Course

In a moment when so many forms of creative expression feel under pressure, it can be wonderfully grounding to lose ourselves in truly great filmmaking. This course invites the fun, vitality, and warmth of friends gathering to talk about a film they’ve just enjoyed together. Before each session, you’ll watch a thoughtfully chosen movie — selected for its engaging themes, compelling stories, and memorable performances. In class, we’ll dive in through a mix of lecture and lively discussion. It’s the perfect time to come together, celebrate the arts, and explore what human creativity can spark on screen. And for the first time, we’ll be live at the Freight!

Faculty Bio

Harry Chotiner served as an editor at Socialist Review magazine, a reader at Zoetrope Studios, and a story editor at CBS. He also served as vice president of development at 20th Century Fox and Interscope Communications and has taught history and film courses at the school of professional studies at New York University.

This is an In-Person, Livestreamed + Recorded Course

• Classes meet in person at Freight & Salvage, at 2020 Addison St., Berkeley
• Classes will also stream live on the scheduled day and time, and be video recorded
• You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.

Schedule Highlights

• Course starts on Wednesday, Jan. 21 and ends on Wednesday, Feb. 25
• Classes meet for 6 weeks, 2 hours per session (10–noon)
• All course materials will be available in Member Dashboards through March 29
• A letter from Harry about the first film — what to look for as you watch — will be posted in your Member Dashboard a few weeks prior to the start of class. He recommends you wait to view the film until just before you meet so it's fresh in your mind.

Member Praise for Harry Chotiner

Harry's outstanding knowledge (not only of the film industry, but also history, politics, economics, and the social sciences in general) added immeasurably to the viewing experience and to the insights he shared with the class. In addition, he has a warm, supportive, open and compassionate personality, which created an atmosphere that drew forth and nurtured student comments, questions and observations. He is a truly exceptional teacher!

Harry is exceptional! I would take a course from him every term if it were taught that often.

Faculty Q&A

• Read an interview with Harry Chotiner from our archive.