THE WORK
SEASON TWO COMING SOON!
“The Work” is a Chicago-based, film-focused, interview series with the goal of stimulating substantive one-on-one conversations about Chicago film and the filmmaking process. Fellow Chicago filmmakers, and co-creators, Curtis Matzke and Bradley Powell will serve as host of the upcoming series of ten interviews that will comprise The Work’s inaugural season. The impetus for the interview series started during the COVID lockdown as an informal conversation between friends.
“We looked around and saw filmmaking panels, talk-backs, and various other community events where the conversation was being had, but where very little of it was being correctly centered around how to sustainably exist as and become better filmmakers,” Matzke said. “We wanted to attempt to have a more substantive, nitty-gritty, brass tacks, sort of conversation--warts and all,” said Powell. “In other words, we sought to ask the basic question: How do you do what it is you do and how can we, together as a community, do it better and learn from one another?”
With the focus of exploring often overlooked topics and details Powell and Matzke have reached out to a talented list of artists in the growing Chicago filmmaking community and have ambitions of continuing the series in the future.
“We looked around and saw filmmaking panels, talk-backs, and various other community events where the conversation was being had, but where very little of it was being correctly centered around how to sustainably exist as and become better filmmakers,” Matzke said. “We wanted to attempt to have a more substantive, nitty-gritty, brass tacks, sort of conversation--warts and all,” said Powell. “In other words, we sought to ask the basic question: How do you do what it is you do and how can we, together as a community, do it better and learn from one another?”
With the focus of exploring often overlooked topics and details Powell and Matzke have reached out to a talented list of artists in the growing Chicago filmmaking community and have ambitions of continuing the series in the future.
FEBRUARY 2021 PARTICIPANTS
TOPICS
Ideas with Curtis Matzke and Bradley Powell
|
Producing & Best Practices with Sam George
Confidence with Kevin Pickman Success with LeLe Park Strategy with Jim Vendiola |
Strongly Held Beliefs with Mish Hilmy
The Producer’s Philosophy with Grace Hahn Challenges with Robert Bruce Carter Collaboration with Emily Lape |
MANIFESTO
- Attempt substantive conversation, specifically about the process and the work.
- Avoid small talk and excessive flattery.
- No plugs. No direct appeals to your own “brand” or career aspirations.
- Be curious. Ask questions only for which you want real answers.
- Stay humble. Be mindful of excessive name dropping, grandstanding, and the need to sound smart or hear your voice.
- Be as rigorous, self-critical, and exacting in your questioning, answers, and explanations, as is possible.
- Value minutia over generalities, the personal over the generic.
- Be honest.
PRESS