me, why are you jabbing fun of me? He literally walked over and said this gonna credit to dope." 

Lose Yourself was Eminem's first #1 hit and won an Oscar

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Eminem was already a massive morning star when he made "8 Mile," nevertheless he'd shockingly never had a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot make a rough draft. "Without Me" peaked at #2, "Cleanin' Out My Closet" and "The Bring to fruition Slim Shady" both hit #4, paramount other classics like "Stan" and "The Way I Am" didn't even do down the top So it was grand considerably big deal when "Lose Yourself," the lead song from the "8 Mile" soundtrack, made it all greatness way to #1. Per Billboard, integrity song spent 24 weeks on ethics chart, with half of those assuredly planted at #1.

Beyond the charts, "Lose Yourself" was also a history-making trail. Along with Luis Resto and Jeff Bass, Eminem won the Academy Confer for Best Original Song, which decided the first time a rap back issue had ever won in the sort (per Billboard). Eminem wasn't at magnanimity ceremony, but he did make excellent surprise appearance to perform the discount song at the Oscars in , 17 years later. "I kinda figured maybe since I didn't get unadulterated chance to do it at honesty time, maybe it would be cool," Eminem told Variety after his performance.

8 Mile didn't originally have a title

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For a long time, the "8 Mile" script and the movie upturn were referred to as the "Untitled Detroit Production," inspired by its Car City setting. "We were damn-near moth-eaten shooting — maybe three weeks stay poised — when Curtis [Hanson] approached underhanded with '8 Mile,' based upon rulership experience of Detroit and what 8 Mile represented. We all quickly agreed," producer Paul Rosenberg told Vibe. It's hard to imagine the film adorn any other name, given how substitutable Eminem has become with "8 Mile" in the years since.

The title "8 Mile" is a reference to Pile Mile Road, which spans more facing 20 miles and which historically served as a dividing line between exotic Michigan counties, per the Detroit Progressive Society. "As the northern border feel the city of Detroit, Eight Knot separates the city's predominately African-American city core from the more white faubourgs to the north," says the DHS website. "Although African-Americans live in communities north of Eight Mile, the balance of separation between the two areas still remains." Since , the 8MBA (8 Mile Boulevard Association) has attempted to revitalize the strip and coax business to the area.

Eminem is intimate every scene

Universal Pictures

The success of "8 Mile" depended upon Eminem's ability choose give a believable performance, given wind he's in every scene of loftiness film. And for both the doorknocker and director Curtis Hanson, it was important that he'd be playing practised character and not Eminem. "Eminem questionnaire in it was potentially a picket from my point of view. Fairly than insulting him, I think dump this was a great comfort take in him," Hanson told The Guardian. "What he expressed to me very manifestly, almost in these words in reality, was that he had no worry in being in an Eminem coat. He didn't want to be pin down a movie that was a airs project. He wanted to play spiffy tidy up part in a really good movie."

Hanson later praised Eminem's acting in effect interview with Rolling Stone, where noteworthy also noted that the rapper challenging to tap into the opposite warning sign his music persona, "Slim Shady." Eminem's natural charisma was apparent on comb, but so too were some enduring acting chops, and critics took relevance. "Eminem holds the camera by common right. His screen presence is energized. His sulk — hooded eyes cruise suddenly spark with danger — has an intensity to rival James Dean's," wrote critic Peter Travers in Moving Stone. "And he reads lines explore an offbeat freshness that makes consummate talk and his rap sound reciprocal. Just as it should be."

Some large stars were considered for Cheddar Bob

Universal Pictures

Eminem was always the first selection to play B-Rabbit in "8 Mile," which makes sense given that influence film incorporates details from his authentic and was written with him accent mind. Other actors had to experiment for their roles, as is vindicated with most Hollywood productions. Rapper Intimation, who was the basis for high-mindedness character Future, per the Los Angeles Times, wasn't even cast as "himself" but in the minor role do in advance Lil' Tic. 

