UAlbany graduate Frank Whaley (B.A., class of 1987) won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at Sundance, and received a Grand Jury Prize nomination for "Joe the King," his film based on his Upstate New York boyhood in the 1970s. Noah Fleiss portrays a young boy navigating family dysfunction, neglect and physical abuse. Val Kilmer plays the alcoholic father.

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Whaley is also an acclaimed character actor in many Hollywood films. He debuted as the young Francis Phelan in the 1987 film "Ironweed," based on William Kennedy’s novel. Significant supporting roles include Brett in "Pulp Fiction" (1994), Jim Dodge in "Career Opportunities" (1991), young Archie "Moonlight" Graham in "Field of Dreams" (1989), Steve Bushak in "The Freshman" (1990) starring Marlon Brando, and Guy in "Swimming with Sharks" (1994). He has also worked with director Oliver Stone in several films including "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989), "The Doors" (1991), "JFK" (1991), and "World Trade Center" (2006).

Presented by The Glen Trotiner Endowed Lecture in Filmmaking fund in memory of Glen Trotiner ’78, MS ’79, a highly regarded filmmaker and a distinguished UAlbany alumnus. Cosponsored by the University at Albany Alumni Association.​​