Resolution 130614

..Title Honoring and celebrating Academy Award-nominated film producer and director Lee Daniels for his remarkable contributions to society through film and community service. ..Body WHEREAS, Lee Daniels is the eldest of five children, and was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Clara and William Daniels. Lee Daniels grew up in West Philadelphia. Lee Daniels' father served as a Philadelphia Police Officer for many years; and WHEREAS, While only 12 years old Lee Daniels' father was killed, and despite the difficult relationship between the two, Daniels loved his father, and repeatedly acknowledges him as a contributor to his success today; and WHEREAS, Daniels attended and graduated from Radnor High School. Following his graduation, Daniels attended Lindenwood College in St. Louis, Missouri, to study theatre and film; and WHEREAS, Daniels left Lindenwood College and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream in the film industry but took a job as a receptionist for a nursing agency to survive. His hard work led him from his role as receptionist to opening his own successful nursing agency. Although Daniels was the owner of a nursing agency, he still retained his passion for film; and WHEREAS, One of Daniels' nursing clients was a film producer who worked with the singer, Prince and offered to help Daniels find a job in film. While in his mid-twenties, Daniels sold his nursing agency and used the proceeds to pursue his dream of working in film; and WHEREAS, Daniels started in Hollywood as a film production assistant, in charge of casting for theatre productions. His hard work created opportunities for him to work on major film projects such as, Purple Rain and Under the Cherry Moon; and WHEREAS, Daniels recognized the lack of substantive roles for African American actors, so he started his own entertainment company, Lee Daniels Entertainment; and WHEREAS, Daniels is the first African American to solely produce an Academy Award Nominated Film. In his films, Daniels addresses issues such as sex, race, image, and family violence through his work. Among Daniels' acclaimed film successes is his production of the film Monster's Ball, 2002, for which actress Halle Berry received an Oscar, making Halle Barry the first African American woman to receive an Oscar Award; and WHEREAS, In 2009, Daniels directed and produced Precious, which was based on the novel Push, by Sapphire. Precious is the tale of a young overweight African American girl who tries to make positive changes in her life for her, and her baby daughter, despite her excessively violent and abusive parents. The film earned the Grand Jury Prize, the People's Choice Award, was nominated for an Academy Award and Daniels was nominated for Best Director; and WHEREAS, In 2004, Daniels produced The Woodsman, which was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards; a CICAE Arthouse Prize Award, and the Jury Prize. In 2006, Daniels directed and produced his film the Shadowboxer, for which Daniels was nominated for the Best New Director Award. And in 2012, Daniels directed and produced the Paperboy; and WHEREAS, Daniels' films have received multiple award nominations, and have been celebrated at multiple film festivals, such as, The Sundance Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival, the Deauville International Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival; and WHEREAS, Daniels has also combined his passion for film and commitment to community service. In 2004, Daniels worked with former President Bill Clinton to produce public service films encouraging young African Americans to vote; and WHEREAS, Presently Daniels is back in headlines receiving numerous accolades, and outstanding reviews praising his latest film production, The Butler, which is an epic tale that highlights the life of an African American butler who served during the terms of eight presidents in a time where segregation and prejudice flourished; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby, recognize, honor and thank Lee Daniels for his contributions to society through film and community service. We commend Lee Daniels who has overcome many personal barriers and challenges to attain tremendous success. We wish him continued success as he continues to produce films that are provocative, engaging and transformative to his community and beyond. FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Lee Daniels as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body. ..End