2. LOG LINE
A gang of teens from the Bay Area, in the late 80s,
evolve from drug dealers to notorious bank robbers
to legends in rap history.
3. INTRODUCTION
Led by Jamal Diggs and Simon “Kilo Curt” Curtis, the Romper Room Gang — named after a kids
tv show from the 50s — received their moniker from OGs in their neighborhood. They started off
as young drug dealers but later gained notoriety from the FBI as notorious bank robbers who
successfully executed over 40 bank heists along the West Coast.
Looking for a way out of the streets, they linked with childhood friend and underground rapper,
Andre Hicks aka "Mac Dre" to launch one of the biggest movements in West Coast rap history.
Unfortunately Mac Dre's life came to a tragic end when he was murdered in 2004. But until this
day his name, along with the members of the Romper Room gang, reigns supreme.
4. The set takes place in the gritty streets of the Bay Area during the late '80s & early '90s.
Impalas, Cougars and Chevelles plagued Cressida, aka "the Crest" — a notorious hood in
Vallejo California.
During this same time, Hip Hop and the crack cocaine epidemic made it's way to the West
Coast. Local street thugs found solace in telling their stories through the beats and lyrics of
rap music, as they looked for opportunities to trade in their "thug-life" for million-dollar deals
to escape a lifestyle that killed so many.
THE SETTING
5. SCRIPT SYNOPSIS
This is a time hopping narrative about neighborhood kids Jamal Diggs,
Simon “Kilo Curt” Curtis, and Mac Dre as they rise in a life of crime from
young drug dealers, to robbing local pizza spots, to banks, to becoming
one of Hip Hop's most notable legends.
We follow the journey of these three young African American men from
the mean streets of Vallejo, California, during the height of the crack and
Hip Hop era. Looking for ways of survival, Diggs, Curtis and their friend
Mac Dre — a local emerging rapper — form a street family of their own
called the Romper Room gang. Growing from neighborhood drug dealers
to notorious bank robbers, the Romper Room gang launch a mission to
make a worldwide name for themselves with Hip Hop as their
mouthpiece.
Diggs, Curtis, and the Romper Room crew find easy targets to fund their
friend Mac Dre's creative hip-hop career. Bank heists become the robbery
of choice, and they hit 44 banks while taking the FBI on a wild chase —
outrunning them each time.
How did they become legends? Why did they serve jail time despite
never getting caught? The world finally gets to hear the true story of how
the Romper Room gang not only pulled off incredibly detailed bank heists
at such a young age, but also launched one of the biggest legends in the
history of Hip Hop.
6. CULTURAL APPETITE
MIGHT GO MAC DRE,
THE WAY I'M GETTING
ALL THIS LOVE
- WIZ KHALIFA
BUT YOU KNOW I FEEL IT NOW
MORE THAN EVER MY CITY LOVE ME
LIKE MAC DRE IN THE BAY
- DRAKE
- AMERICAN
GANGSTER
(2008) S3 E3
- GHOSTRIDE THE
WHIP (2008)
The media already has an appetite for the Romper Room Gang's
story. From lyric references to highlighting portions of their lives
through documentaries such as American Gangster and DJ
Vlad's "Ghost Ride the Whip," the world only received snack-
sized insight on who they were.
This project is a full course that serves the whole enchilada. It
shares intimate details on the who, what, when, where, why and
how of their lives.
7. THE REAL PEOPLE
The "Crest" is mostly known for gang activity. In their
eyes, their crew members are family. Most of them
grew up together from childhood into adulthood.
These images of the Romper Room Gang shows the
unity and support they had for each other. It shows
their typical laid back Bay Area demeanor and style.
8. TONAL REFERENCES
The combination of these classic films and series provide great tonal references for the Romper Room
Gang story. They each capture the mind frame of the times and explores different yet familiar stories on
how some Young Black men survived in certain parts of America.
Menace II Society (1993) Snowfall (2017) Boyz n the Hood (1991)
Wu-Tang: An American Saga (2019) BMF (2021) Den of Thieves (2018)
9. LOCATION: THE CREST
THIS AIN'T SoCal. IT'S THE "CREST".
Not your typical California story, the Crest shows vast differentiators from their SoCal counterparts. The extreme amount of graffiti, abandon homes, few palm trees, cooler
temperature and heavy rain, all adds to the grit and grime of the location. It's the alter ego to the typical bright and beautiful persona of California.
10.
11. NETWORK FACTS & STATS
BMF Starz SNOWFALL FX GODFATHER OF HARLEM EPIX
Premiering on Jan. 6, the crime drama counted 4.1
million multiplatform viewers for its
sophomore season debut weekend, with several
platforms yet to report, according to a press
release Additionally, BMF is ranked as the most
socially engaged drama across all networks over
the season two premiere weekend
Vibe.com (2023)
FX revealed that Snowfall averaged 4.3 million Total
Viewers across linear, VOD and streaming with its Feb. 23
premiere, marking the series’ most-watched season to date.
The latest total viewer count was up 13% from the previous
season and 43% up from Season 3. Snowfall Season 4 was
FX’s most-watched series of 2021.
Deadline.com (2023)
Godfather of Harlem season one was a remarkable
success, tripling previous viewership numbers for the
network and earning acclaim from both critics and viewers
alike,” said Michael Wright, president, Epix.
Nexttv.com (2020)
Since the launch of shows like Power, BMF, and Snowfall, networks have seen a tremendous jump in their viewerships and subscriptions.
According to. Indiewire.com, "Power” came to Starz after Albrecht, the former HBO boss who took over as CEO of Starz in 2010, began looking at ways to
expand the network’s programming and differentiate it from HBO and Showtime. In 2017, The network reported 24.2 million subscribers, up 40 percent
from where it was at the start of the decade.
The Romper Room Gang series captures the interests of this same audience and tells a more unique story as compared to the others.
4.3
MILLION
4.1
MILLION
12. PRODUCERS
JAY O'SULLIVAN
serial entrepreneur with over 30 years of strategic business leadership
experience that focuses on his passion for business, customer experience,
and digital innovation. His experiences have been proven with clients such
as; NFL, Brinker, Live Nation, Sony Pictures, E Online, Joel Osteen, The
Coca-Cola Company, The Obama Presidential Campaign, Paramount
Pictures, Lexus, Warner Brothers, Procter & Gamble, Mastercard, Yahoo,
Lending Tree, and San Jose Sharks
LEE CUMMINGS
is a filmmaker based in California with more than 20 years of experience as a
Producer, Director, Director of Photography, Scriptwriter and Editor. While being
mentored by Eric Blakeney Writer and Director of Gun Shy Lee also In 2009,
orchestrated his first full-length feature film to be distributed by a global film
distributor. Currently, Lee has Directed a new feature in 2020 called Star Light,
which was sold to 1091 Media.
TROY BROWN
is a much-heralded digital storytelling executive with demonstrated skills in
creative digital/social/mobile (DSM) and content marketing. His portfolio of work
and media coverage for global Fortune 100 brands has won him several awards.
He serves as the chief architect and president of one50one, an accomplished
marketing agency; he is a founding partner and chief marketing officer of the
Black Promoters Collective, one of Billboard's 2022 "Power Players"; and he is a
partner of the One Musicfest, the Southeast's largest two-day, urban progressive
music festival.
