Films
I should preface this section by mentioning that I got one of my Bachelor's degrees in Media Arts Studies (Film), my MA in English with an emphasis in Film, and I started a PhD program in Film Studies. All during that time, it never ceased to amaze me how people assumed that I therefore wanted to be a filmmaker or that I somehow knew alot about filmmaking. Nothing could be further from the truth. I'm a film scholar, not a filmmaker. I love, adore and appreciate sensitive, honest filmmaking but I have absolutely no interest in the actual practice of filmmaking myself. I find that film shoots are the most boring waste of time EVER.
Miraculously, I managed to graduate with taking as few courses in film production as possible. I got away scott free with only two production courses under my belt. So, here are the fruits of these very minimal labors, for your personal enjoyment. Merely click on the thumbnail image to view the complete work.
NOTE: None of these films (except for the screenplay) are available yet. I have to re-digitize them for the web. I'll let you know when they're up and running.
I Think That I Shall Never See
Summer 1999
I created this very pretentious little film for my very first production course. There were a lot of limitations placed on us as students. The assignment was to create a film that was no longer than three minutes. It couldn't have sound and we weren't allowed to check out lighting equipment (which is why the lighting in the first few scenes is so poor). The worst part was, the film's story/theme had to be based on either an LDS Hymn or The Sound of Music. Tough assignment? Yes indeed. So, I based my film on the scene in the movie where the Von Trapp children are hanging from trees.
Since you probably won't get the deep symbolism of this brilliant masterpiece (I'm being fecitious here, folks), I'll explain what the film is about. I Think That I Shall Never See takes its title from a famous poem by Joyce Kilmer. This film is about a young man who is so caught up in the future and where he's going next that he is virtually oblivious to the amazing beauty of the world around him. Until one fateful day...
The young man---who I gave the not-so-subtle name of "Everyman"---heads off for an all-important job interview. You'll notice that in the first part of the film, he's surrounded by many sharp vertical lines---representing the mental prison in which he's living. Gradually these sharp lines become replaced by the more natural landscape of trees. A gust of wind blows an important paper out of his hand and up into a tree. For the first time in his life, he notices that there are groups of people who are actually living in the trees---but he was always too focused on himself and where he was going to notice them before. (The tree people represent people who are living life to the fullest, truly savoring the world in which they live.) Everyman begins to fantasize about joining the people in the trees---but the thought of his upcoming job interview shakes him out of this stupor of thought. He continues to go on his way, completely forgetting about the tree people and losing any hope for salvation.
Deep stuff. In spite of its pretentiousness, I have a fond spot in my heart for this film. I hope you enjoy it. I could talk more about all the little details of this film, but I think that what I've said shall suffice for now.
Rearview Mirror (Screenplay)
Summer 2002
Rearview Mirror is a short screenplay I wrote for my beginning Screenwriting class my last semester at BYU. It's about Randy, a normal guy who entertains himself at stoplights by looking at people in his rearview mirror. One day his life begins to fall apart when he looks in his Rearview Mirror and thinks he sees himself---someone who looks exactly like him---in the car behind him. His life falls apart as he contemplates the existence of his doppleganger.
I'm pretty proud of this little screenplay. My professor told me that it was the most promising screenplay to come out of his class that summer. I slaved for nearly half a year on this screenplay. I had many arguments with my director and various professors about this screenplay and it was revised several times until it reached the final form in which you see it now.
Rearview Mirror (Film)
January 2003
I'm not quite as proud of the film which was made out of my screenplay. I had several offers from different student directors to make my film. In the end, I think I chose the wrong one. I should have been more cautious knowing Wyatt's reputation. Oh well.
Truthfully, this film probably isn't as bad as I think it is. (Although I'm sure people will agree with me that some of the supporting actors are kinda hammy.) I just can't look at it very objectively. I mean, I slaved forever over this screenplay. It was my baby. And it's really hard to give up your baby to someone else and not second-guess the way they raised your child for you. I had many late-night disagreements with the director on many points, and he ultimately won because, well, he's the director. Oh well. You watch it and tell me if you like it.
Stairs
Winter 2003
By the end of my film studies at BYU, I had grown much more interested in documentary filmmaking. Some friends and I made this quick little documentary one day to show as an example of documentary filmmaking to some students we were teaching. I really enjoy this fun little documentary about a piece of BYU so many people take for granted.