MAJOR TAYLOR
When a black man from the 1800's finds his talent in cycling, the sport of the era,
he must balance dangers of post-civil war prejudice, his mentoring mother's
religious requests, and his need to support a family to compete on an
international tour which makes him a fortune.
ABOUT FILM
MAJOR the film documentary is a passionate pursuit in its purest form, telling an important yet untold story of a forgotten champion. Inspired by the true story of world's champion cyclist Marshall "Major" Taylor." This compelling drama captures real events that shaped his life and his racing as documented in "The Black Cyclone," a manuscript written by three-time Olympic and champion cyclist and author John Howard.
MAJOR captures truth and honesty in story-telling by following Taylor's turbulent path to glory and fame as the first African American champion of any major sport. He was the first superstar in an era of Jim Crow and the evolution of the motor age. The powerful message of this film will resonate with a wide audience while providing inspiration to all who see it.
BEHIND THE SCENES PICS
Read film endorsement from The Major Taylor Association Inc.
Major Taylor was one courageous athlete who lit up the sport of cycling with his tactical guile and blazing acceleration and became the World Champion in 1899. He was an African American of stunning ability who overcame incredible odds and opposition during Jim Crow America to triumph in the last days of the Nineteenth Century.
THE TEAM
AUTHOR
John Howard, author of Pushing the Limits, Dirt!, The Cyclist’s Companion, Multi-Fitness, and Mastering Cycling, is a three-time Olympic cyclist, gold medalist in the 1971 Pan-American Games, and holds many national championships along with other cycling accolades. Inducted into the Bicycling Hall of Fame on the same day as Major Taylor, John met Taylor’s daughter Sydney at the induction ceremony and subsequently interviewed her for several days about her father, providing critical insights into her father’s personal and business relationships. John brings his expert first-hand knowledge of the excitement, color, and nuances of bicycle racing that gives the reader the feeling that he or she is standing at the rail on the track as the riders pass by. He understands the drive to compete and the determination needed to succeed and be the best. He has experienced the jubilation of victories and the crushing anguish of defeats.
THE BOOK
"The greatest sports hero that America has forgotten . . ."
Rashid Bahati producing credits include; “Silent Warrior” Biographic film of an African-American soldier James T. Jones WWII hero and Los Angeles Entrepreneur, "Noah's Art," a Biopic-documentary, which captures the life story of Noah Purifoy, founder of the Watts Towers Art Center in Los Angeles, the film received special recognition by the American Film Institute (AFI), "Reach For The Skies,” a sports-biographical and motivational film that looks at the career of the shortest player in the NBA, Anthony "Spud" Webb, released and distributed by Sony Home Video; and "The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute" the educational DVD and curriculum study guide accompanying the award-winning HBO film by Spike Lee "The 4 Little Girls.”
Rashid produced the innovative “Global Cinema” a thirteen week series for the Black Family television Channel which featured independent films from around the world. Also “Charleston-A Cradle of Jazz Music” a documentary film project that discovers the evolution of Jazz in Charleston, South Carolina.
D Stevens career has taken him around the world many times over: from war-torn Beirut to the tension-filled streets of Belfast to the drought-plagued faces of Haiti. His Leica cameras have captured the moment of birth of a ‘crack baby' in a South Los Angeles hospital and the masked faces of KKK members during a cross burning.
In 2000, he was asked to illustrate the book ‘Prison Life' written by Stanley ‘Tookie' Williams and Barbara Becnel. Mr. Williams, co-founder of the Crips gang, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Stevens has photographed over sixty movie posters. His clients include Columbia Pictures, Sony SPE, Warner Brothers, Imagine Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Screen Gems, HBO, New Line Cinema, Disney, 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight, Miramax, CIBY 2000, etc. He has been a unit stills photographer on over 100 feature films since his first movie "Boyz N The Hood" in 1991. Others have included "What's Love Got to Do With It?", "Menace II Society," "White Men Can't Jump," "Devil In A Blue Dress," "Tuskegee Airmen," "Truman," "Set It Off," "Biker Boyz," "Women in Gold," "42," "Get On Up."arrr
PRODUCER
PRODUCER
Extensively researched and professionally edited, Requiem for a Wheelman is a
120,000-word novel about Marshall Walter (Major) Taylor, a man who is driven to be
the best bicycle racer in the world. His early successes earn the applause of crowds and
the bitter anger of his white opponents who will stop at nothing to keep him from
winning or even competing. Haunted by vicious verbal and physical attacks from his
fellow cyclists, fearing for his life at times, he becomes the first internationally recognized
African-American World Champion; literally the fastest man on two wheels.
Contact Us
For more information contact:
MAJOR, LLC
Gallery 421
421 W. Broadway, Suite #2139
Long Beach, CA 90802
Office: 562.230.3815
Email: info@theblackcyclonemovie.com
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Lead Producer
RASHID BAHATI
Author
JOHN HOWARD