Michael Goi, Christian Sprenger, Tehillah De Castro, and Steve Bellamy, moderated by Hannah Welever

Explicit content warning

02/12/21 • 84 min

In our latest Film Roundtable we’re joined by Cinematographer Michael Goi ASC, Cinematographer Christian Sprenger, Cinematographer Tehillah DeCastro, and the President of Motion Picture and Entertainment at Kodak, Steve Bellamy, moderated by Hannah Welever.

In this enlightening conversation we discuss the future of shooting film in higher education, the foundation of cinematography, and how film as a format is here to stay. We invited this panel together after it came to our attention that Columbia College is discontinuing their expansive film camera courses from their curriculum. Columbia College’s extensive film program is what attracts students to Chicago and to this degree, and is one of the last remaining film schools to teach film cameras & photographic theory at this level.

Along with the discussion, Film Roundtable partnered with Hannah Welever to gather signatures from top industry professionals for a letter addressed to the administration imploring them to reverse their decision.

Previous Episode

Documentary Filmmaker Yoruba Richen & Producer Mishka Brown

In this Roundtable we are joined by Award-winning documentary filmmaker Yoruba Richen to discuss her powerful film “How It Feels to be Free,” which is streaming on PBS through February 16th. This documentary follows the inspiring stories of six iconic Black female entertainers – Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson and Pam Grier – and the ways their actions defied the standards of the entertainment in a time when they were expected to conform into roles that perpetuated racist stereotypes. Their influence is felt to this day and is touched upon in interviews with Halle Berry, Lena Waithe, Samuel L Jackson, and other trailblazers. The film explores how each of them used their art and influence to further advance the civil rights movement.

Producer Mishka Brown leads this engaging conversation, covering Yoruba’s early days where fellowships helped her travel around the world creating documentaries, mentorship, and Black representation in Hollywood, and the making of Yoruba’s other film, “The Killing of Breonna Taylor,” which is currently streaming on Hulu.

Next Episode

Sofia Coppola & Youree Henley, moderated by Chase Sui Wonders

In this Roundtable we are joined by Award-winning filmmaker Sofia Coppola and producer Youree Henley for an intimate conversation moderated by Chase Sui Wonders.

Sofia and Youree dive into the importance of finding your team, learning how to pick the right project, and how they achieved their harmonious relationship as director / producer. Chase shares some first hand accounts from her experiences acting in their film “On The Rocks” and the positive vibe created on set.