Press Room
COODIE & CHIKE DIRECT
EX-GANGSTER DISCIPLE CHIEF BIOPIC
"THE NOONIE G. STORY"

Chicago, IL: The A Band Apart directing team Coodie & Chike have completed their debut documentary film, Gangster With A Heart Of Gold, the much talked about "Noonie G. Story". The film is narrated by Grammy Award winner Kanye West and Chicago-born hip-hop legend Common, and captures Chicago’s Harold ‘Noonie’ Ward’s dicey gangster past and fascinating ascendance into Chicago entertainment, business and politics.

Noonie is a former high-ranking member of the Gangster Disciples, reported to be the largest criminal organization in the United States and is now one of Chicago’s entrepreneurial and philanthropic elite. Noonie’s organizational genius, once used for terror across the Mid-West, is now focused on positive, productive business and community development projects. Noonie’s inspirational story is the Spring 2005 cover story for F.E.D.S. Magazine.

Filming in Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York, “Gangster With A Heart of Gold” captures Harold ‘Noonie’ Ward’s life growing up in Chicago’s housing project, Altgeld Gardens, his rise to a high-ranking member of the Gangster Disciples, gang life, life changing experience in prison and historic efforts toward gang peace. Noonie’s commitment to the community focuses on numerous social issues and culminates in his efforts toward elected political office. The narration conducted by Common adds a valuable dimension of Chicago urban royalty.

Coodie & Chike made their directorial debut in 2004 with Kanye West’s 'Through the Wire' which became a Buzzworthy clip on MTV and earned Video-of-the-Year at The Source Hip-Hop Awards. Coodie & Chike have since directed West’s landmark 'Jesus Walks' and 'Two Words', featuring Mos Def and Freeway, worked with rappers Pitbull and Lil’ Jon on the video 'Culo', and directed Mos Def's gritty 'Ghetto Rock' video.

Brandon Himmel of Block 8 Productions produces the film, with Directors of Photography Danny Sorge and Frey Hoffman of Channel Zero. MTV Editor Of The Year Nominee, Richard Alarcon of Splice, Inc performed film editing in Los Angeles. Renowned reporter and columnist Adam Matthews & Rahsaan Maxwell wrote the script. Vladimir “Boogie” Milivojevich captures insightful photography of life in Chicago’s “projects”.

Contacts regarding this film may be made to Brandon Himmel by Tel. (917) 301-2301, or email BrandonHimmel@vzw.blackberry.net. Film viewing is available.

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