Bad Traffic

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Bad Traffic
Directed by	John Bacon
Produced by	John Bacon
Written by	John Bacon Matthew Graham Kevin Stevens
Starring	John Bacon Matthew Graham Ryan Beter Kevin Stevens Joey Paynter Kerry Vance Joe Graziano John Cadotte
Release date(s)	2003
Running time	56 min.
Language	English
Budget	$75 (estimated)

Bad Traffic is a 2003 film directed by John Bacon, written by John Bacon, Matthew Graham, and Kevin Stevens and starring John Bacon as Beaumont Livingston, Matthew Graham as Sho Wang, and Ryan Beter as Bryce Gibson III. The film is a satire of racial stereotypes predominant in movies, particularly buddy cop films. It is the second film (first in feature-length) to be produced by the Shinebox Studio troupe.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Production 3 Cast 4 Reception

[edit] Plot

Before the opening credits, two movie producers are trying to convince an executive to green-light several low-brow films. When the executive makes it clear that something of Academy Award caliber needs to be made, the producers present the idea of a cop movie featuring a black man and an asian man trying to reconcile with each other's differences. The frustrated executive tries to insist on something different but the producers eventually win him over.

As the actual film begins, Beaumont Livingston and his partner, Don, are waiting to arrest two unnamed criminals in an apparent sting operation. Beaumont and Don easily apprehend the two suspects and then hear something in the nearby woods. As Livingston investigates the disturbance, the creature assults Don. As Livingston returns, the creature has vanished and Don dies in his arms.

Two years later, the same creature presents himself to an unseen menace, Bryce Gibson III, and they discuss a plan to racketeer the video game industry. Later at a police station, the commissioner demands to see Beaumont Livingston and informs him that they may have information about Bryce Gibson's next scheme. While Livingston becomes restless after the commissioner suspects that Gibson may have some role to play in Don's death, the commissioner tells Livingston that he has been assigned a new partner. Much to Beaumont's dismay, he now has to work with an asian detective, who is completely unacustomed to American culture.

Beaumont arrives at an airport to pick him up and finally meets Sho Wang, his new partner. The two immediately have their difficulties relating to one another as Beaumont can hardly believe someone would name their child Sho Wang. As they drive along trying to get to know one another, Beaumont takes Sho to the place where Don was killed and swears revenge on Bryce Gibson. Sho agrees that Gibson must be stopped and the two grow a little closer. Beaumont receives a call from the commissioner assigning them to check out a warehouse across town and the two anxiously head there.

Bryce Gibson learns from an unidentifies informant that Sho has arrived in the United States but is not worried. He then sets up a trap for Beaumont and Sho at their destination. When the duo arrive, the location seems abandoned, but they are ambushed by Gibson's thugs. The two eaisly dispose of the attackers and then a third ally joins the group, Natasha. She informs the group that she is a spy, single mother, stripper, and a graduate of Yale University. Whe Beaumont informs the commissioner on their progress, he is kidnapped while on the phone and a ransom note is left at his desk. Natasha mysteriously disappears after this, but informs Sho and Beaumont of a restaurant serving as a front for Bryce Gibson. Sho Wang and Beaumont disguise themselves and talk with Gibson about his racketeering activities. When he reveals his plans, Beaumont and Sho attempt to arrest him, but Gibson escapes with Natasha and sends his thugs to deal with Sho and Beaumont. The two fight their way out and pursue Gibson in a car chase, but to no avail.

Later the two receive a call from Natasha while she is being held in Gibson's hideout and Beaumont traces the call. When they arrive, the Sho is knocked unconscious by the green creature, and Beaumont confronts Gibson's most prominent henchman. After the fighting, Beaumont unmasks him to discover it was his former partner, Don, all along. Beaumont panics in disbelief and Don tries to stab him, but Beaumont manages to disarm him, and kill Don. Later, Sho wakes up next to Natasha and frees her, but not before seeing the green creature moving towards them. Sho manages to knock the creature unconscious and searches once more for Natasha

[edit] Production

The Production was a satire project for the filmmakers' English class in 2003.

[edit] Cast

Actor	Role
John Bacon	Beaumont Livingston (Boardroom Exec)
Matthew Graham	Sho Wang (Movie Producer)	) [edit] Reception While the film was not shown in any theater or mass released on any format, the film has achieved cult status in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was only shown to students at Knoxville Catholic High School at the beginning of 2003. Since then, the filmmakers have associated it with notoriety due to the poor production. John Bacon, the producer, made a limited amount of DVD's as Christmas presents for the cast and crew of the production. Some of the DVD's have circulated around East Tennessee and created a small fan base for the film.