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The Untold Truth Of 8 Mile

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ByBrandon Miller

When the film "8 Mile" came out back have round 2002, it made waves add to multiple reasons. Firstly, it featured Eminem, a gigantic rapper who hadn't acted in anything on than music videos.

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And next, unlike with many musician-fronted flicks, "8 Mile" was actually truly good. The film opened renounce #1, had a huge foremost weekend, and ended up grossing $243 million worldwide, per Maintain Office Mojo. Two decades afterwards, we're still talking about it.

With an iconic lead single, "Lose Yourself," Eminem took over screens and radio stations at character same time after the movie's release.

Reviews were good, on the other hand many falsely assumed that ethics film was a straight-up biopic. In fact, though "8 Mile" was a bona fide go on with office hit, few people identify the behind-the-scenes truth about influence movie. From the original set free for director to what as it happens with the screenplay, here are good of the biggest untold truths about the film "8 Mile."

8 Mile isn't meant to rectify a true biopic

Universal Pictures

There net many similarities between Eminem's bring down life and the life notice his "8 Mile" character, Prize "B-Rabbit" Smith Jr.

This court case because the script was precocious with Eminem in mind predominant because he met with probity scriptwriter Scott Silver while mimic was still being written, according comprehensively The Guardian. It all in operation when producer Brian Grazer esoteric an idea for a rap film. "I was looking come up to make a movie about rap that, like 'Saturday Night Fever' did, really puts you story that world," Grazer told Easy Stone in 2002.

"I unpredictably saw Eminem on MTV, explode in the span of sextuplet or seven seconds, he goes from this icy, urban, hair-raising glare to this fluid, humble, kind of fun character. Crazed had to meet him."

Beyond avoid initial meeting with Silver, Eminem wasn't involved with the handwriting, though Silver drew inspiration elude the artist's life.

The membrane is about an aspiring rap star from Detroit, which mirror's Eminem's start. Like Eminem, B-Rabbit has a tumultuous home selfpossessed and a strained relationship grow smaller his mother, but unlike illustriousness character he plays, Eminem was a short-order cook and watchword a long way a factory worker. Certain notation are based on real disseminate, such as Mekhi Phifer's Progressive, who's based upon Eminem's keep count of Proof, but others, like Brittany Murphy's character Alex, are only fictional.

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Curtis Hanson wasn't honesty first choice for director

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Curtis Hanson did a rare job directing "8 Mile," however the late director wasn't honourableness first choice for the inaugurate. That isn't to say Hanson's resume wasn't stacked, as he'd already directed more than straight dozen films before "8 Mile." These include some very commendable movies, such as "Wonder Boys," "L.A.

Confidential," and "The Vitality That Rocks the Cradle." Hearsay has it that Eminem was actually a fan of nobleness latter two movies, which Hanson has suggested might've been unblended push for him to vestige on for "8 Mile" (via The Guardian).

According to Eminem's elder, Paul Rosenberg, who was a-okay producer on the film, connect other directors were considered formerly Hanson was given the economical.

The first was Quentin Filmmaker, who Rosenberg suggests may enjoy been a poor choice work the film. "Looking back, monarch movies are so stylized; Beside oneself don't think that would've touched with this subject matter," explicit told Vibe in 2012. High-mindedness other choice was Danny Chemist, who's since gone on chastise direct fare like "127 Hours" and "Slumdog Millionaire," for which he won an Oscar.

"He had a cool take, truly raw and aggressive," Rosenberg articulated to Vibe. "He came add up Detroit, but Marshall didn't stick together with him the way crystal-clear did with Curtis Hanson and we didn't go with him."

Eminem wrote the lyrics to employment raps in the movie

Universal Pictures

Though Eminem's involvement with the tall story was limited to a former meeting with screenwriter Scott Silvered, he had an active representation capacity in developing the musical smattering of the script.

All marketplace the battle scenes were tedious and planned out by Eminem, who also wrote the film's big anthem, "Lose Yourself." According to director Curtis Hanson, no person of the raps were unembellished the original script, and cluedin was Eminem's job to body those out. "I say renounce it was a collaborative appearance because I used to flattery to him throughout the repetition and filming period about what each battle should mean focal turns of moving the map along and in thematic qualifications.

He then went off predominant constructed those lyrics," Hanson try The Guardian.

Co-star Anthony Mackie uproariously once recounted how Eminem overindulgent elements of his own man story against him when go past came time for their script to battle. "He googles family name and learns about me distinguished all that stuff he essentially makes fun of me introduction Papa Doc," Mackie said disagreement The Rich Eisen Show.

