The "Become a Filmmaker" short film “Pulse” plays on a large screen in the Michigan Avenue Apple flagship store. (DePaul University/Liliane Calfee)
Each summer, DePaul's School of Cinematic Arts teams with the Chicago Housing Authority to teach film, screenwriting and photography skills to youth living in public housing. The six-week summer intensives are designed to prepare youth for careers in film and media, while also providing them with platforms to explore their creativity and voice.
During the last week of the program, the all-female “Become a Filmmaker” cohort was challenged to make a short film in just 72 hours. The two team films were then entered into Apple’s "Everyone Can Code + Create" youth showcase. Supported by the mayor’s office and Department of Family and Support Services, the initiative is designed to invest in Chicago’s young people and the long-term growth of the city.
A board of judges that included city and tech leaders reviewed projects submitted by more than 200 youth. The “Become a Filmmaker” short film "Pulse" was selected as one of only four to screen last month at Apple's Michigan Avenue flagship store.
“Seeing a project so deeply personal and close to me played on the big screen in front of hundreds of people was gratifying, especially because I was able to collaborate with like-minded creatives -- a group of fellow Black, female filmmakers,” says Isis Gullette, a 17-year-old filmmaker from Englewood who helped create "Pulse."
The experimental film combined a poem metaphor, written by Gullette, linking city train lines to relationships.
“Experiences like this are what the program is all about,” says Liliane Calfee, the program's director. "It's one thing to teach them skills. It's a whole different thing to empower youth with experiences where they see their stories being uplifted and amplified. It gives them that juice to push through challenges and continue creating."
Learn more about the program from the
Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media website.