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Filmmaker to speak at NAACP banquet♦ 4** *SkinnerBy OAR BftMHMThe TelegraphALTON — The annual NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet will feature Sherman “Skee” Skinner, film director, writer and producer. He has released several films, including his recent Pieces of a Dream,” filmed in Alton and targeted for worldwide distribution.The banquet is set for Saturday,May 6, at the Alton Holiday Inn.This year’s theme isStand Up and BeCounted. The event is the single largest fund-raiser each year for the Alton branch of the NAACP.Skinner, 36, was born in Alton and attended AltonHigh School. He is a graduateof Millikin University in Decatur, where he studied filmmaking. In 1994, Skinner completed and released Unequal Injustice,” a gritty, urban short film that went on to receive regional critical acclaim. Skinner has written, produced and directed several other short films, musk videos and documentaries.Skinner co-wrote, produced, directed and made a small cameo appearance in“Vacant Lot” with longtimeAlton High grad directed movie filmed hjipecollege friend and collaborator Paul Branton. It was filmed along the backdrops of Chicago and Indianapolis in 12 days in the fall of 1998. Vacant Lot” made its premiere at the 1999 Chicago Black Harvest Film Festival and received critical acclaim at film festival screenings worldwide. It was distributed nationwide on cable networks in August 2000.James Gray, the NAACP Alton branch president, said he was pleased that Skinner would be honored and speak at this year’s ‘Freedom Fund event.“He is only 36 years old, and with what he has done directing movies, he is an outstanding young man,” Gray said. We are very proud of him. I helped himwhen he filmed here in Alton.That movie has been shown to overflowing crowds in Chicago and Indianapolis.”Skinner is planning a follow-up film to “Pieces of a Dream,” titled “Deeper Shade of Blue or Pill Hill.”James Butler is the Freedom Fund banquet chair. He is formerly corporate counsel for Argosy Gaming Co. and is a gaming consultant for Penn National Gaming, which acquired Argosy in October. He is apast honoree and a chakof the last two banquets.“I am committed to snaking this one of the most Honorable Freedom F|l*Jd Banquets ever,” Butler said -“We look forward to the pqn-tinued support of Alton'.the River Bend community,'localcorporations and small finesses for youth prog^n efforts of the NAACP* j4n* tributing to the Fre£cgm Fund Banquet.”This will be Butler’p'wst banquet, because he wiU*J)e moving in the near future^Other honorees a( tjie event will be Madison Recorder Dan Donoh civic service, Madison Coroner Steve Nonn for* service, the Alton Ho Authority’s Jackie Ed for community se Madison County Circuit „ Dan Stack for civic seaand Madison County Clr Judge Ann Callis, n the first female chief judgCi Illinois’ 3rd Judicial Circuit* Tickets are $45. Progr ads in the commemora book are available for . $130 and can be pureh from Butler at 474-770 Gray at 465-1621. Banattendees must have tritirmped May iprizes
Newspaper Details
Alton Telegraph
Alton, Illinois, US
Sun, Apr 09, 2006
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Hayner P.
IL, USA 22 Jul 2022
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