participatory documentary filmmaking along halsted street





555 W 31st St
Every Sunday 4-730p

Sept. 06, 2026


This is a Documentary 101 workshop where we aim to demystify “the real”, leave people feeling like they can make a movie. We’ll give an overview of the medium, its basic parts and styles - with many examples! Plus a conversation about ethics and a look at a secret “Holy Grail” of documentary filmmaking.

Suggested Reading:



Screening:

Halsted Street USA (David Simpson, 1995, 56 min)

Doc 101
led by Hannah Faris, Liyan Zhao, and Xiaolu Wang

Sept. 13, 2026


Learn the fundamentals of camera operation and cinematography from three seasoned filmmakers. Teachers will go over: Exposure Triangle (ISO-Aperture-Shutter Speed); Framerate; Camera navigation; Camera Settings; Pulling Focus, Shallow/Deep Focus.



Screening:

Onomichi (Nobuhiko Ôbayashi, 1963, 20 min)The Masters of Disaster (Sonya Friedman, 1986, 28 min)

Camera 101
led by Jon Anderson, José Perez, Jay Villalobos

Sept. 20, 2026


Observe a variety of interview tactics and then go out into the field and conduct interviews yourself! Following our field exercise we will return to the club to reflect on our experiments.

Suggested Reading:

Screening:

Studs Terkel
Celebrity interviews
Interrogations
led by Blair Paddock, Morley Musick, Maxwell Evans, Sam Robson

Sept. 27, 2026


Maps, ideas, pizza party, setting of group intentions! Time to finalize schedules, assemble teams, and produce itineraries detailing how we will accomplish the checklists we’ve agreed on. 

Final Plans

Oct. 4, 2026


Learn from two master audio editors about the fundamentals of audio recording. Learn how to use boom mics and other basic equipment, and practice recording out in the field.


Screening:

Selections from Signal Hill Radio Magazine led by Jackson Roach, Liza Yeager

Registration!


Calendar

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41.8381° N, 87.6405° W, a project of Mouse Arts and Letters Club, website designed by x140lu