Pitts ' filmmaking career began as a camera assistant for the local production company the Film Group . Film Group was an active commercial company , producing advertisements for United Airlines , Kentucky Fried Chicken , Aunt Jemima , and many others . Film Group also made social documentaries , and this provided access for Pitts to meet many influential groups and figures associated with the civil rights movement . As a part of Film Group , Pitts worked on the influential '' American Revolution 2 , '' a documentary covering the riots and police brutality on display at the 1968 Democratic National Convention held in Chicago . Pitts also worked with Film Group on other such notable films as '' The Murder of Fred Hampton '' ( 1971 ) documenting the assassination of the leader of the Black Panther 's Illinois chapter , and '' Lord Thing '' ( 1970 ) , a film depicting the Chicago gang the Conservative Vice Lords , Inc. as a positive influence in the community '' . '' Pitts would go on to break the color barrier in the white male dominated film industry by becoming the first black filmmaker to be hired by the NFL to document the Chicago Bears for 11 years along with his friend and fellow filmmaker Joe Stratton . While working for the Bears he captured footage of Detroit Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes ' death in the final minutes of a game against the Bears in 1971 . Pitts was also filming during the assassinations of Malcolm X and Harvey Milk - experiences which all had a profound impact on him throughout his life
1968 Democratic National Convention
1968 Democratic National Convention
Ronn Pitts