Have any questions?
Follow a group of international students as they experience a summer working at the “Waterpark Capital of the World.”
Every summer, international students come from all over the globe to work in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Sponsored by temporary J-1 visas, they support the seasonal tourism industry by taking on the low-wage jobs of housekeepers, retail staff, servers, and lifeguards. The Dells follows a cohort of “J-1s” as they experience the ups and downs of life abroad in a small Midwestern town. The film captures the contradiction of the American Dream, where hopeful fantasies of life in the US are grounded by the daily trials of being underpaid, overworked, and far from home. In English, Turkish, and Spanish with English subtitles. (72 mins., DCP)
Supported by Film/Video Studio residencies in 2023 and 2024.
See the entire Picture Lock lineup.
IMAGE CAPTION
The Dells, courtesy of the artist.
Picture Lock 2025 was co-organized by Film/Video Studio Director Jennifer Lange and Film/Video Studio Graduate Research Associate Allie Mickle.
FILM/VIDEO PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY
Ohio Humanities
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
Rohauer Collection Foundation
WEXNER CENTER PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY
Greater Columbus Arts Council
The Wexner Family
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Mellon Foundation
Every Page Foundation
Ohio Arts Council, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts
CampusParc
Nationwide Foundation
Lois S. and H. Roy Chope Fund of The Columbus Foundation
The Columbus Foundation
Axium Packaging
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
Ohio History Fund/Ohio History Connection
David Crane and Elizabeth Dang
Louise Lambert Braver
Close
The Dells
