What could possibly be left for two men who have crafted six critically and listener-praised, genre-blending albums -- two of which were platinum and four multiplatinum -- 30-plus videos; sold-out concerts worldwide with musical performances that meld R&B, pop, hip-hop and urban street sounds; and have found themselves decorated with the majority of music awards on the planet? Simply put, to tackle the film industry.

ANDRÉ BENJAMIN and ANTWAN A. PATTON, better known to their legions of fans as André 3000 and Big Boi of OutKast, were not looking for a vanity project to help them become the latest crop of singers-turned-actors. The groundbreaking group, known for its unconventional stylings and mixed-genre performances, has been long interested in working with their frequent-music video-director, writer/director BRYAN BARBER, on a film that shared intriguing stories of classic Southern characters from the 1930s African-American viewpoint. And if they were going to make a movie…they’d do it the OutKast way.

A tale of the loves and ambitions of two struggling Prohibition-era performers is told through intricate musical numbers and vibrantly choreographed dance sequences in Universal Pictures and HBO Films’ Idlewild, an original musical starring the multiplatinum and multi-Grammy winning OutKast members André Benjamin as the shy piano player, Percival, and Antwan A. Patton as Rooster, the showy headliner and manager at a free-for-all speakeasy called “Church.”

In his latest project with the genre-fusing group, first-time feature filmmaker (and award-winning OutKast music-video visionary Bryan Barber) writes and directs this musical -- set against the backdrop of a ’30s Southern nightclub -- that synthesizes drama, music, cinema and style to bring the tale of the singers to life. Idlewild includes an allstar roster of some of the most notable performers in music, film and theater today and introduces movie lovers to America’s top dancers in never-before-seen sequences -- choreographed by three-time Tony winner HINTON BATTLE (Dreamgirls).

True to form, OutKast writes and performs songs in their musical numbers. Most of the music -- including the score -- is a mixture of contemporary hip-hop, classic blues and swing music, with music from legends such as Cab Calloway and Bessie Smith. Classic songs were scratched and mixed to give the Idlewild soundtrack a modern feel. Contemporary performers such as Arturo Sandoval lend their talents to the soundtrack and musical numbers.

In the 1930s American South, there was one spot that served as a haven -- a place of prayer for the weary, joy for the hopeful and music for the masses. All were welcome to come and find the Lord as they walked into church on Sunday mornings. When the good and righteous built these houses of worship, however, they did ask guests to leave a few things at the door, namely: cussing, liquor, fast women, gambling and guns. And that was the part of the sermon to which Rooster just didn’t pay attention. In his nightclub called “Church,” there was only one story to tell…one in the key of cool.

Continue: 1 2