By Owen Brandes, Contributor
Illustration by Naiya Patel-Kapka, Editor-In-Chief
At Hark lunch this past week, I grabbed some seat with the Film Co-op central committee for a chat about the past, present, and future of Oberlin’s very own motion picture production powerhouse.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Owen Brandes: First of all, can you tell me a bit about yourselves?
Juliet Zuccola: I’m a second-year cinema major from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I make movies, and I’m also a media associate. I work for the film department, and I’m a teacher’s assistant for a production class. And I think that’s it.
Charley Burns: I’m a third-year cinema and media student, and also Integrated Arts BFA. I’m from Detroit, Michigan. I’m also a media associate and work for the department. I’m also one of the co-presidents of the Film Co-op. Sometimes I do animation. There’s lots of things.
JZ: I forgot to say I’m also a co-president of the Film Co-op!
OB: What is your Letterboxd profile picture, and why is it the same photo?
[Reader’s note: Both Burns’ and Zuccola’s profile picture is a frame of Dean Stockwell in David Lynch’s Blue Velvet.]
CB: Wait, okay. That was unintentional!
JZ: It’s been like that since high school for me.
CB: It has been like that since I was 13! Dean Stockwell is one of the best actors of all time. And that scene in Blue Velvet, 12-year-old Charley was really obsessed with that.
JZ: I was, like, 15. I found out I’m also loosely related to Dean Stockwell, [which happened] when I was in a phase where I was finding myself very attracted to Dean Stockwell. So that was kind of weird.
CB: But it was completely unintentional. It was a complete accident that we didn’t realize until about a year ago.
OB: What is the Film Co-op?
CB: Oberlin’s student-run production house. Our main thing is sponsoring and producing student films. We also do film social events and workshops. We’re a one-stop shop for all student film needs.
JZ: We do mixers and things like the Film Co-op table every other week. We’re the big student resource for filmmaking on campus—with literally everything. We just released a form for people to get us to produce their films. Our equipment checkout is finally up and running this year. We’re ordering so much equipment…
CB: We do our 16mm pitch competition where you pitch a film to us, and if you win, we’ll produce your film, on film.
OB: What are you most proud of in regards to the Film Co-op?
JZ: Honestly, the fact that it’s running, that people care about it, and that the department really, really cares about it and is really excited about it.
CB: Yeah. I think the relationship with the department is also important because there’s been some animosity in the past between student filmmakers and professors with things like, you know—fire, child safety…
JZ: Drugs.
CB: We're all on the same page now, which is lovely.
OB: Do you have any schemes for the co-op? What are you looking forward to?
JZ: I’m excited for our [16mm] pitch competition. That's coming up soon—we just released a form. Fill it out! And we're doing a “Make Your Own Music Video” night at the Cat.
CB: Original music, original videos.
OB: What do you want Oberlin students to know about the Film Co-op?
CB: That we’re here for them. It can be scary to get all your shit together. And you have to really put yourself out there. I want people to know that we’re there for that. Anything we can help with, we are more than happy to. We want to support people.
JZ: And also—if you’ve ever thought about making a movie, if you have a screenplay that you think is shit—I don’t know, make it! We’re here so you can make it! Also I think it’s really important that we have a film group on campus that’s, as of right now, run by two women.
CB: I think it’s a very open and safe space. We want to make sure everybody can tell their stories.
OB: Two-part question. What excites you about film as a medium, and/or, what movies are you excited about right now?
JZ: I recently watched this Lithuanian film called Toxic that came out in 2023—so good. It’s, like, young Lithuanian girls modeling and doing drugs. Something about it really spoke to me. And I’m seeing [Ken Russell’s 1971 cult classic] The Devils NC-17 remaster on Friday. Can’t wait!
CB: There’s that crucifix scene. Let’s get ready…
JZ: I love that movie very much. And I love film because I feel like it’s the only way of expressing myself through art that kind of makes sense. Like, it just clicks in my brain. It’s a combination of music and photography and acting and writing—all in one. And also, I love being on set so much. Just hanging out with your friends, but also you’re a little stressed out, but also you’re making art. And you’re doing some crazy shit. And it’s awesome.
OB: What about you, Charley?
CB: I’m really excited for Club Kid.
JZ: Oh my god. I’m so excited for Club Kid.
[Reader’s note: I, Owen Brandes, am also really excited for Club Kid.]
CB: And Cassavettes. And 1970s Corman, all that stuff. Roger Corman is like—if I could grow up to be him, I would be happy. And I just think film is the coolest fucking thing in the world. I just like the excitement that I feel from being on set or watching a movie. The energy that I get from just film in general brings me such joy. You have real freedom in film, and that's beautiful.
You can get in contact with the Film Co-op at @oberlinfilmcoop on Instagram or via email ofc@oberlin.edu.
