Tribe celebrates the Kenyon Film major!

Vern discusses storytelling with the audience.

Maria and Neil discussing film, after the panel.

Tribe Pictures' director Vern Oakley was invited to be part of a panel of film industry members by Kenyon College. The panel members discussed how they became successful in the film industry with help from their Kenyon degrees.Vern shared his expertise in storytelling and how that has stayed with him since his Kenyon days. His synoptic major allowed him to discover the differences and similarities between storytelling in literature, theater and film. All of the panelists agreed with him that story is always the most important part of a film. Without an exciting story, the audience cannot be transported to the world of the movie, even if the entire cast is extremely well known. The speakers also gave advice to the young, ambitious students looking to make it in the ‘film biz.’ Vern was joined by others such as actor/director Chris Eigeman '87, Dan Shefelman '84 - story board artist on Ice Age, Jonathan Sehring '77 - president of Sundance and IFC, and casting director Paul Schnee '89.

From left to right, Paul Schnee, Chris Eigeman, Maria Krovatin, Neil Pepe, Gedney Webb, Dan Shefelman, Vern Oakley, Jonathan Sehring.

The evening was held in celebration of the brand new film major at Kenyon, as well as the department's professor of film, Jon Sherman. The event was generously held at the Atlantic Theater in Chelsea, NYC. 150 people were scheduled to attend and the evening was enhanced by a wealth of delicious food and cocktails.

Tribe has always been “Kenyon friendly” and continues to be to this day. Vern and Steve are both alumni, as well as Carl Kriss ‘10, who recently shot and edited a film for Tribe. Kelsey, a current Kenyon student, has joined Tribe for a summer internship. All of the Tribe employees in attendance agree wholeheartedly the event was a success! A special thanks to all the Kenyon alumni and professors who made the evening an unforgettable occasion, as well as a thank you to Patrick Shields who took all of the wonderful pictures from the night.

Jonathan Tazewell, Professor of Drama and Film, addressing the audience.