By Thomas Kring, Reporter
On the afternoon of Sunday, March 22, Grand Rapids grammar enthusiasts filed into the historic Wealthy Theater to attend the screening of the documentary Rebel With a Clause.
Directed by Brandt Johnson and starring Ellen Jovin, Rebel With a Clause follows Jovin’s trek across all 50 U.S. states with her “Grammar Table,” a pop-up advice booth for those with questions about the English language.
Wealthy Theater lobby before the documentary begins – Photo by Thomas Kring
In the theater lobby before the movie started, Jovin sold and signed copies of her book of the same title. Johnson greeted cinemagoers and offered complimentary chocolate and grammar quizzes.
The film compiles videos of Jovin’s conversations with people at the Grammar Table across the United States and her reflections on the experience. Her encounters at the Table ranged from comical to profound. The documentary is organized into clips of her answers to the different grammar questions she received, such as the correct use of the semicolon or integrity of the oxford comma.
Interior of Peter M. Wege Auditorium, moments before the screening of Rebel With a Clause begins – Photo by Thomas Kring
Following the 2 p.m. screening, Jovin and Johnson held a Q&A session with the audience where they answered questions about the film and, of course, grammar. The showing happened to be on the same day as Johnson’s birthday, so Jovin began the post-screening session with an audience-led rendition of Happy Birthday.
Jovin began her linguistic odyssey by setting up the Grammar Table outside of her New York City apartment building in the fall of 2018. After observing the interactions between his wife and curious pedestrians, Johnson began filming in December of the same year. In the following years, the pair travelled the entire country answering questions about language. According to Johnson, the duo amassed over 400 hours of film by the time they were done shooting, including some segments shot in Grand Rapids.
“[Johnson] was the entire crew,” said Jovin, referring to his contributions to the film as director, editor, and cameraman.
Exterior shot of the Wealthy Theater – Photo by Grand Rapids Community Media Center
Both Johnson and Jovin described the effects they felt the Table had on them and the larger community. Jovin said in the film that by creating the Grammar Table, she “moved [her] language life out on the street.” Johnson added that “the little community that Ellen built at the Table has followed to the screenings.”
When asked what was next for him and Jovin, Johnson stated that “there will be more to come.”
Jovin and Johnson will continue to host screenings and Q&A sessions for Rebel With a Clause across the U.S. into September 2026, according to the documentary’s website.
The Saint 