The Doc Talk Show

09/10/2022

This is Jeff. I am sorry to write this. We are cancelling productions of The Doc Talk Show for 2022 due to family health matters that are taking precedence in real time. This is personal. My father is in hospice. I simply want to devote as much time and focus to dad as possible. He was the first storyteller in my life. He showed me how important it was to listen and learn what really matters in life. He did this through bed-time stories. And by coaching me in every team sport. He is my life coach.

Please take good care of your health and loved ones. Know that we intend to come back stronger in 2023.

Below is a special link: Freshmen students from Columbia College Chicago made a passionate short documentary about The Doc Talk Show.

We touch the future.

Feel free to pass it forward.

Jeff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSmOOTmbW74

Hi Jeff :)

07/27/2022

Next Doc Talk Show is September 28th with Mother Country Radicals. Seating limited. Reservation required (https://tinyurl.com/5bbsbhxw)
What makes a story absolutely riveting?
What makes an American into a radical?
What makes an American extremist into a bomb maker and potential murderer?
What makes a good parent?

These questions will make for a powerful evening.

Make your reservation now.

06/30/2022

In case you missed last month’s Doc Talk show honoring the incredible filmmaker Gordon Quinn, you’ll be able to see it right here, fully edited by Devon MacNerland. Thank you to Uncommon Ground Edgewater for hosting this monthly event! Thank you to our sponsors Columbia College Chicago, Media Process Group, Groundswell Educational Films and Camera Ambassador!

Pre show starts at 6:30 and show starts at 7:00!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvEr_4LUsvI

The Doc Talk Show is back! If you missed last month's doc talk show don't worry it's right here!Thanks to Devon MacNerland for putting this all together.

06/28/2022

tomorrow night. break bread. meet up. connect. every last wednesday Uncommon Ground Edgewater The Video Consortium; Public Narrative; The Doc Talk Show - a friendly place to meet creatives in person. Thanks to our sponsors:
Media Process Group
Camera Ambassador
Columbia College Chicago
Uncommon Ground Edgewater

Meet Jhmira Latrice Alexander; Emmett Adler; Jaye Callahan; Armin Korsos; Steve Ordower; Devon MacNerland and more creatives.

06/14/2022

Our next show is June 29th - an open screen format featuring new works. Reservations required: get your tix here at this link: https://www.simpletix.com/e/the-doc-talk-show-tickets-106213

THIS IS AN INTIMATE, SEATED DINNER SHOW!WE OFFER FULL FOOD & DRINK SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE SHOW.

06/04/2022

After 2 rough years it felt like a family reunion with a lot of friends. We came to Uncommon Ground Edgewater for good food, drink and real convos about life, art and our many different experiences with Chicago's Gordon Quinn.

Thanks to Bob Hercules and Steven Ordower for arranging to interview Gordon on stage for their upcoming podcast. It was fascinating to witness this interview and learn about Gordon's deep history in doc. Very cool to hear about his collaboration with Bob Hercules and Keith Walker focused on an extraordinary African American dancer, choreographer, storyteller Bill T. Jones. That aint yer grampa's documentary. We got to see clips from Gordon's docs about The Last Pullman Car, Golub, A Good Man (Bill T. Jones) and 63 Boycott.

We featured two of Gordon's recent mentees who took the stage with him to discuss their lives and films. Gordon has always connected us filmmakers to each other and crucially to the hidden aspects of our own stories that exist in our footage and within ourselves. Somehow he sees what we are trying to do.

We all just wanted to say thanks in a real way.

If you missed it you can see The Doc Talk Show recap video coming soon from our editor Devon MacNerland.

SAVE Wednesday, June 29th for our next event. It will be an "open screen" for clips (under 3 mins). Lots of new doc projects. DM here if you are interested.

Thanks to Columbia grad student photographer Midwa for these stills.

Thanks to our sponsors:
Media Process Group; Camera Ambassador; Columbia College Chicago; Uncommon Ground Edgewater.

