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Proclamation honoring film director Michael Schultz during the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s first annual Black Bottom Film Festival on February 24-26, 2017.
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WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is presenting the first annual Black Bottom Film Festival (BBFF), showcasing African-American contributions to cinema, on February 24-26, 2017 at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture; and
WHEREAS, the festival will showcase films that parallel the reoccurring themes of spirituality, family conflict, race and working class struggle that serve as the foundation of August Wilson’s award winning and internationally renowned Pittsburgh Cycle plays; and
WHEREAS, on February 25, 2017, Mr. Michael A. Schultz, one of the first African-American film directors hired by the major studios, will be presented with the Black Bottom Film Festival Award for Cinematic Excellence; and
WHEREAS, starting in the 1970s with such features as Cooley High, Car Wash, Which Way is Up?, Mr. Schultz’ career spanned more than four decades, during which he also directed movies for television, children’s programming and episodes of many of television’s most popular and iconic series including The Rockford Files, L.A. Law, Ally McBeal, The Practice and Picket Fences. In addition to his work on the big and small screen, Mr. Schultz also found time to direct theater; notably his Broadway production of Mule Bone. In 1991, Mr. Schultz was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in Oakland, California;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Allegheny County Council does hereby congratulate Mr. Michael A. Schultz for receiving the Black Bottom Film Festival Award for Cinematic Excellence, and we applaud his creative achievement and contributions to African American culture.