Young CHA Residents Become Documentary Filmmakers
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Some Chicago public housing residents have put their experiences on the big screen.
DePaul University has teamed up with the Chicago Housing Authority on a documentary program.
Sixteen young female residents worked together over the summer to make films about bullying, teen pregnancy, violence, and single parent versus dual parent homes.
Thursday night's screening at DePaul's CDM Theatre was the second time the films had been shown to a group after the girls spent six weeks working on them.
The high school students don't receive college credit for their turns as directors, producers, camera operators, and editors; but they do get a certificate from DePaul and a film on their résumés.
Director of the program, Liliane Calfee, said the girls learned valuable technical skills from DePaul student-mentors, and had a chance to talk about issues they find important.
Calfee said the CHA provided $55,000 for the program, which will begin accepting applicants in the spring for next summer's class.