Chicago Lens Crafters Set the Stage

Introducing Two Local Film Makers

Stacie Hawkins Director of "Miss Thang"	Ytasha L. Womack Director of "The Engagement"
When did you fall in love with film making?
When I was an undergraduate student at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, I changed my major from Business Management to Mass Communications. There I was able to help pioneer the first broadcast radio station on campus, act in a few theater productions, and learn the ins and outs of Television production. I really enjoyed my Television production classes the most. I fell in love with the process of coming up with an idea, writing a script, casting talent, hiring crew, then shooting and editing a finished show. I loved it so much that after graduation, I enrolled in Film school at Chapman University in California where I received my Masters of Fine Arts degree in Film and Television production.	I kind of backed my way into filmmaking. I started off in journalism and did theater and television production in college. But when I graduated, I had this burning idea for a story and realized it would be best as a screenplay. I took screenwriting courses. Although I'd produced documentaries and TV, I didn't work on a film until I produced and wrote Love Shorts. So, while I always liked production, I didn't fall in love with filmmaking until then. However, at Clark Atlanta University, I was under the spell of Spike Lee's films and had a chance to interview quite a few young filmmakers and actresses during the black film renaissance of the mid 90s (George Tillman, John Singleton). I was fascinated by the ability to tell powerful, relevant stories that weren't captured in media. This was what lead me to journalism and ultimately to filmmaking. It's a theme in most of my work from the articles I wrote in college to the nature of the films I do now.
What challenges did you face producing, directing, and writing your first film?
There are so many challenges from the beginning all the way to end that I could write a book on the subject. Some of the biggest challenges I faced are typical for this business especially raising the financing to make the film. There is no one way to raise money for a film and every film has a different story as to how they found funding. I made The Rise and Fall of Miss Thang on an extremely small budget and the money came from close friends and family. Other challenges are finding talented cast and crew who will work for no money and finding people who will let you film in their homes or businesses for no money. After the film is finished then you have to deal with the challenges of getting accepted to film festivals and finding distribution. "Miss Thang" has been screening in festivals for the past year and now I have decided to self distribute on DVD later this summer.	Everyone in the cast and crew for Love Shorts were really cooperative. But the biggest challenge was assuring the crew who worked on the film for the long haul that this project would in fact see the light of day. I think so many people were used to working on projects that lived in the can that there's a bit of nervousness as you get closer to the finish line. People can't believe it's actually going to get done. The second piece was the distribution. We wound up self distributing Love Shorts, which worked out great, however, you have to be wholly committed and ultimately be comfortable seeking investments which at the time, we were tepid about. The Engagement was my directorial debut and again I had a really cooperative crew. Some people took issue with me being a young, confident woman who knew what I was doing, but most found the experience to be really refreshing and inspiring.
What's your film budget fantasy? :-)
That's a hard one. It really depends on the project. My fantasy would be that I wouldn't even have to worry about the budget or the scheduling. I would love to just be able to focus on writing and directing and have other people worry about those things.	The more the merrier!
How has the digital age changed the process of film making for indie creators like yourself?
The digital age has made the film making process way more accessible to everyone. People can shoot broadcast quality films on small budgets because there are digital cameras that you can buy or rent for very little money. I was able to shoot my film on HD because of this. A downside is that the market has become flooded with digital films and a lot of them are not very good. The industry has changed, especially distribution. Distribution companies won't even consider your film now unless it has been to major festivals or has name actors in it. For the films that don't have that, they are offering little to no money for your film and that's if you get an offer at all. Another upside to the digital age is the fact that filmmakers can take matters in their own hands and promote and self distribute their films through the Internet.	Both of my films were shot on high end digital cameras. The digital technology lowers the barrier of entry for new filmmakers by reducing the cost. It can be the difference between shooting a 15 minute short on film for $25,000 or shooting an 80 minute feature on a digi cam for $25,000. People can afford to purchase cameras and editing packages. Digital technology is very versatile. You don't have to worry about film stock running out when you're shooting, too. It's great for post production. But now, many top tier directors like Michael Mann and George Lucas embrace digital technology, so it's not strictly for newcomers. Once you start working with significant budgets whether you shoot on digital or film is a matter of preference and the look you want for your project.
Studies done by Hollywood state that African American audiences only want to see "comedies". Do you believe this to have some merit?
Comedies do very well in the box office and on DVD so they make more and more of them. However,African American audiences are not all the same. Not everyone wants to see a comedy and the ones who do like comedies also want to see us in other types of films as well. There have been Black films that were not comedies that did very well financially in the past, but Hollywood didn't rush to make more of them. Eve's Bayou was the top grossing independent film the year it came out but did we see more films like it? No. Hollywood also says that Black films don't do well overseas. I think that's because they don't market them overseas. If Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Hip Hop music and culture can be so successful overseas then I don't see why our films can't.	I think comedies in the minds of some are just easier to market to African American audiences. It's a paint by numbers marketing approach. Dramas, thrillers, or romances targeting African Americans are just more nuanced in how you attract the audience and some studios don't think the effort is worth it.
