George Kirby Collection

Jive / Come Together [Community Film Workshop of Chicago]

Transcript (Download)

You You David Jackson Man I ain't seen you since high school man.

How you doing? Last time I saw you you was at Joyce Robinson's party man How have you been man? Yeah, working hard man over at us steel man, yeah, I'm married now got a house full of kids Yeah, five man five Boy, you sure bring back some good memory Remember the time we used to this school together man drinking that wine and laying them broads Hey Man I remember the time You drank a pint of fighting cock and fell out in front of the police station you were out of it Jack The police came and busted both of us took us in and gave us the beating of our lives Jack I'm married to myself now.

I got a little crib out here house 90th and Bennett been living over there for No, yes 90th and Bennett Ernie Banks Curtis Mayfield A lot of celebrities Well, I still live down on 43rd Street myself me and a wife and the kids, you know Yeah, you remember my uncle Joe man, he still lives down the way used to take us to the ball games and things man Well, one of my closest friends There is Mr.

Charles J Smith Vice president bank over here.

Yeah, got my crib just last week.

He got me a job teaching school.

Oh, yeah Well, tell me brother where you teaching that man Anywhere around here Jack, we sure need some good teachers down our way teachers down there do more beating and teaching.

Oh, well No, I'm back out here on Jeffrey at the horse man school Really I've been thinking about going into politics Mr.

Smith is pulling some strings and gonna try to get me in the John Marshall Law School.

I mean to tell you he is He does seem to do you a lot of favors hey speaking about that school I had to go up to school other day myself about a week.

We tried to get the band -aids off our windows Children can't even look out the windows of the school with all the boards and band -aids and crap all up on the windows Man ain't that a bitch Oh still swearing David.

Oh Baby, I forgot about your church going bag, man.

Yeah, I remember you used to go twice a week sometimes over to that church The way it across with that preacher who was pimping Oh, well, I just got accepted at a new Catholic Church now Took about four months to get in got a very very long waiting list Yeah, well I got news for you baby I'm going to church myself been a member that church for a long time They got a very long wait You remember my brother.

He just opened up a black head shop on the East 71st Selling everything from posters to water beds You should stop by there and see if he can't fix you up with a few new clothes black headshop No, baby.

I ain't up to that You remember my mama she still got a store down on 47th Street.

You ought to go back see you sometime Say hello, you know, we're dig man.

I got a run to make an uh, anyway, here your buses right here Yeah, we'll dig why don't you lay your address on me? I'll slide by and dig you sometime as a matter of fact real soon I run into you.

Don't worry.

I see you You You

Transcript (Download)
Identifier
F.2025-14-0015
Date Of Production
circa 1971
Abstract
Two short films made by the Community Film Workshop Council of Chicago, Jive and Come Together. Founded in 1971 by the American Film Institute and the Office of Economic Opportunity, the Community Film Workshop of Chicago (CFWC) offered 16mm film training for “minorities and the disadvantaged.”1 
Description
In Jive, former high school classmates bump into each other at S Jeffery Blvd and E 71st Street in South Shore. They discuss how their lives have changed since high school: one is a working class construction worker for US Steel (David McKnight), the other (Jon Bowman) teaches at Horace Mann Public School and has political aspirations. The teacher now lives at 90th St and S Bennett Ave in Pill Hill, casually mentioning celebrity neighbors like Ernie Banks and Curtis Mayfield. The construction worker still lives on 43rd Street where they grew up. Includes shots of South Shore National Bank, The Way of the Cross Community Church, King James Lounge, a shop called Equinox selling water beds, Madam Queen Reader and Advisor, and the #5 CTA bus. Jive won a prize at the Chicago Film Festival, and was made by Oshun Mugwana and Richard “Ike” Isaac.


Come Together is a black-and-white film featuring a mixed race couple standing outside Supreme Jewelers, admiring the window display and holding hands. Eventually, a diverse group of strangers join them, holding hands and smiling. The film ends with a man offering his hand to the camera, followed by title cards reading “Come Together / An Invitation from Leonard Craft.” The soundtrack consists of the 1967 song “Get Together” by the Youngbloods.
Format
16mm
Extent
400 feet
Color
color and B&W
Sound
Optical
Reel/Tape Number
1/1
Has Been Digitized?
Yes
Notes
This object contains two works spliced together.
Language Of Materials
English
Element
Print
Form
Amateur
Subject
African Americans
City and town life
City churches
Local transit
Economic and social conditions
Related Collections
George Kirby Collection

Related Places
North America ➜ United States ➜ Illinois ➜ Chicago ➜ South Shore
North America ➜ United States ➜ Illinois ➜ Chicago ➜ Douglas ➜ Bronzeville
North America ➜ United States ➜ Illinois ➜ Chicago ➜ Calumet Heights

Sponsor/client
Community Film Workshop Council of Chicago

Main Credits
Isaac, Richard "Ike" (is director)
Mugwana, Oshun (is filmmaker)

Additional Credits
Mugwana, Oshun (is writer)
Isaac, Richard "Ike" (is writer)
Mugwana, Oshun (camera)
Wallace, Onikwa Bill (sound)
Mugwana, Oshun (is editor)
Isaac, Richard "Ike" (is editor)

Participants And Performers
Bowman, Jon (is actor)
McKnight, David (is actor)

 
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