Tigre Hill
Encyclopedia
Tigre Hill is a filmmaker known for tackling controversial subjects. He is perhaps best known for his first documentary, The Shame of a City
.
, then graduated with a Speech and communications degree from Temple University
.
, attracted significant media attention and brought Hill to public notice.
,” a feature-length documentary that catapulted Hill into the local and national political spotlight, has been identified as a tool used by reform candidate Michael Nutter in securing election to Philadelphia mayoral office in 2007. The film, independently released in 2006, followed moderate Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz (Philadelphia)
as he unsuccessfully sought to defeat incumbent Democrat John Street
in 2003 in a race that made national news when an FBI bug was found in Street’s office. Hill’s film gained widespread attention for exposing many high-ranking Street supporters as disingenuous opportunists who intentionally and falsely manipulated racial tensions and suspicion of President George W Bush's administration to get Street re-elected despite a string of corruption indictments in his inner circle that threatened to implicate him directly
“The Shame of a City” quickly became a mechanism favored by local politicians, journalists, academics and activists to address the endemic problems of a city once referred to as “corrupt and contented.” The timing of these civic discussions benefited reformer and former city council member Nutter, who was by then attempting to succeed Street by securing the Democratic primary vote for mayor against two Street supporters portrayed negatively in Hill’s movie: Congressmen Bob Brady
and Chaka Fattah
. After receiving Hill’s endorsement, Nutter himself screened “The Shame of a City” five times to sold-out audiences, using it to raise money and awareness of his opponents’ political techniques. In the primary election of May 2007, Nutter overcame a polling lag to emerge as winner, and easily beat his opponent in the general election.
The film generated substantial press coverage, earning Hill an interview on MSNBC, named references in five successive issues of Philadelphia Magazine, and positive reviews by The Philadelphia Inquirer
, among others. Screenings were sponsored by institutions including Philadelphia magazine. The film, beyond solidifying Hill’s reputation as a serious filmmaker who could maintain the respect of even the people vilified in his film, provided an introduction to a Katz campaign consultant, Carl Singley, whose strongly positive appearance in the movie briefly made him the focus of an early, informal city-wide campaign for him to run for mayor. Philadelphia magazine picked up on the campaign, but Singley eventually declined to run.
and the conviction of black journalist-turned-cab-driver Mumia Abu-Jamal
. The case had ignited worldwide controversy, with Abu-Jamal’s arrest and trial becoming a cause célèbre for celebrities, foreign dignitaries and human rights campaigners. Faulkner supporters, however, regarded the controversy as an effort to obscure the truth about Faulkner's death.
The resulting film, The Barrel of a Gun, diverged from earlier documentaries In Prison My Whole Life and A Case for Reasonable Doubt to present an alternative view of the crime and the historical events that led up to and may have caused it. It included on-camera interviews with parties to the controversy including widow Maureen Faulkner; Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell
; prosecutor Joe McGill; Philadelphia district attorney Lynne Abraham; Abu-Jamal attorney Robert Bryan; celebrities Ed Asner
, Mike Farrell
, Danny Glover
and Sister Helen Prejean; former Philadelphia police commissioner Sylvester Johnson; Pam Africa, head of The International Concerned Friends and Family of Mumia Abu-Jamal and close ally of MOVE
founder John Africa
; author David Horowitz
and radio talk show host Michael Smerconish
. Investigative journalist Gerald Posner
advised on the movie's production.
The film's release was scheduled for late 2009, but Hill announced in November 2009 that it would be delayed to incorporate a "rare new insight" achieved while the movie was in production. In June 2010 it was announced on Facebook that the film's premiere screening would take place in September 2010. The ticket price will be $46.99, representing Officer Faulkner's
badge number.
The Shame of a City
The Shame of a City is a 2006 feature-length documentary, which premiered at the Philadelphia Film Festival,. Filmmaker Tigre Hill chronicles the 2003 Philadelphia mayoral race between Democrat incumbent mayor John Street and Republican challenger Sam Katz...
