"Lockdown, USA" is a feature documentary set on the front lines of hip-hop
impresario, Russell Simmons' dramatic campaign to end the War on Drugs
and repeal the Rockefeller Drug Laws. The film explores the human impact of
these laws through the eyes of Wanda Best, whose husband was sentenced 15 years to life, as a first time non-violent drug offender. She is now raising
five children on her own. The film interweaves the story of the Best
family with a behind the scenes look at Russell Simmons colorful,
unorthodox mission to politicize the hip-hop community and bring an end to
the Rockefeller Drug Laws
Biographies
MICHAEL SKOLNIK, Co-director:
In 2004, Michael directed his first feature project, On the Outs, which co-stars Judy Marte of Raising Victor Vargas, Paola Mendoza and Anny Mariano. On the Outs tells the story of three teenagers who meet while incarcerated in a juvenile detention center. Alongside Rebecca Chaiklin, Michael is also currently co-directing, Cry Haiti, a feature documentary on hip-hop artist, Wyclef Jeans effort to bring peace to his homeland, Haiti. Michael directed Hooked: The Legend of Demetrius Hook Mitchell, a documentary film about one of the greatest basketball playground legends to ever play the game. Hooked world premiered at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival, made its television premiere on NBA-TV and will be made into a special for MTV2 this upcoming fall. Michael associate produced HBOs Heir to an Execution: A Granddaughters Story, a film directed by the granddaughter of Julius & Ethel Rosenberg, Ivy Meeropol, which made its world premiere at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and was short listed for a 2004 Academy Award. Michael co-produced HBOs Back in the Hood: Gang Wars II directed by Marc Levin (Slam, Brooklyn Babylon, Street Time). After working five years on Broadway, Michael co-executive-produced the feature film, Jails, Hospitals & Hip-Hop, which is based on the Obie Award winning off-Broadway hit written and starring Danny Hoch. Jails, Hospitals & Hip-Hop made its television premiere on the Trio Network in June of 2003. In 2000, Michael co-directed the award winning, La Esquina Caliente, a documentary about the baseball games between the Baltimore Orioles and the Cuban National Team. La Esquina Caliente, premiered on Sundance Channel as part of their Arte Latino series in August of 2000. Michaels most recent project, AmaSwati: A Year in the Kingdom, is a feature documentary on the King of Swaziland, the last reigning king in Africa.
REBECCA CHAIKLIN, Co-director:
Rebecca is currently in post-production on a feature documentary she Executive-Produced in association with VH1 Rock Docs and the UNDP, called BLING: A Planet Rock. The film takes a group of hip-hop artists to post-war Sierra Leone to experience the after effects of the bloody civil war that "bling" culture has unknowingly fueled. With Michael Skolnik, Rebecca is also currently co-directing, Cry Haiti, a feature documentary on hip-hop artist, Wyclef Jeans effort to bring peace to his homeland, Haiti. Rebecca was the Co-Director and producer on The Partys Over, a feature documentary on the 2000 presidential election starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, which was released theatrically in fall 2003. Chaiklin directed Hardball, produced by Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana. She was the Producer on Men Make Women Crazy Theory, Zoe Cassavettes directorial debut, official selection of the Sundance Film Festival, Showtime. Upon graduating from NYU Rebecca spent over a year in Cuba as the producer of Midnight In Cuba, a feature documentary on Cuba..s younger generation, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival. Rebecca is a producer on Posterboy, which premiered in competition at the Tribeca Film Festival and was released theatrically in the fall of 2006.
What Simmons and his fellow activist seek and what they are settling for is unflinchingly captured by Rebeca Chaklin and Michael Skolnik. -Newsweek
It is an interesting and informative movie with jamming music and cute brief, animated tutorials. -Entertainment Weekly.com
If anyone wants to maintain their faith in the fairness of the American legal system this is not the film to watch. But if they want to know how to get things done, and the cost of getting them done, this is the ticket. -Monster and critics.com
This profile was edited with SpaceMisc.com Editor
