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John West Collection, 1997-2000

A Guide to his Holdings at the Black Film Center/Archive

Finding aid prepared by Mary Huelsbeck/Hannah Caproon/Gabriel Gardner

Summary Information

Repository
Black Film Center/Archive
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library, Room 044
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: 812-855-6041
Fax: 812-856-5832
Email: bfca@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/~bfca

Creator
John West

Title
John West Collection, 1997-2000

Collection No.
Special Collection JW

Extent
About 20 items

Language
Materials are in English

Abstract
Materials related to the film Bar-Be-Q.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Biographical Note

John West was born June 21, 1970 in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from Paul Robeson High School in Chicago, Mr. West attended Alabama A&M University and became a professional football player, playing one year in the NFL with the Los Angeles Raiders, as well as stints in the Canadian Football League with the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Shreveport Pirates. Following his sports career, Mr. West decided to go into show business, landing his first acting job in 1997 as a bailiff on the popular sitcom “Martin.” He also had a recurring role on the police drama “New York Undercover.” Despite having no formal education in film production, in 2000 Mr. West wrote, directed and starred in the film Bar-Be-Q, which played theatrically in the South and Chicago. Mr. West currently resides in Los Angeles.

Scope and Content Note

The bulk of this collection contains material related to the 2000 film Bar-Be-Q, written and directed by John West. The collection includes a 35mm print of the film, as well as the screenplay, a VHS cassette of several television interviews with West at the time of the film’s release, and an assortment of promotional materials and newspaper clippings pertaining to the film.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information
The collection was donated in January 2005.
Usage Restrictions
Photocopying permitted only with permission of the Archivist.
Preferred Citation
[item], John West Collection, Special Collection JW, Black Film Center/Archive, Indiana University, Bloomington.
  • Indexing Terms

  • The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by searching the catalog using these terms.

    • Topics
    • Advertising--Motion pictures.
    • African American actors.

Collection Inventory


Series: Bar-Be-Q (2000)

Subseries: 35mm film

35mm print of film (6 reels)

Subseries: Promotional Material

VHS cassette with two local television interviews from time of film's release (app. 30 min)

VHS sleeve for film

Screenplay with cast list and script breakdown

Poster reproduction (from laser printer)

Promotional postcard

Photograph of West standing in front of Bar-Be-Q poster

Signed poster (11x17) -- laser printer -- "To Indiana U."

Photograph -- Tupac Shakur's pastor, Akeni (radio personality), Afeni Shakur (Tupac Shakur's mother) and John West at film screening

Subseries: Newspaper Clippings

Various unattributed Xeroxed newspaper clippings

Subseries: Miscellaneous Material

To Have and to Hold (year unknown) DVD -- 6 copies (1 with general collection)

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