.
Background
Tigre Hill was born in Pittsburgh and raised in the western Philadelphia neighborhood of Wynnefield. The son of a highly decorated Marine officer and a well-known educator, Hill attended Episcopal Academy in Merion and Archbishop Carroll High School (Radnor, Pennsylvania)Archbishop Carroll High School (Radnor, Pennsylvania)
Archbishop John Carroll High School is a secondary school part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia located in Radnor, Pennsylvania.-History:...
, then graduated with a Speech and communications degree from Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
.
Casanova's Demise
While Hill’s first feature narrative film, “Casanova’s Demise,” has yet to be released because of various legal issues, its controversial subject matter (the film concerns a man sentenced to castration for committing rape), and its inclusion of local and national celebrities including R&B singer Adina HowardAdina Howard
Adina Howard is an American R&B singer who rose to prominence during the mid 1990s with her debut album, Do You Wanna Ride? and her debut single, "Freak Like Me". Howard is known for her sexual image and provocative songs...
, attracted significant media attention and brought Hill to public notice.
The Shame of a City
“The Shame of a CityThe Shame of a City
The Shame of a City is a 2006 feature-length documentary, which premiered at the Philadelphia Film Festival,. Filmmaker Tigre Hill chronicles the 2003 Philadelphia mayoral race between Democrat incumbent mayor John Street and Republican challenger Sam Katz...
,” a feature-length documentary that catapulted Hill into the local and national political spotlight, has been identified as a tool used by reform candidate Michael Nutter in securing election to Philadelphia mayoral office in 2007. The film, independently released in 2006, followed moderate Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz (Philadelphia)
Sam Katz (Philadelphia)
Sam Katz is an American politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is most notable for his three unsuccessful campaigns as a member of the Republican Party for Mayor of Philadelphia...
as he unsuccessfully sought to defeat incumbent Democrat John Street
John Street
-People:* John Ambrose Street , Canadian lawyer and political figure in New Brunswick* John F. Street, former mayor of Philadelphia* John Street * John Street, birth name of Welsh boxer Cuthbert Taylor-Ontario, Canada:...
in 2003 in a race that made national news when an FBI bug was found in Street’s office. Hill’s film gained widespread attention for exposing many high-ranking Street supporters as disingenuous opportunists who intentionally and falsely manipulated racial tensions and suspicion of President George W Bush's administration to get Street re-elected despite a string of corruption indictments in his inner circle that threatened to implicate him directly
“The Shame of a City” quickly became a mechanism favored by local politicians, journalists, academics and activists to address the endemic problems of a city once referred to as “corrupt and contented.” The timing of these civic discussions benefited reformer and former city council member Nutter, who was by then attempting to succeed Street by securing the Democratic primary vote for mayor against two Street supporters portrayed negatively in Hill’s movie: Congressmen Bob Brady
Bob Brady
Robert A. "Bob" Brady is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1998, and the ranking Democrat on the United States House Committee on House Administration since 2007...
and Chaka Fattah
Chaka Fattah
Chaka Fattah is the U.S. representative for , serving since 1995. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
. After receiving Hill’s endorsement, Nutter himself screened “The Shame of a City” five times to sold-out audiences, using it to raise money and awareness of his opponents’ political techniques. In the primary election of May 2007, Nutter overcame a polling lag to emerge as winner, and easily beat his opponent in the general election.
The film generated substantial press coverage, earning Hill an interview on MSNBC, named references in five successive issues of Philadelphia Magazine, and positive reviews by The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
, among others. Screenings were sponsored by institutions including Philadelphia magazine. The film, beyond solidifying Hill’s reputation as a serious filmmaker who could maintain the respect of even the people vilified in his film, provided an introduction to a Katz campaign consultant, Carl Singley, whose strongly positive appearance in the movie briefly made him the focus of an early, informal city-wide campaign for him to run for mayor. Philadelphia magazine picked up on the campaign, but Singley eventually declined to run.
