How do you direct actors regarding stories that involve mental health concerns?  Thursday, April 6, 2023 | 7:00pm In this lecture/demonstration, actress and Northwestern University assistant professor of instruction Detra Payne will lead student PPSL directors as they practice directing their actors.  The questions on the table: How do you direct actors regarding stories that

Anthropologist Rebecca Seligman will discuss a range of depictions of dissociative identity disorder in film/TV from a cross-cultural perspective. Thursday, March 30, 2023 | 7:00pm Rebecca Seligman is a medical and psychological anthropologist who focuses on transcultural psychiatry, or the study of mental health in cross-cultural perspective. Her research interests involve critical examination of the

AJ Christian, Assoc. Professor of Communication Studies  and Spencer Parsons  Assoc. Professor, Head of Production  will discuss mental health and harm reduction in production. Thursday, March 9, 2023 | 7:00pm Aymar Jean “AJ” Christian is an associate professor of communication studies at Northwestern University. His research focuses on the political economy of legacy and new

A discussion with Journalist/Founder Cathy Applefeld Olson. Thursday, March 2, 2023 | 7:00pm Entertainment journalist and Medill alum Cathy Applefeld Olson discusses what she’s learned  interviewing artists and executives in the Hollywood industries about mental health, and her new venture Hollywood & Mind, which is focused on leveraging the unrivaled influence of the entertainment community

Please join us as we feature a selection of short films and scripts created by our inaugural class of student fellows. Thursday, February 23, 2023 | 7:00pm A presentation of films and written work by Seunghee Chang, Lizzie Davis, Ginny Lee, Danielle Llevada, and Meghan Wells followed by a Q&A. Learn more about the inaugural

In hybrid formal, Dr. Crystal T. Clark, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine will discuss various depictions of Depression in film and TV. Thursday, February 16, 2023 | 7:00pm Crystal Clark’s clinical expertise is in mood and anxiety disorders. Her research and clinical interests focus on

In hybrid format, join us for a discussion with Kate Erskine on the visual, cultural, and historical manifestations of trauma through film. Thursday, February 9, 2023 | 7:00pm The “flashback” belongs to both cinematic and clinical language of trauma, but which came first? Using Hiroshima mon Amour (1959), a cornerstone of French New Wave cinema,

Co-sponsored by the American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) Screening and Q&A: GET OUT ALIVE is a new autobiographical afrogoth musical that gives voice to a troubled artist’s recovery after a suicide attempt. Nikki’s offbeat and honest approach to sharing her mental health journey shows that even when life leads us to a bad place, we

By: Michelle Molina, Associate Professor, Religious Studies/History/Gender Studies, Northwestern University Thursday, January 12, 2023 | 7:00pm Despite our contemporary discourse about mental health that emphasizes “bounded” selves, we have to ask, are the boundaries of “self” firm for anyone? The past provides a playground of images, texts, and ideas with which we can begin to

In hybrid format, join us for a lively conversation with Melissa Villaseñor about the relationship between comedy and mental health. Monday, November 7, 2022 | 7:00pm Melissa Villaseñor is a stand-up comedian, actress, and impressionist who broke barriers by becoming the first-ever Latina cast member of Saturday Night Live. Melissa has voiced characters for Toy