Overview
Application deadline: Thursday, Oct 1st, 2026 -11:59pm
Every year, the Pritzker Pucker Studio Lab (PPSL) selects a new cohort of fellows who participate in a two-course sequence and receive support to produce their own projects. The goal of PPSL is to critically and creatively examine how mental health and mental illness are represented on screen, helping students develop a more nuanced understanding of both the underlying issues and their portrayal in media. Students then apply these insights to their own creative work.
PPSL’s RTVF479 Mental Health in the Media Arts course sequence will next be offered during the 2027 Winter and Spring quarters, with the first course focusing on production and the second on post-production.
Students will develop, write, produce, direct, record and edit short individual projects that center on mental illness/health. Final projects can be 5-20 min. in length and need to be completed by the end of Spring quarter. Projects will be screened publicly and students are expected to participate in a Q+A at a culminating PPSL event at the end of Spring quarter.
Students’ short individual media projects may take any form – including fiction, documentary, animation, experimental, docu-fiction/hybrid, essay film, sound installation, multi-media performance, and more. Diversity of storytelling, perspective, form, style, genre, and even technology are all encouraged and supported by the lab.
The courses meet twice each week, with one daytime session and one evening session. Daytime meetings will focus on students’ projects and presentations, feedback sessions, discussions, workshops, and more. Evening sessions are typically dedicated to public events, screenings, lectures, and visits by guest speakers. Students are required to attend and actively participate in both weekly sessions.
Project Funding
Each project will be supported by funding across two quarters that can only be applied towards project expenses. PPSL will provide detailed guidance on financial processes and paperwork.
Technical Competency
Students need foundational technical media production skills to enroll in and succeed in the PPSL courses, which are intermediate-level video production courses. Northwestern undergraduate students who are not RTVF majors and have not previously completed the foundational RTVF 190 Media Construction course will still be considered for PPSL if they are able to enroll in RTVF 190 during the Fall or Winter quarter. Please note that graduate students are not eligible to take RTVF 190 and will instead be asked to demonstrate technical competency through an alternative process.
Equipment Access, Crew, and Collaboration
Students will have access to equipment housed in the PPSL “mini Cage” as well as equipment from the RTVF Cage, depending on each student’s individual authorization level. Class time will be dedicated to learning equipment that is unique to the PPSL Cage. A $50 refundable deposit is required and all regular Cage policies apply. PPSL students may use their project funds to rent additional equipment from a rental house.
Each student will develop their individual short project, but collaborating and crewing on their peers’ projects is highly encouraged. The goal is to develop a supportive and collaborative environment that encourages creative exploration. We prefer a small footprint for PPSL projects and the lab is not able to support large scale projects.
Application Timeline and Process
Thursday, October 1st, 2026 -11:59pm: online application deadline
Mid-October: Finalists will be selected for interviews
Oct 15-30: Interviews
Early November: Final selections for the 2027 cohort of PPSL Fellows will be announced and selected students will be issued permission numbers prior to registration.
APPLY NOW
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FAQs
Is this opportunity open to freshmen/first-years?
Alas, no, but you can apply as a sophomore, junior or senior. The good news is that you are invited to all of our public events and screenings where you can engage with our guest speakers and meet some of the current PPSL students. Please consult our events page for upcoming listings.
Is this opportunity open to undergraduate and graduate students who are not RTVF majors?
Yes, both undergraduate and graduate students from across the university are encouraged to apply as long as they can demonstrate foundational video production and post-productions skills.
Will there be comprehensive technical instruction related to all aspects of filmmaking?
The PPSL classes are intermediate-to-advanced level courses, so foundational technical competency is a pre-requisite. You should feel comfortable recording and editing your own projects. However, some class time will be set aside to learn PPSL-specific equipment and additional tech workshops can also be arranged depending on the skill level and needs of the cohort.
How psychologically challenging will this course be?
Students should be prepared to watch and discuss contemporary and historical fiction films, documentaries, experimental works, TV shows etc. that foreground mental health concerns, illness, and trauma. Some of these media art works might be difficult to watch. Please consider how viewing this material will affect you and if this is the right time for you to apply.
Students should be ready to present and discuss their own work, which includes receiving constructive feedback from instructors, visiting artists, and their peers. For students who want to tell personal, autobiographical stories, please consider if you currently have enough emotional distance to receive and process feedback on your work.
I have a completed script ready to go. Should I apply to PPSL?
If your script is finished and you’re ready to begin filming and aren’t in a place where you want feedback or additional perspectives, the PPSL course might not be the best match. The expectation of this program is that you will create a new work that is informed by what you’ll be learning about media representations of mental illness/health and that you are still open to revisions. We recommend that you apply for one of the RTVF Department’s MAG grants or one of the student group grants instead.
I want to apply to PPSL and create a film with a larger crew model. Is that doable?
Projects with a smaller footprint will do better in the PPSL courses.
Other questions? Please email studiolab@northwestern.edu