The Doc Talk Show is a presented by Groundswell Films. Producer and co-host Jeff Spitz. Associate Producer Devon MacNerland. Crew: Jordyn Harrison; Kyra Lyons; Blake Huang; Kenneth Richardson.

05/25/2022

Join us now!

https://youtu.be/NdoOQnBAWgI

Welcome to the First Doc Talk Live Stream

03/12/2022

Have you seen this kissing couple from 1898? There is a fantastic hidden history under our noses in Chicago. The first Chicago film company worked with local vaudeville stars and theaters.

We are bringing lost films like Something Good-Negro Kiss full circle back to Chicago just as our burgeoning film culture is becoming known for unrivaled urban scenery, diversity and the expanding infrastructure.

What are you doing on Wednesday, March 23rd at 2pm? Here is a free public event with recently discovered clips, rare photos and stories hosted by Jeff SpItz with speakers Allyson Field; Kwame Amoaku; Jeff Look; Devon MacNerland and more. Thanks to Chicago History Museum and Illinois Humanities and Columbia College Chicago. WGN-TV's Backstory with Larry Potash will be filming here.

All our welcome.

01/02/2022

The Doc Talk Show started with college students in Chicago.

12/27/2021

The Doc Talk Show congratulates director Ashley O'Shay and producer Morgan Johnson and the Unapologetic Doc team. Tonight you can join PBS audiences (approximately 3 million) to see the fully realized story that we peeped in Chicago when it was an unfolding and uncertain work-in-progress. Chicago docs are second to none.

Our Twitter chat starts at 8 PM EST tonight! Remember to follow us at https://bit.ly/3FjAAG5

12/23/2021

The Doc Talk Show is organizing for 2022. Here's a brilliant cartoon documentary that will help you appreciate the power of motion graphics. Better days ahead. https://vimeo.com/328684375

Examine the forgotten history of how our federal, state and local governments unconstitutionally segregated every major metropolitan area in America through law…

12/12/2021

Attention: new work force development opportunities for film & TV production in Chicago.

The Chicago Made: Film & TV Workforce Training Program helps Chicago residents get their foot in the door of the dynamic world of film and television. We offer this free program in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Chicago Film Office. We’re looking for...

11/04/2021

Did you register for the upcoming Doc Chicago 2021? It's a wonderful and FREE way to catch up all things doc in Chicago. Chicago Documentarians Support Group; Editors Guild of Columbia; Cinema and Television Arts; The Doc Talk Show; ; Special thanks to filmmaker and professor Ines Sommer of Northwestern University MFA in Documentary Media for making this happen!

WHAT IS DOC CHICAGO? Doc Chicago is an annual gathering for and by regional documentary filmmakers that provides a space to connect with each other, learn, and share ideas. Filmmakers representing...

08/07/2021

“I’m passionate about two things: creating activism centered films & demystifying the microbudget production process.”

Named one of Diversity in Cannes' Top 10 Filmmakers of the Decade, Zanah Thirus is an actress, producer, writer, and director from Chicago, IL.

Since launching her brand, Zanah Thirus Productions, LLC, Zanah has shifted her focus to merging arts and activism through documentary and narrative storytelling. Her films surround subjects such as gender, race, politics, and mental health.

Recently, her documentary, Unlearning S*x, won Best Human Rights Film at the Toronto International Women's Film Festival and The Silver Award at the Spotlight Documentary Film Awards (2020).

Her documentary 'Black Feminist' won Best Documentary at Coal City Film Festival (2021) in Nigeria, and the Jury Award for Best U.S. Documentary at the International Black & Diversity Film Festival (2021).

This year, Zanah branched into comedic storytelling with her romantic comedy short The Love You Want Exists, which is premiering at Academy Award Qualifying Festival, Bronze Lens (2021).

Zanah continues to write, produce, and direct projects that align with her overall mission of using film as a medium to drive social change.

To learn more about our past guests like Zanah Thirus, check out The Doc Talk Show website. Link down below!
https://www.thedoctalkshow.com

Thanks to our sponsors Columbia College Chicago Media Process Group Periscope Post & Audio Camera Ambassador