Alum Spotlight Vitkin
“Film is a place where you’ve got to carve your own path, which is both exciting and terrifying. The best combo,” Loyola Digital Media and Storytelling Alumna, Jessica Vitkin.
Upon beginning her master’s in digital media and storytelling at Loyola, Vitkin’s professional intention lied in non-profit communication. However, during the last semester at Loyola, an internship with Kartemquin Films shifted her perspective on her future career.
“While at Kartemquin, I was fortunate to work on the Oscar campaign for the feature documentary, “Minding the Gap.” Before the nominations were announced I worked on scheduling screening events, director speaking engagements and sending out screeners and other promotional materials,” said Vitkin when asked on her most memorable memory with Kartemquin Films.
After graduating from Loyola, her work as a freelance filmmaker, videographer, production assistant, contributor at Chicago International Film Festival, and work with LUC faculty Elizabeth Coffman on the documentary “Flannery” intensified her interest in film. She shared that her experience at Loyola equipped her with a unique outlook on the filmmaking industry.
“One of the biggest [takeaways of being a Loyola Digital Media and Storytelling student] was the importance of connecting a story to its audience. Not everyone needs to have experienced something to feel empathy, but when you give people one little nugget that resonates with them on a human level, it allows for greater compassion and understanding,” said Vitkin.
While fully immersed in the film industry, Vitkin is also an MFA candidate at University of North Carolina Wilmington. Even though going back to school wasn’t in her plans, she shared the touching story that pushed her to further her education.
“In 2021 my father unexpectedly passed away and it very much shifted my trajectory towards receiving my MFA. Since leaving LUC, I’d been slowly working on a documentary about my dad and the place where he grew up, and when he passed, I decided it was as good a time as any to delve further into the project. Everyone handles grief differently, and I guess one of my coping methods was getting an MFA,” said Vitkin.
Her passion for education has also led her to serve as a graduate teaching instructor in the Film Studies Department at UNC Wilmington, a path inspired by her mother who is also an educator.
“I really enjoy teaching, I think no matter the subject, the classroom should be a safe place where students should feel comfortable to experiment and take big swings. I love providing that kind of environment for my students to grow and thrive,” said Vitkin.
Vitkin is known for her captivating documentary work and recently her award winning short, “Brenda Gets Gaslit,” which is wrapping up a successful run.
“It’s my first narrative film, it’s been well received and has seemingly resonated with many folks, and it’s also based on the true story of a friend of mine in Chicago who was open enough to let me use her personal story to highlight something that affects so many people,” said Vitkin.
Currently, Vitkin is working on various film projects where she is applying her love for both documentary and narrative storytelling.
“I feel so fortunate to be able to straddle the two worlds of documentary and narrative, and I can say that my time as a Loyola Digital Media and Storytelling student definitely played a big part in that” said Vitkin.
Story by Bora Cecia • Photos Courtesy of Jessica Vitkin
Loyola Alumna, Jessica Vitkin on Her Path Toward Successful Filmmaking
After graduating from Loyola, her work as a freelance filmmaker, videographer, production assistant, contributor at Chicago International Film Festival, and work with LUC faculty Elizabeth Coffman on the documentary “Flannery” intensified her interest in film. She shared that her experience at Loyola equipped her with a unique outlook on the filmmaking industry.
“One of the biggest [takeaways of being a Loyola Digital Media and Storytelling student] was the importance of connecting a story to its audience. Not everyone needs to have experienced something to feel empathy, but when you give people one little nugget that resonates with them on a human level, it allows for greater compassion and understanding,” said Vitkin.
While fully immersed in the film industry, Vitkin is also an MFA candidate at University of North Carolina Wilmington. Even though going back to school wasn’t in her plans, she shared the touching story that pushed her to further her education.
“In 2021 my father unexpectedly passed away and it very much shifted my trajectory towards receiving my MFA. Since leaving LUC, I’d been slowly working on a documentary about my dad and the place where he grew up, and when he passed, I decided it was as good a time as any to delve further into the project. Everyone handles grief differently, and I guess one of my coping methods was getting an MFA,” said Vitkin.
Her passion for education has also led her to serve as a graduate teaching instructor in the Film Studies Department at UNC Wilmington, a path inspired by her mother who is also an educator.
“I really enjoy teaching, I think no matter the subject, the classroom should be a safe place where students should feel comfortable to experiment and take big swings. I love providing that kind of environment for my students to grow and thrive,” said Vitkin.
Vitkin is known for her captivating documentary work and recently her award winning short, “Brenda Gets Gaslit,” which is wrapping up a successful run.
“It’s my first narrative film, it’s been well received and has seemingly resonated with many folks, and it’s also based on the true story of a friend of mine in Chicago who was open enough to let me use her personal story to highlight something that affects so many people,” said Vitkin.
Currently, Vitkin is working on various film projects where she is applying her love for both documentary and narrative storytelling.
“I feel so fortunate to be able to straddle the two worlds of documentary and narrative, and I can say that my time as a Loyola Digital Media and Storytelling student definitely played a big part in that” said Vitkin.