What Matters Productions

12/21/2021

Very excited to share “Leonard’s Story” was an official selection for the Chicago Indie Film Awards! Proud of our team and excited to have been included!

11/12/2021

What Matters Production 2021 Reel

What Matters Production 2021 Reel

11/10/2021

Leonard is one of the many individuals that has experienced homelessness in Chicago who has been helped by @allchicago_mhh

To help those in need, visit www.allchicago.org/donate

Director | @quinnyboy5
Producer | @k_bunner
Director of Photography | @markjamesdp
Editor | @garret_brubaker
1st AC | @boeji
Cam Op | Matthew C***a
Gaffer | @johnsoncalin
Grip | @adamzletz
Grip | @marshall_dop
Sound Mixer |@matthew.freer
Art Director |@scrambled__megs___
Production Coordinator | @david_amoran
Co-Producer | Melissa Anson

Leonard McGruder | Himself
Leonard's Son | Himself
Child Leonard | Jadien Sammy
Grocery Woman |@__kanyinsola__
EHI Staff & Cooking Extras | Andrew Gaddy, Andrew Alan Watkins, Deshea Ezekwueme, Tamika Epting, Pam Brown, Edwin Cortes, @anastasiakasimos

Special Thanks: La Casa Norte, The Primo Center for Women & Children,
LaShunda Brown, Ian Bialach, Nyah DeValle, Studio Brubaker

@allchicago_mhh @lacasanorte @primocenterchicago

11/08/2021

Leonard.
Very excited to share this one with you!
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#endhomelessness #allchicago #storiesthatmatter

Leonard.
Very excited to share this one with you!
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#endhomelessness #allchicago #storiesthatmatter

11/03/2021

Some BTS from “Leonard’s Story!” Excited to share our latest project with you all! Dropping next week-don’t miss it!
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#leonardsstory #storiesthatmatter #allchicago #nonprofitfundraising

10/27/2021

Excited to share “Mayra’s Story” was selected to screen at Little Mexico Film Fest! We are so grateful and excited this film continues to be shared with audiences! Congrats to the team! Give it a watch-link in Bio!
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#littleméxicofilmfestival #storiesthatmatter
#endhomelessness #enddomesticviolence

Excited to share “Mayra’s Story” was selected to screen at Little Mexico Film Fest! We are so grateful and excited this film continues to be shared with audiences! Congrats to the team! Give it a watch-link in Bio!
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#littleméxicofilmfestival #storiesthatmatter
#endhomelessness #enddomesticviolence

09/20/2021

Happy to share that Mayra's Story, our short doc is a semi-finalist for Best Directing at Angeles Documentaries! Kudos to an amazing cast/crew, to All Chicago, and to Mayra for bravely sharing her story! We can end homelessness together!
Kelsey Bunner Mark L James Noah Rosenstein Megan Brasfield

Happy to share that Mayra's Story, our short doc is a semi-finalist for Best Directing at Angeles Documentaries! Kudos to an amazing cast/crew, to All Chicago, and to Mayra for bravely sharing her story! We can end homelessness together!
Kelsey Bunner Mark L James Noah Rosenstein Megan Brasfield

08/16/2021

66,436 people in LA experience homelessness every night. We made this docu-spot for Share A Meal to encourage folks to volunteer and donate to their current fundraiser! Thanks to a wonderful cast/crew!

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Director: Quinn Wilson
Producer: Carter Hayek & Kelsey Bunner
Director of Photography & Colorist: Luc Delamare
Editor: Noah Rosenstein
Original Music: Scott Delamare
1st Assistant Camera: David Andrew
Graphics: Sarah Jeanne Perry

Cast: Davon Brown, Allison McLean, Taylor Shepard, Anthony Puente, Alexis Higgins-Williams, David Pierson, Ayman.

