Film Discussion & Q&As

Film Discussions and Q&As

Periodically The Vickers Theatre offers a film discussion after one of our regular feature films.  Typically the film discussions are offered after a Saturday or Sunday matinee.  All who attend one of the film’s screenings are welcome.  Check current movie listings for upcoming discussions.

Our resident film expert, Judd Chesler leads most of our discussion groups

Judd Chesler taught film studies and production at Columbia College Chicago from 1980-2012 and before that at Purdue University, West Lafayette (1973-1980). He helped establish the Film Program at Purdue and at Columbia served in a number of administrative capacities in the Film and Video Department, including Co-Chair (1994-1995), Coordinator of Cinema Studies (1994-1999), and Director of the Graduate Program (1999-2007). On the production side, he has taught courses in basic and intermediate production, directing, and screenwriting.  He holds a B.A. in American Literature from the Univ. of Illinois at Chicago. and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Film from Northwestern University.

Past film screenings with discussions (with Judd Chesler) include:

THE MASTER,  PSYCHO,   AMOUR,  SIDE EFFECTS,  BEFORE MIDNIGHT,  SHORT TERM 12,  NO,   MUD,   BLUE JASMINE,  12 YEARS A SLAVE,  Charlie Chaplin: 100th anniversary of The Little Tramp,  UNDER THE SKIN,  CHEF,  THE IMMIGRANT,  CALVARY,  BIRDMAN,  WILD TALES,  WHILE WE’RE YOUNG,  WOMAN IN GOLD,  I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS

Additional film screenings with discussions:

COMPLIANCE (with Alan Palmer)

PINK SMOKE IN THE VATICAN (with Lil Lewis)

DISCONNECT (with Bill Lindblom)

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS  (with Bill Lindblom)

45 YEARS (with Bill Lindblom)

Past film screenings with Q & A s:

AT ANY PRICE,  (with actor Marc Grapey)

THE TROUBLE WITH THE TRUTH,  (with Producers Jim Hemphill and Nancy Hemphill)

OF TWO MINDS,  (with Director, Film Editor Doug Blush)

PARK CITY,  (with Director Hannah Rosner)

VINCENT: A LIFE IN COLOR,  (with Director Jennifer Burns and Vincent himself)

BREAKING AND ENTERING,  (with Director Benjamin Fingerhut and Producer Kelley Maher)

THE RED MACHINE,  (with Directors Stephanie Argy and Alec Bohem)

MUSTANG MAGIC (with Director Mark Behnke)

SPIRIT OF THE MARATHON 1 & 2, (with Director Jon Dunham)

LIFE ITSELF, (with Producer Zak Piper, and Technical Director Jim Morrissette)

THERE IS NOTHING ELSE (with Director Christiana Ochoa)

FINDING FELA, (with Producer Stephen Hendel)

PRANCER (1989) 25th Anniversary, (with Director John D. Hancock, and Editor, Dennis O’Connor)

THE LOOKING GLASS, (with Screenwriter and Actress Dorothy Tristan, Director John D. Hancock,

Actress Grace Tarnow, Actor Anthony Panzica, Film Editor Dennis O’Connor,

Producers Doreen BartoniKelly Daisy, & Andrew Tallackson)

FATHER OF THE FEATHERBONE, (with Film Maker Nick Bogert)

THE AMERICAN SIDE, (with Director Jenna Ricker, and Co-Writer & Actor Greg Stuhr)

Rick Erwin’s Local Documentaries;

GOING ROLLING, &

LOOKING FOR APPLE KEN, (with Director Rick Erwin)

THE HOUSE ON OAK STREET, a World Premier (with Director Kyle Misak,  Producer Don Chase, and members of the cast)

IMPERFECTIONS, (with Producer/Co-Writer Jonathan Singer)

BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY (1973), (with Director John D. Hancock)

THE ACORN, (with Director Kyle Mysak and Producer Don Chase)

JOE SAVOLDI; GRIDDER, GRAPPLER, HUSTLER, SPY (with Film Maker Nick Bogert)

Harbor Country Progress, a community based organization, and The Vickers Theatre host

FIRST-TUESDAY-OF-THE-MONTH FILM AND DISCUSSION SERIES

A documentary film & discussion series focusing on social, economic, health, political, and environmental issues.

Past films screened and discussed include:

DETROPIA,  GASLAND 2,  INEQUALITY FOR ALL,  PINK RIBBONS INC,  CITIZEN KOCH,  A PLACE AT THE TABLE,

MORE THAN HONEY,  THE UNKNOWN KNOWN,  THE CASE AGAINST 8,

DEAR WHITE PEOPLE,   CODE BLACK,  PRIVATE VIOLENCE,   LAST CALL AT THE OASIS,   FOOD CHAINS,   MERCHANTS OF DOUBT,

HE NAMED ME MALALA,

DREAM ON,  RADICAL GRACE,   THE TRUE COST,   CARTEL LAND,  THE ARMOR OF LIGHT,

CODE: DEBUGGING THE GENDER GAP,   (DIS)HONESTY,

1984 (1984),  I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO,  THE BABUSHKAS OF CHERNOBYL,

LO AND BEHOLD: REVERIES OF THE INTERNET,  TICKLING GIANTS,  DISTURBING THE PEACE,  ROOTED IN PEACE,  POLITICAL ANIMALS,

I, DANIEL BLAKE,   DOLORES,   BENDING THE ARC,  CELLING YOUR SOUL,  DENIAL (Documentary),  REQUIEM FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM