Prairie Fire: Season 3 - Episode 7 - May 2026

For this special edition of Prairie Fire, students in the Advanced Documentary Storytelling and Production class at the University of Illinois’ College of Media spent a semester producing five short documentaries highlighting the rich food, skating, music, martial arts and student support communities in Champaign-Urbana.

Orange Krush

The University of Illinois’ student-run cheer organization, called Orange Krush, is a boisterous (and very orange and blue) staple of many of the school’s major athletic events. Here’s what it’s like to be in the middle of the craziness.

The Mirror

A portrait of the storied underground house show music venue called “The Mirror” at the University of Illinois as it hosts its last concerts before its unexpected closure.

Central Illinois Aikikai

Experience a lesser-known martial art called Aikido through the eyes and practice of a young expert at the Central Illinois Aikikai in Urbana, Illinois.

Skeuwep

Skateboarding culture in Urbana-Champaign begins and ends with Skeuwep, a vibey, colorful and very dog-friendly skateboarding gear and apparel shop tucked into a record store in Urbana, IL.

The Space

The Space in downtown Champaign, IL. has garnered a fast-growing reputation as a place to enjoy “irreverent”, high-quality cuisine, local music and open mic events in a colorful, unique environment.

After the students wrapped their projects, we sat down with them in our studio to hear their thoughts on their stories and the experience throughout the semester.