Slam
“Words make sense of a world that won't.”
Synopsis
Raymond Joshua, a young black performance poet, is arrested and imprisoned for a petty marijuana charge in a Washington, D.C. jail. Although the confining prison walls do little to shield him from danger, it is within those walls that Raymond establishes his identity, strength, and voice and meets a prison gang leader and a prison writing teacher, Lauren Bell. Bell inspires Raymond to use the power of creative expression to free himself from the struggles and demise of the Black male as another victim of the judicial system.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official Re-Release TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2024-04-09
Top Cast
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Saul Williams
Ray Joshua
Sonja Sohn
Lauren Bell
Bonz Malone
Hopha
Lawrence Wilson
Big Mike
Beau Sia
Jimmy Huang
Andre Taylor
China
Momolu Stewart
Bay (Jail Rapper)
Ron Jones
Do Wop Cop
Reamer Shedrick
Do Wop Cop
Allan E. Lucas
Chief C.O.
Dominic Chianese Jr.
Officer Dom
Jerome Goldman
Jail Class Poet 'Why'
DJ Renegade
Party Poet 'Diminuendo in Blue'
Liza Jessie Peterson
Slam Poet 'Ice Cream'
Taylor Mali
Slam Poet 'Like'
Bob Holman
Slam MC
Rhozier T. Brown
Public Defender
Richard Stratton
Prosecutor
Release History & Theatrical Window
Melbourne International Film Festival (restoration)
Festival / Special Debut
October 7, 1998
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Marc Levin
- Screenplay & Story
- Saul Williams, Richard Stratton, Bonz Malone, Marc Levin, Sonja Sohn
- Original Score
- DJ Spooky
- Original Title
- Slam
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 44m
- Production Studios
- Off Line Entertainment Group
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Marc Levin
Saul Williams, Richard Stratton, Bonz Malone, Marc Levin, Sonja Sohn
DJ Spooky
Mark Benjamin
Emir Lewis
Henri M. Kessler, David Peipers, Marc Levin, Richard Stratton
Department Leadership Roster
Marc Levin
Director
DJ Spooky
Original Music Composer
Saul Williams
Screenplay
Mark Benjamin
Director of Photography
Richard Stratton
Screenplay
Henri M. Kessler
Producer
Bonz Malone
Screenplay
Marc Levin
Screenplay
Marc Levin
Producer
Richard Stratton
Producer
Sonja Sohn
Screenplay
Emir Lewis
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Slam.
Featured In Curated Collections
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North American Cinema
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Periodic import List
Musicals
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Frequently Asked Questions About Slam
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Slam about?
Raymond Joshua, a young black performance poet, is arrested and imprisoned for a petty marijuana charge in a Washington, D.C. jail. Although the confining prison walls do little to shield him from danger, it is within those walls that Raymond establishes his identity, strength, and voice and meets a prison gang leader and a prison writing teacher, Lauren Bell. Bell inspires Raymond to use the power of creative expression to free himself from the struggles and demise of the Black male as another victim of the judicial system.
Who directed Slam?
Slam was directed by Marc Levin.
Who stars in Slam?
The principal cast of Slam includes Saul Williams, Sonja Sohn, Bonz Malone, Lawrence Wilson, Beau Sia.
When was Slam released and how long is it?
Slam was released in 1998 with a total runtime of 1h 44m.
Who composed the musical score for Slam?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Slam was composed by DJ Spooky.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Slam?
Slam holds official age classifications: US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).