The Doc Talk Show

12/07/2025

how teaching doc to college kids went sideways on us OGs

08/16/2025

a clip from

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

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!

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:

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!

Welcome to the First Doc Talk Live Stream