Chicago’s Creative Community Unites to Premiere ‘Haute Wheels’

Haute Wheels is a three-minute fashion short directed by Jess Batson, co-produced by Jess Batson and Mark Capapas, executive produced by Casey Lock and edited by Patrick Burke of Method & Madness. More than a film, Haute Wheels stands as a testament to what can happen when an entire creative community rallies behind a shared vision.

Created through the collective efforts of more than 50 volunteer artists and filmmakers, Haute Wheels is a world of extravagant beauty where couture, roller skating, performance, and architecture collide. Inspired by themes of excess and impermanence, the film juxtaposes lavish fashion against the haunting grandeur of the historic Avalon Regal Theater, creating a dreamlike meditation on spectacle, decay, and the fleeting nature of luxury.

Haute Wheels became a passion project that united designers, craftspeople, production companies, and artists across Chicago. Nearly every frame features work created specifically for the film—from custom couture, wigs, grillz, and sculptural nails to elaborate cakes and props. The result is a visual celebration not only of fashion filmmaking, but of the city’s remarkable creative talent.

https://vimeo.com/1213563932

“From the beginning, this project was bigger than the film itself,” said director Jess Batson. “It became an opportunity for artists across disciplines to build something ambitious together simply because they believed in it. Every person brought their own artistry to the table, and Haute Wheels became a reflection of that collective imagination.”

The production also shines a spotlight on one of Chicago’s architectural treasures: the Avalon Regal Theater. Long regarded as an important cultural landmark on the city’s South Side, the historic theater rarely accessible to the public despite its extraordinary beauty and significance. By placing the building at the heart of the film, Haute Wheels invites audiences to rediscover one of Chicago’s most remarkable spaces while celebrating ongoing conversations around its preservation.

The project was made possible through contributions from some of Chicago’s leading creative partners and vendors. The production reflected the diversity of Chicago’s creative community, with the majority of crew members identifying as women, people of color, or members of the LGBTQ+ community.

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