Can You Feel the Beat: Filming Locations and Cast Details

Inspired by the life story of the revolutionary Puerto Rican singer Lisa Lisa, Lifetime’s ‘Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story’ is a biographical musical drama movie helmed by Tailiah Breon, with Lisa Lisa serving as an executive producer. As a 15-year-old talented teenager, Lisa Velez, with the constant support of her best friend and backup singer Toni Ménage, deals with not only racism and sexism but also battles against her breast cancer to make her way to the top and becomes the first Latina singer to have multiple singles on the Billboard charts.

Besides her sheer determination and talent, her true friendship with Toni allows her to succeed in showbiz. The twists and turns that come with fame and success fail to come between the two friends as they strive for greatness together. From New York to Los Angeles, the journey of Lisa Lisa is painted across different backdrops in different stages of her career, making the narrative feel all the more authentic and true to the real-life story.

Where Was Lifetime’s Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story Filmed?

The shooting of ‘Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story’ was conducted in New York, Georgia, and California, primarily in New York City, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. From what we can tell, the principal photography for the biopic took place over the course of a few weeks in the month of September 2024 under the working title ‘Can You Feel the Beat.’

New York City, New York

A major portion of ‘Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story’ was reportedly lensed across the Big Apple, which served as a suitable setting given Lisa Lisa’s connection with the city. As she started her musical journey in the bustling streets of New York City, the production team made sure to shoot several sequences on location. As per reports, they set up camp in and around the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood on the West Side of Midtown Manhattan. Certain streets and establishments in the Brooklyn borough were also seemingly turned into film sets during the shooting process. Representing the glitz and glamour of the 1980s music industry, Times Square also reportedly hosted the production of a few portions of the Lifetime movie.

Atlanta, Georgia

For shooting purposes, the filming unit of ‘Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story’ also traveled to the capital of Georgia — Atlanta. Making the most of its vast and versatile landscape, the makers shot various important scenes across the city against suitable backdrops. Moreover, a film studio located in and around Atlanta was also taken over by the cast and crew members, mainly to recreate some musical sequences set in the 1980s era.

Los Angeles, California

Additional portions of the Lifetime biopic were also taped in and around Los Angeles, which is the cultural center of Southern California and the entertainment capital of the world. Given the city’s ties with the film industry, several iconic shooting spots, such as the Hollywood neighborhood, were turned into filming sites. Apart from ‘Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story,’ the City of Angels has been featured in numerous other movies, including ‘Rocketman,’ ‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story,’ ‘Paris Song,’ ‘La La Land,’ and ‘Dear Evan Hansen.’

Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story Cast Details

The cast of ‘Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story’ is led by compelling performances from Jearnest Corchado, Bre-Z, and Angie Martinez. Interestingly, the latter two have previously worked with each other in ‘Empire,’ where Bre-Z portrays Freda Gatz and Angie plays the role of Angie Martinez.

Jearnest Corchado as Lisa Velez

The ‘Sneakerheads’ fame Jearnest Corchado portrays Lisa Velez, the Puerto Rican singing sensation, in the Lifetime film. Having moved up the ranks by featuring in short films and giving impressive performances, Jearnest has bagged roles in several projects, including ‘LA 143,’ ‘Little America,’ ‘4 Ever,’ ‘The Fosters,’ and ‘The Summoned.’ She also features in ‘Raise Your Hand’ and ‘The Housewives of the North Pole.’

Bre-Z as Toni Ménage

Opposite her is Bre-Z, who dons the garb of Toni Ménage, Lisa Lisa’s best friend and backup singer, in ‘Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story.’ Widely recognized for portraying Tamia “Coop” Cooper in ‘All American,’ he has also been featured in ‘Down for Whatever’ and ’16 Bars.’

Angie Martinez as Nurse Rodriguez

Angie Martinez essays the role of Nurse Rodriguez in the biographical movie. Also nicknamed “The Voice of New York,” she is known for her radio work and lending her voice to the character of Zona Nightweather in ‘Fearless.’ You might recognize her from ‘The After Party,’ ‘Saving Melanie,’ ‘Red Apples Falling,’ and ‘Smoking Nonsmoking.’

Apart from the above-mentioned actors, ‘Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story’ also features other talented actors in supporting roles, including Matt Borlenghi as Barry Conner, Maurice P. Kerry as Toni’s father, Donny Carrington as Rocco, Alijah Kai as Brit, Isaias Alexander Miranda as Spanador, Eric Diaz as Jelly Bean, Jack Lafferty as Cutty Mac, and Giovanni Cristoff as Javi.

Read More: Baby, It’s Cold Inside: Filming Locations and Cast Details