CHICAGO — DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts has named filmmakers George Ellzey Jr. (MFA in Film and Television Directing ’23) and Johanna Unden (MFA in Film and Television Directing ’25) as the inaugural recipients of the SCA Alumni Vision Fund, which provides alumni filmmakers with funding and professional production resources to create proof-of-concept shorts or trailers designed to move larger projects toward financing and production.
The fund opened for applications in January 2026. Following a competitive review, Ellzey and Unden were selected in May from a group of four finalists. The strength of the applicant pool led the school to award support to two filmmakers rather than the one originally planned.
Each recipient will receive a production support package valued at $100,000, combining grant funding with access to the School of Cinematic Arts’ facilities, equipment and production expertise. Available support includes access to DePaul Cinespace Studios, the school’s 60,000-square-foot facilities that include six shooting stages complete with professional-grade sets, lighting and design; virtual production stage; green screen; production insurance; permit coordination; and support from the school’s production office.
Depending on the creative and technical requirements of each project, filming may take place at DePaul Cinespace Studios, on location or a combination of both.
“The Alumni Vision Fund was created to invest in our alumni at a pivotal stage in their creative journeys,” said Dan Klein, associate professor and director of industry engagement for the School of Cinematic Arts. “The quality of work in this first cycle exceeded our expectations and underscored the depth of talent across our alumni community.”
Both projects are now in preproduction, with the goal of completing principal photography by the end of the summer. The production office is working directly with Ellzey and Unden to finalize schedules and production plans tailored to their projects.
George Ellzey Jr.’s “Human Noise”
Ellzey is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, two-time Telly Award-winning director, writer, producer and educator based in Chicago. Through Cottage Grove Productions, he creates character-driven films that have streamed on AMC+, Mansa and VTV.
His project, “Human Noise,” follows a woman whose politician husband abandons her shortly before their annual holiday party. She invites a group of estranged friends into her home, where resurfacing wounds and buried truths force them to confront the lives they have been avoiding.
Described as “The Big Chill” meets “The Best Man” and “Soul Food,” the ensemble drama explores friendship, forgiveness and identity.
“I wrote ‘Human Noise’ at 28, imagining the person I might become. At 34, I finally understand it,” Ellzey said. “Life has a way of exposing the gap between who we pretend to be and who we really are. ‘Human Noise’ is about what happens when the performance ends and the truth finally has room to breathe. It’s my love letter to lifelong friendships, ensemble dramas and the beautifully messy realities of adulthood.”
“I’m grateful to DePaul University and the Alumni Vision Fund for believing in this story and investing in Chicago’s independent filmmaking community,” he added. “Their support is helping stories like ‘Human Noise’ come to life.”
Johanna Unden’s “Cecelia”
Unden is a Chicago-based writer and director whose previous work has been selected for the Arlington International Film Festival, the Chicago International Women Film Fest amongst others. She is developing her first feature film and launching Studio Ruth, an independent production company dedicated to intentional, women-centered storytelling.
Her proof-of-concept short, “Cecelia,” supports the development of “American Spirit,” her planned full-length feature. The story follows a young woman caught in the cycles of small-town life during a shift at a local laundromat. When she is given a fleeting opportunity to break free, she must confront her fear of change or remain woven into the fabric of the life she longs to escape.
“DePaul’s MFA program gave me the space to develop my voice as a filmmaker, and receiving the Alumni Vision Fund is an amazing continuation of that support,” Unden said.
About the DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts
DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts, part of the Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media, is ranked among the top 10 film schools nationally by The Hollywood Reporter. Based in Chicago, the school prepares students for careers across film, television, animation and related media through industry-focused programs, accomplished faculty and access to professional production facilities and technology.
Learn more at School of Cinematic Arts’ program website.
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Media Contact:
Kenneth Adusah
KADUSAH@depaul.edu