Scrappers Film Group
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Documentary film production |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Ben Kolak, Brian Ashby |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Key people | Ben Kolak (sole proprietor since 2020) |
| Products | Documentaries, web series |
Truth & Documentary is the current name of the Chicago-based documentary production company formerly known as Scrappers Film Group.[1] The company was co-founded by Ben Kolak and Brian Ashby, whose inaugural feature film Scrappers earned both the “Best Documentary Feature” and the “Audience Award” at the 2010 Chicago Underground Film Festival.[2] In both 2016 and 2018, NewCity Film included the company among its "50 Chicago Screen Gems," recognizing its impact on the local film scene.[3]
Scrappers Film Group focused on producing documentaries with educational and social themes, creating works such as The Area, Stateville Calling, and Accident, MD. Their portfolio also features web series like Central Standard: On Education, Popcorn Politics, and Rights Lab, all designed to provoke thoughtful engagement and cultivate understanding among viewers.[4] In 2020, Ben Kolak became the sole proprietor, leading to a rebranding under the name Truth & Documentary. The company continues to preserve Scrappers Film Group’s archival materials while producing both commissioned and original projects.[5][1]
Works
| Title | Release | Type | Partner(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scrappers | 2010 | Film | Cinetic Media |
| The Grid | 2011 – 2017 | Web Series | Gapers Block |
| Maydays | 2013 | Film | International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago |
| Central Standard: On Education | 2014 | Web Series | PBS, WTTW |
| Popcorn Politics | 2015 – 2018 | Web Series | The A.V. Club |
| Rights Lab | 2016 | Web Series | Truthout |
| Accident, MD | 2017 | Film | Vimeo (Staff Pick, "Best of the Year" Award) |
| Brujos | 2018 | Web Series | OTV |
| The Area | 2018 | Film | |
| Stateville Calling | 2019 | Film | Film Independent |
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Truth & Documentary LLC Name Amendment
- ↑ Roger Ebert, Scrappers Movie Review & Film Summary (2010), 2010-10-06
- ↑ NewCity Film, "Film 50 2018: Chicago's Screen Gems," 2018-09-27
- ↑ Josh Modell, "Candyman: Cabrini-Green and the fear of public housing · Popcorn Politics," The A.V. Club
- ↑ 2020 Annual Report Scrappers Film Group, LLC