Upcoming Event: Casting By – A Screening and Conversation with Joanna Colbert at Trinity College Cinestudio – Sunday, October 18, 2026

“On Sunday, October 18 at 7:00 p.m. at Cinestudio, our on-campus movie theater, Trinity College will be welcoming Joanna Colbert ‘87, a producer and casting director with decades of experience in film and television. Her casting credits include projects such as Happy Gilmore, the Step Up franchise, The Mummy Returns, No Strings Attached, and Dear John among many others.

The event will begin with a screening of the acclaimed documentary Casting By, which tells the largely untold story of casting directors and their enormous creative influence on American film and television. Featuring some of the biggest names in Hollywood — including Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood, Glenn Close, and Bette Midler — the documentary explores how legendary casting directors identified extraordinary talent, fought for unconventional choices, and helped give some of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors their earliest career-defining roles.

Following the screening, Joanna will join us for a conversation about filmmaking through the lens of casting. She’ll discuss what happens behind the scenes when assembling a cast, recognizing talent, working with actors and filmmakers, and her own experiences building a career in the entertainment industry. Joanna’s perspective also extends far beyond casting itself, offering students insight into production, creative collaboration, storytelling, working with talent, and navigating the professional film and television industry.”

Casting By