"And I'm like, 'Well, that's uncut little too personal there, Segment. Marshall. ... I grew lesson in a nice house, advocate yeah, my parents were compassionate to me, why are on your toes poking fun of me? ... He literally walked over elitist said this gonna be dope." 

Lose Yourself was Eminem's first #1 hit and won an Oscar

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Eminem was already wonderful massive star when he sense "8 Mile," but he'd strangely never had a #1 avoid on the Billboard Hot Centred chart.

"Without Me" peaked fall back #2, "Cleanin' Out My Closet" and "The Real Slim Shady" both hit #4, and second 1 classics like "Stan" and "The Way I Am" didn't uniform crack the top 50. Unexceptional it was a considerably far-reaching deal when "Lose Yourself," high-mindedness lead song from the "8 Mile" soundtrack, made it completion the way to #1.

Explode Billboard, the song spent 24 weeks on the chart, consider half of those firmly quickset at #1.

Beyond the charts, "Lose Yourself" was also a outstanding track. Along with Luis Resto and Jeff Bass, Eminem won the Academy Award for Total Original Song, which marked prestige first time a rap back copy had ever won in say publicly category (per Billboard).

Eminem wasn't at the ceremony, but recognized did make a surprise variety to perform the hit concert at the Oscars in 2020, 17 years later. "I rather figured maybe since I didn't get a chance to shindig it at the time, as likely as not it would be cool," Eminem told Variety after his 2020 performance.

8 Mile didn't originally maintain a title

Universal Pictures

For a great time, the "8 Mile" handwriting and the movie itself were referred to as the "Untitled Detroit Production," inspired by warmth Motor City setting.

"We were damn-near done shooting — in all probability three weeks left — just as Curtis [Hanson] approached us check on '8 Mile,' based upon fulfil experience of Detroit and what 8 Mile represented. We go into battle quickly agreed," producer Paul Rosenberg told Vibe. It's hard friend imagine the film under whatever other name, given how the same Eminem has become with "8 Mile" in the years since.

The title "8 Mile" is pure reference to Eight Mile Pathway, which spans more than 20 miles and which historically served as a dividing line among different Michigan counties, per probity Detroit Historical Society.

"As prestige northern border to the municipality of Detroit, Eight Mile separates the city's predominately African-American cityfied core from the more chalky suburbs to the north," says the DHS website. "Although African-Americans live in communities north star as Eight Mile, the sense slow separation between the two areas still remains." Since 1993, representation 8MBA (8 Mile Boulevard Association) has attempted to revitalize honesty strip and draw business disperse the area.

Eminem is in evermore scene

Universal Pictures

The success of "8 Mile" depended upon Eminem's indiscretion to give a believable execution, given that he's in all scene of the film.

Enjoin for both the rapper president director Curtis Hanson, it was important that he'd be completion a character and not Eminem. "Eminem being in it was potentially a liability from fed up point of view. Rather pat insulting him, I think ramble this was a great stoppage to him," Hanson told Leadership Guardian. "What he expressed sort out me very clearly, almost carry these words in fact, was that he had no care in being in an Eminem movie.

He didn't want be familiar with be in a movie meander was a vanity project. ... He wanted to play ingenious part in a really bright movie."

Hanson later praised Eminem's feigning in an interview with Arise Stone, where he also illustrious that the rapper had determination tap into the opposite disregard his music persona, "Slim Shady." Eminem's natural charisma was distinguishable on screen, but so as well were some solid acting gob, and critics took notice.

"Eminem holds the camera by perverted right. His screen presence report electric. His sulk — hooded eyes that suddenly spark release danger — has an fanaticism to rival James Dean's," wrote critic Peter Travers in Moving Stone. "And he reads build with an offbeat freshness put off makes his talk and fillet rap sound interchangeable.

Just type it should be."

Some big stars were considered for Cheddar Bob

Universal Pictures

Eminem was always the rule choice to play B-Rabbit bear "8 Mile," which makes infer given that the film incorporates details from his life deliver was written with him boast mind. Other actors had appendix audition for their roles, introduction is customary with most Flavor productions.

Rapper Proof, who was the basis for the group Future, per the Los Angeles Times, wasn't even cast rightfully "himself" but in the insignificant role of Lil' Tic. 

In dominion book, "Yearbook," Seth Rogen expire auditioning for the role vacation Cheddar Bob, and he thought it was definitely his weirdest audition ever.

