Standing in front of 
a traffic sign for 
added effect, Spike Lee 
asserted: "I'm here to 
put a dead end to SF 
films featuring only 
cable cars and the 
bridges. 

Throughout the years there have been many television shows and movies 
set in the City by the Bay, San Francisco. We saw Alamo Square in 
"Mrs. Doubtfire," Fort Point in "Vertigo," and a whole bunch of cable cars 
in "The Streets of San Francisco." While the latter was a crime-drama, 
popular during the 1970s, it, like all others that have attempted to capture 
the true essence of the 'sco, have failed to project the grimy side of the 
City. That is until young scriptwriter and Lowell High School graduate 
Alex Tse stepped onto the scene.

With the backing of film genius and expert purveyor of urban culture, 
Spike Lee, Tse has developed a brand new cable television series for 
Showtime, entitled, "Sucker Free City." 
With the intent of showing more of the "real" 
Frisco and less of a Hollywood fantasy, the 
27-year old Tse has put together this unique 
project to premiere in the Fall television 
schedule. The show is "about the 
interactions of a diverse group of San 
Franciscans after housing prices force a 
young white resident named Nick to move 
into a predominantly black neighborhood 
(Hunter's Point)." With the show's main 
focus in H.P., Tse and Spike Lee's 40 Acres 
and a Mule production team have been 
scouting other locations in the City, including 
                                           the Mission. "All we see of San Francisco is 
                                           cable cars, Golden Gate Bridge, hills, dah, 
                                           dah, dah, and there's Pacific Heights!" Tse 
                                           said during a recent interview with the San 
                                           Francisco Chronicle. "Man, you're not really 
                                           seeing it...I don't remember anything real or 
                                           gritty that was done in San Francisco. I kind 
                                           of felt this was a good opportunity to do that. 
                                           It's an untapped market, really."

Since this is clearly a ground-breaking project about the SFC we can 
only hope that it is done right, because if it turns out to be a bust it 
may be a long, long time before we see another attempt made to depict 
an alternative side to Frisco. This drama is a long time coming, and it 
is about time that the world will see what the Sucka Free is truly made 
of, a diverse mix of people coexisting in one of the most beautiful 
places on the planet. While the pupusas of "La Santaneca" and super 
burritos of "El Farolito," might not make it into the final cut, it is nice 
to know that the underrepresented communities of Frisco are finally 
receiving some attention. I just hope Tse shows a little love to one 
particular underrepresented group in Hollywood...the Nicoyas. Respect 
the City!


Special thanks to The San Francisco Chronicle, Peter Hartlaub, and my 
job for letting me do some OT to finish this article. Look for the 
2-hour pilot of "Sucker Free City" this Fall on Showtime. Frisco nicas ain't 
no punks.

        

        

 

- July 11, 2003 

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