06/01/2021

We are so excited to announce “Mayra’s Story” shot for @allchicago_mhh won a #telly award!! Congrats to the entire team!!
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@k_bunner @quinnyboy5 @whatmattersproductions @markjamesdp @boeji @alex_birni @azchicago @johnsoncalin @marshall_dop @bw0rd_ @scrambled__megs___ @srleetch @jocelynztv @vernonmeenah @alana.de.sa @noahslighted

We are so excited to announce “Mayra’s Story” shot for @allchicago_mhh won a #telly award!! Congrats to the entire team!!
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@k_bunner @quinnyboy5 @whatmattersproductions @markjamesdp @boeji @alex_birni @azchicago @johnsoncalin @marshall_dop @bw0rd_ @scrambled__megs___ @srleetch @jocelynztv @vernonmeenah @alana.de.sa @noahslighted

01/06/2021

I Overcame Homelessness: Ask Me Anything

What's Homelessness really like?! Ask Away.

Sarah's Circle helps amazing Chicago women like June and Josephine overcome homeless every day. We were honored to make this project with help of some tremendously talented folks. If you're able, please consider making a donation at www.sarahs-circle.org/ to support our unhoused sisters.

Director | Quinn Wilson
Producer | Kelsey Bunner
Director of Photography | Mark L James
Editor | Cassandra Tyler
Camera Op | Alex Birnie
Camera Op | Calin Johnson
Camera Op | Nick Boeji
Camera Op | Jason Mitchneck
Audio Mixer | Ken Dabek
Art Director | Megan Brasfield
Production Coordinator | Brittany Wagner

11/10/2020

Mayra's Story

Mayra's Story

10/23/2020

Mayra's Story

Our latest project is out! Mayra is one of the many individuals experiencing homelessness in Chicago who has been helped by the All Chicago Emergency Fund. To help those in need, visit www.allchicago.org/donate.

Thank you to our generous team who came together to create this piece!

Director |Quinn Wilson
Producer | Kelsey Bunner
Director of Photography | Mark L James
Editor | Noah Rosenstein
1st AC | Nick Boeji
Cam Op | Alex Birnie
Gaffer | Calin Johnson
Grip | Ryan Marshall
Audio Mixer | Adam Zletz
Art Director | Megan Brasfield
Production Coordinator | @BriBrittany Wagner

Child Mayra | Darby Leetch
Young Mayra | Jocelyn Zamudio
Mayra's Mother | Alana De Sá
Child Santiago | Santiago Lerma
Mayra's Boyfriend | Vernon Mina
Mayra's Father | Xavier Lagunas

07/16/2020

We'll Overcome

COVID-19 has caused an alarming blood shortage in the USA. While it remains a relatively safe procedure, blood donations are significantly down. We made this spec PSA for the Red Cross to encourage viewers to donate during the pandemic.

Donate blood at www.redcrossblood.org

Big shout out to an amazing team of artists who donated their time & talents to the cause!

05/22/2020

SoapBox Productions & Organizing

Stoked to share this awesome project from our dear friends at SoapBox Productions & Organizing!! Give it a watch.

Hoy SoapBox acompaña a Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights en su misión para asegurarse de que todos en Illinois sean contados.

Llenando el censo es tan facil como llendo a my2020census.gov o llamando a 8444682020.

Has tu parte. Cuentate hoy.

#2020Census #NosotrosContamos #TODOSContamos

Entrevistados:
Mateo UR | Coordinador de Censo, ICIRR
Denise Viviana Barajas | Coordinatora de Censo, ICIRR

Escrito y Dirigido por David A Moran
Cinematografia and Edicion por Dakota Sillyman
Productor Asociado, Brandon Lee, ICIRR
Producida por David A Moran and Caullen Hudson
Fotografía de Drones por Edwin Diaz

Aprenda mas del Censo, ICIRR, y como ser contado en SoapBoxPO.com/Census-2020

11/13/2019

Morene's Story

Check out our latest micro-doc 'Morene's Story' and learn how All Chicago's Emergency Fund helps prevent and end homelessness for thousands of our fellow Chicagoans -- Donate today to support people like Morene at http://bit.ly/2CfDgpp

11/11/2019

3 DAYS!!! We will be sharing our latest film, "Morene's Story," on Wednesday morning! The film was a huge hit at All Chicago's Breakfast Fundraiser in October and helped raise $319,000 for All Chicago’s Emergency Fund! Stay tuned!!

