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Film and Q&A: "Rebel with a Clause"

In this documentary, grammar expert Ellen Jovin takes her pop-up grammar advice stand on a road trip across the U.S. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Jovin and director Brandt Johnson.

Registration requested, but not required. Those who register will be admitted first when doors open at 6 p.m. The line for seating will begin at 5:45 p.m. Remaining seats will be filled at 6:25 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.

About the film: 

One fall day in 2018, Ellen Jovin set up a folding table on a Manhattan sidewalk with a sign that said “Grammar Table.” Right away, passersby began excitedly asking questions, telling stories, and filing complaints. What happened next is the stuff of grammar legend.

Ellen and her filmmaker husband, Brandt Johnson, took the table on the road, visiting all 50 states as Brandt shot the grammar action. People from every imaginable background visited the table to share a laugh, settle disputes, and talk about their grammar insecurities. These conversations took place in small towns and big cities, by bookstores and coffee shops, on beaches and mountainsides.

But this story transcends grammar. It’s the story of an epic quest to bring us all closer together. In a time of social and political division, the Grammar Table is a place of unity and connection. The conversations at the table help answer the question “How can we all get along?”

Come for the grammar. Stay for the humanity.

About the Speakers: 

Ellen Jovin‍ is an internationally acclaimed grammar and language expert. Her most recent book, called "Rebel with a Clause: Tales and Tips from a Roving Grammarian", was published by HarperCollins and quickly became a national bestseller. It has already been translated into Russian, and the paperback edition of the English version is coming out in May 2025. Ellen has written three other books on writing/grammar and is a co-founder with Brandt Johnson of the communication skills consulting and training firm Syntaxis. Ellen has studied more than 25 languages with a total of nine different writing systems, which she blogged about for years as part of a project she called “Words & Worlds of New York.” Earlier in her career, she worked as a freelance reporter and taught writing at New York University and other area colleges. She has a B.A. in German studies from Harvard University and an M.A. in comparative literature from UCLA.

Brandt Johnson (Producer, Director, Cinematographer, Sound Recordist, Editor‍)
This is Brandt’s first feature film. Before this project, he was the writer, director, and star of Brad Advice, a comedy web series. Brandt has written and performed in three plays and he is the author of the book "Practical Presentation Skills: Authenticity, Focus & Strength" (Hachette). Brandt is a co-founder with Ellen Jovin of the communication skills consulting and training firm Syntaxis. A former investment banker and speechwriter, he has trained executives of major corporations around the world. Also a lifelong athlete, Brandt played professional basketball in Europe and on tour against the Harlem Globetrotters. He graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in mathematics and earned an M.B.A. in finance from the NYU Stern School of Business.

Presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this programming do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Community Room Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Assistive listening system compatible with personal T-coil-enabled devices (compatible headphones also available for use during programs)
• English-language subtitles for films (when available)
• If there is an accommodation that you need or would like so that you can fully enjoy library programs, please visit our Accommodations Request Form.

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