Drumline: A New Beat is a 2014 American television film directed by Bille Woodruff. It is the sequel to 2002's Drumline. The screenplay, a fictional story about a historically black college marching band, was written by Karen Gist and Regina Hicks. The story is about a young drummer from New York, played by Alexandra Shipp, who enters the fictional Atlanta A&T University and bumps heads with the leader of her new school's drum section. Jordan Calloway, Mario Van Peebles, and LeToya Luckett co-star. Leonard Roberts reprises his role as Sean Taylor. Nick Cannon reprises his role of Devon Miles and was the film's executive producer.
The film premiered on VH1 on October 21, 2014, and released to DVD on March 3, 2015.
Contents
Plot
Twelve years after the events of the first film, Danielle "Dani" Raymond (Alexandra Shipp), an upper class Brooklyn girl, defies her parents in order to attend a college in Atlanta so she can join and revitalize their once-prominent drum line. Dani's quest to become the first female section leader of the drum line in the school's history will be hampered by upperclassmen including her cousin Tyree (Jeff Pierre), her feelings for bandmate and rival, Jayven (Jordan Calloway), and the school's crosstown rivals.
The rising action begins with character establishment and a meeting of the love interests on campus. Then the band grind and “training montage” begins. Leading up to the climactic final event, things go wrong and the characters have to band together to pull off the successful performance.
Cast
Alexandra Shipp as Danielle "Dani" Raymond
Leonard Roberts as Sean Taylor
Jordan Calloway as Jayven LaPierre
Jeff Pierre as Tyree
Mario Van Peebles as Dr. Chalmus Raymond
DeRay Davis as Kevin Taylor
Jasmine Burke as Tasha Williams
Rome Flynn as Leon
Tye White as Armondi Mason
Scott Shilstone as Josh
Lisa Arrindell Anderson as Lois Raymond
LeToya Luckett as Dr. Nia Phillips
Nick Cannon as Devon Miles
Duain Richmond as Bulldog
Pam Smith as Patrice
Darian "Big Tigger" Morgan as himself
Kamille Leai as Lori
Brad Sanders as Rizzy
Jackie Goldston as Dean Scott
Quentin Plair as Quentin
Gilbert Glenn Brown as Jimmy LaPierre
Production
Filming began in May 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia.