Ice-T’s Directed Documentary “Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap” Acquired by Indomina

The Indomina Group, the fast-growing U.S. and Dominican Republic based producer and distributor of film, TV and trans-media content, has acquired worldwide rights to Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap, the Ice-T-directed documentary that premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival that features some of the rap and hip-hop’s biggest talent, including Chuck D, Grandmaster Caz, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Melle Mel, Q-Tip, Redman, Mos Def, Afrika Bambaataa, B Real, Immortal Tecnique, Ice Cube, MC Lyte, Nas, Dr. Dre, KRS One, Common and Kanye West.

Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap is a performance documentary about the runaway juggernaut that is hip-hop. Practitioner/filmmaker Ice-T, with codirector Andy Baybutt, takes viewers on a personal journey into the craft and skill of rap, and what goes on inside the minds and erupts from the pens of rap legends. Ice-T travels from coast to coast, engaging intimately with his subjects, and what emerges is an intense tribute to the original American art form that brought poetry to a new generation.

Paul Toogood produced the film and also executive produced along with fellow executive producers Jorge Hinojosa, Ice-T, Simon D. Pearce, David Kaplan, Alison Toogood and Jelena Nikolic.

Indomina is planning a significant theatrical release in North America in the early summer.

“The Art of Rap is a perfect fit for Indomina – a masterfully crafted, superbly riveting and star studded film about rap that only Ice-T could deliver,” said Indomina Group Vice-Chairman and CEO Jasbinder Singh Mann. “This is a film that shares the same DNA as Indomina and speaks directly to our core audience. We’re thrilled to have ‘Art of Rap’ on our theatrical release slate and eager to give audiences around the world the opportunity discover this brilliant film.”

Commented Director/executive producer Ice-T, “It was important to us to get with a company that has as much passion about ‘Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap’ as we do and that company is Indomina. They are a fantastic partner and a great company. We look forward to working with them and releasing this film to the world.”

Added producer Paul Toogood, “We are delighted to be in business with Indomina, an exciting new company run by people who have a deep love of music. This film has been backed by brave individuals who are passionate about the culture that the film represents. We are grateful to them for giving us the opportunity to tell this important story.”

The producers were represented by Rich Klubeck, Rena Ronson, Bec Smith and Jim Meenaghan of the UTA Independent Film Group, David Fox of Myman Greenspan Fineman Fox Rosenberg & Light and Chris Gossage of Russells. Indomina’s Senior Vice President of Distribution and Marketing, Bruce Kirkland, and Vice President of Acquisitions, Rob Williams, negotiated the deal for Indomina.

Recent acquisitions for The Indomina Group’s releasing division have included the comedy “A Fantastic Fear of Everything” starring Simon Pegg, and the thriller “Life Without Principle” – the newest film from internationally acclaimed director/producer and contemporary maestro of Hong Kongese action cinema Johnnie To.

In 2011 Indomina released the highly acclaimed epic adventure “Detective Dee and The Mystery of the Phantom Flame” directed by Tsui Hark, which earned the highest per-screen box office average of Labor Day holiday weekend (its opening weekend) in North America; the romantic comedy “Griff the Invisible,” starring Ryan Kwanten (“True Blood”); Yuen Woo Ping’s martial arts feature “True Legend,” starring Vincent Zhao, Zhou Xun, Michelle Yeoh and the late David Carradine; and Teddy Chan’s award-wining “Bodyguards & Assassins.”

Indomina is teaming with Samuel L. Jackson to produce a new live action “Afro Samurai” film based on the popular animated series that has spawned an impressive franchise and a global following.