PROJECTS
Kenan Thompson Attends Virtual Q&A at the University of Georgia
Written by Abigail McLain
Writer’s Note: I attended University Union’s event for an event coverage assignment in my reporting and writing across platforms class. This was my first event coverage experience, as well as my first experience with reporting on event that happened over Zoom. I had a blast listening to Kenan Thompson speak and left the event feeling inspired by the advice he gave to aspiring writers.
Why it’s newsworthy: On Tuesday at 8:00 p.m., University Union hosted a live Q&A with well-known actor Kenan Thompson over Zoom. Recognized for his appearances on “Saturday Night Live,” Kenan Thompson returned for his 18th season on the show and is SNL’s longest-tenured crew member. During the webinar, Thompson responded to questions submitted by UGA students.
On Tuesday, November 10 at 8:00 p.m., the University of Georgia’s University Union hosted an online event with famed actor and comedian Kenan Thompson. The webinar took place over Zoom and provided UGA students with the opportunity to submit questions they wished to be answered by Thompson.
This event was organized with the interests of the UGA student body in mind. In light of the academic stress that students face, Grace Gumpert, entertainment director for University Union, said “having a comedian come and bring some love and laughter to the students would be very beneficial.”
Gumpert and others on the committee responsible for bringing Kenan Thompson to UGA organized the event to be as interactive and accessible as possible. When registering for the event, UGA students were given the option to submit a question they wanted to be asked at the event. For many students, the chance to speak with Kenan Thompson is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
On Tuesday night, University Union members Grace Gumpert and Clay Cook interview SNL actor Kenan Thompson, all pictured above, with questions submitted by UGA students during the webinar.
Widely recognized for his comedic sketches and characters, Kenan Thompson has appeared on “Saturday Night Live” for 18 seasons as the show’s longest-tenured cast member. Throughout the webinar, Thompson proved to be quite the engaging speaker. When asked about his experiences on SNL, Thompson spoke of his favorite skits, characters, and even revealed his go-to tactic for making his fellow cast members break character. Many students submitted questions regarding his notorious impressions, and Thompson demonstrated how he mimics the smallest fluctuations in another person’s voice by doing hilarious on the spot impressions of Steve Harvey and Whoopi Goldberg.
Although Kenan Thompson is a master of impressions nowadays, he openly admitted to his past mistakes when asked about a particular impression of Jay Leno that was taken offensively. Thompson acknowledged that he had misjudged the situation and was immature in his execution of the impression. “He’s a grown man, and I was making fun of how high-pitched his voice was,” Thompson said, “I think I put a little lisp on it, too, just very reckless.”
Thompson’s appearances on SNL have made him a cornerstone of American popular culture, but he started gaining popularity when he began his acting career in the early 1990s. A native of Atlanta, Thompson made his television debut as a member of Nickelodeon’s sketch comedy series “All That.”
“Being involved with Nickelodeon, period, just finally connected us to the hopes and dreams of being around famous people,” he said.
The virtual Q&A covered a wide range of topics, including questions about the audition process for SNL, the best foundations for comedic ideas, and the challenges of SNL Zoom shows. After the final question was asked, Kenan Thompson concluded the interview with a hearty “Go Dawgs!”
Camille Hayes: Local Athens Gallerist
Written by Abigail McLain
Writer’s Note: I interviewed Camille Hayes for a profile assignment in my reporting and writing across platforms class. I walked away from my conversation with Hayes with a renewed appreciation for spaces where creatives, like myself, could convene and appreciate art. I wrote this story in the hopes of bringing awareness to a local Athens art gallery that is struggling as a result of COVID-19.
Why it’s newsworthy: Camille Hayes is a local artist who graduated from the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia. Her gallery, Tiny ATH Gallery, helps local artists with the marketing and name recognition they need to succeed in an art-based career.
It’s clear that Camille Hayes, local artist and graduate from the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia, takes COVID-19 precautions very seriously. Whether meeting with people for interviews, or hosting an exhibit at her art gallery, Hayes is always wearing a mask to ensure proper safety measures are taken. In the midst of a pandemic, her gallery, Tiny ATH Gallery, is struggling to get the same attendance as it did before the lockdown back in March.
Currently, Camille Hayes is the public relations director at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. She is in charge of anything related to media and press, which includes the social media for the School of Music, graphic design, and web content. In addition to her job at the School of Music, Hayes is also a local gallerist. As a professional artist and designer, Hayes is currently located in the Tiny ATH Gallery, an exhibition and office space she created to host her own clients as well as the work of artists in and around the Athens community.
“I love the art gallery world and I wanted to do something that supported local artists. So I decided to start the gallery,” she said.
In terms of exhibitions, not as many people have been in attendance due to the ongoing pandemic. However, Hayes has worked to overcome this obstacle by doing virtual artist drops on Instagram Live. At the Tiny ATH Gallery, Hayes has put COVID-19 precautions in place to make exhibitions a safe and fun experience for artists and viewers alike. These precautions include masks, social distancing, and outdoor events.
Camille Hayes, owner of the Tiny ATH Gallery, wears a mask to enforce the COVID-19 policies set in place at her gallery at the opening reception of “Athens in Silks” by Jamie Calkin on Friday, Nov. 13.
An artist herself, Hayes is a big proponent of local art, particularly getting local artists the exposure and commissions/sales, they rely on.
“I feel like, what, what I’m doing a little bit differently, is marketing it a bit more,” Hayes said. She believes that at the end of the day, it’s about the art show, but it’s also about selling older work.
On Friday, November 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tiny ATH Gallery presented “Athens in Silks” by Jamie Calkin. Known for painting the mural inside the UGA Tate Student Center, Calkin is a watercolor artist based in the Athens area. His website features many prints and original art pieces for sale. Calkin commended Hayes on working so diligently to present his work at Tiny ATH Gallery, and believes she does a great job at helping local artists with exposure and name recognition.
“That is just such a great thing, to not only give us this place, but to help with all the things that so many artists aren’t good at. She really wants her artists to succeed and, like, she wants the opening to be everything that it absolutely can be,” Calkin said.
Camille Hayes had one piece of advice for current students that are looking to pursue a career in art. She advised future artists to not be scared to get off the path that they had imagined for themselves, but instead to use art and design skills as a basis for any career.
“I feel like artists really bring a different, like, set of, like, a different perspective and a different set of like, I don’t know, like, the way that their mind works is just different. And I think that that can really help them, honestly, in any career,” she said.
In terms of upcoming events, Camille Hayes will be hosting an outdoor artist market at Tiny ATH Gallery on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12 and 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
