CU Girls Who Film – An Undergraduate Filmmaking Group that Emphasizes Community over Authorship

Filmmaking is a collaborative art form, but egos run wild with ambition to be seen as an “auteur.” That’s why in 2023, a small group of undergraduate women at Columbia University sought to expand talent and imagination on their campus for emerging artists. CU Girls Who Film began with small meetings in a dusty fraternity basement. Since then, it has grown into a recognized club, producing two student films each year and filling a gap in accessibility, inclusivity, and creativity at Columbia. “I see this group as returning filmmaking to its roots, where we fight individualism and emphasize community,” says Natasha Last-Bernal, co-president of the group.

Their philosophy is that “collaboration means equality.” In describing their collaborative process, the emphasis is on everyone having a say, regardless of experience. “We give students direction because they’re open to trying every role,” the group says. “When they graduate, they’ll know what fits them best.” More than fostering a community for filmmakers, their approach emphasizes the importance of connection for their creative storytelling. Some films, like A Shakespeare Experience, tell personal yet difficult stories that deal with acculturative stress. However, co-president Jenna Shen (an international student from Beijing, China) says the support on and off set encouraged her to relay this vital perspective. “It was an autobiographical story, which wasn’t easy to tell, but I couldn’t have done it without them,” says co-president Jenna Shen, recalling the support she felt on set. Additionally, diverse perspectives fuel experimentation in style and form, exemplifying “the process of immediacy and spontaneity.”

Looking ahead, they are eager to continue experimenting with different stories and genres as they produce more work. If their past work, such as Lone Rider, a dark romantic drama shot entirely on a moving train, and I Forgot to Laugh, a twisted friendship satire exploring underground comedy clubs, are any indication, their films will continue to push the boundaries of form and production. “We’re excited to create hybrid projects that blur documentary and narrative while addressing issues tied to our identities intersecting with collective art, representation, and subcultural film practice.” From humble beginnings, these women have built a network. Former members have graduated and moved out of New York, expanding their reach. Those who are still learning continue to reimagine filmmaking limits and “become a force for female-driven, forward-thinking collaborative storytelling.”

What does collaboration look like for you in practice — from writing to production to post?

Mamie: I would say that collaboration means equal. Everyone has the same amount of say in everything, there are no hierarchies.

Ava: When we made our first short film, Lone Rider, it was all of us as an e-board. We knew that I would be acting and Natasha would direct, but even when she was still writing the script, she insisted that I have a say in making this character feel like mine. Regardless of what our roles are, let’s sit and have dialogue about how we’ll make this this regardless of “authority” or “experience.”

Natasha: Filmmaking is a heavily collaborative art, and that’s something that gets obscured, especially at Columbia, where people try to mimic auteurs. I see this group as returning filmmaking to its roots where we fight against individualism and emphasize community.

What are some ways you keep the environment low-pressure but still creatively ambitious?

Vaidehi: While we are collaborative and talk about our ideas, we also support each other’s roles and help each other grow in those roles.

Alice: What makes it collaborative is we make it so people feel like they can come to us if they have issues or doubts about the roles they’re assigned. What we’re trying to do is say that it’s okay to not have experience but to tell us if you need help rather than keep quiet.

How do your lived experiences (as students, as underrepresented voices, as collaborators) shape the stories you choose to tell?

Jenna: One of the stories last year was A Shakespeare Experience. It’s based on my experience as a Chinese international student being an English major and the stigmas I faced. I’m very grateful for the support from friends in and out of our club because it wasn’t an easy story to tell.

Alice: Even though we’re a club of women, we try not to limit ourselves to writing only about female characters. It’s also valuable for us to try writing from and identifying with male perspectives, especially since so many movies with female characters are written by men. There’s a beauty in women of all kinds of backgrounds being able to write several different stories and characters.

What’s the most rewarding feedback or reaction you’ve received from someone who has seen your work?

Ava: After we made our first ever film, Long Rider, a few weeks later, to get the notification that we had been recognized and short-listed for local short-film festivals in New York was remarkable. We still treat everyone in this group like we’re equals and just friends who want to work together, and getting that recognition reaffirmed that we were able to do that.

Natasha: The most valuable part of the process is the feedback we get during production from people in our crew. Awards and festivals come second, but it’s so rewarding to hear students say how empowered they feel to make their own film. We’re breaking down hierarchies and reaffirming the joy in creating a community.

How do you hope the collective might influence members’ paths after college?

Ava: I think because this club was built by friends who are equally passionate about telling stories together and uplifting each other, it doesn’t feel like we’re just trying to get ahead. We all have our individual ambitions, of course, but because we’re aspiring artists and sisterhood is that I think this collaboration is something that will carry us in anything we do beyond college.

Alice: Being a part of this collective redefined what filmmaking it to me. It makes me remember why I love filmmaking and I hope this sense of community we’ve created will continue to inspire us with post-grad projects and how we conduct professional business.

Marie: For people who have never tried filmmaking before, we give them direction because they’re open to trying every single role. They figure out what they want and don’t want to do, so when they leave college, they’ll know what best fits them.

Jenna: We’re building a network. Some founders have graduated, we’ve gained more followers on Instagram, and members move out of New York. So, we’re expanding our reach, but people will reunite in the industry when the time comes.

What’s a moment from your productions that made you feel, yes, this is why we’re doing this?

Natasha: How it felt when we wrapped Lone Rider. The process was ugly but seeing it produced was mind blowing. I remember leaving the Subway station in the early morning, and we did a little huddle: “Thank you for writing. Thank you for doing this. Etc.” That sense of gratitude of people around me to help me see this project literally come to life in front of me was empowering.

Ava: Building off Natasha’s story, I think our community is so special because even in excruciatingly difficult moments like that, I kept thinking, “I’m doing this with my friends, and I’ve never felt unsafe in this environment.” I couldn’t have had more fun even in those exhausting moments because I knew those people, who were just as drained, were also the people making sure we all felt taken care of, supported, and safe. This is the kind of community I want to work with whenever I’m in the film space.