Cooley High

About the Director

Michael Schultz, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1938, is a pioneering African American director whose work has profoundly influenced both Black cinema and the broader cultural landscape. In 1975, Schultz directed Cooley High, a groundbreaking film that offered an authentic portrayal of Black adolescence in 1960s Chicago. The film’s success, grossing over $13 million, marked a significant achievement for Black filmmakers. Following Cooley High, Schultz directed Car Wash (1976), which was nominated for the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or and won the Grand Prix Technique. He continued to collaborate with Richard Pryor on films like Which Way Is Up? (1977) and Bustin’ Loose (1981). Schultz also directed Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), the largest budget ever entrusted to an African American director at that time.

Panelists

Pemon Rami

Pemon Rami is a writer, international film producer, director, and educator whose career spans film, television, and cultural programming. He has served on the Illinois Arts Council and was Director of Educational and Public Programs at the DuSable Museum of African American History. A former professor at Loyola University, Pemon has appeared in landmark films and TV series such as The Spook Who Sat by the Door, Mahogany, and Bird of the Iron Feather. As a casting director, his credits include The Blues Brothers, Cooley High, and The Marva Collins Story. His production work includes Of Boys and Men, 93 Days starring Danny Glover and Angela Bassett, and the upcoming film A Boy Named Bobby. He is currently producing a documentary, Living His Life Loudly, set for release in 2025. Pemon’s memoir, When Blackness Was Golden – Observations from the Front Line, was published in 2022.

Tyra Martin

Tyra Martin is a 27-year television veteran with eight Emmy nominations, recognized for her impactful work in broadcast journalism. At WGN-TV in Chicago, she serves as a senior producer for the popular WGN Morning News and as executive producer of People to People, a long-running community affairs show that centers Chicago’s African American voices. Tyra is also a prominent member of the film industry’s television junket press corps, traveling the globe to bring Chicago viewers intimate interviews with major film stars. She plays a key role in the Chicago International Film Festival’s Black Perspectives program and frequently hosts screenings and Q&As for CIFF and the American Film Institute. In 2018, she introduced films on Turner Classic Movies’ Black Experience on Film series, a partnership with the African American Film Critics Association. Tyra is especially proud of her role in Chicago’s Black media legacy, including her “Hollywood Hookup” segments on WVON-AM.

Anton Seals Jr.

Anton Seals Jr. is a dynamic South Shore, Chicago native and a visionary leader working at the intersection of community development, environmental justice, and culture. As co-founder and Lead Steward of Grow Greater Englewood, he leads efforts to transform vacant lots into a network of Black and brown-owned urban farms, advancing food justice and land equity. He also founded OURS (Organic Urban Revitalization Solutions), a cannabis processing and logistics company operating statewide in Illinois. A trained facilitator in Asset-Based Community Development, Anton works with institutions to foster equitable, community-led change. He’s a 2018 Next City Vanguard Fellow, 2010 German Marshall Fellow, and serves as Chair of the Woods Fund of Chicago and on the National Board for the Trust for Public Land. As a strategist, educator, and impact producer, he advises leaders across sectors, all while amplifying Black voices and preserving culture through initiatives like the Englewood Agro-Eco District. Anton lives in South Shore with his wife Amissah and son Anton III.

Jackie Taylor

Jackie Taylor serves as the Founder, Executive Director and CEO of the 48-year-old nationally renowned Black Ensemble Theater. A visionary playwright, director, and producer, Taylor has created over 100 acclaimed productions, including The Marvin Gaye Story, Don’t Make Me Over (The Story of Dionne Warwick), and The Jackie Wilson Story. A graduate of Loyola University with a master’s in education and an honorary doctorate from DePaul University, she is also a dedicated educator, having taught in Chicago Public Schools for over 35 years. Ms. Taylor gained national attention in the film Cooley High and has acted in films including Barber Shop II, Losing Isiah, and Chiraq. Her extensive collaborations include work with icons like Sidney Poitier and Spike Lee. Jackie Taylor’s lifelong commitment to the arts has cemented her legacy as a transformative force in American theater.