Stepping Up To The Challenge

Today we celebrated the end of another successful year at Cabrini Connections. In front of over 250 people, Reel Talent Productions got to showcase our work. We screened 3 pieces that bookended the year pretty nicely - 2 fun music videos we made last summer, and 1 more serious Public Service Announcement video we'd finished just days before.

Many props to my fellow club leader Drew, regular teacher Jane and the staff of Cabrini Connections for the success of the last year. The journey wasn't always smooth-sailing, and we hit a few challenges along the way, but that's precisely why the experience was so valuable for us all. To everyone who's supported the members of Reel Talent Productions along the way, thank you for understanding the value and importance of the media's role in society today. This was an outlet for our teens to express their views and creativity, and to share it with the world.

Here's to more good times ahead. Our Summer Internship Program is coming up. Leave a comment below if you'd like more details.

I'll leave you now with the newest creation by Reel Talent Productions. Congrats to Melissa Young and Ana Tate for stepping up and taking the lead on this one.

Special Guests Visit Video & Filmmakers Club!

This week, two special guests came to speak to the students of Video and Filmmakers Club. The filmmakers Ronit Bezalel and Mark Pratt, talked to the club members about their films, Voices of Cabrini and Cabrini Green: Mixing it UP.

After introductions, Mark and Ronit showed a clip from one of their films depicting students from Jenner Elementary School asking Mayor Richard M. Daley and Alderman Walter Burnett pointed questions about the demolition of the Cabrini Green houses. As one student in the film asked of the Mayor, “If you grew up in Cabrini Green would you want them to take your memories?”

After showing the film clip, Mark and Ronit led a discussion amongst the club members. The students expressed mixed feelings about what Daley said in the film and about displacement, public housing, and the pros and cons of the Cabrini Green demolition.

Mark, a former Cabrini Green resident and father, talked about what an emotional journey it has been watching the demolition process from the beginning through the end.He offered the students a history of Cabrini Green, discussing how its first residents were immigrants and it was an integrated development. He asserted that it was only during the recession in the 1980s that the housing project became a place of crime and gang activity.

The speakers also emphasized the importance of education in general. Mark encouraged Cabrini Connections students: “Find like-minded individuals.” He and Ronit urged students to surround themselves with people who share their values and also want to pursue education.

Finally, Mark and Ronit spoke about what an exciting time it is to be a filmmaker. As they discussed, when they first started making films they had to search for festivals and opportunities to showcase their work. Now, films can easily be shown to people all over the world through online platforms like Vimeo and YouTube. In addition, technology and software is cheaper for film editing.

All in all, the session was a great opportunity for students to catch a firsthand glimpse of the power of film to tell stories, ignite conversation, and empower people to take a stand.

2011 off to a fine start...

Yes, it's been awhile... but it's only because things are busy and brewing here at Reel Talent Productions. 2010 was a great year for us, with completed projects about everything from short stories to music videos to spec commercials under our belt. We're excited and hungry for more great projects ahead.

Moving forward, we're turning the spotlight to non-fiction filmmaking and focusing on real issues, real people. With discussions about what our community's most urgent needs are, we will be working to raise awareness about them through the power of video. Reel Talent Productions will be creating two Public Service Announcements and working to get the important messages out.

But this production will not come easy. Our students currently have to share 1 camera among almost 10 of us. When it comes to post-production, the mere two laptops we have means that the other students have to miss out on in-depth, hands-on learning. With only 90 minutes to work together each week, not everybody gets a chance to spend time working with the equipment. We are thankful that the Fish Foundation's grant last year enabled us to go from absolutely nothing to this... but our supply is still unable to meet with the demand. We will be able to raise our productivity by 2 or 3 times if we had more equipment to work with. We learn a lot more by doing, not by watching someone else do it while crowding around one computer with 4 others.

First-hand experience with technology is tremendously important for our young ones. We know that nothing comes for free, but we're determined to work for it. That's why we're kicking off the new year with our next project - Fundraising Videos. Meet our talented and smart young filmmakers, get to know what we do, and see for yourself how our students gain valuable skills applicable to life in Reel Talent Productions.

Keep your eyes peeled for them come this Feb!

Happy Holidays from Cabrini Connections!

Click here to donate.

Club Leader Shuling Spotlighted

Get to know club leader Shuling a little better: here.

WGN Tour: A Photo Blog

On August 25th, 2010, The Cabrini Connections Video and Filmmakers Club was fortunate to get a tour of WGN Television Studios. The tour included conversations with weather reporters Tom Skilling and Mike Hamernik, a look at the newsroom, being able to sit on the stage where the morning news is shot, a tour of the creative services department, and a talk with Cris Allen, Supervising Producer (and a whole lot more).

What a great opportunity!!! Thank you to Juana, and everybody else who took time out of their busy day to talk to us. Below are some pictures from the trip. Enjoy!

Our Summer Music Videos!

And so you have it... the fruit of our labor over the last 8 weeks. Reel Talent Productions is proud to present our finished music videos! These videos were entirely conceptualized, shot and edited by our teenage talents.

This is a music video for the popular song by Lil Mama called Lip Gloss.

Lip Gloss - Music Video from Cabrini Connections on Vimeo.

Yu-Gi-Oh! is a music video based off the opening theme song for the Japanese animation, Air Gear.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Final Battle - Music Video from Cabrini Connections on Vimeo.