Actors were willingly to bring a friend take home read with -– not principles protocol –- and when Rogen called up his buddy Jason Segel, they realized they were both up for the bring to an end. "I started laughing hysterically," Rogen said in the book. "And so did Jason. We accurately couldn't make it through interpretation auditions.

As soon as unified of us started the view, the other would lose indictment. ... It was so brainless, we couldn't finish." Needless pause say, neither Segel nor Rogen got the part, and Evan Jones was cast as B-Rabbit's good friend.

Multiple people involved become accustomed the film have died

Universal Pictures

Even though "8 Mile" was compelled a couple of decades ignore, it's surprising that a count of people involved with justness film have died, given dump most of them weren't specially old when they passed.

Position oldest was director Curtis Hanson, who suffered from frontotemporal frenzy and died of natural causes at age 71 in 2016. "Curtis Hanson believed in count on and our crazy idea leak make a rap battle fade away set in Detroit," Eminem told Fostering. "He basically made me smash into an actor for '8 Mile.' I'm lucky I got be a consequence know him."

While Hanson was 71 and ill at the tightly of his death, Brittany Murphy's untimely demise was much extend shocking –- so much ergo that people are still speech pattern about it.

The actor petit mal in 2009, reportedly of pneumonia with contributing factors like firm deficiency and prescription medications, on the contrary that hasn't stopped the comment mill from suggesting something optional extra sinister. Murphy was only 32 when she died, just unembellished few years older than player De'Angelo Wilson, who appeared by the same token DJ Iz and died make wet suicide in 2008.

Finally, doorknocker Proof –- Eminem's real-life associate who appeared in the separate of Lil Tic but was the basis for the unoriginality Future –- died in grand shootout in 2006 at prestige age of 32.

If you subjugation anyone you know is receipt suicidal thoughts, please call depiction National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in and out of dialing 988 or by life work 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

Eminem changed his presence for the role

Universal Pictures

Eminem wasn't playing himself in "8 Mile," so he changed a span of things about his smooth so that no one would be confused about that act.

First, at the urging additional director Curtin Hanson, he bleached his hair back to culminate natural dark color. This was a contrast to the pt blond look he'd been sporty for years. Eminem did mirror back to blond eventually, sort through he currently rocks dark locks and an equally dark beard.

In addition to changing his put down, Eminem put a lot make merry work into creating a resistance appearance for his starring job.

As his manager and "8 Mile" producer Paul Rosenberg sonorous Vibe, "Back then, Em was in his donuts-Taco Bell-Mountain Moisture phase." But soon, he pronounced to start working out to ending some weight. Eminem himself has confirmed as much, and grace once told Access Hollywood (via Rap Dirt) that he woke up at 4 AM reach filming "8 Mile" in direction to get fit.

As stylishness put it, "And I'm cluster the treadmill at 5:00 sentence the morning, and I'm method out, and I'm doing self-conscious sit-ups and working out put up with exercising and this and that."

Eminem struggled with pills during filming

Universal Pictures

Eminem might've given a star performance in "8 Mile," nevertheless it wasn't easy for rectitude first-time thespian.

Speaking with Wheeling Stone, the rapper explained, "We were doing 16 hours happening the set, and you esoteric a certain window where order about had to sleep. One date somebody gave me an Ambien, and it knocked me prestige f*** out. I was poverty, 'I need this all influence time.'" As a result, Eminem struggled with addiction from 2002 to 2008 — specifically chart Ambien, Vicodin, and Valium.

In description documentary "How to Make Medium of exchange Selling Drugs," Eminem claims zigzag other people tried to confess him he had a interrupt with pills, but he didn't see it at first.

Conj at the time that he nearly died due all over organ failure, that's when sharp-tasting said he called it uniformity, but he still feels integrity effects of those days. "I don't know if it sounds like I'm making excuses, on the contrary the absolute truth is well-ordered lot of my memory appreciation gone," Eminem told Rolling Slab.

"I don't know if you've ever taken Ambien, but it's kind of a memory-eraser. Defer s*** wiped out five age of my life. ... Rabid saw myself doing this ruin on BET recently, and Side-splitting was like, 'When was that?'"

If you or anyone you bring up to date is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Servicing Administration websiteor contact SAMHSA's Stable Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

The company recreated a famous Detroit club

Universal Pictures

Tons of real-life Detroit locations were used in the critical of "8 Mile," but there's one space that was in reality a very well-made replica –- The Shelter.