What do you think is needed to build the film business/industry in Chicago for black filmmakers?
We already have a Black indie film scene here in Chicago. There are several filmmakers here who are making and mostly self-distributing their films. Just recently a small group of us have decided to unify in order to help our efforts as filmmakers. One thing that would definitely help is access to media in the city. When someone has a new film that they are premiering in a local theater, I think they should be able to get interviews and reviews written in the Chicago newspapers, Television, and radio shows. Needless to say they are not interested in our "small" films, they only want big stars and big names and it doesn't matter if you're a local, homegrown artist. Other necessities are access to financing and building a name for ourselves outside of Chicago.	Chicago filmmakers just need to make good movies and showcase the city and its people in their work. The scene has grown in recent years. The International Black Harvest Festival of Film and Video at the Gene Siskel Center is really supportive of local filmmakers. Sergio Mims, the curator, is instrumental in many ways for cultivating the scene for black filmmakers in Chicago. I think the city as a whole supports its filmmakers by attending screenings and showing genuine interest. It's just a matter of cultivating the craft and the business. Chicago has a number of incredibly talented people but this talent has to be developed through classes, mentorship or intensive personal study. Many people for one reason or another either don't have access to this or choose not to develop it. As a result, people have to create these opportunities and the prospect of doing a motion picture film with a theatrical release can be scary especially if you've never done it before and if no one has shown you how to do it. There's an entire industry based around moviemaking, so making a movie is not the impossible dream. You need sizable investments, a tight script, and a solid team led by someone who knows what they're doing and takes the appropriate risks. You also have to be wisely bold. So leadership and vision is incredibly important.
What's next for you?
Right now I am focused on getting The Rise and Fall of Miss Thang out on DVD. I will be screening the film at the Randall 15 IMAX Theater in Batavia on August 14 and the 18-20. I am also planning to do some screenings in Chicago later this month or in early September. Then the film comes out on DVD on September 23. After that, I have a screenplay that is based in Paris. Of course it starts out in Chicago but most of it takes place in Paris. So the film making cycle starts all over when I begin the search for financing early next year.	I just wrote a hip hop story I will direct. I'm also attached to direct a romantic comedy. Plus, I'm writing my next book The New African American.
For aspiring producers, directors, writers, etc what advice would you give for breaking into the BUSINESS OF HOLLYWOOD?
Learn the craft. So many people think it's easy to write a screenplay or make a film so they just run out and pick up a camera and start shooting. Usually the end product is something in which they have invested a lot of money and/or time but no one wants to read or see. If you really want to do this then at least read some books and if you can afford it, take some classes. It also helps to volunteer on other films as a Production Assistant or an Intern so you can see film making in action and learn what or what not to do. Also, before you start a project, have a plan A, B, and C of what you are going to do with the finished film. Plan A of course is to get into Sundance and have a distributor offer you millions of dollars to put the film in a large theatrical release. But just in case that doesn't happen, have a plan B, C, D, and so on. Read the industry trade magazines and keep up with what's going on in the market, not just Hollywood but the independent scene as well. Most importantly--Network, Network, Network! Hollywood is all about who you know.	Be vigilant about it. Go to film business workshops, festivals, film markets. Read books and read the trades (Hollywood Reporter, Variety). Join the unions or at least keep abreast of their issues. Take producers or any knowledgeable person to lunch. Learn film financing, marketing, law and how distribution works. Ask a thousand questions and then make your movie. Create a knowledgeable team (because you can't make a movie by yourself). Don't be intimidated by talented people. If you make mistakes, fine, but movie making is a very hands on business so you have to put this knowledge to work. Columbia College has the Arts Entertainment and Media Management program which is excellent. I learned film marketing and public relations among other things and it gave me a business perspective of the industry that I didn't have before. On the other hand, when it comes to writing and directing you need vision. You can have decent production quality, but if you don't have anything to say or don't know how to say it, you undercut yourself.
Last but not least what are some of your favorite things to do IN CHI CITY?
I love Chicago in the summer, who doesn't. I try to go to as many summer festivals and outdoor concerts as I can. Of course, I also try to make it to all of the film screenings and entertainment industry events.	When I'm in writer's mode, I'm a total cafe hopper. So I may be at the Bronzeville Cafe, Exchange Cafe, Argo Tea, the Goddess & the Grocer or a Starbucks. The M Lounge has great Mojitos. Park 52 has awesome Margaritas. I like working out by the Lake. In fact, I'll come up with any excuse to be by the Lake. Kikuya in Hyde Park has phenomenal Sushi and so does the Dominicks on Halsted & Madison. I like independent films, so I frequent the Gene Siskel Center and Century City.I hang out at Artistic Jeanius where I also host a monthly film event. As for a summertime view of the city I like Nomi at the Park Hyatt. They have nice tea, too. I really like finding new places so my where- to- go list changes frequently.

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