Future
Weather premieres in Chicago:
February 2/22 – 2/28 @ Gene Siskel Film Center
Post-Screening Conversations
Enjoy
nightly discussions with experts exploring some of the film's key themes: science, youth empowerment, climate action and independent
filmmaking
Friday, February 22nd 6pm
Jenny Deller - Writer-Director-Producer, Future Weather
Kristin Fairweather - Producer, Future Weather
Steve Prokopy - Editor, Ain't It Cool News
Better known as the film writer "Capone", Steve
Prokopy is "the Chicago king of film nerds" and editor of Ain't It
Cool News. AICN is dedicated to news, rumors and reviews of upcoming and
currently playing films and television projects, with an emphasis on science
fiction, fantasy, horror, comic-book and action genres. It combines gossip from
anonymous and unverified sources as well as news and reviews.
Saturday, February 23rd 12:30pm
Jenny Deller - Writer-Director-Producer, Future Weather
Illinois
Math and Science Academy (IMSA)
The internationally recognized Illinois
Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) develops creative, ethical leaders in
science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Saturday, February 23rd 7:45pm
Youth Science: Building Relationships, Expanding Opportunities, and Inspiring Personal Transformation
Jenny Deller - Writer-Director-Producer, Future Weather
Dr. Gabrielle Lyon is the Cofounder and Executive
Director of Project Exploration, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization
dedicated to changing the face of science by ensuring students of color and
girls have personalized experiences with science and scientists.
Rebecca earned her PhD in cell biology from
Northwestern University in 2011. While a graduate student, Rebecca volunteered
with the McCormick Boys and Girls Club after-school science program, Science
Club, where she developed a passion for working with at-risk youth. She currently serves as the
Assistant Director of Science in Society, a Northwestern University office for
science outreach and public engagement.
John Thompson - Guest Lecturer, University of Chicago & Visiting Researcher, Field Museum
John is a retired department chair, science team leader and biology instructor at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. He currently is a guest lecturer at the University of Chicago and a visiting researcher at the Field Museum. Previously, he has consulted with schools across the USA and Asia (India and Korea), served as a writer for the Science Standards in Illinois, Chicago and Florida. He also hosts workshops for middle school children at the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University.
Sunday, February 24th 2pm
Green
Chicago: Explore Your Environment, Bust Myths & Get Your Hands Dirty
Jenny Deller - Writer-Director-Producer, Future Weather
Kelly A. Borden is an archaeologist by training but an educator by passion. After completing a BA in anthropology at SUNY Binghamton and an MA in Public Archaeology at University College London, she decided to pursue a career in museum education. Currently she works as an educator in the Adler Planetarium's citizen science department as part of the team developing online citizen science projects for zooniverse.org.
Kristen Pratt - Program Coordinator, Chicago Conservation Corps
Kristen coordinates the Chicago Conservation
Corps (C3) at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. C3 recruits, trains, and supports Chicago
residents who plan and implement community-based environmental service
projects; the current volunteer base includes students and teachers from more
than 80 Chicago Public Schools and more than 450 adult volunteers.
Kate Sackman is the founder and president of
EcoMyths Alliance, a non-profit that busts environmental myths to inspire
people to live more sustainably.
EcoMyths™ works with over 20 institutional partners, including the Field
Museum of Chicago, Chicago Botanic Garden, and the National Wildlife
Federation, to identify common misconceptions about nature and
conservation.
Monday, February 25th 6pm
Strategies
for Success: Independent Filmmaking Outside of NYC & LA
Jenny Deller - Writer-Director-Producer of Future Weather
Ruth Leitman - Founder of Ruthless Films, Professor at Columbia College
Leitman has a BFA in Film and Photography from University of
the Arts in Philadelphia and has been teaching filmmaking for 14 years. Through
her company Ruthless Films, she has directed 6 feature length documentary films
that have received funding from Rockefeller Foundation, Paul Robeson Fund,
TribeCa Film Institute, Fledgling Fund and Illinois Humanities Council. Her
film Alma (1998), won the Documentary Feature Jury Prize at Hamptons Film
Festival, screened at IDFA, SXSW, DGA and Whitney Biennial. Her film Lipstick
& Dynamite (2005) premiered at TriBeCa Film Festival and Hot Docs. It
won the Documentary Storytelling Prize at Nantucket Film Festival, was released
theatrically by Koch Lorber Films and broadcast on SHOWTIME. Lipstick was
featured on Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien and NPR’s Fresh Air and Morning Edition.
Leitman wrote Fordson, which has garnered numerous festival awards. Most
recently Tony & Janina’s American Wedding (2010) an immigration story,
premiered at Chicago International Film Festival winning a Jury Prize.
Freelance clients include: The Redwalls, Neko Case, Ronald McDonald House, Safe
Humane Chicago, American Trial Lawyers Association, and Sallie Mae Student
Loans. Early work as a photographer includes: Rolling Stone, SPIN, Esquire, Working
Mother, Newsweek, Outkast, Black Crowes, REM and Indigo Girls. Leitman is in
development on a 1950’s fiction feature film, The Pin Down Girl, about the
pioneers of women’s wrestling.
