Women in Film Chicago Mentorship Committee Hosts ‘Rethink Production’ Panel and Hands-on Event

The Women in Film Chicago (WIFC) Mentorship Committee hosted its second mentorship-focused event of the year, ‘Rethink Production,’ a panel discussion and workshop exploring collaboration, craft, and evolving production workflows.

Following the flagship mentorship event in February 2026, hosted by Picture North and executive producer Neha Schultz, the latest installment was hosted by Thunderlab Production, with executive creative director Lauren Stegmeyer and executive producer Andy Stegmeyer welcoming attendees to an immersive, hands-on environment. "Hosting this event was about creating a space where people could connect, learn, and experience the production process from new perspectives. As our industry continues to evolve, bringing together brands, agencies, production teams, and creators is how we strengthen our community and create better work," said Lauren Stegmeyer, executive creative director at Thunderlab.

The event featured interactive stations including tabletop photography, editing, camera operation, and gear prep, giving participants direct exposure to real-world production workflows. An engaging panel moderated by Kala Bradford of Media Maven followed, featuring Larissa Berringer, managing director, 1986 Studios, High Dive; Annie Varberg, freelance commercial line producer; Becca Major, Freelance, former director of production, Nestle Health; and Jessica Batson, freelance commercial director and producer, who discussed how producers can adapt to the changing production landscape. Neha added, “Our panelists brought decades of experience across agencies, brands, and production. The biggest takeaway is that strong creative work still comes down to strong teams — and mentorship helps build the next generation of producers.”

The event was also recorded and will soon be available on the Women in Film Chicago YouTube page, extending access to the broader creative community. The Mentorship Committee is already planning future events.

“The WIFC mentorship programme is aimed at educating and connecting women and gender expansive folks at all levels of their careers, whether they are just starting out or seasoned professionals. While we are working on individual mentor-mentee connections, we are organizing events like these to build and lift up the community as a whole, showcase talented professionals, and foster meaningful connections amongst the industry for those who have traditionally been on the edges. And I am tickled every time I see people engage at the events and make new connections,” said Rachel Oftedahl, mentorship committee chair, Women in Film Chicago.