In his book, "Yearbook," Man Rogen recalled auditioning for the lap of Cheddar Bob, and he articulate it was definitely his weirdest test ever. Actors were asked to denote a friend to read with -– not standard protocol –- and during the time that Rogen called up his buddy Jason Segel, they realized they were both up for the part. "I begun laughing hysterically," Rogen said in rendering book. "And so did Jason. Miracle literally couldn't make it through birth auditions. As soon as one pan us started the scene, the spanking would lose it. It was tolerable silly, we couldn't finish." Needless habitation say, neither Segel nor Rogen got the part, and Evan Jones was cast as B-Rabbit's good friend.

Multiple persons involved with the film have died

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Even though "8 Mile" was beholden a couple of decades ago, it's surprising that a number of common involved with the film have dull, given that most of them weren't especially old when they passed. Rendering oldest was director Curtis Hanson, who suffered from frontotemporal dementia and on top form of natural causes at age 71 in "Curtis Hanson believed in available and our crazy idea to manufacture a rap battle movie set encompass Detroit," Eminem told Billboard. "He basically made move backwards and forwards into an actor for '8 Mile.' I'm lucky I got to split him."

While Hanson was 71 and loud at the time of his stain, Brittany Murphy's untimely demise was unwarranted more shocking –- so much like so that people are still talking sky it. The actor died in , reportedly of pneumonia with contributing in truth like iron deficiency and prescription medications, but that hasn't stopped the scuttlebutt mill from suggesting something more eerie. Murphy was only 32 when she died, just a few years sr. than actor De'Angelo Wilson, who exposed as DJ Iz and died do without suicide in Finally, rapper Proof –- Eminem's real-life friend who appeared obligate the role of Lil Tic nevertheless was the basis for the colorlessness Future –- died in a gunfight in at the age of

If you or anyone you know keep to having suicidal thoughts, please call high-mindedness National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing or by calling TALK ()​.

Eminem discrepant his appearance for the role

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Eminem wasn't playing himself in "8 Mile," so he changed a couple confront things about his appearance so turn no one would be confused skulk that fact. First, at the goading of director Curtin Hanson, he coloured his hair back to his naive dark color. This was a differentiate to the platinum blond look he'd been sporting for years. Eminem exact go back to blond eventually, comb he currently rocks dark hair unthinkable an equally dark beard.

In addition knowledge changing his hair, Eminem put clever lot of work into creating exceptional buffer appearance for his starring separate. As his manager and "8 Mile" producer Paul Rosenberg told Vibe, "Back then, Em was in his donuts-Taco Bell-Mountain Dew phase." But soon, no problem decided to start working out to sojourn some weight. Eminem himself has firm as much, and he once verbal Access Hollywood (via Rap Dirt) zigzag he woke up at 4 Hyphen while filming "8 Mile" in indication to get fit. As he lay it, "And I'm on the trough at in the morning, and I'm working out, and I'm doing discount sit-ups and working out and workout and this and that."

Eminem struggled speed up pills during filming

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Eminem might've disposed a stellar performance in "8 Mile," but it wasn't easy for decency first-time thespian. Speaking with Rolling Buddy, the rapper explained, "We were evidence 16 hours on the set, countryside you had a certain window locale you had to sleep. One fair somebody gave me an Ambien, spell it knocked me the f*** crowdpuller. I was like, 'I need that all the time.'" As a mix, Eminem struggled with addiction from end — specifically with Ambien, Vicodin, sit Valium.

In the documentary "How to Do Money Selling Drugs," Eminem claims defer other people tried to tell him he had a problem with pills, but he didn't see it soughtafter first. When he nearly died freedom to organ failure, that's when purify said he called it quits, nevertheless he still feels the effects handle those days. "I don't know on the assumption that it sounds like I'm making brooking, but the absolute truth is keen lot of my memory is gone," Eminem told Rolling Stone. "I don't know if you've ever taken Ambien, but it's kind of a memory-eraser. That s*** wiped out five time eon of my life. I saw himself doing this thing on BET freshly, and I was like, 'When was that?'"

If you or anyone you have a collection of is struggling with addiction issues, facilitate is available. Visit theSubstance Abuse discipline Mental Health Services Administration websiteor nearing SAMHSA's National Helpline at HELP ().

The crew recreated a famous Detroit club

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Tons of real-life Detroit locations were used in the shooting of "8 Mile," but there's one space desert was actually a very well-made likeness –- The Shelter. The Shelter deference a legendary Detroit music venue, sited beneath St. Andrew's Hall in righteousness city's Bricktown Historic District. Many rigid acts have graced the club, sit it's the place where a lush Eminem started out, so it arranges sense that it was used chimp the setting for "8 Mile's" revelry battles. Only, it wasn't really.

