The panel (from left): Media and the Moving Image instructor Christine Wells, professor Paul Chilsen, Christopher Bowen, Dana Olsen, Jay Leggett, and Jody Williams.

Media and the Moving Image

A Panel Discussion

Students in Carthage's new graduate course Media and the Moving Image met with four professionals in the film industry for a panel discussion June 21. The panelists were:

Christopher J. Bowen

Mr. Bowen has been active in the film and video industries for 13 years, and is the author of two books about filmmaking: "Grammar of the Shot" and "Grammar of the Edit" (Focal Press, March 2009). Equally comfortable behind the camera and in front of an NLE, he has worked on numerous educational videos, documentaries, commercials, and short and feature-length films. He holds a master of arts degree in cinematography from Boston University and is currently an assistant professor of film and video production in the Communication Arts Department at Framingham State College. His field experience easily translates into the classroom, where he enjoys teaching cinematography, editing, lighting and grip, and directing.

Jay Leggett

Mr. Leggett is a writer, director, producer and actor. Originally from Tomahawk, Wis., Mr. Legget moved to Los Angeles to do the sketch television show "In Living Color," writing and performing with Jim Carrey, Chris Rock and Jamie Foxx. He has appeared in many hit television shows including "ER," "NYPD Blue," "Ally McBeal" and "The Drew Carey Show." He recently produced and starred in the critically acclaimed television series "Factory" for Spike TV. His first feature film script with writing partner Mitch Rouse, "Employee of the Month," was chosen to open the Sundance Film Festival. He also produced and co-starred in the film with Matt Dillon and Christina Applegate. He and Mr. Rouse went on to write several studio features including the hit Paramount comedy "Without a Paddle." Mr. Leggett is currently finishing producing and directing his first feature length documentary and developing several television projects in Los Angeles. He can be seen on screen this fall starring opposite Andy Dick in the new feature film "Division 3."

Dana Olsen

Mr. Olsen has authored seven feature films produced by Hollywood studios including Disney's "George of the Jungle" and "Inspector Gadget." He wrote and co-produced "The 'Burbs" starring Tom Hanks and directed by Joe Dante. He co-wrote the feature film adaptation of the H.F. Saint novel "Memoirs of an Invisible Man" starring Chevy Chase and directed by John Carpenter. A native of Chicago, Mr. Olsen broke into the business as a stand-up comedian at city clubs while still in high school. He attended Northwestern University, where he wrote and performed in the campus musical review the WaaMu Show and with the improvisational comedy troupe MeeOw. A performance caught the eye of producer/director Garry Marshall, and Olsen landed in Hollywood as a staff writer on the hit ABC comedy "Laverne & Shirley." In 1984, he co-starred opposite Judd Nelson in the fringe brat pack comedy "Making the Grade." Since then, he has continued his work as a character actor and has written more than 40 studio-commissioned screenplays and about a dozen television pilots.

Joe "Jody" Williams

Mr. Williams is a cinematographer and operator living in Chicago. In the past 12 years, he has worked on projects ranging from big-budget features with Spike Lee, Gore Verbinski and Ron Howard, to experimental shorts and music videos. His credits include the highly acclaimed "25th Hour" and "Stranger Than Fiction"; festival-winning independent features like "One Week and Dark"; award-winning music videos by international reggae star Capleton; the street gang documentary "F.E.D.S."; and the Emmy-winning documentary "Paper Trail: 100 years — The Chicago Defender." He earned his M.F. A. in film with an emphasis in cinematography from Ohio University, and has taught classes at Ohio University and Cleveland State University, and has lectured at Harvard University.