In this episode we revisit last year’s conversation with Betsy West and Julie Cohen, the directors of documentary megahit “RBG.” They were joined by the film’s executive producer, CNN VP Amy Entelis, and the discussion was moderated by Columbia professor, June Cross. Justice Ginsberg herself made a surprise visit to the Columbia Journalism School after the film screening.

Since then, the documentary has won a duPont-Columbia Award, was nominated for an Oscar, and took home an Emmy. Despite a cancer scare and two broken ribs, Ginsburg remains on the court and has hired law clerks through 2020. 

Cohen and West waited two years to interview Ginsburg for their film. When they finally sat down with her they had just over an hour to get what they needed, which “worked pretty well because it helped us focus what we needed to talk to her about.”

The critically acclaimed documentary chronicles RBG’s professional and personal life, including a poignant love story. Viewers learn about her legacy as a lawyer, her influential cases, and her grueling workout routine.

The filmmakers talked about the power of optimism, the mystifying rules for filming inside the Supreme Court, and how RBG herself reacted to seeing the film for the first time - in front of the filmmakers and a sold out audience at Sundance. 

All three panelists are either graduates of, or professors at, the Columbia Journalism School. 

You can watch RBG online, here.