09/08/2019

We are so grateful for all of the help we received on our latest project, “Morene’s Story,” for All-Chicago!! We feel so lucky to be able to tell important and impactful stories! Stay tuned for the film slated to be released in late October!

Quinn Wilson Kelsey Bunner

08/13/2019

Burkina Faso Is

Was an honor to make this film for The BARKA Foundation which works to empower the people of Burkina Faso to thrive through the provision of clean water, sanitation, hygiene, and gender equality.

For the next 2 days ONLY, Global Giving will match all donations under $50 while matching funds last. Please donate at the link

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/barka-peace-water-wisdom/?fbclid=IwAR1jOoXKN4YvPPjTNFN_6x0TOXUGNTjXoHpCONw_tyKycLlQuOyLTjKVZ2Y

04/30/2019

Our 'Burkina Faso Is' project drops soon! It was great working with the The BARKA Foundation on this project to bring attention to the water crisis in Burkina Faso. As always please consider getting involved or donating to The BARKA Foundation to help your fellow humans around our earth with the basic human right of water!

01/20/2019

Full Spectrum Features

Go make your stuff everyone!! Grants deadline below from our friends at Full Spectrum Features.

Some upcoming grant deadlines for filmmakers to have on their radar...

- Sundance Creative Producing Lab, Feb 12
(https://bit.ly/2TUzVCN)
- National Endowment for the Arts Art Works, Feb 14
(https://bit.ly/2CpcYk6)
- SFFILM Rainin Grant, Feb 6 Early / Feb 20 Late
(https://bit.ly/2szWKAd)
- SFFILM Westridge Grant, Feb 6 Early / Feb 20 Late
(https://bit.ly/2MfAch3)
- Creative Capital, Feb 28
(https://bit.ly/2RRvOdy)

We always share grant opportunities in our monthly newsletter so if you're interested, sign up!
https://www.fullspectrumfeatures.com/newsletter

11/12/2018

Podcast

Check out SoapBox Productions & Organizing newest podcast episode of Bourbon 'n BrownTown! WMP's Quinn Wilson was honored to be their guest talking about our international privilege and the role of comedy in undoing oppression. We are proud to have partnered with this great org on many projects over the years. Take a listen!

SoapBoxPO.com/podcast.
https://bourbonnbrowntown.simplecast.fm/14f96e9b

11/06/2018

Check out SoapBox Productions & Organizing in the coming days for Quinn Wilson of WMPs, podcast episode of Bourbon in Browntow! The team is talking about privilage, homeless, politics and all sorts of transformative stuff. Really admire the work that the SBPO team and proud to partner with them on numerous projects over the years. Take a listennn

10/16/2018

09/20/2018

Coalition to Dump Matt Coghlan

Check out the great work by our close friends SoapBox Productions & Organizing! We need to dump Matt Coghlan. Go vote people!

“Matthew Coghlan is guilty of corruption. What they did to us was evil. Only to further their careers and move up in the state’s attorney’s office and become judges”

We worked with SoapBox Productions & Organizing to tell the story of Armando Serrano and Jose Montanez, who were falsely convicted of murder and spent 23 years in jail. The former head prosecutor on the case who helped bribe a jailhouse snitch to testify against them? Cook County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Coghlan. Vote NO on Coghlan on November 6. September

#JudgesMatter #DumpCoghlan

Video paid for by the Judicial Accountability PAC

09/10/2018

itsashort.com

Tomorrow Night, 8pm central! Calvin's Story screens online at www.itsashort.com/premiere. Director Quinn Wilson and producer Caullen Hudson will be online for a live Q&A after the film, all are welcome to join! Info below.

Calvin’s story is the story of survival and success of a young man, who is homeless, gay and was rejected by his family. Join us at itsashort.com/premiere on September 11, 2018 at 8 central/9 eastern/6 pacific for a premiere and Q&A!

