About Grind Filmz

The idea for Ro-Derick Dunn's "Hood Hitterz" bounced around in the Stockton native's head for more than two years.

The premise for the movie was simple -- Dunn wanted to do something about a teenager and his pit bull, but with a Hollywood-style twist at the end.

But Dunn, who has produced infomercials and music videos before, lacked the right character. That was before 18-year-old Anthony McDonald came to him looking for a dog.

A senior at Edison High School, McDonald needed a mentor to complete his senior project graduation requirement.

"I told him I wanted to do it on pit bulls," McDonald said. "And (asked) would he help me."

Dunn said he saw something in McDonald that was similar to what he envisioned his lead movie character.

"I had this movie as an idea," Dunn said. "When I was helping him I said, " 'Hey, I could write the character around you.' "

That's exactly what Dunn did.

More than nine months after beginning production on "Hood Hitterz" in January, the two men, along with four other members of the Stockton-based Grind Filmz have completed a 100-minute digital movie on DVD.

Dunn directed and edited the movie.

In "Hood Hitterz," McDonald plays a teenager named Benzo, the owner of a pit bull. Through circumstances beyond his control, he is lured into the world of illegal dog fighting. But Benzo doesn't know his actions are part of a larger revenge plot.

Filmed locally and in Fresno, the movie wrapped in August. The cast included more than 100 people in lead roles and as extras, Dunn said, and local rap artists provided music for the movie. "Hood Hitterz" has also been featured recently in area hip-hop magazines 916, 209 and 510.

Dunn said there was something about McDonald -- who had never acted before -- that made him perfect for the part.

"He brought everything to life," Dunn said.

McDonald's personality and experiences made Benzo more real, Dunn said. While he wasn't causing problems at school, the teen wasn't doing his homework, either. Before the movie began filming, Dunn wanted McDonald to do better in his classes.

Dunn became McDonald's mentor, helping him organize his senior project and work on his paper.

"He's not a bad kid. And his character depicts that," Dunn said. "When I first met him he used to just hang out -- now he looks at things more seriously."

McDonald was surprised about being asked to play the lead role.

"He asked me if I wanted to be in the movie, play the part," McDonald said, sitting in a director's chair in Dunn's south Stockton living room.

"It was my first time ever doing something like this."

In "Hood Hitterz," McDonald stars opposite Dunn's 16-month-old pit bull Cognac. Dunn and the rest of the production crew were careful not to hurt any animals while making the movie. Fake blood was used as Cognac "played dead" in one of the movie scenes.

The fighting scenes are actually slowed-down versions of Cognac playing with one of the other four dogs used during production.

There's more to the storyline than just pit bull fighting, however.

The story of Benzo shows how even good teenagers can get caught up in peer-pressure situations, Dunn said.

"That's the message," Dunn said. "The pit bull is just an element. It's more based on the story than the pit bull fighting."

Dunn, Lawyer, Chum, Glass and Thomas financed the movie. It cost $10,000 to make. When the company first started, Dunn tried unsuccessfully to solicit local rap artists, musicians and other people in the entertainment business to help defray the cost.

"I got the negative all the way around," Dunn said.

Chum, 25, said that now those people who originally turned the production company down are regretting not getting involved.

"Not too many people took it seriously in the beginning," Chum said. "They are (now) very surprised about the production of the film. They wished they would have got involved."

By Tara Cuslidge

Special to 209Vibe

Sept. 27, 2004

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