Creating a Brighter Future through Media Education

With the FACETS ReOpening Soon Campaign ending soon, we wanted to take some time and look back at the impact that our education programs have had on the individuals and community within and around FACETS.

In the last year, communication has changed so much, with there really being no such thing as “face-to-face” conversations when it comes to our personal and professional lives. In a time where so much of our communication has been pushed into the digital realm, we are interacting with video and screens more than ever have before. Now is the time where film and media literacy are most important.

Since our opening, FACETS has been dedicated to education, and exploration through film. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, FACETS has conducted virtual field trips, where classes can watch film programs curated by the experts at FACETS Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF) designed to connect to their education curriculum goals.

FACETS has also taken our normal summer film camps to the digital realm and expanded our filmmaking classes over Zoom. Throughout these hard times, we have adapted and so have our campers, but we have always stayed true to our mission of community driven education. With virtual, hybrid, and in-person camp offerings for this summer, we can’t wait to welcome campers back into the historic FACETS building to learn safely.

We are reopening soon to be together again. 

We are reopening soon to experience the power of cinema. 

We are reopening soon to create a brighter future. 

So many wonderful people have come through our doors, from our audience and longtime members, film community icons like Werner Hertzog, and Roger Ebert, and the dozens of bright young minds we welcome to film camp every summer.

In previous publications we have discussed a few notable members of the film community, so this week we wanted to spotlight a camper from 13 years ago, who has been through our doors more than most, as she have been involved in quite a few different aspects of FACETS.

This versatility and adaptability has made her view of our organization a unique one as it more far more fleshed out, and complete, than most people’s idea of FACETS. Someone who has been with FACETS from their childhood all the way to post-graduation.

Without further ado, an interview with Willis Weinstein.

Tyler: So just to start off, could you introduce yourself?

Willis: Totally! I’m Willis Weinstein, I go by she/her pronouns, and I’m a genderfluid filmmaker from Chicago, Illinois. I’m really glad to be here today, I got my start with FACETS around age ten, I was a camper and then I was able to proudly serve on the professional Jury [for the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival], and then I went on to intern, and now I do freelance education work with FACETS teaching an animation workshop.

Tyler: So back when you were first signing up for the FACETS summer camps, how did you first get involved with FACETS, how did you first hear about it and what were your first experiences with FACETS?

Willis: I think my parents probably referred me, I was looking for a summertime activity and I loved movies, I loved watching movies and TV and my parents really encouraged me to spend my summertime deepening that commitment and love for movies by seeing if I could make them. And as it turned out I did enjoy that.

Tyler: So, kind of moving past when you were at the summer camps and when you were a juror, more so focusing on when you were an intern at FACETS, what types of projects did you work on and what role did you play when you were an intern?

Willis: Yeah! I mean, I was working in several departments when I was an intern, I first helped out working with Kathleen Beckman who at that time I believe was the head of youth operations. I was working as an assistant to the summer camp, so I was helping young people make movies on Zoom, which, you know, I was initially a little hesitant about it, but it turned out super well. I think the kids got an awesome grasp of how to tell a story, and how to do different shots, and ultimately learned about being creative within the limitations you have, which I think is one of the greatest lessons you can give to any filmmaker at any age, so I was really proud to have worked to instill that knowledge in the campers. Especially because you know, that was me, 13 years ago I suppose. So that was really cool to look in the mirror and see how much I’d grown.

I also did some work with programming, so I helped out with the logistics for the film festival which is really cool.

Then, later in the year from fall to winter, I worked in the marketing department, with Paul Gonter and Emma Greenleaf, shoutout to them, they were such excellent colleagues. My favorite project was producing the “How to Fest” video, which gave festival attendees instructions on how to watch the fest from home. That was easily the most fun project. I think I also got great experience writing social media copy and deepening my understanding of what make FACETS tick and why the Children’s Film Festival is so special from working in the marketing department.

Tyler: So, you kind of touched on this already when you were talking about deepening your knowledge of how FACETS ticks and all that. But when you were working with FACETS, even all the way back to the summer camps and such, could you talk a little bit about what new skills you acquired throughout your time at FACETS? And going off of that, what are some skills you held onto, or skills that are still helpful for you today?

Willis: Yeah, I mean, I would want to answer that question by dividing it up, I think. I learned stuff from the summer camps that I still use today, and then I learned different things as an intern and I think, what I am most excited about is, my time in the summer camp. They have instilled in me a genuine confidence that I have good ideas, and also am capable of compelling storytelling.

