ROGER EBERT’S FILM FESTIVAL DOCUMENTARY

CAMERA OPERATOR

I had volunteered at Ebertfest for a few years as a student at the University of Illinois and had been fortunate enough to meet Roger Ebert before he passed away. To get to work on a documentary project only about a week after he had passed away was unbelievably meaningful.

I lived and breathed this project for more than a week. I was a camera operator on all the interviews before and after the screenings, constant coverage of the event itself, and timelapses at all hours of the day. It was a blast to be a part of.

One of my favorite moments to capture was a dance-along led by actress (and longtime friend of Roger), Tilda Swinton. As Roger had only passed away about a week before this festival, we heard rumors at the last minute that she planned a morale boost in Roger’s memory one of the first days of the festival. With no idea what was going to unfold, I am actually in the center of the lower section shooting, dancing, and holding back happy tears as we all jammed out in Roger’s memory.