Establishing Shot is dedicated to critically framing cinema with original articles by a roster of talented and dedicated cinephiles and guest contributors. In addition to contextualizing and engaging with the films shown at IU Cinema, Establishing Shot also offers insight into recent cinematic trends and cultural conversations with feature articles, interviews, movie reviews, video essays, and more. Dive in today.
10 years
1,000articles
160 contributors
4,500donated volunteer hours
13,000monthly readers
34video essays
Everyone in the know! Articles from Establishing Shot have been assigned in college courses; featured in national outlets like the Criterion Collection, Polygon, The Ringer, and the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry; and our video essays have been republished on a variety of websites and even included in retail Blu-ray box set releases.
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Over the past 10 years, Establishing Shot has been staffed by a total of 15 regular contributors, many of whom are IU alumni or current students. Generously, they donate their time and talents to Establishing Shot. Take a minute to get to know our current contributors:
Michaela Owens
Editor-in-Chief
Michaela’s film writing has been shared by outlets like the Criterion Collection and is also included in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry. She’s a co-producer of the award-winning documentary short Hollywood's Mermaid: The Esther Williams Story (2026). Michaela holds a Master of Arts in Cinema and Media Studies from The Media School at Indiana University. In her spare time, she is IU Cinema’s Programming and Audience Development Manager.
Alex Brannan
Standing Contributor
Alex Brannan is a Ph.D. candidate in the Media School at IU. His current research examines the practices of film reception on social media. His previous work in genre studies has appeared in Horror Studies and Screening American Independent Film.
Ben van Welzen
Standing Contributor
Ben van Welzen is a lover of cinema and mathematics. After studying both subjects in his undergraduate education, Ben is a PhD student in math at IU, using what’s left of his time to attend IU Cinema screenings, rent movies from local video stores, and attempt to read more literature.
Jesse Balzer
Standing Contributor
Jesse Balzer is the Journals Marketing and Exhibits Manager at IU Press, the host of $5 Fight Club with Cicada Cinema in Bloomington, and a former columnist for The Ryder Magazine and Film Series. He holds a BA in Film History and Criticism from Minnesota State University Moorhead, and an MA in Film and Media Studies from Concordia University in Montreal. He loves Gene Kelly, films and fake sports where really beautiful people pretend to hit each other, and fun-filled stories about mystical swordswomen.
Joel Robertson
Standing Contributor
Joel Robertson is a movie freak who has always been drawn towards the weird and macabre. When he's not watching movies, he can be found writing short stories, going on long bike rides, or hanging out with his dog Gus. He has a BA in English from Indiana University.
Noni Ford
Standing Contributor
Noni Ford is a freelance writer based on the East Coast and a graduate of the Indiana University Media School. She's worked in voice coordination, independent film, and literary management, and primarily writes film criticism and short stories.
