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Honoring a Filmmaking Legend: Creating the Julia Reichert Endowed Director of the Tom Hanks Center for Motion Pictures
“A trailblazing filmmaker, Julia Reichert dedicated her life to documenting socially and historically significant stories that gave voice to so many, particularly the working class and women. We know that Julia’s talent, humanity, and commitment to mission-centric storytelling will continue to inspire current and future creators worldwide."
— Barack and Michelle Obama
Academy Award-winning filmmaker and Professor Emeritus Julia Reichert dedicated decades of her career to Wright State University’s prestigious motion pictures production program. Known as the “godmother of American independent documentaries,” her work as a filmmaker, professor, and mentor has been foundational to the success of the program. She has been a tremendous ally to her students, a powerful force in southern Ohio’s filmmaking community, and an icon in the world of documentary film.
To honor and continue Julia’s long legacy of excellence as a documentarian and educator, we are embarking on a fundraising initiative to create the Julia Reichert Endowed Director of the Tom Hanks Center for Motion Pictures.
Julia Reichert Endowed Director
The Julia Reichert Endowed Director will focus on three priorities:
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Professional development
Funds will support traveling as a class to film festivals; attending sound mixes and color timing sessions in New York City; helping students with internships in high-cost cities like Los Angeles, NYC, and Atlanta; an emergency fund for students in jeopardy of leaving the program; and stipends to help cover travel and entry fees for film festivals.
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Visiting artist series
Students will have the opportunity to learn from leading professionals in the film and television industry through a variety of day-long seminars, weekend master classes, and semester-long intensives.
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Equipment and technology
It is critical that we provide our students with up-to-date training on the equipment and technology they will use after graduation. This includes acquiring state-of-the-art camera lenses; wireless microphone systems; updated lighting technology; additional grip and rigging equipment; and the latest software to support post-production.
Continuing Julia’s Legacy
From her pioneering feminist documentary Growing Up Female to her most recent Oscar-winning film American Factory, Julia advocated for the rights of marginalized communities through storytelling for more than 50 years. This passion and commitment to social justice infused her work in the classroom, inspiring her students to create award-winning narrative and documentary films that follow in her footsteps.
In many ways, Wright State’s students mirror the people Julia would often champion in her work. They are hard-working individuals from modest backgrounds. Many of our students are the first in their families to attend college. Without scholarship support and financial aid, they would not be able to afford a college education. Like Julia, they have a strong work ethic and a passion for telling stories that otherwise might be overlooked.
Your support of Wright State’s motion pictures program will help produce the next generation of filmmakers who will continue Julia’s long legacy of making films that matter.
Share Your Story of Julia
Please share your favorite memory of Julia and let us know how she impacted your life.
“She was a champion of women and loved film. She took us rag-tag kids and helped shape us all into filmmakers and storytellers.”
—Hannah Beachler ’05, Academy Award-winning production designer, Black Panther, Creed, and Beyoncé’s visual album Lemonade
“Julia was the first person who really believed in and supported me as a potential storyteller, pushing me to stretch beyond my self-imposed limits to rise up to higher levels.”
—Erik Bork ’89, Two-time Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning writer/producer
“Julia was my teacher, mentor, and friend for over 30 years. She laid a strong foundation for our close-knit motion pictures alumni community, and we will forever be grateful.”
—Nichol Simmons ’99, Sundance Film Festival award-winner and Director of the Tom Hanks Center
For More Information
View naming opportunities and learn how you can honor Julia’s legacy in Honoring a Filmmaking Legend: Creating the Julia Reichert Endowed Director of the Tom Hanks Center for Motion Pictures (PDF).
Contact Us
Colleen Lampton-Brill
Director of Major Gifts
College of Liberal Arts
937-775-4921
colleen.lampton@wright.edu
Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert and Jeff Reichert accept the Oscar for Documentary for American Factory
