EPISODE 303: THE POTTER'S MEAL (airs Jun 17 @ 9pm, Jun 24 @ 5pm)

"The Potter's Meal"

Featuring “The Potter's Meal,” with director Steve Olpin speaking with his former TMA advisor Tom Lefler. Also featuring faculty host Rodger Sorensen.

Despite there not being an established documentary program at BYU yet, film student Steve Olpin created an ambitious long-term project featuring his pottery instructor, Joseph Bennion called "The Potter's Meal." The film would go on to earn acclaim from a variety of venues, including the Heartland and Sundance Film Festivals.

Living a life of simplicity, we see Joe devoting his time and energy to his family, his pottery, and his garden--following the belief that by living for what you love and being closer to nature, one may understand God better and draw nearer to Him. Steve Olpin joins us to revisit what went into making this stirring film as a student at BYU.

MORE ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS:

Steve Olpin is a filmmaker with a documentary and action sports background. He has made films about artists, musicians, a scientist, a mortician and numerous action sports athletes. His films have been screened and honored in national and international film festivals including the Sundance Film Festival. The Heartland Film Festival honored him as a visionary with the Crystal Heart Award for his films The Potter’s Meal and In The Presence of Healers. His directing and cinematography work have been featured on NBC, PBS, ESPN, USA Network, Outdoor Life Network, Fuel Network and Fox Sports Net. He has directed for both television programs and television commercials. His work explores passionate, driven people. His feature length documentary “Nasty’s World” won Grand Prize at the 2003 X-Dance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. With creative partner Tim Irwin, Steve has been directing behind the scenes documentaries for DVD special features including the Jack Black hit comedy “Nacho Libre.”

EPISODE 302: EXPERIMENTS IN ADAPTATION

"Seaside"

Airs June 10 at 9:00 PM and June 17 at 5:00 PM
Featuring “Seaside,” with producer Kendall Wilcox and director Caroline Prohosky speaking with TMA advisor Tom Lefler, and “Garden of Hesperides,” with director Brandon Dayton, speaking with TMA faculty Jeff Parkin. Also featuring faculty host Rodger Sorensen.

BYU Dance Faculty member Caroline Prohosky and TMA student Kendall Wilcox joined together in hopes of telling a story that would meld the art of modern dance with film in "Seaside." Through their collaboration, the symbolic storytelling nature of modern dance is expressed through carefully conceived cinematic tools such as lighting, cinematography, and music. Ultimately, each complements the other well in this unique cross-disciplinary film. In this episode, Caroline and Kendall discuss their work, as well as some challenges they encountered along the way.

Behind the scenes on "Garden of Hesperides"

"Garden of Hesperides" is a film adaptation of the C.S. Lewis short story "Forms of Things Unknown." Brandon Dayton, the director, made this striking film with a small crew and Super 8 camera in Goblin Valley during a rush of extra-curricular creativity early in his BYU career. In his discussion with TMA faculty member Jeff Parkin, he shares with us the excitement of tackling an ambitious adaptation project, as well as the challenges faced while working with limited resources.

MORE ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS:

Brandon Dayton learned early on that he loved to draw and tell stories. Throughout his schooling, he experimented with comics, animation and film to the detriment of his GPA. While at studying at BYU he made four short films, snuck into as many illustration classes as possible and eventually graduated with a degree in Theatre & Media Arts.

Since graduation, he has worked as a writer, animator, illustrator, storyboard artist, and Christmas-light hanger. He currently works at EA Salt Lake as a concept artist, and is nearing production on his first mini-comic, Green Monk. He hopes to someday return to filmmaking.

He lives in West Jordan, UT with his wife, Annie and daughter, Lucy.

You can follow Brandon's work on his blog: www.mbdayton.blogspot.com

EPISODE 212: EXPERIMENTS

"2Ne211"

Featuring “2Ne211,” with director Tim Irwin; “Pat Asplund: A Merry Widow,” with director Erin Fox; “Ode to an Orange,” with director A. Todd Smith; and “The Sari,” with director Manju Varghese. Also featuring faculty hosts Tom Lefler and Tom Russell.

In “2Ne211,” Tim Irwin interprets the scripture from 2 Nephi Chapter 2 Verse 11 by using abstract, conflicting images in split-screen, inspired from his own life experiences. On one side there is peace, but on the other there is industrial chaos, reflecting both the serenity and turmoil inherent in his and ultimately each of our lives that come with having opposition in all things.

"Pat Asplund: A Merry Widow"

Erin Fox incorporates stories about her roommate’s mother with experimental footage in “Pat Asplund: A Merry Widow.” Erin filmed Pat in a variety of settings from her day-to-day activities and brought them to life with techniques which visually communicate something complementary to what Pat may be saying. The result is a unique portrait of a unique woman, who happens to really enjoy her life.

“Ode to an Orange” was A. Todd Smith’s application film to get into the Media Arts major at BYU! One would think this imaginative short came from a more advanced student, as Todd combines Super8 footage with digital video in a vibrant interpretation of the short story by Larry Woiwode.

"Ode to an Orange"

In “The Sari,” Manju Varghese captures a daily routine from the life of an Indian woman: putting on a sari. Manju brings a sense of magic and wonder to this routine in each of her production choices, and collaborated with her family in a variety of roles to create this short film, fittingly, about familial traditions.

"The Sari"

MORE ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS:

Tim Irwin got his start making films about skateboarding and punk bands. In his own words: When I was 16 my life changed for a few reasons. I started skateboarding, and I took a video production class. I spent my time skateboarding, playing in a punk band, or making films about skateboarders and punk bands. It's amusing to me that I am doing the same things as an adult that I was passionate about as a teenager. But I'm grateful that it has worked out that way. Documentaries are my passion--all forms of non-fiction film making. I'm interested in making films about people who are passionate about what they do. I'm inspired by all sorts of flavors of art and film.

I started my professional film making at Dog on a Bike Films where I was able to be part of some really fantastic projects. It was there that I met and worked with Steve Olpin. A creative relationship that has given me many opportunities to further my craft. Steve and I still work together often and I am stoked on that. We also own a post production company together.

Check out more of Tim's work here:

www.timirwin.net

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