Saints, Sinners, and Selfless: Jason Kim visits English 1975

Professor Lora Novak met Jason Kim, the writer and director of Selfless, at a Hollywood screening this past summer. This screening presented films from the 2026 Emerging Cinematographers awards. Professor Novak attended as her nephew, Jordan Oglesby, won an award for his short film, The Interview. This experience became more than just a celebration, as the film Selfless ended up inspiring Mr. Kim's class visit for "Saints and Sinners," Professor Novak's English 1975 course.  

 

Professor Novak went to dinner with Jason Kim and a group of other screening attendees, where she learned that Mr. Kim lives in New York. After speaking to her nephew, Professor Novak decided to invite Mr. Kim to Villanova for a screening of his film and a Q&A with her students. Not only did Mr. Kim accept her invitation, he inspired a new sense of enthusiasm from Professor Novak's students.  

Selfless is both poignant and thought-provoking, two descriptors only supported by the responding interest from Professor Novak's class. Mr. Kim's film and presence encouraged students to engage deeply with the class discussion during the Q&A. Professor Novak states that even "students who haven't spoken up too much in class before were suddenly chatting away." The guest appearance of Mr. Kim created the space for students to appreciate intellectual dialogue and film critique as a community. It is uncommon to be in the presence of both a piece of art and its creator simultaneously. Students in "Saints and Sinners" got to experience the dynamic conversation surrounding both Selfless as a film and Jason Kim's perspective as the film's writer and director. When asked about their experience, one student says: 

"I noticed that...Jason Kim didn't speak right away when asked a question. He collected his thoughts for a minute and then spoke. He's really intelligent." - Hannah Farrell 

Below are pictures of Jason Kim with Professor Novak's classes: 

 

 

~ by Juliana Catania MA '28