Film Studies Newsletter
Don't know how to approach a film prof with casual, witty ice-breaking banter?
We know from our own days as student that professors aren’t always the easiest people to approach. So here are some recommended topics of conversation that go beyond the old and overused line, “seen any good movies lately?” When you run into Philippe Costaglioli, ask him about his recent trip to the Czech Republic where he toured and performed with the musical group, Zeitgeist. Between gigs he dropped in on the Brno International Short Film Festival where his (dare we say uncanny) ability to speak six languages got him pressed into service as a translator at Q & A sessions. Philippe runs our International Film Festival, writes, performs, and publishes poetry, and is an avid runner and table tennis fanatic. Speaking of fanatics, don’t mention comic books to Brad Chisholm or he’ll talk you’re ear off. Instead, ask him about the latest developments in post-Saussurian narrative theory, field-sequential color television of the 1950s, or the lost art of silent movie intertitles. On second thought, ask him about comic books. Brad sends a big “hello” to former student and present-day English teacher Tiffany Schmid and her students at Albertville-St. Michael high school where he recently spoke. No stranger to high school speaking engagements himself, Chris Jordan, our cultural studies and media criticism authority, just got back from Vancouver where he presented a paper at the Union of Democratic Communication Conference. In his disreputable past, Chris was an entertainment reporter who covered the popular music scene, and clever students know how easy it is to engage him in passionate discussions of every musical genre from heavy metal to blues. It is also easy to ask Eva Honegger how her latest film or screenplay is going, but she’ll expect that. Instead, surprise her by inquiring what it was like to participate in Stearns County’s goofy “tour de tubs” bicycle expedition. Eva established our filmmaking curriculum, just added new courses in animation and sound production, brought Panavision to campus, and snares cool guest speakers such as cinematographer William F. Carlson. She does all this, and, we’re proud to say, chairs the entire Department of Theatre, Film Studies, and Dance as well!
