Amazon to Release Spike Lee's Chicago Film in Late 2015
The much-criticized "Chicago" film by Spike Lee recently wrapped production last week. Story details are still under wraps, but as we noted many moons ago, the film was rumored to be a musical comedy based on the Greek play, Lysistrata, with a cast led by Mad Men's Teyonah Parris alongside Nick Cannon, Jennifer Hudson, Wesley Snipes, John Cusack, Angela Bassett, Samuel L. Jackson, and more. However, the "musical" element of the film is in question, as the script, co-written by Lee and Kevin Willmott, is in a lyrical style similar to Shakespeare, but assumedly modernized.
Originally, the film was going to hold its world premiere at Cannes Film Festival 2016 (if accepted), but both Spike Lee and Amazon Studios, the film's distributor, are confident enough in the film that they're bumping its release up to December 2015 as part of a limited theatrical run to qualify it for the awards season. Furthermore, the film will be Amazon Studios' first original film, establishing Amazon's film distribution program that was started back in January. The film will officially open next year in theaters, followed by an Amazon-exclusive release online.
Lee had this to say about the film and Amazon Studios' involvement:
I’m honored to be part of the film that will launch Amazon Studios and to tell a story that is so important. Please don’t be fooled by the title of Chi-Raq, this new Spike Lee joint will be something very special.
I've already cast judgment on the film and its offensive title, but I'll hold any real criticism until the film is released. Could this be Spike Lee's return to form? I can only hope.
[via The Hollywood Reporter]
Spike Lee's Chicago Film Will Be a Musical Comedy
Spike Lee's upcoming film, which has grown to Voldemort-esque levels of "Film-That-Will-Not-Be-Named" around these parts, will be a musical comedy based on the Greek play Lysistrata by Aristophanes. The play takes place during the Peloponnesian War (431 - 404 BC) and finds the titular character banding other Greek women up to devise a plan to find peace by withholding sex from their husbands and partners to stop the war. The comedy, however, comes in the ironic fact that Lysistrata and her group grow just as sexually-frustrated as the men, creating a dichotomy of mixed feelings. The setup does fall in line with Lee's recent works, and would fit the narrative of a young woman holding out from doing sex until those around her stop the violence in Englewood.
However, looking at Lee's last film, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, is still alarming, as the film was a spiritual remake of Ganja and Hess, but didn't do anything to separate itself from its source. The film's title, too, does fit in with the proposed narrative, yet it's still insulting to constantly be attached to and defined by war, especially if the film insulates itself completely within Englewood and not throughout the entire city.
Furthermore, the film will be a musical comedy, which I think is being done to further subvert the film's title, yet sugarcoating the real problem just makes matters more problematic. I'm assuming the musical elements of the film will be due to the soundtrack playing more of a role within the film rather than a more traditional musical, but that's just conjecture. On that same note, it's reported that Kanye West, who was courted for the film, won't be appearing, but may still be providing something for the soundtrack.
[via /Film]
Casting Call for Spike Lee's Film Set for Saturday
An open casting call for extras in Spike Lee's upcoming Chicago-based film (the title of which I'm purposely ignoring) is set for this Saturday at St. Sabina Academy in Auburn Gresham. The casting call is being held by 4 Star Casting and is open for all Illinois residents aged 7 to 75 with valid State ID or driver's license. The agency is looking to hire hundreds of extras for the film's shoot from May to July.
The Facebook page for the casting call refers to the film as ChiTruth and not as its controversial moniker. Whether this is a leak of the film's new title or something else entirely is unclear. The casting call comes a few weeks after Lee met with city officials to receive a $3m tax break for the film, during which Mayor Emanuel expressed his dislike for the film's title.
Full details for the open casting call can be seen in the flyer below.
[via RedEye Chicago]
Spike Lee Asking for $3 Million Tax Break for Chiraq
Last week, Chicagoans found themselves divided over the announcement that Spike Lee will be directing a Chicago-set film, Chiraq. Myself and the rest of the Ruby Hornet team took a stand against the title, calling the name "misguided, demeaning, and insulting to Chicago." The director is in town for this weekend's CIMM Fest, and recently met with some city leaders to find funding and receive a tax break for the film.
