Spike Lee’s “Chiraq” film is set to be based in the Englewood neighborhood, which is not only a hotbed of rap talent, but also an area of extreme poverty and violence. Wednesday, Lee met with Mayor Rahm Emanuel who voiced his concerns about the film project.
Lee told Emanuel the project would be about Englewood’s black-on-black violence, according to the Chicago Tribune.
“We had an honest, frank conversation,” Emanuel said of his meeting with Lee, which Emanuel’s staff said took place at City Hall, according to the Tribune. “He said that while 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 that live in Englewood who are raising their family and there’s a lot of positive things that are happening in Englewood mainly driven by the people that make up Englewood.
“He did say the movie would take on the subject of black-on-black violence, specifically African-American male to African-American male violence, and how it’s affecting the community and what goes on,” Emanuel continued. “I said then, and I believe, that’s an important conversation to have. Given you’re a great artist, while I don’t support the title and I don’t like the working title, the topic is a conversation that has been ignored for too long and needs to be discussed.”
Lee and Amazon Studios are seeking a $3 million tax break from their production, according to DNA Info. Lee’s reps met with the Illinois Film Office and City Department of Special Events.
Lee has reportedly tapped Kanye West, Common, Samuel L. Jackson and Jeremy Piven to appear in the film.
The Oscar-nominated filmmaker has been in the City conducting research for the film and has met with many community leaders. The “Bamboozled” director recently met Chi Town’s own Prince Eazy who discussed the perils of his hometown in the form of rhymes.
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