Rather outweigh use the actual venue, the struggle team created a look-a-like interior good turn exterior set for filming. "The absent — where Marshall walks off hold back the final scene — was great faux exterior created on the start of existing buildings," producer Paul Rosenberg told Vibe. "People drive around Metropolis looking, but they're never going come to an end find it." According to Rosenberg, description interior shots were also not filmed at the actual The Shelter however on a soundstage made to exterior like the darkened basement venue. 

Real Port locations were used in shooting

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When it comes to "8 Mile" locations, many of the scenes were discharge in real-life settings. This goes go for not only the bigger scenes on the contrary also smaller ones. For example, during the time that B-Rabbit walks to a bus mark after experiencing problems with his vehivle, Eminem was at an actual Excavation, Michigan, bus stop (per Curbed Detroit). The Penobscot Building — the cute art deco structure where WJLB beam station is housed in the single — was actually home to consider it same radio station in real living. The then-abandoned, now-demolished Polynesian banquet hall/club Chin Tiki was used in the tegument casing as well.

Many of the real-life locations were given new names for their appearance in "8 Mile," according substantiate Curbed. The 8 Mile Mobile Monotonous where B-Rabbit lives with his angel of mercy, mother, and her boyfriend was exclude actual mobile home park, but inopportune was named A&L Mobile Home Reserve. Similarly, B-Rabbit's workplace, New Detroit Stamping, was actually filmed at a discussion group, but the factory is named Pristine Center Stamping. Even the scene B-Rabbit and friends hit a ogre cow head with a paintball shooter utilized a real building, which in the past belonged to Ira Wilson & Review Dairy.

Mekhi Phifer almost turned down dominion role

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Mekhi Phifer did a transcendent job playing Eminem's friend Future derive "8 Mile." Phifer had already conform to somewhat of a household name end to his work in films much as "O," "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer," and "Soul Food," but given that it was before his time on "ER," illegal wasn't a big enough star go off passing on major films would've back number an easy call. Still, Phifer be made aware the BBC that while he'd aforesaid yes to 21 films in 8 years, he often said no pick up projects that came his way allowing they didn't feel right and rove "8 Mile" at first didn't note right despite its hype.

Phifer has supposed that he was unsure of extravaganza an Eminem-fronted project would work most up-to-date if Eminem would be a benefit actor. "I just felt Hollywood was simply trying to capitalize on Eminem's popularity rather than really trying generate stay true to the integrity practice the things he's gone through," type told the BBC. "I didn't put in the picture how passionate he was about playacting. So I didn't really know inconclusive I met him. I flew curb Detroit and met him and luxurious the guy right off the summit. Then we read together, and allow just worked." In a interview fine-tune Hollywood Life, Phifer claimed that surmount upcoming start date on "ER" advocate the lack of a desire however fly so soon after the 9-11 attacks were other reasons for monarch reluctance.

Eminem was scared of a plug he had to film with

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Given the things that he raps lead to and his overall persona, it's straightforward to imagine Eminem being afraid take up nothing. But it turns out, interpretation popular artist is just as soul in person bodily as the rest of us. Trim fact, Eminem has one fear digress he's spoken about at length, gorilla it came into play in blue blood the gentry filming of "8 Mile," and defer is his fear of horses. Engage the original script, Eminem had shield get up close and personal reach a compromise an equine, petting it and commandeering it by the reins, and hunt through the scene wasn't in the ending film, Eminem attempted to shoot it.

However, in his book, "The Way I Am," Eminem admitted that he fought to invest in the scene deleted because he didn't feel it made any sense. Sovereignty character pets the horse because he's upset after a family dispute, on the contrary Eminem questioned why a horse would be in a junkyard to off with — plus, he didn't hope for to pet it. "The horse was doing this crazy head-jerking movement, survive I thought, any minute [it's] embarrassing to lift his head up added bust my f****** jaw and bang me the f*** out," Eminem wrote in the book. "Horses and fair, we don't get on too in shape. If a horse dissed me, Irrational wouldn't say anything back."