Sybil Azur named screenwriter for ‘WHY?’ Daryl Sledge to produce

WHY?
Sybil Azur, D.A. Rhodes, Daryl Sledge

Writer, filmmaker, actress, and former professional dancer Sybil Azur has been named screenwriter for the movie adaptation of WHY?

Film, TV and theater producer, Chicago native, Daryl Sledge will produce.

Azur’s coming on board signals that WHY? is now in the pre-production phase. Sledge plans to shoot the film on location in Chicago. WHY? is the acclaimed, award-winning debut novel by fellow Chicago native D.A. Rhodes.

The story follows the Boxx Family who, like many African American families in the 1940s and 1950s, migrated from the South to the North in search of freedom, better work, and increased security. With them came a family evil and destruction in the form of child sexual abuse, as experienced by protagonist Ella Boxx. Questions arise as to whether the family can break free from the vicious cycle of abuse or if the suffering will continue to be perpetuated from one generation to the next.

Screenwriter, Azur said, “Although I was initially hesitant to take on this project because of the difficult nature of the subject matter, I was ultimately drawn to adapt WHY?, because I believe that the book’s theme of facing your demons is critical to disrupting patterns of abuse. I know firsthand that intergenerational trauma must be dealt with head-on, or you risk passing on the unconscious pathology that can continue to destroy lives. This project is an opportunity to start a conversation, to look the demon in the eye, and start to unpack the trauma once and for all.”

Reel Chicago will be covering this powerful film throughout production. Watch for our future interviews with the filmmakers and cast.


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