Slideshow, Audio: Black Perspectives Red Carpet at 53rd Chicago International Film Festival

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Alfre Woodard at her tribute at the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival.

CHICAGO – It was an evening to celebrate the Black Perspective in filmmaking at the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival, and also to celebrate one of the great African American actors with a tribute to Alfre Woodard. Woodard walked the Red Carpet on October 21st, 2017, with fellow actors Regina Taylor (“I’ll Fly Away”) and Jussie Smollett (“Empire”).

Alfre Woodard was born in Oklahoma, and studied drama at Boston University. Her breakthrough stage role was in 1977, with “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf,” and her film debut came a year later with “Remember My Name.” After winning an Emmy for a three episode run on TV’s “Hill Street Blues,’ she was hired by the same production team to portray Dr. Roxanne Turner on “St. Elsewhere” from 1985-88. Her film roles include “Scrooged” (1988), “Crooklyn” (1994), “Star Trek: First Contact” (1996), “Love & Basketball” (2000), “The Beauty Shop” (2005) and “Captain America: Civil War” (2016).

Regina Taylor lives in Chicago, after a long stage and screen career, highlighted by the TV series “I’ll Fly Away.” Jussie Smollett, who also walked the carpet Opening Night for the film “Marshall,” also represented on Black Perspectives Night.

In the audio clip, Alfre Woodard talks about her childhood transition from activist to actor, and the origin of her role on “St. Elsewhere.” Jussie Smollett chats about his relationship with “Empire” series creator Lee Daniels. And Regina Taylor describes what people ask her about Chicago, when she travels for stage or screen.


Click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through the slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos © Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

  1. CIFFBP1: Alfre Woodard at her tribute at the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival.
  2. CIFFBP2: Jussie Smolett of ‘Empire’ on Black Perspectives Night.
  3. CIFFBP3: Actor and Chicago resident Regina Taylor.

Highlights of the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival, and membership information about joining Cinema/Chicago (the sponsoring organization of the festival) can be found by clicking here.

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer Patrick McDonald

By PATRICK McDONALD
Writer, Editorial Coordinator
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2017 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

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