The Soloist

The Soloist was actually filmed in the Skidrow area of Los Angeles itself, with the camera crew working with the homeless in order to achieve a realistic effect and to create a sense of pride in their work. The movie was created when the producer discovered a number of columns written about a homeless guy called Nathaniel, and decided to make a film about it. Jamie Foxx, who played Nathaniel, spent some time with him in order to get a feel for the part, to copy his speech patterns and create the image of a schizophrenic dude. The film company also pulled in a chinese guy who could play good cello, and taught him using his own system. The director's aim was to help to break down the stigma surrounding the homeless.