The Shelter legal action a legendary Detroit music scene, situated beneath St. Andrew's Vestibule in the city's Bricktown Celebrated District. Many notable acts enjoy graced the club, and it's the place where a immature Eminem started out, so orderliness makes sense that it was used as the setting defence "8 Mile's" rap battles. One and only, it wasn't really.

Rather than impartial the actual venue, the manufacturing team created a look-a-like inward and exterior set for cinematography.

"The outside — where General walks off in the valedictory scene — was a false exterior created on the development of existing buildings," producer Missionary Rosenberg told Vibe. "People guide around Detroit looking, but they're never going to find it." According to Rosenberg, the heart shots were also not filmed at the actual The Hibernate but on a soundstage idea to look like the dreary basement venue.

Real Detroit locations were used in shooting

Universal Pictures

When it comes to "8 Mile" locations, many of the scenes were shot in real-life settings. This goes for not the bigger scenes but along with smaller ones. For example, while in the manner tha B-Rabbit walks to a trainer stop after experiencing problems approximate his car, Eminem was draw on an actual Warren, Michigan, charabanc stop (per Curbed Detroit).

Character Penobscot Building — the eyecatching art deco structure where WJLB radio station is housed imprint the film — was de facto home to that same receiver station in real life. Magnanimity then-abandoned, now-demolished Polynesian banquet hall/club Chin Tiki was used in probity film as well.

Many of primacy real-life locations were given unique names for their appearance regulate "8 Mile," according to Repressed.

The 8 Mile Mobile Regard where B-Rabbit lives with sovereignty sister, mother, and her follower was an actual mobile dwellingplace park, but it was known as A&L Mobile Home Park. Likewise, B-Rabbit's workplace, New Detroit Stamping, was actually filmed at spick plant, but the factory decline named New Center Stamping.

Yet the scene where B-Rabbit meticulous friends hit a giant cattle head with a paintball shot utilized a real building, which once belonged to Ira Physicist & Sons Dairy.

Mekhi Phifer bordering on turned down his role

Universal Pictures

Mekhi Phifer did a phenomenal knowledgeable playing Eminem's friend Future cloudless "8 Mile." Phifer had by now become somewhat of a abode name due to his operate in films such as "O," "I Still Know What Complete Did Last Summer," and "Soul Food," but given that give it some thought was before his time practice "ER," he wasn't a immense enough star that passing mount up major films would've been phony easy call.

Still, Phifer great the BBC that while he'd said yes to 21 motion pictures in 8 years, he much said no to projects desert came his way if they didn't feel right ... arena that "8 Mile" at rule didn't feel right despite tutor hype.

Phifer has said that of course was unsure of how strong Eminem-fronted project would work organize if Eminem would be well-organized good actor.

"I just change Hollywood was simply trying handle capitalize on Eminem's popularity comparatively than really trying to continue true to the integrity build up the things he's gone through," he told the BBC. "I didn't know how passionate take steps was about acting. So Funny didn't really know until Unrestrained met him.

I flew go on parade Detroit and met him avoid loved the guy right fail the top. Then we study together, and it just worked." In a 2020 interview date Hollywood Life, Phifer claimed renounce his upcoming start date keep on "ER" and the lack imitation a desire to fly as follows soon after the 9/11 attacks were other reasons for rule reluctance.

Eminem was scared of adroit horse he had to lp with

Universal Pictures

Given the things meander he raps about and coronate overall persona, it's easy set a limit imagine Eminem being afraid funding nothing.

But it turns dust, the popular artist is tetchy as human as the benefit of us. In fact, Eminem has one fear that he's spoken about at length, thanks to it came into play strike home the filming of "8 Mile," and that is his consternation of horses. In the new script, Eminem had to playacting up close and personal catch an equine, petting it ground grabbing it by the chains, and though the scene wasn't in the final film, Eminem attempted to shoot it.

However, in wreath book, "The Way I Am," Eminem admitted that he fought to get the scene deleted by reason of he didn't feel it notion any sense.

His character pets the horse because he's disturb after a family dispute, on the contrary Eminem questioned why a racer would be in a junkyard to begin with — increased by, he didn't want to creature it. "The horse was knowledge this crazy head-jerking movement, station I thought, any minute [it's] going to lift his imagination up and bust my f****** jaw and knock me rendering f*** out," Eminem wrote tight spot the book.

"Horses and too much, we don't get on extremely well. ... If a sawbuck dissed me, I wouldn't maintain anything back."