Chicago has become a major hub for television production, with acclaimed shows like “The Bear” and the commercially successful One Chicago franchise, which includes “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago Med.”
Despite this growth, much of the production work is controlled by Los Angeles-based companies, where planning and post-production take place. This leaves many local filmmakers in Chicago without steady opportunities, often working on commercials for months at a time.
Eric Almond, a 2007 Columbia College Chicago graduate with a degree in film and TV production, has experienced this firsthand. He has worked on shows like “The Bear” in the camera and electrical department and earned two awards for his short film “Requiem for Black Love,” written by collaborator Andrea Jamison.
After spending roughly 90% of his career working on commercials, Almond sought to transition into episodic directing. He created “Write On Writer’s Room,” a collective that has produced “The Village,” an independently funded TV pilot spearheaded by Almond about a small town’s government.
“There’s not a lot of writer’s rooms in Chicago,” said Almond, “I got eight friends together. We met every Sunday for five months, and we came up with ‘The Village,’” he said. “So my goal was to take this concept and not put everything on one person. But we come together collaboratively, and end with a polished piece that everybody can walk away with and say, ‘I was a part of this.’”
The initial idea for the show came from writer and friend Trevor Jackson. Jackson pitched the basic idea of basing a show on a small town’s government, but the story came together as other writers started telling stories about real-life politicians like Eric Mays and Candace Owens, Almond finally asking, “What if we got all them in a room together?”
The script took off from there, Almond bringing a dramatic side to Jackson’s more chaotic style of comedy, making a vision for a show that combines elements of “The Wire” and “Parks and Recreation.” Jackson’s favorite scene was a result of these conflicting tones and personalities.
“So when the show opens, you meet our lead character, and then eventually we open with a village hall meeting, and the board members are introduced as well. And the entire sequence is just them going at it with each other. And to me, I think that sets the tone of the entire show. When you see that scene on screen, you’re going to be like, ‘Okay, I know what this show is about. I know what I’m committing myself to’ because it’s just chaos,” said Jackson.
Among these characters is Carmen Blake, the most level-headed in the group of politicians, played by Jasmine Sanders, who said she hopes the show will elevate voices for Chicago-based creatives.
“We have some amazing people here in Chicago. Not saying that New York or LA or Atlanta isn’t amazing, but we have some special talent here,” Sanders said, “and my hope is that they also get seen as well. That they get the opportunities that they’re looking for. My hope is just that it brings something special to Chicago.”
This sentiment is shared by Almond, who wants to give more opportunities to Chicago film students in future projects, continuing his writing room, not just as a place for “The Village” to be developed, but other exciting stories.
“And that’s what the writers’ room is about, and it’s about giving people opportunities,” he said, “I’m going back with different writers. Other people who want to write, give them an opportunity and then whatever we create, then a different DP, different AD, different producer, just to give everybody something to walk away with.”
Almond recently filmed a scene for “The Village” in a TV studio on Columbia’s campus, bringing his crew together for their last major shooting day to film a comedic representation of modern news reporting, cementing the show as the satire it aims to be.
Almond and his collaborators hope to sell “The Village” pilot to a production company to be made into a full series, but if things fall through, he is determined to keep creating– If that means moving onto the next, new thing or continuing “The Village” as a web series for everyone to keep enjoying.
“The worst case scenario, I put it out on YouTube and then someone will reach back and say, ‘Hey, what are you doing with this?’ So that’s the goal with the village. But the ultimate goal with any of the stuff I produce in the writers’ room is to just put it out to the world and let the world see what we’re doing in Chicago. And let them knock on my door instead of us trying to get them out of the doors in LA,” said Almond.
No matter what, the crew feels hopeful that their community will continue growing and creating, spearheaded by Almond’s leadership, and the “Write On Writer’s Room” collective excitement for the future of Chicago-based production.
“I love this show. And I’m not just saying that because I’m a part of it,” said Sanders, “And I’m just excited for you guys to see something that Eric brings to life. He put his heart and soul into this, and you can tell, and also you can tell by the people, whether it’s the cast or crew, there’s so much love in this project, it’s so much love.”
Editor’s Note: Chronicle illustrator Maria Sanchez Medina supported the film shoot on campus as part of her employment with the School of Communication and Culture.
Copy edited by Vanessa Orozco