I’m a writer/director now and you know those are the foundational skills that you need to helm the ship of any creative cinematic endeavor, right? You have to trust the script, the script is king, you have to understand how the story functions on a structural level and be confident that your story is worth telling. And FACETS gave that to me, that confidence. I wish I could point to a specific instance, or like specific day where I learned this, but I think it’s sort of a wholistic learning experience. Like having other young collaborators to work with, who you’re generous with as a creator, and also leaders and mentors who encourage you to keep listening to yourself and to keep putting your work out there. They are so instrumental to that confidence that I have as an artist.

In terms of skills, I learned as an intern, I’m 23, a lot of millennials, gen Z, you know, all the younger people, and just a lot of people are on social media. Through my internship learning about, writing copy and making posts on Facebook and Instagram, it really gave me a sense of how to reach people and what sort of messages goes down easier as opposed to others. I think that people just don’t want to read too many words, you know, short and sweet I think is one of the most valuable lesson.

Also producing the “How to Fest” videos as well I really gained a lot of confidence in my skills to teach myself things. I didn’t go to film school, I majored in philosophy undergrad, which I love, and I think has been an incredibly worthwhile decision. But you know the sort of work I did finding opensource music that I could score the production videos with, or designing the colors, the look, the feel, all that stuff was self-taught you know but with the help of the marketing department. But really anyone can teach themselves to be a filmmaker so that’s what I would encourage people to believe and you know I tip my cap to FACETS for giving me that belief in myself.

Tyler: The next two questions kind of tie together and you have definitely touched on these already, but the next questions we want to ask touch on how these skills you just talked about have helped you in college and beyond. I know you just graduated last year, so how have these skills that you’ve learned, the confidence, along with the more specific stuff like copywritings and social media posting, helped you, not only in school but beyond and in projects that you’ve worked on.

Willis: Honestly I don’t think FACETS was as applicable in my college years but now that I’m swimming in the grown-ups pool its really been key with just giving me a good foundational understanding of how a good story works and making you’re commitment to the message you’re telling really strong. I think that’s been so instrumental in my work and life and I don’t think I would have had the foundation and confidence that I have exhibited thus far as a filmmaker had it not been for FACETS.

I’ve done some work PA’ing on sets around Chicago and you know when you’re working at a big soundstage at Cinespace or something, it can be intimidating right, you’re basically in this giant, sort-of military seeming warehouse, and all these people are running around and everyone’s busy and everyone has a walkie talkie. I think the foundational skills of how a film set works and what the jobs are on a filmset, that was really comforting when going into a new environment. It’s all in the brain and its all in the heart and that’s what FACETS taught me for sure.

Tyler: Going off of that, thinking back to what you mentioned earlier about how, when you first got started at FACETS you feel like there was a push from your parents because you enjoyed film and movies, but it pushed you to move to the creative side of it. Have you seen yourself growing creatively through the years of working with FACETS, and have you noticed like a deepening of your love or appreciation of film from your first days at FACETS to now?

Willis: I think where I’ve grown most is my creative skills, so over the summer, or last summer rather, when I was working the summer camps I just worked with so many wonderful young people. That said, when you’re not in person with someone communication can be tough, you’re talking through a screen so a lot of the non-verbal cues can be missed, and the advantage in height that I have over someone’s who is maybe ten or fourteen isn’t there. So that sort of shifts the power dynamic.

I think I was definitely nervous, how am I going to help these students make the best product that they can, and stay focused with the limited time that we have. With the help of Kathleen and Jeff Sweden who also works for FACETS from time to time, he is a wonderful youth educator, I really got more confident in being able to be direct and also, you know, understanding the push and pull of collaboration. I think no matter what part of creating that you’re in, it is very easy to kind of just sink your claws into the ground and not budge but that’s where creativity dies. Your art is stronger when you let go of things.

Compromising with those young people and encouraging them to do the same with each other really helped me trust the process of my own work and truly just become a better director. I mean hopefully when you’re a director who is a professional adult like myself you work with people who aren’t temperamentally similar to ten year olds, but I think working with young people made me realize, each person has a different thing that rings their bell so to speak, so you gotta meet people where they’re at and be cognizant of how you’re modeling behavior and how you’re communicating with your collaborators to really create a safe environment, a respectful environment and a generative one.

In terms of my love for film, I’m not sure. I definitely think what I’m most grateful for is my creative skills when I think back that’s what I treasure and that’s what I’m glad I came to FACETS for.

Tyler: Moving away from your experiences specifically we wanted to ask you two questions sort of relating to the education programs we run at FACETS which is great because you still freelance with that. So, could you talk about why you think film and media literacy are important especially today with everything being so digitalized, why is it so important to teach?

