Spike Lee wants a $3m tax break for his new film Chiraq, which he plans to shoot in Chicago.
The film, which will be made for Amazon Prime and expected to premiere on the service, is set to star Chicago natives Kanye West, Common and Jeremy Piven as well as Samuel L Jackson.
Lee’s $3m request for tax credit was put forward to the Illinois Film Office at a meeting earlier this week, according to DNAinfo. A tax break offers producers a credit of 30% of any expenditure with the purpose being growth, job opportunities and diverse hiring.
William D. Burns, a member of the Chicago City Council claimed that such a high request would require them to have “a seat at the table”.
“The tax credit is about jobs and bringing productions to the city, but look, if we give incentives to a corporation … we frequently have requirements,” Burns said. “Under the law there’s a diversity component, and they have to report on how many jobs they create. If they get this credit they need to be mindful of the public.”
Burns was also unhappy with the title Chiraq, a nickname given to Chicago in reference to its similarities with Iraq after an increase in gun violence.
“With the title, ‘Chiraq’ that’s branding whole parts of the city,” he said. “For people who live on the South and West Sides who pay their taxes, are active in block clubs and work to make their neighbourhoods better, it’s a slap in the face.”
The feeling was echoed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel who told reporters that he was “not happy” with the title and expressed this to Lee himself.
“He said the movie is about the neighborhood of Englewood. I was clear that I was not happy about the title,” he said. “I told him also that there are very good people who live in Englewood who are raising their family. There’s a lot of positive things happening in Englewood, mainly driven by the people that make up Englewood.”
A decision is yet to be made.
