WHO IS HARLEY QUINN? BY ANIZ’EE WILLIS

Who is HARLEY QUINN?

BY ANIZ’EE WILLIS

Harley Quinn was first known as Harleen Quinzel before she boo’d-up with one of the most notorious bad guys ever. So, we all know Harley Quinn is crazy but here is what led to it. First she fell in love with one of DC Comics’ most infamous villains, Joker, who was a patient at a mental health facility that she worked in. One day she snuck him a gun after he requested it. The Joker then turned on her, tied her to a table and did electromagnetic therapy on her, which really messed with her brain. After that she began hearing voices in her head and joined Joker as his evil villain partner.

Throughout the relationship, Harley Quinn was always trying to get the Joker to be happy with her, which changed in the movie, Birds of Prey. She broke up with the Joker and became her own boss. Like she said, “I’m the one they should be scared of! Not you, not Mr. J. Because I’m Harley freaking Quinn!”

A CHICAGO KID'S PLAYLIST

BY ANGEL REED Wasssup you guys? It’s ya girl, Jojo Siwa Angel, but anyway, enough small talk. Do you like music? Music is very special and touching. Last year we were introduced to a few new artists who put out really good albums and some not so good—for instant Chance The Rapper, ehhh... didn't do as we expected. Here are some of the top artists who have released new music.

DaBaby’s newest album is Blame it on Baby. The project is made up of 13 songs including “Find My Way” and “Drop” featuring A Boogie Wit da Hoodie.

Chicago’s own Polo G released Die a Legend. With a total of 14 songs, he had major hits like “Pop Out” featuring Lil Jay, “Effortless,” “Through Da Storm,” and “Finer Things.”

Billie Eilish dropped When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? with 14 songs on it. My favorite songs are “Bad guy,” “Bury a Friend,” “Xanny,” and “All the Good Girls Go to Hell.” Eilish also took home the award for Best New Artist at the 2020 Grammy Awards.

Another Chicago rapper, Lil Durk, released his new tape Love Songs 4 The Streets 2, which included features from Nicki Minaj, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, 21 Savage, King Von, and Key Glock.

Drake and Future teamed up again for the single “Life is Good” which is a huge hit following their last joint project, What a Time to be Alive. Drake also recently followed up with a few new singles, “Chicago Freestyle,” “When to Say When” and “Vital.”

CALEB BROWN: ESSAY, CAMERA, LOCKDOWN

BY MARIAH LYNN, WORTH JR. HIGH, WORTH, IL Caleb Brown was in the sixth grade when TSJ: How did it go from being an essay he wrote his essay turned award winning short to a movie? film, Generation Lockdown. The film is about a CB: My mom had a lot of connections to boy who tries to save his friend during an active different people and showed it to people and shooter attack at school. Brown, now 13, talked they decided to turn it into a movie. with True Star Jr. about what it’s like to create an award-winning film. TSJ: How long did the filming take to complete? True Star Jr.: What school do you go to? CB: Like a week or two. Caleb Brown: Thomas Jefferson Middle School. It’s in Teaneck, NJ. TSJ: You also acted in the film. Have you ever acted before? TSJ: You were 11 years old when you CB: Yes, but never like a major role. wrote the essay the short film was based on. Was this a school shooter TSJ: What else have you acted in? assignment? CB: I just acted in “Dangerous Book for Boys,” CB: No. ...Around that time that’s when most of “Law and Order SVU,” “New Amsterdam,” the school shootings were happening, so I just “She’s Gotta Have It,” “Happy,” “Seven decided to write a story about it. Seconds” (TV Series) The Upside, and Dear Mama. TSJ: What was your mom's reaction when she first read your essay? TSJ: Is acting something you see CB: She was crying, but she liked it. yourself doing? CB: A little bit, yeah. TSJ: Did she tell you why she was crying? TSJ: What was the filming process like CB: Yes, because it was sad, and it was very overall? emotional. CB: It was fun!

TSJ: Were you surprised by people’s reactions when they read your essay? CB: Yeah.

TSJ: Were the other kids in your film your friends from school? CB: Yes, some of them.

TSJ: Your short film won an award at a film festival. That’s so exciting! Can you tell us what it was like for you? CB: I was excited about it and I was speechless because I never thought my movie would get an award, but it did, so I was really happy! We won awards from NYWIFT/Go Indie TV 2020 Online Short Festival and Rock the Shorts Film Festival so far. We were selected for the Global Film Festival in Cannes Film Festival and selected for the Arizona Film Festival which were both postponed due to the Coronavirus.

TSJ: Where does the film go from here? CB: More festivals probably.

TSJ: When you grow up do you want to continue making movies? CB: Yes. Act, play basketball, and make the world better.

TSJ: What are you doing now to keep spreading your message? CB: Just talking about it more. Kids are afraid and need help coping with what is happening in our world. [The movie] might go to the Democratic National Convention.

• FUN FACTS •

TSJ: What are you listening to? Any specific artists? CB: I listen to rap, like A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Travis Scott, Lil Baby, and Lil Uzi.

TSJ: How are you staying busy during quarantine? CB: Doing school work, going outside playing basketball, and just helping out around the house.

TSJ: Are you on any social media? And what kind? CB: Yes, I'm on Instagram and Snapchat.

TSJ: Which one do you prefer? CB: Snapchat.

TSJ: What's your favorite movie on Netflix right now? CB: Probably “Good Burger.”

To learn more about the short film Generation Lockdown visit the website www.givefilm.org.