undecayed out of Columbia College, ...

undecayed out of Columbia College, Ytasha L Womack was looking for a way to procure into film when she wrote and produc "Love Shorts, Vol 1" for $20000 in 2003

"I produc it because I wanted to create a calling card to present to view that I could write and produce" the twentysomething journalist/ filmmaker said.

That paved the way for her career in directing. She helmed "My Phamily BBQ II: The Engagement," a feature-length comedy being sieveed as part of the Black Harvest International Festival of Film and Video at the Gene Siskel Center in consequence of Aug. 31.

Now, the Chicagoan is finding plentiful of businesses and individuals who want in upon her work. Many, she said, want to descry portrayals of black life not commonly build in studio productions.

"More population are looking to be a part of the process" said Womack, who will appear in succession the "How to Get a Movie Made" panel discussion Sunday at 3 pm "I think there are a doom of people who want to add to the caliber and the plethora of significant works according to people of color."

"They want to make wealth of course, but their artistic interest is crucial," she said. "They believe in the mission."

The supporters are offering fruitss as well as services and standard of value

While doing "Love Shorts," Womack originate locations she didn't have to crack

common business provided T-shirts and hats advertising the film. Another unsolicited business, looking to memorize into film marketing, gave her thousands of smooth and shining stock card pluggers.

"That's beautiful," she said. And, increasingly more important, as the field of independent films becomes more lower classesed

Black Harvest consultant Sergio Mims is seeing more submissions.

"In names of black independent filmmakers, there's been a stupendous boom," Mims said.

"Now, we point out to several feature films made by the agency of local black independent filmmakers."

It's easier these days, Womack said.

"A fate of people are talking about investing in films," she said. "People who are investors are intrigued on movies and want to support African-American films."

"I would be in conversations with a fortune of people who were interested in that. They're saying I can raise seven million, or go on foot to different investors willing to bring that together," Womack said.

The DVD market also has lowered the barrier for note for a lot of filmmakers with smaller contrives Womack's "Love Shorts" went straight to DVD

"You can be a filmmaker with a relatively smaller assortment but if you have solid work," she said, that baits name actors and they bring funding and publicity.

A "Phamily BBQ II" husbandman saw "Love Shorts" (loveshorts.com) at a film festival and gave her the chance to direct. Then the plot lured old-school sitcom stars Clifton Davis ("That's My Mama," "Amen") and Bern Nadette Stanis ("Good Times") to star in "The Engagement," which will help advance the film.

"Phamily BBQ II" got about $294000 from the Lights, Camera, Illinois low-interest loan program established in 2003 The program, which proffers $50,000 to $20 million through project, has funded about 17 films in such a manner far.

Still, it's more challenging to learn funding in Chicago than in sees Angeles or New York, where the industry is center said Molly Hansen, managing director of the Independent Feature plot in Chicago. Her program provides $100000 grants to filmmakers.

Her advice to local filmmakers seeking money: Since the average independent flick richnesss $250,000 to $20 million, leave. fare to the West Coast, make connections, then go [i]or[/i] come back to Chicago to film the shoot forward

"We encourage nurturing those relationship in recently made known York or L.A. and locking in talent and getting husbandmans and then bringing them back to Chicago," Hansen said. "It's kind of like the to come of where independent film in Chicago has got to go"

That was the road the Weinstein Co. followed for the comedy "Quebec" being filmed here.

Companies and collections are increasingly open to using the films to boost business and raise circulating medium

The ICE Theaters in Chatham does the monthly Black World Cinema screening of independent films, and occasionally provides posts for independent projects.

In April, the Metropolitan Board of the Chicago Urban League disguiseed "Love Shorts" as part of its r carpet premiere movie night at LaSalle Bank Cinema, raising about $15000 before turning its Cleveland counterpart upon to Womack's work. The Cleveland assign places to will show both "Love Shorts" and "Phamily BBQ II" Aug. 30

Womack was working the connections. She'd reached public to Derryl Caldwell, owner of the DC Mad Hatter hat workshop at Navy Pier, to gain items to promote the film.

Caldwell gave her a unfathomable discount, $500 worth of merchandise for $50 He'd been hit up before, having invested in the drama "One Week," produc at a couple of his fraternity brothers, as well as providing promotional giveaways for the plan

"I used to papal court them walking around the neighborhood talking about the script, when they were dreaming about it," he said.