[Chicago Slices raw: Marc Smith]

Raw footage for "Chicago Slices," a series documenting life in and around Chicago, that aired on WPWR-50 in the early 1990s. This video covers the semi-final of a poetry slam at the Green Mill, and consists mostly of short clips of various poets, as well as Marc Smith's entire poem.

00:00Copy video clip URL Static shot of a fully stocked shelf of liquor, and then a shot of the bar, both without sound.

00:59Copy video clip URL The semi-final of a poetry slam takes place at a stage off-camera. Sound comes in, someone onstage is playing piano and humorously singing as people at the bar listen and bartenders prepare drinks.

02:19Copy video clip URL The tape cuts, a man is onstage in the distance. His poem ends, and another poet goes onstage, but the camera cuts in the middle of his piece.

04:19Copy video clip URL The tape cuts, a woman is performing a very annunciated poem. However, the stage is not visible – only a small table with a lit candle.

04:52Copy video clip URL The tape cuts to a better view of the stage, but the emcee onstage is barely audible, and the tape keeps cutting while he introduces the contestants.

08:03Copy video clip URL The camera moves so that it is right beside the stage, and Marc Smith’s poem has just begun. Smith’s poem is very vocal, involving Smith making funny voices that are popular with the audience. He moves all around the stage, even speaking into the pianist’s microphone. Much of what he says is unintelligible because the microphone is quiet and he speaks very quickly.

14:14Copy video clip URL Smith’s piece ends and the audience claps enthusiastically.

14:39Copy video clip URL The tape cuts back to a shot of the bar, a recorder or penny whistle is hear accompanying another poet.

15:06Copy video clip URL Videomaker Nathan Goldstein films two of the poets for permission to use their images and poems on television. One of them, Aaron Vessup, speaks enthusiastically about the poetry slam and Marc Smith.

15:59Copy video clip URL Tape ends.