Brad Gyori - Tribeca Flashpoint Academy
Brad Gyori has been a film and broadcast instructor since
2007. He also has over 20 years experience writing and producing for such
networks as MTV, VH1, FX, E! and HBO online.For ten years, he was the head
writer of the Emmy award winning Talk Soup. Brad has been nominated for five
Emmys and holds a PhD in Rhetoric and Composition from Arizona State
University. His research interests include new media rituals and project-based
learning models.
Claire Connelly - Line Producer, IFP Chicago Board Member
Tuesday, February 26th 7:45pm
Science
in Society: Impacting Our Daily Lives
Jenny
Deller - Writer, Director, Producer, Future Weather
Bethany
Hubbard - Publications Editor, Science in Society
A graduate of Northwestern University's theatre program with a Masters of Science in Journalism from the Medill School of Journalism, Bethany is passionate about using storytelling and art to better communicate science to the public. She
currently serves as Publications Editor for Science in Society, a Northwestern
University office for science outreach and public engagement.
Jennifer Brandel is an independent reporter and
creator of WBEZ's Curious City - a crowd-powered project that unravels the
everyday mysteries of Chicago and the region. Brandel has served as a general
assignment reporter for WBEZ’s News Desk and reported dozens of feature pieces
WBEZ as well as national outlets like Day
to Day, Weekend America, Latino USA and Interfaith Voices. She's also assistant produced for Wait! Wait! Don’t Tell Me!, blogged for
Transom.org, and served as talent for fictional pieces aired on the CBC's WireTap and Love and Radio.
Julie Marie Lemon - Program Director of Arts/Science Initiative, University of Chicago
Julie Marie Lemon is the Program Director of the
Arts|Science Initiative in the Provost Office and the Reva and David Logan
Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago. Lemon created the
Arts|Science Initiative in 2010, building a platform to explore new modes of
artistic and scientific production and inquiry within the University and
beyond. Lemon brings a wealth of experience in developing arts programs with a
particular focus on visual arts and arts education and a strong knowledge of
the University’s science community. With
degrees from both the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin,
Julie Marie has worked with the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Art Institute
of Chicago, the American International School of Rotterdam in the Netherlands,
the Chicago Architecture Foundation, and the Walker Art Center.
Wednesday, February 27th 6pm
Science
in Society: Getting Kids Started Early
Jenny Deller - Writer-Director-Producer, Future Weather
Allison Price, Director of Education, specializes
in the interpretation of scientific concepts to non-scientific audiences. She holds an M.S. in Science and Technology
Studies from Virginia
Tech where her work focused on science and technology journalism and aerospace
history. In addition to her eight years working in
various informal learning institutions, Allison spent five years as the Deputy
Editor of the Association for Women in Science Magazine and five years as an
assistant coach for a local high school competitive speech team. She joined the staff
of Lincoln Park Zoo in 2010 as the Manager of Guest Engagement, transitioning
into her role as Director of Education in 2012.
Olivia Cohn - Citizen Science Research Coodinator, SustainUS & Chicago Climate Action
In her current role, Olivia Cohn is managing climate change
mitigation and adaptation performance measurement for Chicago’s sustainability
plan, the Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP), for the Global Philanthropy
Partnership consulting to the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office of Sustainability.
Through this work, she supports general City sustainability efforts; develops a
CCAP continuous improvement strategic vision; assesses greenhouse gas reduction
and performance indicator data; presents climate mitigation and preparedness
progress; prepares performance templates for the public, partners, and
oversight; and collaborates with climate change planning and action
stakeholders and thought leaders. In
addition, Olivia serves as Citizen Science Coordinator for SustainUS, a
national non-profit organization that represents U.S. young voices in the
international environmental dialogue. In this role, she directs a citizen
science research competition and serves on the SustainUS Steering Committee.
Previously, Olivia worked for the State of Michigan’s Department of
Environmental Quality, supporting environmental education initiatives and
developing cross-cutting policies for the Michigan Climate Action Council.
Christine Chirchirillo - Early Elementary Science Partnership Educator, The Chicago Academy of Sciences & Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Christine currently holds a position at the Peggy Notebaert
Nature Museum as the Early Elementary Science Partnership Educator. She relies on her education and experience in
informal learning institutions to provide on and off-site programming related
to science and nature. Christine received a M.A. in Conservation Education
Management from George Mason University (2012) and a B.A. in Family Services
from Purdue University (2005). Prior to joining the education department at the
museum, she worked at John G. Shedd Aquarium (2006-2010) as an educator sharing
her knowledge in biological science, aquatic systems and animals. Christine
also worked as a lead teacher and classroom assistant at Fowler House, Purdue
Child Care Program in West Lafayette, Indiana (2003-2005).
Thursday, February 28th, 8:15pm
Empowering Youth: Make Their
Surroundings Come Alive
Jenny Deller - Writer-Director-Producer, Future Weather
Alison
Paul - Urban Conservation Educator, The Field Museum
Alison manages the Calumet Environmental
Education Program (CEEP) for The Field Museum's division of Environment,
Culture, and Conservation (ECCo). Alison and the CEEP team work with 130
teachers to engage over 3,000 4th-12th students in the Calumet region annually.
By working in partnership with schools, non-profit organizations, and
land-owning agencies, CEEP uses a place-based education model to get teachers
and students excited about nature in their own back yard as well as active on
local urban conservation issues.
Allison Price - Director of Education at Lincoln Park Zoo
See above.
John Thompson - Guest Lecturer, University of Chicago & Visiting Researcher, Field Museum
See above.
