February Black History Month in Chicago starts off Sunday, Feb. 1 with a program of three rare films (one shot on Super 8), about the city’s first black mayor, Harold Washington in the 1980s, at the Black Cinema House, in conjunction with Michael W. Phillips, Jr.’s South Side Projections.
The first film, “Running with the Mayor,” was produced in 1983 by Hispanic Community TV Network students, under the supervision of DP Peter Kuttner, a long time Kartemquin associate, as the students follow Washington on the campaign trail to learn what he would do for Chicago’s Hispanic population if elected.
One of those three students was Javier Vargas, who currently works for WGN/9.
The second film, “Why Get Involved,” also 1983, was shot at an election night gathering where Washington’s supporters were waiting to hear election results, with Bill Cosby, actor Ben Vereen and Rev. Jesse Jackson in attendance.
Most likely it was produced for Cablevision where narrator/editor Stanley Robinson worked at the time. Jean Young directed, John Blanton DP and indie filmmaker Dwayne Johnson-Cochran handled additional camera, lighting and music.
Johnson-Cochran told Phillips that the celebrity guests were at the party because of Robinson’s reputation as a TV host.
Completing the trio is former filmmaker and freelance writer Bill Stamets’ feature documentary, “Chicago Politics: A Theatre of Power” in the ‘80s. It was edited from its original 90-minutes to 40-minutes to focus on Washington, for the screening.
Stamets did everything — wrote, directed edited — and shot it on Super 8. MPI released it on home video in 1987.
Phillips, considered an astute freelance film programmer, describes South Side Projections as “roving film screenings,” primarily on the South Side, to promote work of filmmakers who lack access to Chicago’s traditional art houses and film school markets.
Black Cinema House is at 7200 S. Kimbark. Screening starts at 2 p.m. and admission is free and open to all.
