OAKLAND -- An Oakland City Council committee voted unanimously Tuesday to endorse a bid by the Wayans brothers of television and movie fame to move their production operations to a 70-acre section of the former Oakland Army Base.

Now that it's been approved by the Community and Economic Development Committee in an action applauded by audience members who almost unanimously spoke in favor of it, the proposal will go to the full City Council for final approval on June 21.

Details of the project are still being finalized, but Oakland Redevelopment Agency officials say it would include an entertainment complex similar to Universal Studios in the Los Angeles area, related retail projects, housing for actors, a movie studio, sound stage and production offices.

Backers say it will create jobs in Oakland and enhance the city's image.

John Green, who described himself as an entrepreneur and an activist, told the committee, "You have an opportunity to overturn two decades of negative publicity. I don't want Oakland to be a laughingstock anymore."

Oakland school teacher Hugh Bassette, a frequent speaker at City Council meetings, noted that the Wayans brothers are black and said, "This city owes us, it owes black people. We want jobs for Oakland people."

Councilmember Larry Reid said the project "gives me a sense of hope that we as African Americans can be part of the American dream."

He said the project "will put Oakland on the map."

Kevin Barnes, pastor at the Abyssinian Missionary Baptist Church in West Oakland, noted that while the writer Gertrude Stein famously wrote many years ago that "there's no there there" in Oakland, the Wayans brothers "are trying to bring a 'there' to Oakland."

Reid said after the committee meeting that he expects that the project will easily win approval from the full council next week.

Keenan, Ivory, Shawn and Marion Wayans have appeared in the TV show "In Living Color" and movies such as "White Chicks" and "Scary Movie."

Keenan and Marion attended the committee meeting today but didn't speak.

The proposal calls for Oakland to negotiate exclusively with the brothers' development group, the Fulton Project Development Group, for one year.

Within 10 days of approval, the Wayans must pay the city $150,000 to cover outside consulting fees.

The exact location of the production facility hasn't been selected, but it will be somewhere on the south side of West Grand Avenue within the 125 acres the city received from the Army after the base closed.

According to a report prepared by the Oakland Redevelopment Agency, the Wayans brothers have produced numerous films and television shows and have grossed an estimated $1.92 billion worldwide.


Yep, I whole-heartedly agree that what Oakland needs is "White Chicks: The Ride" and a Firemarshall Bill rollercoaster.

whygodeep

You're going to need a list of Wayans Brothers projects to properly satirize this story:

Damon: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001834/
Marlon: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005541/
Keenan Ivory: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005540/
Shawn: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0915465/