On The Outside Films, Columbia College Chicago’s first Black, female-led independent production company, is reintroducing themselves with a renewed focus on collaboration and storytelling.
While the pitch deck primarily focused on storytelling initiatives, the session was not just about film. The session served as a space for artists to foster an artistic community where students, regardless of major, could pitch ideas, build connections and gain feedback on potential projects.
Junior and arts management major Jayda B. says she joined OTO to form connections with peers she can relate to.
“I love supporting the creatives and hearing everyone’s ideas makes me have faith,” she said. “It’s nice to see everyone still have that spark.”
On Friday, Jan. 31, OTO’s Legacy Club hosted a pitch deck peer review session—a space for students to refine their projects, exchange feedback and network across multiple disciplines.
The floor opened with ice breakers before students dove into their pitches. Ideas flowed freely – ranging from animation sketch concepts to pre-production storylines. Whether a student was looking to direct, write or produce a music video, OTO provided a space for them to explore their craft.
“The goal for this semester is to foster community, tell authentic stories and expand representation,” said junior film and television major Chaya Ross. “This isn’t just about making films—it’s about making sure Black voices are heard, supported and uplifted.”
Ross, who currently serves as co-president and project manager for OTO, previously worked alongside CEO and OTO founder Jadyn Wilson and other founding members to produce “Behind His Eyes” which won the 2024 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’(NATAS) Chicago/Midwest National Student Production Award in the Long Form category last fall.
Ross said that spaces like OTO are important to network with potential collaborators and to help bring their visions to fruition.
“I hope they gain the confidence that they never thought they had before when they go into not only creating film but creating anything,” she said.
The session concluded with events leading up to OTO’s upcoming “Reel Black Film Festival” taking place later on this spring. The festival, which represents a pivotal moment in celebrating the richness of Black storytelling, also aims to uplift the future of Black cinema, challenge stereotypes and promote diverse narratives.
Senior film and television major Lauren Hogan said that after she transferred, she was excited to attend the festival last year after noticing lack of diversity in most of her film classes.
“Just seeing that there was a group that, their intention was to bring other Black creatives together and just work together and make cool stuff was really exciting,” she said.
Hogan said that there are limited opportunities as a Black filmmaker and communities like OTO allow for people to share ideas, start friendships and find work.
“We don’t have these communities especially at the school,” she said. “Just the fact that we can talk with other Black people who think creatively is really huge as a Black filmmaker.”
Copy edited by Manuel Nocera
Resumen en Español:
On the Outside Films, la primera compañía de producción independiente por mujeres negras de Columbia, organizó una sesión de revisión de propuestas de historias el viernes, 31 de enero. La meta del evento era dar el espacio de apoyo a la comunidad creativa. La organización está iniciando un nuevo objetivo de enfocarse en la colaboración y autenticidad de contar historias.
Resumen por Sofía Oyarzún
Resumen editado por Manuel Nocera
