By Wendy Simmons

Garrard McClendon

On June 6th, the Gene Siskel Film Center hosted a showcase for Mas Media 7 productions.

Mas Media 7 is a production company, headed by director Mark Spencer, which focuses on “prevention films that work”. It’s a bold concept that focuses on getting a message out, in an unorthodox fashion. Their projects range from music videos and shorts films to public service announcements. The productions focus on the harms of smoking, AIDS Awareness, and even highlight positivity among black males. 

The crowd was filled with people in the entertainment industry; producer, directors, actors, choreographers, etc, as well as anxious spectators, ready for a new scene. The atmosphere of the theater was full of ambition. You could smell the eagerness for a fresh outlook on how African Americans are perceived in the media.

My favorite was a public service announcement that could one day be a very powerful nationwide commercial. This P.S.A., which stood out to me, focused on the effects of smoking. It shows a handsome young man singing The National Anthem while smoking a cigarette. As he sings, we see him age and his health deteriorate while cigarette warnings pop up on screen every few seconds. It was funny but thought provoking and straight to the point.

Another short film focusing on the dangers of nicotine suggested prosecuting a gang leader who sought revenge on a traitor by making him smoke. It was creative but too unrealistic to be affective.

A short film about AIDS, entitled Swan Song, took us through the emotional journey of Natisha. After being diagnosed with HIV and understandably not taking the news very well, she was encouraged to join a therapeutic ballet class. The class was put together in order to teach HIV patients that if they can conquer a ballet and have the courage to perform it in front a crowd, then handling the disease will be a little less difficult. It was a very sweet and encouraging tale of triumph and hope.

Legendary singer and actress, Melba Moore performed during the showcase and stars in a production that was not screened. Talk show host and Chicago’s own Garrard McClendon hosted the event and also wrote and produced one of the projects. It was entitled Dedicated Man and flashes through African American men stating what makes them good men.  While dressed impeccably, they spoke of their desire to succeed, their attractiveness, their vulnerability as well as other features that encompass many men. The black and white film was only two minutes but it drove the point home.

The other projects were good, not great. However, the cinematography was definitely eye catching. The productions were full of clarity and intricate positions. Although I was not wowed by much of the content I do understand and appreciate their effort to spread awareness in a different way. Mas Media 7 will definitely be a production company worthy of competing with the big boys someday.