HJ0064 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0064 LRB094 13480 CSA 48341 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the General Assembly and the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus wish to recognize and honor the Black Harvest Chicago Film Community for their work in the City of Chicago and throughout the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Chicago has become one of the liveliest centers for independent film production by African-American artists in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Independent filmmakers bring a freshness to the movie scene that is not always present or possible in the studio system; and

WHEREAS, Black filmmakers in Chicago and throughout Illinois are to be applauded for their creativity in achieving their production and marketing goals in the face of funding obstacles; and

WHEREAS, Local black filmmakers have a tradition of encouraging young people to tell their own stories and sharpen their skills and crafts to be well-equipped when opportunities come along; and

WHEREAS, Since 1995, the Gene Siskel Film Center, part of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, has provided an important venue for showcasing the talent of African-American filmmakers through its annual Black Harvest International Festival of Film and Video; and

WHEREAS, Black Harvest premieres new feature-length and short films, is the place to see local productions by African-American independent filmmakers, and serves as a forum for discussion, debate, and learning where producers, directors, screenwriters, and actors can discuss the art and craft of their work; and

WHEREAS, The 11th Annual Black Harvest festival is the biggest one yet, extending from August 4 through August 31, 2005, and featuring 38 films and 8 local movies, including CAGED by Eldridge Valentine, COMATOSE by Mike Merrill, THE MISSING PEACE by Rachel Benjamin, TOOT'S AND BLOW'S by Deri Tyton, RUNT produced by Joe English, and the Chicago-Botswana co-production HOT CHILI by Moabi Mogorosi; Chicago-made short films include COMFORT by J.L. Tops, LIMP by Abdul Malik, and WALT BROTHER WALT by Bradford Stevens, and many other movies with Chicago connections, including the definitive tribute to the late jazz great Oscar Brown Jr. entitled OSCAR BROWN JR.: MUSIC IS MY LIFE, POLITICS MY MISTRESS by Donnie I. Betts; and

WHEREAS, Target, NBC 5, American Airlines, WVON Radio, Northern Trust, TimeOut Chicago, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Illinois Arts Council have provided support for Black Harvest; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, and represented by Representative Ken Dunkin and Senator Ricky Hendon, that we honor and celebrate the work of local African-American filmmakers as important voices for power, alienation, urban realities, and the beauty of black cultural practices; we celebrate your talents and are inspired by your dedication to expressing the depth of the black experience; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Black Harvest Chicago Film Community as a token of our gratitude and respect.