Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Jennifer Hudson Picks Wicker Park For Video, Wanted to Be Close to Family

 Actress and singer Jennifer Hudson filmed a music video in Wicker Park Friday.
Jennifer Hudson Music Video
View Full Caption

WICKER PARK — Filming of a Jennifer Hudson music video started in Wicker Park along Milwaukee Avenue Friday morning.

Scenes for the video of Hudson's single "Walk It Out" were being shot outside Lubinski Furniture and Crocodile bar in the 1500 block of North Milwaukee Avenue from morning until the early afternoon.

The Silver Room, 1442 N. Milwaukee Ave., and the park itself will also be used for the video.

"The producers wanted to show off Wicker Park," location manager Nick Rafferty said.

In the short segment outside the furniture store, Englewood native Hudson walked down the sidewalk flanked by a few other actors.

"It's got that perfect neighborhood feel," said Alex Baik, who is producing the video for RCA Records, part of Sony.

Plus, Hudson, a Grammy and Oscar winner, wanted to be able to film at home and see her family, Baik said.

Baik, who also has produced music videos for Lady Gaga's "Born this Way" and "Judas," along with Justin Bieber's "Baby," among others, said "Walk It Out"  has been one of the easiest exterior scenes for him to shoot.

"Everyone's just so accommodating," Baik said.

Eventually, a crowd started gathering as crews shot numerous takes of Hudson.

"It's kind of random," said onlooker Shannon Brown, 20, of Bronzeville. "You're shopping or going to work and Jennifer Hudson's right there."

Brown went to Dunbar Vocational High School, the same high school as Hudson, and said that she, too, is interested in working in the entertainment industry.

She had been in Wicker Park for a photography project when she came across filming. She and others took photos and video as Hudson walked down the sidewalk.

"I want to learn as much as I can," Brown said.

Baik said he expects the video will be released later this month, depending on whether post-production runs on schedule.

The video shoot will block parking from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the 1500 block of Milwaukee Avenue and then from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. along the east side of Damen Avenue from Wicker Park Avenue to Schiller Street and both sides of Wicker Park Avenue.