For One Night
For One Night is a 2006 television film based on the true story of Gerica McCrary, who made headlines in 2002 by getting Taylor County High School in her hometown of Butler, Georgia, to integrate the prom after thirty-one years of segregation. It stars Raven-Symoné as Brianna McCallister and Aisha Tyler as Desiree Howard. The movie was filmed in summer 2005 in Louisiana just before Hurricane Katrina.
| For One Night | |
|---|---|
 Promotional image | |
| Written by | Dee Harris-Lawrence |
| Directed by | Ernest R. Dickerson |
| Starring | Raven-Symoné Aisha Tyler Jason Lewis Sam Jones III |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Editor(s) | Stephen Lovejoy |
| Distributor | Lifetime Movie Network |
| Release | |
| Original release |
|
The movie was written by Dee Harris-Lawrence. This film is the first drama role in the career of Raven-Symoné and disengaged from the Disney Channel.
Plot
Inspired by the true story of an African American teenager who shook up a small town where high school proms had been racially segregated for decades. Amid the protests of the community and with the help of a newspaper reporter who returns to her hometown to cover the story, the two women are able to reverse decades of racist tradition and make history, at least for one night.
The movie is based on events that occurred in Taylor County, Georgia in 2002. It was filmed at Riverdale High School in Jefferson Louisiana in 2005.
Production
In an interview with the film director, Raven-Symoné said that she had to gain weight for the lead role, along with getting a Southern accent.
Cast
- Raven-Symoné as Brianna McCallister
- Aisha Tyler as Desiree Howard
- Jason Lewis as Mark Manning
- Sam Jones III as Brandon Williams
- Gary Grubbs as Mr. Thornton
- William Ragsdale as Earl Randall
- Harold Sylvester as Mr Howard, Desiree's dad
- Donna DuPlantier as Aunt Marlene
- Joan Pringle
- Rhoda Griffis as Ginny Stephens
- Daina Gozan as Sela Moody
- Mills Allison as Ely Hardy
- Caroline Jahna as Carla Thornton
- James Aaron as Myron Dawson
- Louis Herthum as Sheriff Taylor
- Katie Seeley as Kelly Reynolds
- Azure Dawn as Lily Dubois
- Adam Powell as Paul Beaudine
- Chuck Halley as Newspaper Editor
Soundtrack
The end of the movie (prom scene) features Raven-Symoné's song "Gravity".[1]
Awards
- 2007 - Nominated; Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special (Aisha Tyler)
Releases
- The film was released on iTunes. On July 31, 2012 the film was released in a package of 4 Lifetime movies on DVD titled 'Surviving High School'.[2] In Sept.2012 it got its own DVD release through A&E Entertainment.