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Lights, Camera, Action - Reel Harlem
By Carla Robinson
The Reel Harlem Film Foundation is a brand-new venture set to push the boundaries
of American cinema in the 21st Century. When it comes to diversity in the film industry,
Reel Harlem picks up where Hollywood leaves off, having at its root a policy of inclusion
rather than exclusion. Its goal is three-tiered:
* to create the first multi-cultural independent film festival;
* to provide people of color with education and training opportunities within the film
industry and
* to position Harlem as an international center for independent film production.
The not-for-profit foundation was created as a collaborative effort between UniWorld
Group, Inc., the marketing and communication organization behind the Acapulco Black Film
Festival, and Harlemwood, an entertainment company dedicated to promoting the cultural
richness of Harlem.
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Photo: K. Crutchfield
Ossie Davis presents an award to
cinematic trailblazer Gordon Parks |
Reel Harlem was inaugurated with a
tribute to film pioneer Gordon Parks this past March. “We are all indebted to
trailblazers like Gordon Parks,” Reggie Scott, executive director of Reel Harlem,
noted during the gala. “The foundation will build upon this great heritage and make
it available to people of all racial backgrounds, from all corners of the Earth.”
Celebs including John Singleton, Harry Belafonte, Iman and David Bowie turned out to see
Parks become the first recipient of the excellence award named in his honor.
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In a later discussion, Scott expounded on the
multicultural spirit that infuses the foundation’s mission and why Harlem is the
ideal place to bring that spirit to fruition. “Harlem has always been a multicultural
place,” he said, “just about every ethnic group, at some point, has inhabited
Harlem.” Through ventures such as the film festival, a scaled-down version of which
is set to launch later this year, Reel Harlem plans to bring real multiculturalism to
focus in the world of independent film. The foundation is planning a full-fledged film
festival for November 2001.
On the educational front, much work still needs to be done to make young people of color
see filmmaking as an accessible, viable art form, and, according to Scott, Reel Harlem
exists to do just that. He believes that film and music are the greatest media for
self-expression today, and that there are none better “to empower young people by
giving them a chance to tell their story.” To that end, Reel Harlem is planning
lectures and workshops for interested parties both young and old.
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In order to function as a full-service
institution, Scott says the foundation’s long-term goal is to create a for-profit arm
complete with a post-production facility comprised of the latest technology. Scott would
like to see this dream become reality within five to ten years.
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Right now, the foundation’s primary
objective is to secure funding in order to move its entire operation from its UniWorld
office to Harlem. While Reel Harlem’s purpose is to be a positive force in the
community, there is something the community can do for the foundation. “Attend our
programs,” said Scott, “the prices will be affordable,” and the events,
undoubtedly, of the highest quality.
For more information, contact Reel Harlem at 212-219-7190.
M
June 2000
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