#calvinsstory

SoapBox Productions & Organizing

08/28/2018

Having such a blast on set today with wonderful people! We are completing a project for All Chicago and The Primo Center here in Chicago! So grateful to be able to share Valerie’s story! Quinn Wilson Taylor Shepard Tyler Krawczyk M. Freer Photos Kelsey Bunner

08/19/2018

WMP team in an edit session with the talented Sam Zarrin on one of our projects this month. Proud to help tell some stories of amazing women surviving homelessness in Chicago for HOW INC.

06/08/2018

Sharon’s Story (Sarah's Circle Cut)

WMP not only won a Telly Award for "Calvin's Story: A Homeless Healer," BUT we also won a SECOND 2018 TELLY AWARD for "Sharon's Story!"

Shout out to the fabulous team: Quinn Wilson, Sean Arr Kelly, Kelsey Bunner, Kelly Fleming, & Katie O'Reilly! We are so proud!

Sarah's Circle work with over 1,000 Chicago woman a year in the homeless space. It only take $385 to get a woman off the streets and permanently housed through…

06/04/2018

Proud to announce that our project 'Calvin's Story' is an OFFICIAL SELECTION of the Tirana International Film Fest TV Competition! Thanks to the Tirana Film Festival for including us. Go team Go! - with SoapBox Productions & Organizing

03/29/2018

Stoked to be telling the story of this amazing man. He goes by 'Peace'. He's whicked smart. has been teaching english in Burkina Faso since he was 16. He's been all over the globe but is committed to staying in Burkina Faso to build his country up. 90% of the country (16 million) dont have acess to clean drinking water, power, sewars, or maintained roads. He is working everyday to change that. The world needs more Peace!

03/23/2018

Inside the Gourmache King’s Palace! What an honor!

We are here to shoot for The BARKA Foundation, who is hosting the 1st EVER International Water Fair and launching the International Water Fund this week! They are doing wonderful work to bring clean water and sanitation to the people of Burkina Faso. 63% of rural people in West Africa don’t have access to clean water. Stay tuned for finished films and info on how you can help support BARKA!

With- Quinn Wilson Kelsey Bunner

03/18/2018

Journeys have begun to our next shooting location, Burkina Faso!! We are so excited to be shooting for The Barka Foundation!

03/14/2018

We had an awesome time at Pride Film & Plays last night! We are so grateful they screened “Calvin’s Story” as part of their Pride Film Festival. Check out their next set of films In April! SoapBox Productions & Organizing Pride Arts Center

03/05/2018

Family Matters Chicago

Super excited to release our latest project! Family Matters Chicago is a fantastic organization building up and empowering the youth of Rogers Park. They are building the leaders of tomorrow and we had a blast working on this film! Derek Gregory Cox Quinn Wilson Kelsey Bunner

Family Matters youth are “Making Waves” every day. Join us in building an equitable society. Learn more and support our work at www.familymatterschicago.org/donate. https://vimeo.com/256321559

02/20/2018

Beloit International Film Festival

Get your tickets today!!!!

WI/IL Short Slot II - We love our WI/IL filmmakers. A lot! There are a lot of great stories in our states, and we’re making sure they’re available for you to see. 9 Great Films (for the price of 1) + Ton's of filmmakers (8 of the 9 films WILL HAVE a filmmaker present) will be onsite to answer all your questions.

https://beloitfilmfest.org/short-film-programs-2018/ (bottom of page)

Screening:
Fri Feb 23, 2018 – 5:00 pm | Hendrick's Center For The Arts
Sun Feb 25, 2018 – 12:00 pm | La Casa Grande

Films: The Fawn, Decision, Calvin's Story (What Matters Productions), Adopted, Monastery of the Holy Cross: Rebuilding a Sanctuary (Emerging Light Media), Into Silence, Vanita (Penitent Productions), Mount Liptak, OFF BOOK, Pharma Lab Training Video: 1