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The film festival circuit is unspoiled by any impression of what Hip Hop should look like or sound like. It is
opportunity for underground rap artists and their directors to not only increase their audience, but to also share words and visuals that would normally get us stamped as “ Too Art house” or “Too Conscience” or “To Radical” or “To Controversial” by commercial outlets. Film festivals are made up of consumers and professionals looking towards next creative move outside of commercial world that may eventually broaden it.
“My goal is to not only influence film makers to start shooting music videos for festival circuit, but to also influence underground Hip Hop artists to make music videos and begin using film festival circuit.” Brooks has started an advocacy to influence festivals to add a music video category. The Queens International Film Festival has asked him to help develop their 2005 fall season with a music video category. This is opportunity for festival directors to widen their economy and Hip Hop artists to broaden their playground. Brooks predicts that local bar bands and underground Hip Hop groups will eventually flood America festival market with enough underground Rock, Jazz, Punk, and Hip Hop music videos that category may begin to split into genres. Turning what use to be a venue to discover film-makers into one for discovering musicians as well.
“This is a Magic Bullets that could gentrify underground hip hop and forge a way for these passionate, intelligent, articulate, young gifted and black artists to express themselves in a market that does not have to compete with stereotypical, commercially controlled musical kingpins.”
With in past 6 months , ILLCOM’s music video “The Uprising” directed by Jesse Russell Brooks has received 11 awards and over $4000 dollars in cash grants from film festivals in America and abroad. The video has been screened in over 20 festivals in 2004 and is presently pending in over 45 festival competitions and 5 invited screenings for 2005. ILLCOM has sold more 10,000 units and is pending a national tour Fall 2005. The Video Link is listed below.
Jesse Russell Brooks is currently on MakeBelieve Film rooster as a music video director in Los Angeles and is currently in pre production on his next Hip Hop Music project. He is also a public speaker and film advocate whose goal is to influence underground Hip Hop artists around globe to make music videos and compete in Film Festival Market.
References and Contact Information
Jesse Russell Brooks JesseRussellBrooks@gmail.com
“Illcom: The Uprising” Music Video Link: http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2646463
The CVC Report: http://www.cvcreport.com
Spaghetti Junction Urban Film Festival WWW.SJUFF.COM
The Queens International Film Festival http://www.queensfilmfestival.com/
Margeret Sang has Written articles focusing on the Music and Film for Ezines and Collage press for 3 years.
