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Movie making in Woodlawn

By Richard Muhammad on Saturday, July 21, 2007

Was that Angela Bassett running for a 63rd St. bus? 

Well if you were in Woodlawn on a recent Tuesday afternoon, you might have seen the talented African American actress near 63^rd St. and Cottage Grove Avenue.

A bus scene was one of many taped in the neighborhood for producer Tyler Perry’s upcoming movie, “Meet the Browns.”

The one-day taping was part of a week long production stop in the Windy City.

“We were just pleased that since the characters in the movie, one of the main characters, is from Chicago, that they could get the different flavors of Chicago all in Woodlawn,” said Laura Lane, executive director of the Woodlawn Preservation and Investment Corp.

“We’ve got the transit, we’ve got the storefronts. We have the community feel with the arts, banking institutions, the youth. We were just glad we had all the things location folks were interested in, in terms of showcasing something that looked like Chicago,” she said.

That Chicago look and feel, which included an arts mural and bank near WPIC’s offices helped convince scouts to choose the south side location, Lane explained.

Whirlwind shooting schedule in Chicago 

Despite a day’s delay, morning showers and mixed forecasts, the show went on July 17 as cameras rolled in the shadow of the 63^rd St. L Station, a short walk from Bessie Coleman Library, a currency exchange, and area businesses.

Excited residents watched at the film crew did its work and as Chicago Police Department officers and security guards secured the area, which included blocking off a section of 63^rd St.

Rumor had it that Perry's trailer was behind a clothing store on the corner just under the El station. Residents were able walk down 63rd St., past where the crew was taking shots of the CTA bus in between takes. But once "quiet on the set" was yelled any motion other than actors and extras ceased and security guards and police officers made sure silence was maintained.

Trailers for the movie were kept on a lot a few blocks east of 63rd St. as movie personnel sometimes scurried back and forth. The trucks were the tip off that something big was happening for many people.

“I feel it’s good that they are shooting it in our community, it makes a better name for Woodlawn. It’s make them feel like it’s not a rough community to film the movie in, it’s a good opportunity for us,” said 17-year-old Khiry Dean, a neighborhood resident. He is also interning with WPIC this summer.

Residents feel better about the community knowing that major stars and productions feel safe here, he said.

Though a planned visit with Perry don’t happen, youth were still taken with the idea of movie making just down the street.

“I think it will be a very successful movie. It gives this community a chance and a better look ahead at what else could be done in the community,” said Joshua Brooks, 14.

Nine-year-old Taja Payton said the production gives another reason to think about what is possible, how to improve the neighborhood and “be more positive around here.”

It shows the community can be better, if we want it, she said.

“People are really excited. It’s really bringing people outside to look at what’s going on in their community. This is a pretty good place to get a good feel of Chicago, the history is here, the culture is here,” said Otelia Thomas, who runs youth programming for the New Communities Program housed at WPIC’s office, just off 63^rd St. and Cottage Grove.

“You have a great community activist history coming out of this community. So it’s a lot of great people here you meet and talk to about anything that has ever happened in Chicago,” she added.

Another sign of renewed opportunity? 

Arvin Strange, NCP-Woodlawn program director, was naturally upbeat that Woodlawn was chosen as a film location. “Hopefully, it’s a sign of better things to come for Woodlawn and hopefully it will highlight Woodlawn for other movies opportunities or other projects,” he said. 

Lane pointed out Woodlawn’s history, which includes being home to playwright Lorraine Hansberry, whose “Raisin in the Sun” is a classic stage and screen production based on her father buying a home and desegregating the neighborhood.

Bassett also recently visited a Chicago church for a book signing with husband Courtney Vance, Lane noted.

“We’re very pleased that she is spending a week in Chicago and spending this day in Woodlawn. Tyler Perry has done some fantastic movies uplifting the Black community spiritually. So this is the kind of art that reflects the very strong religious center that has been the centerpiece of African Americans and community development in this country,” she said.

Church leaders have been part of the revitalization of Woodlawn. Bishop Arthur M. Brazier, a founder of the Woodlawn Preservation and Investment Corp. and head

Apostolic Church of God,

had a vision for the development of Woodlawn that is attracting others, said Lane.

Perry’s movies update long held values of church and community for young people and families and Bassett’s participation is an indicator that the movie “will have a message relevant to our young people,” she added.

Perry has enjoyed extraordinary success as a writer, producer, director, and actor. His stage shows were successful largely with African American audiences, until 2005 when "Diary of a Mad Black Woman," opened No. 1 at the box office.

Perry wrote, produced, and starred in

the movie.

According to tylerperry.com, the movie’s DVD sold nearly 2.5 million copies in its first week of release.

“At the same time, Perry was starring nightly across the country in a sold-out stage show he'd also written, produced and scored – ‘Madea Goes to Jail’ – even as another one of his productions, ‘Meet the Browns,’ was touring nationally,” according to the website.

“Together, the two productions sold out more than 500 shows in theaters from coast to coast. Every week in 2005, 35,000 people saw a Tyler Perry production,” the site added.

Perry also authored a best-selling book, "Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Life and Love," and created and produced the "House of Payne," a TV comedy series.

“When Meet the Browns comes out we’re going to see snatches of our neighborhood, places that we walk everyday on the big screen. This puts Woodlawn back on the map, which is exactly where we should be,” said Lane.