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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the General Assembly and the
3 Illinois Legislative Black Caucus wish to recognize and honor
4 the Black Harvest Chicago Film Community for their work in the
5 City of Chicago and throughout the State of Illinois; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Chicago has become one of the liveliest centers
7 for independent film production by African-American artists in
8 the nation; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Independent filmmakers bring a freshness to the
10 movie scene that is not always present or possible in the
11 studio system; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Black filmmakers in Chicago and throughout
13 Illinois are to be applauded for their creativity in achieving
14 their production and marketing goals in the face of funding
15 obstacles; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Local black filmmakers have a tradition of
17 encouraging young people to tell their own stories and sharpen
18 their skills and crafts to be well-equipped when opportunities
19 come along; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Since 1995, the Gene Siskel Film Center, part of
21 the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, has provided an
22 important venue for showcasing the talent of African-American
23 filmmakers through its annual Black Harvest International
24 Festival of Film and Video; and
 
25     WHEREAS, Black Harvest premieres new feature-length and
26 short films, is the place to see local productions by
27 African-American independent filmmakers, and serves as a forum
28 for discussion, debate, and learning where producers,
29 directors, screenwriters, and actors can discuss the art and

 

 

HJ0064 - 2 - LRB094 13480 CSA 48341 r

1 craft of their work; and
 
2     WHEREAS, The 11th Annual Black Harvest festival is the
3 biggest one yet, extending from August 4 through August 31,
4 2005, and featuring 38 films and 8 local movies, including
5 CAGED by Eldridge Valentine, COMATOSE by Mike Merrill, THE
6 MISSING PEACE by Rachel Benjamin, TOOT'S AND BLOW'S by Deri
7 Tyton, RUNT produced by Joe English, and the Chicago-Botswana
8 co-production HOT CHILI by Moabi Mogorosi; Chicago-made short
9 films include COMFORT by J.L. Tops, LIMP by Abdul Malik, and
10 WALT BROTHER WALT by Bradford Stevens, and many other movies
11 with Chicago connections, including the definitive tribute to
12 the late jazz great Oscar Brown Jr. entitled OSCAR BROWN JR.:
13 MUSIC IS MY LIFE, POLITICS MY MISTRESS by Donnie I. Betts; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Target, NBC 5, American Airlines, WVON Radio,
15 Northern Trust, TimeOut Chicago, National Endowment for the
16 Arts, and the Illinois Arts Council have provided support for
17 Black Harvest; therefore, be it
 
18     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
19 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
20 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, and represented by Representative
21 Ken Dunkin and Senator Ricky Hendon, that we honor and
22 celebrate the work of local African-American filmmakers as
23 important voices for power, alienation, urban realities, and
24 the beauty of black cultural practices; we celebrate your
25 talents and are inspired by your dedication to expressing the
26 depth of the black experience; and be it further
 
27     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
28 presented to the Black Harvest Chicago Film Community as a
29 token of our gratitude and respect.