Exactly how much of a tax break is Lee and his production team asking for? $3 million. Alderman Will Burns of the 4th Ward, who also helped structure the film industry tax break system for Illinois, responded to Lee's representatives' request, stating, "You recognize that by seeking public support that gives us a seat at the table." Burns is part of the very vocal group of opposition that finds the film title demeaning. He further states:
With the title Chiraq, that’s branding whole parts of the city. For people who live on the South and West Sides who pay their taxes, are active in block clubs and work to make their neighborhoods better, it’s a slap in the face [...] South Siders and West Siders already walk around with a massive chip on their shoulders. There’s a sense the media only comes to cover dead bodies and not the positive things that happen every day. And why is this guy from New York coming to do a movie about Chicago?
Recently re-elected Mayor Emanuel also met with Lee at City Hall yesterday, voicing his dislike of Chiraq as the film's title to the director. Mayor Emanuel also expressed his concern over the depiction of Englewood residents, where the film will be shot in and located. When asked what Emanuel said to Lee, the Mayor replied:
He said the movie is about the neighborhood of Englewood. I was clear that I was not happy about the title [...] I told him also that there are very good people who live in Englewood who are raising their family. There’s a lot of positive things happening in Englewood, mainly driven by the people that make up Englewood.
With a vocal opposition to the title from both everyday citizens and city leaders, it would only make sense for Lee to truly hear our concern and opinions over why the title should be changed. Lee's a smart man, and I'm sure he'll be open to changing the title from Chiraq once he sees exactly how passionate we are about our reasons... especially if he receives a state tax break to shoot the film here. As Alderman Burns says, "[...] the public should be given a seat at the table, and we need to have a conversation and a dialogue about it. It’s our money, and it’s our city."
[via DNAinfo Chicago]
Spike Lee's Use of Chiraq for His Next Film is Infuriating
My faith in Spike Lee's abilities as a compelling storyteller has been dwindling for a few years now, and it was all but severed after watching his latest film, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus. During my video interview with the director, I asked him why he decided to crowdfund the film, to which he replied, "To get the money." It looks like Lee is going for the money yet again with the title choice for his next film, the offensively-titled Chiraq.
As reported by The Wrap earlier, Lee and Amazon Studios are working together to shoot a film in Chicago with a rumored ensemble cast featuring Kanye West, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Piven, and Common. While there are little to no details beyond these rumors, the film's moniker alone should be enough to piss off dedicated Chicagoans, myself included.
The term "Chiraq" has been plaguing the city's residents for a couple of years now as it compares the city's recent history of gun violence and murder to the war torn country in the Middle East. Some residents (and non-residents, as is wont to happen to those desperately trying to identify with the city) have embraced and glorified the term, while others recognize the nickname's inherent hate and negativity. And for the most part, the term has dissipated with only a select few still embracing the term in an attempt to further push the image of Chicago being a dangerous city. That's not to ignore or brush aside the countless acts of violence we unfortunately hear on a daily basis, but the fact remains that the title bestowed upon this amazing city does nothing to further advance how multi-dimensional and outstanding Chicago is, relegating it to nothing more than a city we ought to be in fear of.
[youtube id="TybFtK6VTVo"]
I acknowledge that, with no plot information for Chiraq, my reactions to the film may be too premature. However, with Lee's recent feature films, he's demonstrated his inability to truly capture the level of quality he showed early in his career. Perhaps his choice of using the term will be used in a way to subvert what it stands for, but I worry Lee won't be able to do the film or this city justice. At the very least, he's done his due diligence, as the Chicago Tribune noted Lee was in town earlier this year to research the city's recent history of violence with St. Sabina's Reverend Michael Pfleger. And for that, I commend him.
However, the use of the term is misguided, demeaning, and insulting to Chicago. We are more than just "Chiraq," but by having an icon such as Lee embracing the nickname for his film will do nothing to alleviate the city's public perception from those across the country. Last year, VICE released a series of video documentaries that seemed to push an agenda of exploiting the Chiraq phenomenon, and it's with this in mind that I worry even more about Lee's Chiraq.
