How Did They Get There

Kevin Isola is a self-described journeyman actor, who has experienced great longevity in several media, including theatre, television and film. The Pasadena native attended Duke University, and consequently studied acting at NYU-Tisch, where he discovered the value of being freed-up creatively through faculty who mentored and pushed his creative strengths. We discuss a major moment in his career,...

Writer and director Jeremy Robbins was Story Editor for two seasons of the Blumhouse horror anthology series — The Purge — based on the successful film franchise (grossing $500M+ worldwide) of the same name; he worked closely with James DeMonaco, creator of the franchise, in allowing viewers to explore a time in which all crime is declared legal for a 12 hour period. The show aired on USA Network...

Prolific writer David Klass has explored his unique, exquisite talent for storytelling throughout his career in a plethora of literary media. Since his debut publication, The Atami Dragons , David’s 20 novels have navigated the nuances of themes which include complicated father-son relationships; differences between eco-terrorism and environmentalism; and team dynamics. David’s own significant ath...

As Head of Classics, Drawings & Archives at Avery Library of Columbia University, Teri Harris holds an important responsibility as it relates to upholding the legacy of legendary architects and artists. While she was earning her B.A. in Art History at Williams College, Teri took a class which changed her life, and established a bent toward architecture. It led her to move to New York City from...

Seemab Gul is the writer and director of the universally-acclaimed short film, Sandstorm, which recently qualified for Academy Awards contention after winning in categories at both the HollyShorts and Flickers’ Rhode Island International film festivals this year. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival; follows a young Pakistani girl’s story when she is blackmailed by her virtual boyfriend...

Writer-Director Ben Kegan always knew he had a strong passion for character, film and storytelling. His growing up in a John Hughes-esque Chicago suburb is apt considering his eventual exploration of the sex-quest genre of teen movies in college. His evolution through the wrestling biopic short, Team Taliban, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival; the complicated love-triangle surveyed in C...

Chair of Film at Columbia University, Jack Lechner is a veteran development executive, writer, producer and lyricist behind some of the most iconic films of our time. As head of development at Miramax between 1996-1999, Jack worked on incredibly impactful films such as Good Will Hunting, Guinevere and The Cider House Rules. In 1999, he wrote Can't Take My Eyes Off of You : One Man, Seven Days, Twe...

Studio photographer and visual artist Elisheva Gavra creates art which challenges the boundaries of realism; explores the power of spirituality; and investigates the dynamic experience of questioning discord. The latter is a concept with which she has familiarity, growing up in a small Israeli town subsumed by a strong sense of cultural identity and framework. During the pandemic, she paralleled a...

Actress Anita Abdinezhad tells stories which capture life and all its trimmings. After earning her MFA from Columbia, she entered her Broadway debut, POTUS: OR behind every dumbass are seven women trying to keep him alive, which has with met rave reviews, understudying for such seasoned performers as Rachel Dratch, Julliane Hough and Lilli Cooper. Her versatility encompasses a unique array of both...

Artist Vivian Vivas trancends trivialization. Her immense work in several genres, encompassing moving image, performance art, stop motion and installation work pushes the boundaries of what many deem possible. An MFA candidate at Columbia University, she is a finalist for the 2022 Frankenthaler Climate Award, and has an upcoming group show: In Response: Jonas Mekas at the Jewish Museum . She was t...

Today’s difficult SCOTUS ruling has bearing on several aspects of our society. Reflect back on the directors who made five films that inspired my understanding about the relationships between women; the impact of choices on policy decisions; and the factors guiding their process of filmmaking, including their decisions, which highlighted integral, unique snapshots of women as they live through eac...

Artist Scheherezade Junejo’s exploration of complex topics in her work is a thematic tenet which permeates her art throughout the spectrum of several solo shows, 70 group shows, and significant global recognition. Her unique story is shaped by factors like her familial upbringing in Pakistan; the influence of other boundary-pushing auteurs like Magritte; an anatomically-inspired approach toward po...

The value of friendships is a significant pillar many hope to achieve in life and practice. Discover how a missed opportunity to connect with friends led to an ultimatum, and which changes manifested stemming from the experience. Intro/Closing Track: Don't Go by Diego Nava

Joe Knight is the President & CEO of InnAVasc Medical, Inc., a medical device company founded by Duke University surgeons and scientists, which designs and develops products for vascular access for hemodialysis. He holds an MBA from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, where he also a Professor, as well as a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. Dr...

The Academy Awards is a ceremony often televised to a crowd of 80M people. Why all the hype? Hear what Eric Huh and Jon Penn Junejo have to say about it in a conference room at Duke University, The Fuqua School of Business. Opening Track: Podington Bear - Trailways; Closing Track: Podington Bear - Skeptik.2

Venture into the impact of external factors with regard to releasing media.

The determination of whether larger movies qualify as films, according to credibility and industry priorities, is discussed using free-form perspective.

How Did Woody Harrelson Get There? Find out now.

How Did Jonathan Levine Get There? Find Out Now. (Musical consideration brought to you by Broke For Free - Calm the F*** Down (Intro Theme) and People Like Us - Eve of Sunshine (Closing Theme)

A humorous take on the idiosyncrasies of the filmmaking process. (Musical consideration brought to you by Broke For Free - Calm the F*** Down (Intro Theme) and People Like Us - Eve of Sunshine (Closing Theme)

From Guest-Starring on Television sitcoms and shows, to starring on the Disney Channel hit, Even Stevens, to becoming a household name, Shia Labeouf has experienced an interesting journey in Hollywood. Not bad for a kid from Echo Park. Find out how he did it on today's episode of the show. Enjoy. Musical consideration brought to you by Broke For Free - Calm the F*** Down (Intro Theme) and People L...

Los Angeles. Interrelated Filmmaking. Marketing... and Arnold S. (Musical consideration brought to you by Broke For Free - Calm the F*** Down (Intro Theme) and People Like Us - Eve of Sunshine (Closing Theme)