CRED
a feature documentary
LOGLINE
Inside one of Chicago’s most ambitious anti-violence initiatives, the people doing the hardest work—the mentors, counselors, and outreach workers—fight to break a cycle they know too well, risking everything to help others survive what they barely escaped.
synopsis
Cred: A Year in Chicago is a feature documentary that follows the frontline staff of Chicago CRED (Creating Real Economic Destiny) over the course of a single year. Founded by former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, CRED is one of Chicago’s most ambitious efforts to reduce gun violence—not through policing, but through healing, mentorship, and economic opportunity.
At the heart of the series are the people doing the daily work: violence interrupters, life coaches, trauma counselors, and job specialists—many of whom have lived the very lives they now work to disrupt. As the seasons change, we track the emotional highs and lows of their mission to keep others alive and build a future from the inside out.
This is not a story about quick fixes or top-down solutions. It’s about the human cost of care, the weight of walking with others through pain, and the radical belief that no one is beyond saving. Through their eyes—and under Duncan’s vision—we witness the heartbreak, urgency, and quiet victories that define one of America’s most essential public health efforts
STYLE + TONE
We aim to capture life as it unfolds, without narration or stylized reenactments, allowing the truth of each moment to speak for itself. Our lens isn’t focused on the violence itself, but on the people affected by it—the staff who show up every day with courage, compassion, and lived experience. There’s no need to dramatize or sensationalize what’s already urgent; instead, we’ll create space for reflection, vulnerability, and connection. The tone is honest and empathetic—unflinching but never exploitative. By centering humanity over headlines, we invite viewers to move beyond judgment and statistics, and into real, sustained empathy.
The visual approach will be intimate and immersive, using handheld cinematography to stay close to the people and moments that matter. Natural light will guide our aesthetic—dimly lit counseling sessions, harsh winter mornings, warm summer afternoons—capturing the emotional tone of each season without artificial polish. Static frames will be used sparingly, in moments of stillness or reflection, while fluid camera movement allows us to follow real interactions as they unfold. We’ll avoid slow motion, hyper-stylized color grades, and anything that feels overly produced or manipulative. Instead, we’ll lean into the imperfections: the quiet pauses, the glances, the unspoken weight in a room. Chicago itself will be a character—shot with restraint, respect, and a focus on people over skyline. Visuals will echo the emotional landscape: raw, real, and present.
STORY OUTLINE
ACT I: “The Work Begins” (Winter – Early Spring)
The film opens in the cold, quiet early months of the year. We meet the staff of Chicago CRED—life coaches, outreach workers, trauma counselors—some of whom have returned to the very neighborhoods they once struggled to escape. As a new cohort of participants enters the program, the staff begin their work: building trust, offering structure, and holding space for men who’ve rarely had the chance to feel safe or seen. Early optimism is met with reality—attendance is inconsistent, emotional walls are high, and progress is slow. But the staff know this part well. They’ve seen what change can look like, and they’ve learned that belief must come before results.
ACT II: “The Weight of Summer” (Late Spring – Summer)
As the city warms, so do tensions. Violence typically spikes in Chicago during the summer, and staff prepare for long days and late nights. The pace accelerates—job placements, community events, interventions, emergency check-ins. The team does more than respond; they anticipate. But the emotional toll begins to show: burnout, frustration, doubt. Some staff wrestle with the boundaries between their personal lives and the people they serve. Others lean deeper into the work, using their own stories to reach those who are drifting. Amid the chaos, we see moments of breakthrough—therapy sessions that go deeper, young men stepping into jobs, relationships beginning to shift. These are hard-won and often fleeting, but no less real.
ACT III: “Holding On” (Fall – Winter)
As the year winds down, staff reflect on what’s been gained—and what still hangs in the balance. Some participants are thriving. Others have disappeared. The team continues to support those transitioning out of the program, while preparing for a new intake. There is no neat ending. The work goes on. In this final act, the film shifts focus inward—on the staff themselves. Why do they keep showing up? What does it mean to give this much of yourself to something that doesn’t always show results? Through quiet conversations, final check-ins, and candid reflections, we see what keeps them going. Not success in the traditional sense—but connection, belief, and the knowledge that sometimes showing up is everything.