DR. OPERA was a series of short videos featuring opera characters in therapy.  The videos were created to promote the Lyric Opera of Chicago.


Edited by C.J. Arellano:


"Dr. Opera - Session 1: Hansel & Gretel"



"Dr. Opera - Session 2: Mimi & Rodolfo"

THE HOLIDAY PARTY SONG is a promo spot for The Second City.


Directed by C.J. Arellano:

MAKE IT VIRAL is a promo spot for the branded content services of Second City Communications.


Directed by C.J. Arellano:

DELL - "Scribe" was a series of promotional videos that highlight the benefits of a Dell printer.


Edited by C.J. Arellano:

SEATTLE'S BEST - "Declare Your Level Show" was a campaign designed to highlight the Seattle's Best's new "level system" for their coffee products.


Edited by C.J. Arellano

PAYCOR - "Payroll Lovers" was part of a marketing campaign by payroll service provider Paycor that centered on characters who inexplicably love payroll.


Edited by C.J. Arellano:

SEARS BIG SWITCH was a campaign that highlighted environmentally friendly products and programs by Sears.


Edited by C.J. Arellano:

GET HYBRID is a hip-hop music video for Leggett & Platt's spring-and-foam hybrid mattresses. It was produced by Second City Communications.


Edited by C.J. Arellano:

EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE is a music video for the single by JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound.


Editing and motion graphics by C.J. Arellano:

 

THE PATHETIC is an anthology web series co-produced, -written, and -directed by C.J. Arellano and Chris Pagnozzi.

EPISODE 7: "ADOPTIVE PARENTS"


EPISODE 4: "CHRISTMAS TOY DONOR"




EPISODE 3: "DRY-CLEANING CUSTOMER"




EPISODE 2: "FIANCÉES"




EPISODE 1: "MARATHON RUNNER"

THE SECOND CITY NETWORK is the new media department of Chicago-based sketch/improv comedy enterprise, The Second City.


'BUNNY BOMB' - written by C.J. Arellano:




'FOREFATHERS' - editing and motion graphics by C.J. Arellano:




'THE LAST SUPPER: THE FIRST HANGOVER' - editing and motion graphics by C.J. Arellano:





'BIRTH CONTROL NINJA' - motion graphics by C.J. Arellano:






To view more from The Second City Network, click here.

MANSUIT is a Chicago-based comedy duo (Nate DuFort and Chris Pagnozzi) who produce and star in sketch comedy videos for the web.


'PASS THE BASS' - editing and motion graphics by C.J. Arellano:




'VIDEO CONNECTIONS' - motion graphics by C.J. Arellano:





 'THE NEW NEIGHBOR' - editing by C.J. Arellano:

OFF REGISTER is a series of comedic web videos created as a promotional tool for Sappi.  It was co-produced by Second City Communications and VSA Partners in Chicago.


Edited by C.J. Arellano:


The trailer:




Episode 1 - 'Luscious':




Episode 2 - 'Designer Disaster':

VOTE NAKED ILLINOIS is a get-out-the-vote commercial sponsored by Rock the Vote, Roosevelt University, and Equality Illinois.  It received national press, including from CBS, NBC, FOX, NPR, Time Out, and many others. (description by Yellow Wing Productions)




Editing and motion graphics by C.J. Arellano:

'FAIR AND LOVELY' COMMERCIAL PARODY is a commercial spoof of the real South Asian whitening cream, Fair and Lovely.  This comedic short, conceived by Fawzia Mirza, was created for the South Asian Progressive Action Collective (SAPAC) annual political/performing arts showcase, Voices of Resistance 9.  (description by Yellow Wing Productions)


Editing and motion graphics by C.J. Arellano: 

OLD TOWN RAP is a promo spot for the Second City Training Center.


Edited by C.J. Arellano:

AIBI's "Chicago Is...Red Hot!!!" was one of Chicago's premier fashion shows held during Fashion Focus Chicago 2008.  This is the show's introductory video directed by Sean J.S. Jourdan.


Editing and motion graphics by C.J. Arellano:

FISH OUT OF WATER is a feature-length documentary edited by C.J. Arellano (additional editing by Anna Patel).


