High Freakquency (1998)

"High Freakquency" (1998) is a comedy film directed by Tony Singletary and written by Rob Gomes. The movie stars John Witherspoon, Marcus Chong, A.J. Johnson, Paul Mooney, Michael Colyar, and Deon Richmond. It was released in theaters in 1998 and was mostly on television in '99. The late '90s saw an influx of Black movies that went largely unnoticed. Many were low-budget but had relevant cast members who were familiar faces in Black entertainment. B.E.T. picked up many of these films for their movie slots, but over time, they faded out of circulation.

Director: Tony Singletary

Writer: Rob Gomes

Starring John Witherspoon, Marcus Chong, A.J. Johnson, Deon Richmond, Ajai Sanders, Cory Tyler, Michael Colyar, Paul Mooney, Iona Morris, Joe Clair, Roxanne Reese, Willard E. Pugh, Aonika Laurent, David Labiosa, Kimberly Brooks, Adina Howard, Freez Luv

Storyline

FM 24/7 is the top R&B station in L.A. and the most outrageous! Program Director Wes Thomas (John Witherspoon) keeps the money rolling in. At the same time, he works at being white and presides over personalities like Nubian Princess (Iona Morris), Warm Daddy (Michael Colyar), and the Love Doctor (Paul Mooney). However, the real brain is Jordan (Marcus Chong), who knows what the public wants.

The Substitute (1996)

"The Substitute" (1996) is an action-thriller and cult classic directed by Robert Mandel and stars Tom Berenger and Ernie Hudson. By 1996, Hollywood established that films about white teachers coming to inner-city schools and turning things around were successful enough at the box office to continue to produce. For example, there was "The Principal" (1987), "Dangerous Minds" (1995), "Sunset Park" (1996), and "The Substitute." It was apparent enough that "High School High" was a spoof of those movies. Regardless, "The Substitute" stepped up the level and brought intense action to the inner-city high school theme. Additional cast members include William Forsythe, Marc Anthony, Glenn Plummer, Diane Venora, and Shar-Ron Corley. Inner-city high school-themed movies usually had primarily multicultural student populations. Mandel filmed "The Substitute" at Miami Sr. High School.

Director: Robert Mandel

Writers: Roy Frumkes, Rocco Simonelli, Alan Ormsby

Starring Tom Berenger, Ernie Hudson, Marc Anthony, Glenn Plummer, Diane Venora, Shar-Ron Corley, William Forsythe, Raymond Cruz, William Forsythe, Luis Guzmán, Richard Brooks, Vincent Laresca, Maurice Compte, Beau Weaver, Cliff De Young, Willis Sparks, Noelle Beck, Jody Wilson, Jim Warne, Ian Marioles, María Celedonio, David Spates, David Hayes, Peggy Pope, Rodney A. Grant

Storyline

Inner-city Miami schoolteacher Jane Hetzko (Diane Venora) gets her knee broken when she stands up to the gang leader, Juan Lacas (Marc Anthony). Her boyfriend, mercenary combat specialist Jonathan Shale (Tom Berenger), goes undercover as a substitute teacher to take down the gang but soon discovers that Lacas is merely an underling for the actual criminal mastermind.