Chicago360 v.3: WORK

If you would like to schedule a screening of Chicago360 v.3 please contact us at splitpillow@splitptillow.com.

Split Pillow presents the third annual installment of its decade-long project chronicling early 21st century life and culture in the Windy City. Five mini-documentaries centering around the theme "Work in the City" provide a glimpse into some of the jobs and workers that help define the Chicago landscape. The world's largest button making operation, street-side peanut vendors, the changing image of Chicago's working class, the evolution of urban journalism and the ultimate selfless job of parenting come under examination in this fascinating work.

Featuring documentaries by Aaron Brown, Brian Henry, Alan Ortiz, Colin Palombi, Ben Poster, Scott Sonnenberg and Renato Velarde. Produced by Ben Poster. Production Manager Ellie Simcoe.

Review from the May 15 edition of The
Chicago Reader, by Fred Camper: "The Split
Pillow group's third installment of
documentaries on Chicago life focuses on
work. The five segments vary in effectiveness,
but Aaron Brown and Alan Ortiz's is especially
strong: handheld footage of a peanut vendor
working auto traffic in winter captures the
precariousness of street life, while the intercut
remarks of a businessman explaining the
economics of the trade give an expanded
perspective worthy of Dziga Vertov. Other
segments look at a music publicist, an avant-
garde filmmaker, the owner of a button
company, and a Sun-Times journalist who
barely survived the last round of layoffs. 75
min."

CLICK HERE to watch the teaser.

SPLIT PILLOW YOUTH OUTREACH EVENT

Media Literacy and Filmmaking Workshop
Co-Sponsored by: Salazar Chicago Public School
Spring 2008

CLICK HERE to watch a behind-the-scenes documentary of the program.

In May of 2008, 33 eighth grade students at Ruben Salazar Elementary embarked on a project to create their own documentary. The week long program began with Split Pillow’s Media Literacy session taught by Columbia College Faculty and Independent Filmmaker, Mary Filice. Split Pillow counselors included Corece Smith, Brendan Reynolds, and Antuan Johnson. The counselors facilitated the documentary process by accompanying the students on their field trip and allowing the students to script, film, provide voice-over, and begin editing. In the end, the students produced an exciting and educational documentary on the importance of nature conservation. English teacher Ms. Contrares and science teacher Mr. Kovach were very proud of their students.

soulMaid
Now available on DVD!