Silk Road Cultural Center first coined the term “video play” in 2011. This evolving genre is neither a filmed staged play nor a movie, but rather a blended genre that combines the language and aesthetics of live theatre with the technology and accessibility of digital filmmaking.

Silk Road Rising first coined the term “video play” in 2011. This evolving genre is neither a filmed staged play nor a movie, but rather a blended genre that combines the language and aesthetics of live theatre with the technology and accessibility of digital filmmaking.

Documentary filmmaking is a dynamic medium for furthering our mission. It allows us to unravel and dissect the deeper meanings that surround a particular issue. The ideas, experiences, and politics that inform our work serve as guideposts to the stories we tell in documentary form.

Animation allows us to create contexts and environments that expand the realm of what's possible. As an art form, it encourages us to take dense theoretical ideas and present them in an imaginative and entertaining manner.

Engaging Chicago’s diverse communities is critical to expanding representation. These short plays and monologues were written by community participants and brought to life by professional actors.