Directed by Ky Dickens, the film explores the seven Bible passages used to condemn homosexuality.



- FISH OUT OF WATER will be on DVD April 20, 2010!  You can purchase it at fishoutofwaterfilm.com, or watch it via Netflix or Amazon.



- FISH OUT OF WATER held its world-premiere at Outfest Film Festival on July 18, 2009.

- It won the Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Reeling Chicago Gay and Lesbian Film Festival!

- It was a showcase film at the Rhode Island International Film Festival.

- It was an official selection at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.

- It was the runner-up for the Audience Award at the Tallgrass Film Festival.

- It was an official selection at the International Film Festival of South Africa.




The movie poster, designed by Kyle Harter:

LIES & LIARS was a comedic stage play by Theater Seven conceived and directed by Margot Bordelon and Cassy Sanders. The comedy followed a janitor at a fictional surveillance agency that keeps track of every lie every told.


Video design by C.J. Arellano:



- LIES & LIARS premiered at Chicago Dramatists Theater and ran from July 27-August 30, 2009.

- Chicago Reader said, "The show boasts slick video design by C.J. Arellano."

- Time Out Chicago said, "C.J. Arellano's video design [is] sharp and dynamic."

- Windy City Times said, "Great work by video designer C.J. Arellano."

- Chicago Free Press said, "C.J. Arellano's projections... add the perfect professional balance."

- Chicago Theatre Hullabaloo said, "C.J. Arellano's video wizardry combines starchy middle-management slogans and symbols with a goofy millennial sensibility."

- Centerstage said, "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't completely smitten by LIES & LIARS."

PARASITIC is a short narrative (13 min.) about a talking tapeworm that infests the stomach of an antisocial high school boy.


Written, co-produced, and co-directed by C.J. Arellano.




- PARASITIC premiered at ShockerFest International Film Festival on September 26, 2009.

- It won the Jury Prize for 1st Place at the Chicago Citywide Student Film Showcase!

- It was also an official selection at the Illinois International Film Festival.

- It was featured on the horror blog Undead Backbrain.




The movie poster, designed by Aireen Arellano:



The trailer:

HIGH JUMP is a promotional video (5 min.) directed by Sean J.S. Jourdan, which features the kids of High Jump, a Chicago-based tutoring program, discussing their education, interests, and dreams.


Editing and motion graphics by C.J. Arellano:


For more information about High Jump, visit the official website.

THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY is a stage play for which C.J. Arellano designed and edited the corresponding web promo video.


- A condensed version of the promo video also served as the TV commercial.

- THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY's TV commercial aired on MSNBC, HGTV, The Food Network, the Discovery Channel, and other cable outlets throughout September-October 2009.


Editing and motion graphics by C.J. Arellano:






To learn more about THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY and Victory Gardens Theatre, click here.

BLACKBIRD is a Victory Gardens Theatre production starring William Petersen for which C.J. Arellano designed and edited the corresponding TV commercial.



- This ad for BLACKBIRD aired throughout June-July 2009 on MSNBC, The Food Network, HGTV, the Discovery Channel, and other cable outlets



Editing and motion graphics by C.J. Arellano:

DRAWING UNDERWATER is a short narrative (12 min.) about a girl trying to befriend an antisocial classmate in order to gain closure with her brother's death.


Co-written, -produced, and -directed by C.J. Arellano



- DRAWING UNDERWATER will be screening at the Central Florida Film Festival, Sept. 3-5, 2010.

- It will be screening at the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival, Sept. 17-19, 2010.

- It will be screening at the Chicago International REEL Shorts Film Festival, Sept. 16-19, 2010.

- It will be screening at the EgoFest Film Festival, March 18-19, 2011.




The movie poster, designed by Tim Weidelman:





The trailer:

THE CANNES 13 is a promotional video (13 min.) directed by Sean J.S. Jourdan and co-edited by Jonathan Mendenhall. The video covered various aspects of Columbia College Chicago's student program at the Cannes Film Festival.


Segments edited by C.J. Arellano: