What Do You Think About Blaxploitation Remakes?

If Kevin Hart does this remake, I will jump off the Library Tower!

Since the shop has been open, I've heard rumors about TV show remakes (Good Times, Girlfriends) into movies, as well as classics that decided to take a dip in the chocolate pool (Uncle Buck, the Honeymooners).  According to Variety, Megan Good, along with husband Devon Franklin have joined forces with MGM to remake Cooley High.  As of recent, Common has gotten on board to star and produce...wonder which obviously-out-of-high-school character he will play.

While I'm glad to see mine going to work regularly, I could care less.  Or better, why not give more attention to indie flicks?  If you have Aspire, some of the shorts (and some not-so-short) are worthy of a wider release.  I'm only a fan and not a pro but if someone could take time to explain the process, I'd appreciate it.  And I don't mean what works for other folks, either.



Now, for those of you not familiar, Cooley High was not really a blaxploitation movie.  It was more like American Graffiti with a 'hood twist and it was just as cherished by the community as the original Sparkle.  I didn't mind the 2012 remake of the latter...if it had been called something else.

But I digress.  What I want to know is if the Cooley High remake goes into production, how much will creator Eric Monte receive?  If that name sounds familiar, he and Cooley High are listed in the closing credits (see above at 1:15) of the 70s sitcom What's Happening.  The show, which rand from 1976-79 was loosely based on Cooley High, with a slightly lighter tone and the setting moved from Chicago to L.A. 

Monte real-life persona, as a teen from the 'hood wanting to become a Hollywood writer,has been portrayed on screen twice but real life has had its ups and downs.  Although he's managed to land some guest writing spots on the Wayans Bros., Monte lost the rights to his original creation.  You can read a 2014 CNN interview here.

Who knows how many other stories are out there or who can at least drop some knowledge about having a great idea but learning how to deal with the legal stuff and still get PAID!  Once again, I don't know the technicalities of getting a movie made but I think this man deserves real acknowledgement (and a cut of the profits).