Wally at The Movies Presentations
Jo Throckmorton ’87 gave the keynote address about his work in film, television, documentaries, and commercials.
Rhetoric Professor Sara Drury was the master of ceremonies at the evening's banquet.
President White welcomed about 100 guests for the Wally at the Movies banquet.
President Patrick White kicked off the day's events with a look at strong female characters in films that spanned the 1980s.
Michael Bricker ’04 talked about his work as a production designer and mostly low-budget, but award-winning films, including Natural Selection and Computer Chess
Asst. Prof. of English Crystal Benedicks begins her and Prof. Cherry's session on
Assistant Professor of Theatre Jim Cherry discusses one of the post 9-11 films.
A group of alums listens to Assistant Professor of Political Science Lexi Hoerl on
Hoerl used two Hollywood classics to talk about gentlemanly behavior.
Russell Harbaugh ’06, who is finishing the script for his feature film Love After Love, gave people a sense of the artistic decisions he made with his short film, Rolling on the Floor Laughing.
Keith Nelson ’71 talked about the film Birth of a Nation and racial justice.
Nelson recalled watching Birth of a Nation for the first time in Professor Peter Frederick's Afro-American history course, where the teacher used the film to spark discussion of the period of Reconstruction.
'Most critiquing this film focus either on its overt racism or the artistic techniques it advanced,' Nelson said. 'But I also want to look at the role of Birth of a Nation in the way it changed the marketing of films.'
Professor Warren Rosenberg recalled proposing and teaching the first film course at the College in 1981. He also showed student something many hadn't seen—an actual 16 mm film on its spool! (He also recalled the days of loading projectors, and the calamities often encountered then.)
Professor Rosenberg took a light but insightful look at the depiction of English professors in film, noting how his profession usually came off poorly in the movies, perhaps because of screenplay writers disappointment or frustration with English professors of their own past. Jeff Daniels' portrayal of the immature, unfeeling professor in Terms of Endearment and the narcissistic professor in The Squid and the Whale came under particular scrutiny.
Rosenberg called Michael Douglas's portrayal of a professor in the film Wonder Boys 'an admirable depiction that avoids cliches,' then segued to the definition of teaching as advocated in Parker Palmer's book, The Courage to Teach. Rosenberg and a group of faculty and staff are studying the book as part of the College's Callings program.
Rosenberg spoke with audience members after his talk.
Assistant Football and Track Coach Aaron Selby ’06 spoke about the evolution of the use of 'film' in football coaching, specifically how it's used in training, game planning, and recruiting.
Selby, who coached at Drake University while obtaining his master's degree, then coached at the University of Texas-San Antonio before returning to Wabash, said the technological advances over just the last few years have revolutionized the way film is used by coaches. Digital and online media replacing VHS and DVDs, greatly reducing the time it takes to access and review film and making it more accessible to players.
Selby demonstrates one of the ways coaches break down film for teaching purposes.
Steve Badger ’87 presented with Robert Meitus ’88 on intellectual property and freedom of expression in today's global society.
Robert Meitus ’88 (right) talked about his work as a transactional attorney representing artists and musicians.
Associate Dean Will Oprisko gave a thorough presentation of the "hero" narrative through the Batman/Dark Knight trilogy.
Archivist Beth Swift gave a sweeping presentation about the life and work of Will H. Hays ’00, who was the first "motion picture czar."