The only thing white is the house

"How many of you, right now, work two jobs just to have enough money to be broke? That ain't right."

Mays Gilliam

Head of State

Release Date: March 28, 2003

The irreverent and irrepressible Chris Rock sets his sights on the highest office in the land in DreamWorks Pictures' comedy Head of State.

Rock stars in the film, which also marks his directorial debut. Rock also co-wrote the screenplay with Emmy Award-winning writer Ali LeRoi, with whom he has had a long association, including their collaboration on the screenplay for Down to Earth.

Mays Gilliam (Rock) is a Washington, D.C. neighborhood alderman who's about to be redlined out of a job. But after the untimely death of the party frontrunner, Gilliam is plucked from obscurity and thrust into the limelight as his party's nominee—for President of the United States.

The film also stars the late, popular comedian and television star Bernie Mac as Gilliam's older brother Mitch, a bail bondsman who becomes his unlikely running mate. Rounding out the main cast are Dylan Baker (Road to Perdition) as Gilliam's campaign manager, Nick Searcy as Gilliam's much more politically savvy opponent, Lynn Whitfield as Gilliam's reluctant advisor, who is slowly won over by her unorthodox candidate, and Robin Givens as the ex-girlfriend who dumped Gilliam, but who now sees his candidacy as her chance at becoming First Lady, Tamala Jones as the new woman in Gilliam's life who believes in him regardless of the election outcome, James Reborn as Senator Bill Arnot, the party leader who is more interested in his own future than Gilliam's, and Stephanie March as the campaign worker with special talents. Rap artist Nate Dogg appears through the film as the musical narrator.

Head of State is produced by Ali LeRoi, Chris Rock and Michael Rosenberg, with Ezra Swerdlow serving as executive producer.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Donald E. Thorin, production designer Steven Jordan, editor Stephen A. Rotter, costume designer Amanda Sanders and composers Marcus Miller and David "DJ Quik" Blake.

About the Film

About the Film

CAST
  • CHRIS ROCK,
  • BERNIE MAC,
  • DYLAN BAKER,
  • NICK SEARCY,
  • LYNN WHITFIELD,
  • ROBIN GIVENS,
  • TAMALA JONES,
  • JAMES REBHORN,
  • KEITH DAVID,
  • TRACY MORGAN
DIRECTOR
  • CHRIS ROCK
SCREENWRITERS
  • CHRIS ROCK,
  • ALI LEROI
PRODUCERS
  • ALI LEROI,
  • CHRIS ROCK,
  • MICHAEL ROTENBERG
CINEMATOGRAPHER
  • DONALD E. THORIN
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
  • STEVEN JORDAN
COSTUME DESIGNER
  • AMANDA SANDERS
EDITOR
  • STEPHEN A. ROTTER
COMPOSERS
  • DAVID 'DJ QUIK' BLAKE,
  • MARCUS MILLER

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