2008 Woodie Awards
Phil Robinson, '71, to return for Parents' Weekend
Alice Huang
Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: News
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Phil Alden Robinson is returning to Union to be a part of the Alumni Writers Series.
Who is Phil Alden Robinson? A graduate of the class of '71, Robinson borrowed two books from the Schaffer Library and returned them two decades after they were due. However, Robinson is not only known for his decades-old library records.
Although this ability is not stated in his resume, he has made grown men cry in a scene from Field of Dreams, when Ray Kinchella, played by Kevin Costner says, "You wanna have a catch?"
Freshman Deirdre Finnegan remembers this particular movie, stating, "I remember watching it when I was a child. There was a great line in it: 'If you build it, he will come.'"
Melanie Lolier, '11, also watched Robinson's movie. "The voice that the farmer was hearing was well done," Lolier acknowledged.
Robinson was born in Long Beach, New York. Robinson, who studied political science at Union, is an accomplished screenplay writer and director who has worked with actors such as Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, and Ben Affleck. He wrote and directed the films, In the Mood, Sneakers, and The Sum of All Fears. His films are often linked by a common theme; they all contain men that struggle to remain loyal to themselves in a world that challenges their limits.
Robinson's resume is as impressive as his talent in writing. His list of accomplishments is packed with nominations from the Academy Awards, Writers Guild Award for Best Original Longform, Emmy Award for Best Directing of a miniseries, and Screenwriter of the Year by the National Association of Theater Owners.
Now he's returning to Union to speak to the campus community about his nine year journey of developing Sneakers-a film that includes a fictional college, inspired by Union itself-from his initial inspiration to post-production.
The Alumni Writers Series is a program in which Union College asks fellow alumni who have careers in the arts to return to Union to speak with the student body.
Who is Phil Alden Robinson? A graduate of the class of '71, Robinson borrowed two books from the Schaffer Library and returned them two decades after they were due. However, Robinson is not only known for his decades-old library records.
Although this ability is not stated in his resume, he has made grown men cry in a scene from Field of Dreams, when Ray Kinchella, played by Kevin Costner says, "You wanna have a catch?"
Freshman Deirdre Finnegan remembers this particular movie, stating, "I remember watching it when I was a child. There was a great line in it: 'If you build it, he will come.'"
Melanie Lolier, '11, also watched Robinson's movie. "The voice that the farmer was hearing was well done," Lolier acknowledged.
Robinson was born in Long Beach, New York. Robinson, who studied political science at Union, is an accomplished screenplay writer and director who has worked with actors such as Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, and Ben Affleck. He wrote and directed the films, In the Mood, Sneakers, and The Sum of All Fears. His films are often linked by a common theme; they all contain men that struggle to remain loyal to themselves in a world that challenges their limits.
Robinson's resume is as impressive as his talent in writing. His list of accomplishments is packed with nominations from the Academy Awards, Writers Guild Award for Best Original Longform, Emmy Award for Best Directing of a miniseries, and Screenwriter of the Year by the National Association of Theater Owners.
Now he's returning to Union to speak to the campus community about his nine year journey of developing Sneakers-a film that includes a fictional college, inspired by Union itself-from his initial inspiration to post-production.
The Alumni Writers Series is a program in which Union College asks fellow alumni who have careers in the arts to return to Union to speak with the student body.
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