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Screen Magazine - Index

Screen Magazine - Screen Magazine: Vol. 28, Issue 3 - Index

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It’s 3:46 in the City of Wind. As the afternoon prepares to be consumed
by yet another frigid Chicago evening, the Artist stares at his plane ticket.
Destination: California, L.A., Hollywood. He sits on the floor of his onebedroom
apartment, only partially excited by his decision. The ticket
proudly proclaims its one-way status thus revealing the secrets of the Artist’s
heart, the guilty optimism and also the troubling feeling of defeat.
Not even a year earlier, the Artist had chastised his close friend because she
was leaving to pursue her dreams in the “land of opportunity.” He was infuriated
when she said there was “nothing going on” in Chicago. He thought that
was absurd, since Chicago is the third largest market in America. It was at that
moment he vowed to “make it” in his hometown that he loved so much.
Now he is forced to eat his words and join his friend in L.A., who
has made a great name for herself and is working consistently. He reassures
his Chicago friends that he will go out to L.A., hit it big and come
back to live in Chicago, but deep inside he knows it’s a lie. If all the
work is there, then he has to be there. That’s the bottom line.
This is the story of legions of actors, producers, directors, writers, stunt
people, PAs, grips, gaffers, etc. that Chicago loses each year. As an actor
I can attest to the fact that there are not that many good feature-length
film projects produced here on a yearly basis. On the occasions when a
major budget or studio film comes here, most if not all of the major roles
are already cast in L.A., leaving only bit parts for Chicago actors.
As a producer-director I can also attest to the struggle many of us have to get
funded. Most of the time we have to use our own money, credit cards, refinance
our homes and sell blood in order to get our films produced. Thus, we aren’t
able to provide jobs to the hundreds of out-of-work crew people in Chicago,
let alone the entire Midwest. Even after all of that, if we hustle up $50,000 for a
project, we feel as if we have made a remarkable accomplishment, even though
most projects (even the low budget ones) in L.A. will spend that in a day.
Approximately three years ago, I attended a meeting (the name of which
will remain nameless). The facilitators were trying to gain support for
their efforts to create more film job opportunities in Chicago. They went
on and on about tax breaks and incentives being implemented to attract
more movies, primarily from L.A., to be shot here. While I thought those
ideas were good, I immediately realized that these efforts would continue
to leave the film “industry” in Chicago at the mercy of L.A.
So, I offered an additional solution. When I was finished speaking, however, my
idea was received like a Republican’s “fuzzy math” at the Democratic National
Convention. Dare I propose it again to a broader audience? Of course I do.
We have the talent, the finances and all of the resources in this city to get
behind a few of the finest filmmakers Chicago has to offer. If we band together
and get projects made by us, then we will create and control our own job
opportunities in front of and behind the camera, thus keeping us working! As
for distribution, we can then take these films to the studios or create our own
distribution channels. We can do it. We have the resources. We are Chicago!
Projects like “Soul Food,” “Barbershop” and “Roll Bounce” have been a
great part of what the film “industry” here has relied upon in recent years.
We have been able to rely on these projects being shot here because the
directors and/or the producers are from here. See my point? If we support
our own, then our own will support us! Then we can break free
of the cycle that has Chicago working at far less than its potential.
We must change the way we look at this industry. The independent revolution
and the digital video and high-definition revolutions have changed the
way films are being made. We must embrace a revolution that will change the
way films are green lit to be shot here. We will bring ourselves together to
form an alliance that will secure the building of a truly independent film industry
in Chicago and the rest of the Midwest. Welcome to the Rawvolution!
Feedback? E-mail therawvolution@yahoo.com
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