Student’s Connection with Alumna Is ‘What Makes the Trinity Community So Special’

Trinity College student Emma Baskin ’27 recently organized a program that welcomed Trinity alumna, casting director, and producer Joanna Colbert ’87 back to campus to talk about her career in the entertainment industry.

The screening of the 2012 documentary film Casting By—for which Colbert was a producer—and the conversation between Colbert and Baskin were held on October 18 at Cinestudio, the not-for-profit independent movie theater on Trinity’s campus. Colbert discussed her career, the casting process, and her experience working in film and television after studying theater and dance at Trinity. The event received support from the Film Studies, Theater and Dance, and English departments, as well as Trinity’s Admissions Office, Austin Arts Center, Career Center, Women and Gender Resource Action Center (WGRAC), and Cinestudio.

Baskin, who is from Los Angeles and is double-majoring in film studies and public policy and law, with a minor in creative writing, said, “It’s been incredibly rewarding to help organize an event that gives students the chance to learn directly from an industry professional, ask questions, and make meaningful connections with someone whose career spans so many areas of entertainment.”

Read more from Baskin about her Trinity experience and about organizing this event:

When I first came to Trinity and told people I was leaving Los Angeles to study film in Hartford, Connecticut, they looked at me like I was crazy. But as I reflect on my last four years here, I think it was possibly the best decision I could have made, not only as an aspiring entertainment professional, but more importantly, as a person trying to understand my place in the world.

Before I was even accepted to Trinity, I connected with Jeffrey J. Bemiss, professor of the practice in film studies, who is now my thesis advisor. He made me all the more excited about the opportunities to grow as a filmmaker within the College’s small but mighty community of artists. Now, as a senior double-majoring in film studies and public policy and law, with a minor in creative writing, I have come to appreciate how much my liberal arts education has shaped the way I approach storytelling, collaboration, and my future career.

My professional aspirations have always centered around the entertainment industry, particularly the creative and business sides of film and television production. Through internships at Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCUniversal, I’ve had the opportunity to see firsthand just how many people, perspectives, and disciplines come together to bring a production to life. These experiences have only further reinforced something I believe strongly: the entertainment industry is not nearly as exclusive to traditional creative careers as people might think.

That belief is a major reason why bringing Trinity alumna, casting director, and producer Joanna Colbert ’87 back to campus meant so much to me.

I first connected with Joanna during the fall of my sophomore year. Even through one phone call, I was immediately struck by her generosity, her extensive knowledge of the industry, and the exceptional path she had carved out for herself. As a casting director, Joanna has played a critical role in shaping stories through the discovery and championing of talent, and her work as a producer on the documentary Casting By reflects her dedication to recognizing the oftentimes overlooked contributions of casting professionals.

What began as a simple conversation between a student and an alumna became an invaluable mentorship throughout my time here at Trinity. Joanna’s willingness to share her experiences, offer advice, and help me navigate an industry that can often feel intimidating reminded me of what makes the Trinity community so special. The connections we build here—even with people thousands of miles away from Hartford—have the potential to follow us long after graduation, and throughout our entire careers.

So when the opportunity arose to bring Joanna to campus for a screening of Casting By and a conversation about her career, I knew I wanted to make it happen. It was incredibly rewarding to see the event come to fruition and to bring together students, faculty, alumni, and members of the greater Hartford community for an evening centered around storytelling, creativity, and the entertainment industry. Throughout the conversation, Joanna shared insights into her journey from Trinity to Hollywood, the complexities of the casting process, and her own relationships that have shaped her career. What I found especially meaningful was the opportunity for students to engage directly with someone who once sat in the same classrooms and navigated many of the same uncertainties about life after college.

But more than anything, I wanted this event to challenge the assumption that a career in entertainment simply means becoming an actor, director, writer, or producer, because behind every creative project are lawyers, business executives, publicists, marketers, agents, researchers, and countless other professionals whose work is just as essential to the final product.

At a liberal arts institution like Trinity, where students are encouraged to explore disciplines beyond their majors, I think this message is particularly important. You don’t have to study film to find something meaningful in Joanna’s story—whether you’re interested in law, economics, psychology, theater, or communications, there is something to learn from an industry that is entirely based on the combination of creativity, business, and human connection.

I came to Trinity because I believed a small liberal arts college could offer me something different from the opportunities I had growing up in Los Angeles. Four years later, I know that what makes Trinity special isn’t simply where it can take you, but the people who help you get there.