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Principal photography began March 16, 2003 in Los Angeles on "Johnson Family Vacation" featuring an ensemble cast that includes Cedric The Entertainer ("Barbershop"), Vanessa L. Williams ("Shaft"), Bow Wow ("Like Mike"), Solange Knowles in her feature film debut, the multiple award-winning Steve Harvey ("The Steve Harvey Show") and Gabby Soleil ("The Hughleys").

"Johnson Family Vacation" marks the feature film directorial debut for music video and commercial director Christopher Erskin who has helmed vids for a wide range of artists including TLC, Missy Elliot and Boyz II Men and created national ads for brands such as Pontiac and Foot Locker. It is also a first for screenwriter siblings Todd R. Jones ("C-Bear and Jamal") and Earl Richey Jones ("The Hughleys").

Brought to Fox Searchlight Pictures by Paul Hall of Hallway Pictures, "Johnson Family Vacation" is produced by Hall ("Higher Learning," "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?", Exec. Producer "Shaft"); Eric C. Rhone and Cedric The Entertainer, who previously co-produced "Cedric The Entertainer: Starting Lineup" and "Cedric The Entertainer Presents..."; and Wendy Park of Hallway Pictures. Overseeing the production for Fox Searchlight is Claudia Lewis, Executive Vice President of Production, and Lawrence Grey, Director of Production.

AAA can't help the roadside emergency that is the "Johnson Family Vacation." Even the onboard navigation system has a meltdown on Nate Johnson (Cedric The Entertainer) and his family's cross-country trek to their annual family reunion/grudge match. Reluctantly along for the ride are Nate's wife (Williams), who's only in it for the kids; their rapper-wannabe son (Bow Wow); their teenage daughter (Solange Knowles) who's fashioned herself as the next Lolita; and their youngest (Gabby Soleil), whose imaginary dog Nate just can't seem to keep track of. Can the Johnsons survive each other and all the obstacles the road throws at them to make it to Caruthersville, Missouri? Can they find Missouri?

Fox Searchlight has worldwide distribution rights. Fox Searchlight is a filmmaker-oriented company that focuses on distinctive films helmed by world-class auteurs and exciting newcomers. It has its own marketing, distribution and publicity operations, and its films are distributed internationally by Twentieth Century Fox. Fox Searchlight Pictures is a unit of Fox Filmed Entertainment, a unit of Fox Entertainment Group.

SOURCE: Fox Searchlight