Akeelah and the Bee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Akeelah and the Bee |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Doug Atchison |
| Produced by |
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| Written by | Doug Atchison |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Aaron Zigman |
| Cinematography | David Mullen |
| Editing by | Glenn Farr |
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| Distributed by | Lionsgate Films |
| Release date(s) | March 16, 2006 (CIFF) April 28, 2006 (United States) |
| Running time | 112 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $6–8 million |
| Money made | $19 million |
Akeelah and the Bee is a 2006 American drama film. It was written and directed by Doug Atchison. The movie tells the inspiring story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer). She is an 11-year-old girl who loves words and spelling. Akeelah decides to compete in the challenging Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The film also features her mother (Angela Bassett), her school friends, and her coach, Dr. Joshua Larabee (Laurence Fishburne). Other actors include Curtis Armstrong, J.R. Villarreal, and Sean Michael Afable.
Doug Atchison worked on the film for 10 years. He got the idea after watching the 1994 Scripps National Spelling Bee. He noticed that many of the spellers came from wealthy families. He wanted to show a different kind of story. The movie was filmed in South Los Angeles in 2005. It cost over $6 million to make.
Atchison wanted the film to be about overcoming challenges. He also wanted to show African Americans in a positive way. The movie highlights the importance of community. It also touches on how kids feel about themselves in school.
When it came out on April 28, 2006, Akeelah and the Bee was liked by many. Critics praised the story and the actors, especially Keke Palmer. The film earned $19 million. It also won several awards, like the Black Reel Awards and the NAACP Image Awards.
Contents
Plot
Akeelah Anderson is an 11-year-old who loves spelling. She goes to Crenshaw Middle School in South Los Angeles. Akeelah lives with her mother, Tanya, and her three older siblings. Her principal, Mr. Welch, suggests she join the school spelling bee. Akeelah does not want to at first. But after being told she would get detention, she enters and wins.
Soon after, Dr. Joshua Larabee, an English professor, tests Akeelah. He thinks she is good enough for the National Spelling Bee. Dr. Larabee does not want to coach her at first because she is rude. So, Akeelah studies by herself for the district spelling bee. She almost loses, but she still qualifies for the regional bee. This happens when her sister, Kiana, catches another speller cheating.
Akeelah also meets Javier Mendez, a 12-year-old boy who loves spelling. Javier invites her to his spelling club at his school in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. At Woodland Hills, Akeelah meets Dylan Chiu. He is a boy who came in second place at the last two national spelling bees. Dylan is not very nice to Akeelah at first. He tells her she needs a coach.
Javier invites Akeelah to his birthday party. Meanwhile, Akeelah's mother, Tanya, is worried. She is upset about Akeelah's grades and how often she skips school. Tanya finds out Akeelah went to Woodland Hills alone. She forbids Akeelah from going to the state bee. Tanya makes Akeelah go to summer school instead.
To get around this, Akeelah fakes her father's signature on a form. She secretly studies with Dr. Larabee. At Javier's party, Akeelah almost beats Dylan in Scrabble. Later, Akeelah hears Dylan's father being mean to him. He is angry that Dylan almost lost to "a little black girl."
During the state bee, Tanya comes in and stops Akeelah from spelling. Tanya is mad that Akeelah went without her permission. But after talking with Dr. Larabee and Mr. Welch, Tanya agrees to let Akeelah continue. Javier helps Akeelah by stalling the competition until she can return. In the end, Dylan, Javier, and Akeelah all make it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
As Christmas gets closer, Akeelah wants to buy Dr. Larabee a gift. But when she sees him, he tells her he is quitting as her coach. He says she reminds him of his daughter, Denise, who passed away. Dr. Larabee gives Akeelah 5,000 flashcards to study. Without her coach, Akeelah feels lost. Her best friend Georgia is also upset with her. Akeelah feels a lot of pressure from her neighborhood to make them proud.
However, Tanya tells Akeelah that she has "50,000 coaches" all around her. Akeelah then gets her family, classmates, teachers, and neighbors to help her study. After reuniting with Dr. Larabee, Akeelah goes to Washington, D.C. for the competition. Tanya, Georgia, Mr. Welch, and Devon go with her. Dr. Larabee secretly paid for some of their tickets. Georgia and Akeelah become friends again.
During the competition, Akeelah becomes a favorite with the crowd. All the other spellers are eliminated. Only Dylan and Akeelah are left. They get a break. Akeelah hears Dylan's father putting a lot of pressure on him to win. So, Akeelah tries to lose on purpose. But Dylan, tired of his father's demands, also misspells his word on purpose. Dylan tells Akeelah he wants a fair competition. They both continue to spell every word correctly. In the end, they are both declared co-champions!
Cast
- Keke Palmer as Akeelah Anderson:
- Over 300 girls tried out for the role of Akeelah. Keke Palmer auditioned five times to get the part. The director, Doug Atchison, liked her acting. He chose her because she understood the script very well, even at age ten. He wanted an actress who could make the character her own.
- Laurence Fishburne as Dr. Joshua Larabee:
- Laurence Fishburne liked the idea of the film a lot. He said he was "really moved by it." He even agreed to be a producer for the movie. The director said Dr. Larabee is a "sensitive guy" with "quiet moral authority." Fishburne made the character seem calm but also more lively.
- Angela Bassett as Tanya Anderson:
- Angela Bassett's agent sent her the script, and she "just loved" it. The director praised Bassett's acting. He said she made Tanya feel like a real person. Tanya wants the best for Akeelah but is scared that Akeelah's dream might not work out. Bassett said her character also has to deal with the sadness of her husband's passing.
- Curtis Armstrong as Bob Welch:
- Doug Atchison said Curtis Armstrong was "the perfect choice for the school principal." He added that Mr. Welch is "very excitable" and brings a lot of funny moments to the story.
- J.R. Villarreal as Javier Mendez:
- J.R. Villarreal was chosen after many auditions. He said Javier is a "very good friend to Akeelah." He also said Javier is cheerful and does not care much about what others think. He helps Akeelah with her worries about what people think of her.
- Sean Michael Afable as Dylan Chiu:
- Sean Michael Afable explained that his character, Dylan, can seem "harsh" at times. This is because of the pressure his father puts on him. Afable said Dylan's "true character" is shown at the end of the film.
- Sahara Garey as Georgia Carver:
- Sahara Garey auditioned about six times for the role. She said her character, Georgia, "encourages Akeelah." Georgia sees many good qualities in Akeelah that she does not think she has herself. Georgia aims lower, but she helps Akeelah aim higher.
Erica Hubbard, Lee Thompson Young, and Julito McCullum play Akeelah's sister Kiana and brothers Devon and Terrence. Dalia Phillips is Ms. Cross, Akeelah's teacher. Eddie Steeples plays Derrick T. Tzi Ma is Mr. Chiu, Dylan's father. Wolfgang Bodison plays Akeelah's father.
Images for kids
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Theatrical release poster
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Laurence Fishburne played Dr. Joshua Larabee.
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Angela Bassett played Akeelah's mother, Tanya.
See also
In Spanish: Akeelah and the Bee para niños