Spike, if you're going to shoot a film dealing with and discussing the city's violence, I implore you to come up with a better title. Use a title that isn't so closely associated with murder, with violence, with gang culture, with ignorant rappers, with hate. I love my city, and I would never refer to it with such an ugly term that exploits every single Chicagoan that has been affected by the city's outbursts of violence. And if you do decide to keep the title, prove me wrong - show me and the world that you still have something left in the tank to bring change to a problem that's plagued us for years.
Rest in peace, Mikal.
[via The Wrap]
[Video] King L: "Tony"
King L's latest banger, "Tony", off his recently-released mixtape Drilluminati 2 is a mafioso dream cut with shot os L's harrowing live shows donning a three piece suit. The song and the video create an interesting aesthetic for the 27-year-old artist from Chicago and calls to mind a young Jay-Z going the same route when his career had hit a breaking point, a decision which ultimately vaulted him to the top of hip-hop for years to come and allowed him to re-write the narrative that had followed him to that point. The points in career are much different, King L largely holds his destiny in his own hands, but perhaps the sentiment makes sense. "My name is Louie, but they call me Tony" is simple, yet packed with meaning and braggadocio and the suits and overall motif may well be a direction King L wants to keep traveling down. Chance also makes a cameo, keep an eye out for that. Full video, from WorldStarHipHop below.
[iframe id="http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/embed/67617" height="360" width="100%" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0"]
[Mixtape] Lil Herb: "Welcome to Fazoland"
The day has finally come for Chicago's own Lil Herb to step out on his own. After first hitting the scene early last year with fellow south side artist Lil Bibby on the strength of their joint project which produced nods from the likes of Drake, and a slew of record labels. After sharing the spotlight as a duo, Bibby stepped out at the end of November 2013 with his powerful solo offering in his singular debut project, Free Crack, which continued to push him as one of Chicago's must-see acts. Today, his counterpart gives us his latest, the highly anticipated Welcome To Fazoland, which aims to establish Lil Herb (G Herbo?) as the next in line to pop from the Second City. The project, hosted by Don Cannon and released today via DatPiff, is precisely what the rap world has been waiting for from Herb. Utilizing a distinctly calm tone to his voice, Herb glosses over the issues facing his community and city in a way that feels authentic without getting preachy, feels less like a report than a young man relaying what he sees around him. On "At The Light" he discusses the complex issue of simply sitting in his car at a stoplight, and the problems that seemingly innocuous, everyday action can bring by rhyming "Summertime I remember them nights/I know n**gas out for my life/Gotta look to my left and my right/I be damned I get left at the light" It's an impressive stepping out for a young artist eager to make a name for himself on the solo game the same way he got his buzz up with Bibby next to him last year. Welcome To Fazoland might be just the debut to get him to the next level. Check it out, available for stream and download below.
[Album] Psalm One: "Hug Life"
With all the talk of the violence in Chicago and 'Chiraq' this and that being hawked by out-of-towners on the daily, mucking up the Second City's image for personal gain, it can be easy to forget that there is still plenty of positivity in the city's streets. Chicago's first lady of hip-hop, Psalm One is out to challenge that dubious status quo with her latest project, Hug Life. A play on Tupac's seminal phrase all the way down to the "Hug Life" torso tat on the album artwork, the title is a juxtaposition of nuanced meaning that perfectly accents the message Psalm puts forth on her latest, perhaps most complete project to date.
Released via iTunes under Psalm's alter-ego Hologram Kizzie, the project is an examination of love, lust and the things that come from both. In a story for the Chicago Sun Times, Psalm characterized her different monikers and the roles they occupy as such: "Kizzie is a little — a lot — less inhibited than Psalm One,” the rapper detailed, pointing out that while her biblically derived handle is well suited to her all-ages content and humanitarian endeavors, being Hologram Kizzie “gives me a lot more freedom.” The project includes a who's who of Midwest up and comers and bedrocks alike, including the likes of ProbCause, Tanya Morgan, The Hood Internet, Young Josh of Flosstradamus and Lazerbeak and PO$ from DoomTree, among others. Hanging out at a West Town loft last weekend listening to the project, we listened through several times without noticing it had started from the top again, a true testament to a full-fleshed out project that hits the proper chords from start to finish. Check out Hug Life streaming below and pick up the full project over at iTunes!