The Barrel of a Gun
In late 2006, Hill commenced work on a documentary concerning another Philadelphia controversy: the murder in 1981 of white Philadelphia police officer Daniel FaulknerDaniel Faulkner
Daniel J. Faulkner was a police officer in the American city of Philadelphia who was shot and killed in the line of duty. Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of first-degree murder for the shooting and sentenced to death...
and the conviction of black journalist-turned-cab-driver Mumia Abu-Jamal
Mumia Abu-Jamal
Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of the 1981 murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner and sentenced to death. He has been described as "perhaps the world's best known death-row inmate", and his sentence is one of the most debated today...
. The case had ignited worldwide controversy, with Abu-Jamal’s arrest and trial becoming a cause célèbre for celebrities, foreign dignitaries and human rights campaigners. Faulkner supporters, however, regarded the controversy as an effort to obscure the truth about Faulkner's death.
The resulting film, The Barrel of a Gun, diverged from earlier documentaries In Prison My Whole Life and A Case for Reasonable Doubt to present an alternative view of the crime and the historical events that led up to and may have caused it. It included on-camera interviews with parties to the controversy including widow Maureen Faulkner; Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
; prosecutor Joe McGill; Philadelphia district attorney Lynne Abraham; Abu-Jamal attorney Robert Bryan; celebrities Ed Asner
Ed Asner
Edward Asner , commonly known as Ed Asner, is an American film, television, stage, and voice actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild, primarily known for his Emmy Award-winning role as Lou Grant on both The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off series, Lou Grant...
, Mike Farrell
Mike Farrell
Michael Joseph "Mike" Farrell is an American actor, best known for his role as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on the television series M*A*S*H . He is an activist for politically liberal causes....
, Danny Glover
Danny Glover
Danny Lebern Glover is an American actor, film director, and political activist. Glover is perhaps best known for his role as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film franchise.-Early life:...
and Sister Helen Prejean; former Philadelphia police commissioner Sylvester Johnson; Pam Africa, head of The International Concerned Friends and Family of Mumia Abu-Jamal and close ally of MOVE
MOVE
MOVE or the MOVE Organization is a Philadelphia-based black liberation group founded by John Africa. MOVE was described by CNN as "a loose-knit, mostly black group whose members all adopted the surname Africa, advocated a "back-to-nature" lifestyle and preached against technology." The group...
founder John Africa
John Africa
John Africa , was a founder of MOVE, a Philadelphia-based black liberation group prominent in the United States in the early 1970s...
; author David Horowitz
David Horowitz
David Joel Horowitz is an American conservative writer and policy advocate. Horowitz was raised by parents who were both members of the American Communist Party. Between 1956 and 1975, Horowitz was an outspoken adherent of the New Left before rejecting Marxism completely...
and radio talk show host Michael Smerconish
Michael Smerconish
Michael A. Smerconish is an American radio and television personality, newspaper columnist, author and MSNBC Political Analyst. His talk radio show is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at The Big Talker 1210 AM WPHT. He began his full time radio career in 2002...
. Investigative journalist Gerald Posner
Gerald Posner
Gerald Posner is an investigative journalist and author of several books, including Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK which explores the John F...
advised on the movie's production.
The film's release was scheduled for late 2009, but Hill announced in November 2009 that it would be delayed to incorporate a "rare new insight" achieved while the movie was in production. In June 2010 it was announced on Facebook that the film's premiere screening would take place in September 2010. The ticket price will be $46.99, representing Officer Faulkner's
Daniel Faulkner
Daniel J. Faulkner was a police officer in the American city of Philadelphia who was shot and killed in the line of duty. Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of first-degree murder for the shooting and sentenced to death...
badge number.
External links
- Mumia Maverick: Filmmaker Tigre Hill's Latest Project Infuriates Abu Jamal Supporters by Amy S. Rosenberg, The Philadelphia Enquirer