Willis: Totally, I mean I think regardless of if you’re into film or not or whether or not you work in entertainment, I think being able to understand and grapple with the world around you is a human skill and I think that FACETS really taught me this and gave me that critical eye through the lens of film. It taught me to, as even-keeled as possible, take a look at a piece of art and say like “okay I observed this and I see that, and I see that, and I see that” and then sort of using the classical argumentative structure, right, like “I saw this, it made me feel this way, because it made me feel this way, I think it’s good or it’s bad.” And like that helps me, just be a person in the world, whether I’m ordering a sandwich and I think to myself like “oh well Im not gonna get mayonnaise next time because it didn’t taste that good,” or I’m making my own films and I’m rematching stuff that I’ve done or you know I’m watching any professional or independent cinema, I can analyze artistic choices that people make with a greater sense of understanding.

Uh. Do you mind reminding me of the question again I got into the joy of recalling all that stuff I kind of lost it.

Tyler: For sure! The specific question why do you think film and media are important to teach and to learn and all that?

Willis: Totally! Like I said already, I think it provides lifelong skills of critical thinking. And if you want to create, it helps you get a better sense of your creative vision and your artistic mission.

We live in a kind of interesting political landscape right now you know, there are a lot of people out there who are trying to use media for good ends and be inclusive and create a space that is genuinely welcoming to everyone. Then there are people out there who are trying to use media to demonize or be racist and divisive and I think that it’s really important to recognize when you are watching, what the sort of intentions of the media are.

We are shaped by media is what I’m trying to say and its good to be able to understand what’s going into the content we absorb so we can react to it, or rather respond to it in a way that’s ultimately productive and respectful.

Tyler: That is a great answer. Moving off of that we actually have a second question about this exact same topic. Why do you think it’s important to start teaching this to kids and teens? Do you think its more important to start younger with this stuff?

Willis: Yeah, I mean I’m not a professional or an expert pedagogical wizard in any respect, but I have always felt that getting people started young on important concepts is beneficial. I would guess that you know because we live in such a digital age, right, people are always on their phones. Most young people I know like TikTok, right? So it is very much part of our language, like being fluent in today’s culture presupposes media and digital literacy. I think if you want to help people spend the rest of their lives being in touch with the culture and in touch with themselves and able to take a stand for what they believe in and for what is right I think its really important that you instill those skills in people and reach them when they’re young because that’s where the magics at.

Tyler: Just to wrap it all up, do you have any final thoughts about your time at FACETS, or any comments on anything we’ve talked about here today?

Willis: Listen, to all the adults out there, send your kids to FACETS, just do it, you’re not gonna regret it, I dare say you will relish and look fondly upon the decision.

But ultimately, I really just want to say thank you to all the good people at FACETS I feel so lucky to still be working with the FACETS team and I wouldn’t be here after thirteen years if I didn’t love it. It’s like a second home to me. I mean I even painted the building, I’m not kidding you, over the summer we had an internal sort of renovation project and I got to sort of paint the walls and stuff, and each time I drive by its so good to say like “oh my god I remember doing that stairwell it was such a pain in the butt”, Yeah just, thank you to the good people at FACETS thank you for providing a warm space, it’s very comfortable you know its just a great place to be. I would encourage young people who are interesting in film to do the same and find skills and a love for media that works for you.

Tyler: That’s a great answer to that! I think finally I just want to ask you, earlier you mentioned being a writer / director, so what are you working on now and where can people find it if they’re interested?

Willis: Thank you for asking! I actually just released my second short today (April 16, 2021). It’s a choreographed poem, called They Say Trees. I worked with this queer poet from Maine named Audrey Gidman and two really good friends of mine Tuxford Turner and Jordan Tragash who were the actor and cinematographer respectively. You can catch that on Instagram it is being produced by Major Anxiety Pictures (@Majoranxietypix).

Then there’s also my directorial debut solvitur tondendo, which means it is solved by shaving in Latin. It is really a labor of love, its about gender expression and shaving and taking a leap of faith. That one is also on Instagram you can go to the page Chicago Made Shorts (@ChicagoMadeShorts) and you can catch it there and give it a watch. Or you can follow me on Instagram @willisweinstein and stay up to date with all my life working media and otherwise.

Please give to our ReOpening Soon Campaign today so that we can safely reopen for transformative, in person education experiences.

Tyler Meder is an Editorial Assistant Intern at FACETS. He received his B.A. in Communication, Film, and New Media from Carthage College after completing his thesis on shot on video horror films. He has contributed work in video and writing to multiple industries including live theatre, which earned him an honors in Animation and Video Production from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.