The history of Brady Street reflects the history the United States. Immigrants from around the world learning to live side-by-side and share a neighborhood is the root of America’s unique development. This documentary will take viewers through Brady Street’s history, from pre-European settlement up to modern day, showing the resilience, passion, and determination that defines the Brady Street neighborhood.
The Brady Street Business Improvement District is working with docUWM, a media center in UW-Milwaukee’s Peck School of Arts, to develop and produce this documentary. Under the direction of docUWM Program Director Sean Kafer, MFA, students in docUWM’s film program get real-world experience in film direction, production, editing, post-production, and research.
This documentary is telling the story of the history of Brady Street in chronological order, divided into chapters. Students are given topics at the beginning of the semester to research. Along with their instructor and the help of the Brady St BID, students find subjects, or protagonists, to film while interviewing. In a formal interview, protagonists are asked questions geared towards perspectives, changes in the neighborhood, and salient moments that make the Brady Street neighborhood what it is today. The student filmmakers will examine the many viewpoints from longtime residents, business owners, and the diverse community that call the Brady Street neighborhood their home today.
The Brady Street documentary interviews historians, residents, business owners, and individuals who have made a profound impact on the Brady Street neighborhood to understand how the area has transformed from a sacred area for indigenous tribes to a diverse modern neighborhood. Interviewees share their stories, family photos and films, and insights into how and why they became part of the Brady Street neighborhood.
BRADY STREET HISTORY
The purpose of making this documentary is to get on film stories from the people who have contributed to making Brady Street a vibrant neighborhood and provide real-world filmmaking experience to students in the docUWM program.
All interviews and footage will be put on a hard drive and donated to the Milwaukee Public Library’s archive for future use.
The documentary will be submitted to the Milwaukee Film Festival, as well as several national and international film festivals.
Any remaining funds will be donated to Cass Street School and Tamarack School. The Brady Street BID will not receive any payment for the documentary, nor will Rachel Taylor, the BID executive director, receive any additional payment for work on this project.
Estimated completion: Spring 2024
BRADY STREET HISTORY
BRADY STREET HISTORY
The Brady Street documentary will be funded through the Brady St BID’s 501(c)3 nonprofit arm, Brady Area Foundation for Art and Education. Donations are tax deductible.
Checks should be made payable to Brady Area Foundation for Art and Education and mailed to:
Please notify the BID if you are mailing in a donation by emailing bradystbid@gmail.com.
BRADY STREET HISTORY
Donations from $500 or more will receive recognition and additional benefits.
Donations from $500
Donations from $1,000
Donations from $2,500
Donations from $5,000
Donations from $10,000
Presenting Sponsorship: $25,000
BRADY STREET HISTORY
BRADY STREET HISTORY
