Chicago's Web Series Scene Is Flourishing

WDCB's Gary Zidek takes a closer look at the diversity that's emerged within Chicago's web series community.

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WDCB's Gary Zidek takes a closer look at some of the diverse, new web series coming out of Chicago.

Dr. Aymar Jean Christian, founder & head of development for Open Television

"I saw a need for a platform that specifically focused on people who were excluded from Hollywood, so thinking not just about representing black people, not just representing queer people, or not just representing Asian people, but all of those identities together" - Dr. Aymar Jean Christian on the inspiration for Open Television.

The creators behind an eclectic mix of Chicago-based web series participated in a post-screening Q-and-A during the opening night of the Chicago International Television Festival.

WOKE TV Q-and-A session at Chicago International Television Festival

The new comedic series, KAPPA FORCE, was among the Chicago-based projects to screen at the Chicago International Television Festival's WOKE TV event.

Image from the Chicago-based web series, KAPPA FORCE

Music: Ohmme Edited by: Ashley Thompson and Dan Fogarty DP: Taylor Russ Dir: Hannah Welever

The real life story of two women becoming friends inspired the new web series VELVET.

When Demetra, a competitive professional, is forced to reevaluate her social life, she strikes up a friendship with Cymone, her seemingly much cooler coworker. As their worlds collide to form a brand new #squad, these five young Chicagoans begin to reevaluate their own identities as well as their relationships to each other. By weaving together public and private experiences, VELVET comedically explores the joys, vulnerabilities, and everything-in-between of making new friends in your mid-twenties. // CREW // Leo Gilbert - Director/Writer/Producer Becky Schultz - Writer/Producer Nathan Salter - Director of Photography Will Angelico - Assistant Director/Producer Max Mooney - Editor/Producer Kristina Blau - Production Designer Ryan Thiel - Art Director Drew Blau - Casting Director Ed Bornstein - Location Sound Engineer Cody "Coco" Wallace - Location Sound Utility Mollie Nye - 1st Assistant Camera Brendan Babinski - Camera Operator Max Skelton - Gaffer Jake Joiner - Grip/ Addtl. Gaffer Ryan Zeller - Grip Zach Alsen - Grip Eric Rasthmuson - Addtl. Location Sound // CAST // Gail Bean - Demetra BrittneyLove Smith - Cymone Alys Dickerson - Ivy Dru Greenwood - Maxwell Travis Delgado - Tristan Tosin Morohunfola - Jason Aashvi Patel - Sarah Cory Sutton - Gerald Jared Chapman - Chris Maxwell Fitzpatrick - Emcee Breanna Lind - Becky Julia Johnston - Jackie Mackenzie Taylor - Mari Shannon Noll - Storyteller Ruth Kaufman - Storyteller

VELVET and THE EXQUISITE CORPSE will be screened at a special event at the Chicago Cultural Center on Wednesday March 28.

And the personal experiences of two young Chicagoans is at the heart of the new web series THE T. 

Bea Cordelia and Daniel Kyri, co-creators, co-writers and co-stars of THE T

Former-lovers-and-now-best-friends Jo and Carter are looking for love--it’s not going well. A young white trans woman and queer Black man living in their native Chicago, they may have the world’s bigotry and their own insecurities stacked against them, but at least they have each other. CREATED, STARRING AND WRITTEN BY Bea Cordelia and Daniel Kyri

This is just a small sampling of the new web series being created in Chicago. Lots of cool projects are being developed and produced here. 

Head over to weareo.tv to check out Dr. Aymar Jean Christian's platform.