09 THERE’S NO HOLLYWOOD IN THE MIDWEST

After observing decades of controversial pro- and anti-preservation efforts, the State of Illinois decides to maintain ownership of the Thompson Center property and form a Midwest-specific entertainment conglomerate and film complex - ‘Thompsonwood’ - to capitalize on the building’s pluralistic identities and valorize the creativity of cinephiles from across the Flyover states.

Already, the Thompson Center routinely alters its role according to context and audience. It’s become a site for displays of civil unrest; films about greed, hubris, and violence; suicides; retail apocalypses; and propelling Chicago’s different bureaucratic machines. ‘Thompsonwood’ continues to mediate and surveil all interactions through its film sets, negotiating new futures. The transformation into ‘Thompsonwood’ dematerializes Helmut Jahn’s iconic structure and turns it into a mechanism for understanding the social and spatial consequences of designing utterly interchangeable environments.


FADE IN.


SCENE 1.

(In the heart of downtown Chicago, the Thompsonwood sign glows like a beacon. The camera descends from the skylight to the lower concourse, slowing as it approaches a table with two people seated.)

JOEL CAMPBELL (played by James Spader) sips a fountain soda in the Concourse food court, looking upwards to make eye contact with the crew assembling a large Godzilla stage prop.

CAMPBELL: “There’s a story, a ritual that he follows, over the years I became part of the story. What do you think are the chances he’s watching us right now?”

BUZZ McCALLISTER (played by Devin Ratray) rolls his eyes, gets up from the table and heads for the elevators, in a hurry to get back on set.  

BUZZ: “We live on the most boring street in the whole United States of America, where nothing even remotely dangerous happens. Period.”


CUT TO: SCENE 2.

FERRIS BUELLER (played by Matthew Broderick) approaches the railing of the 8th floor offices, and throws a stack of notebook paper over the edge.

FERRIS: “I do have a test today… It’s on European socialism. I mean, really, what’s the point? -Ism’s in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an -ism, he should believe in himself.”

FRED HAMPTON (played by Daniel Kaluuya) stands next to Ferris, unmoving, as the papers descend slowly down the atrium.

FRED: “Information is raw material for new ideas.”


CUT TO: SCENE 3.

GREGORY HINES (played by Ray Hughes) follows Danny outside to the Thompson Center Plaza. Both of them stop abruptly as a swarm of film crew staff and PAs run past them.

GREGORY: “Hey! Watch where you’re goin’!”

DANNY: “Hey, take it easy. We’re in no hurry.”

GREGORY: “Look at all these people. Everybody’s in such a rush.”

DANNY: “Yeah. Chicago.”

GREGORY: “These people gotta learn to stop and watch the sunset.”

DANNY: “Or you’re gonna what?”

GREGORY: “Quit. Leave. Depart. Vamoose. Amscray.”


FADE OUT.