EPISODE 304: KIDS GROWING UP airs July 1 @ 9pm, July 8 @ 5pm

"Warplay"

Featuring “Warplay,” with director Bryan Lefler, and "Andy," with writer/producer Ben Gourley and director Brandon Dayton speaking with TMA faculty member Tom Russell. Also featuring faculty host Rodger Sorensen.

In "Warplay," director Bryan Lefler illustrates the imagination of a child during an afternoon game of war, where reality and fantasy seem to overlap. In an engaging conversation with Media Arts faculty member Tom Russell, Lefler discusses the distinct impact media has on the decisions we make, as told through his film's child protagonist and his sobering struggle to distinguish the two in a media-saturated world.

Ben Gourley, writer/producer of “Andy,” and director Brandon Dayton tell their film's story through a foster child’s point of view as he struggles to adapt to his new surroundings. The film offers a fresh perspective on how children view the world around them--one that has taken on new meaning for the filmmakers since becoming parents themselves. Together with Media Arts faculty member Tom Russell, Ben and Brandon discuss how "Andy" helps us to see the ways children want to do good but often test boundaries to make sense of their complex and often rapidly shifting environments.

"Andy"

EPISODE 301: CONNECTIONS

"Night Becomes Day"

Airs June 3 at 9:00 PM and June 10 at 5:00 PM
Featuring “Night Becomes Day,” with director Jacob Hinmon and TMA faculty member Tom Russell, and “Still Lifes,” with director Ryan Arvay. Also featuring faculty host Rodger Sorensen.

In this episode of First Look we feature two films that explore human connection through their use of visual storytelling and minimal dialogue. Director Jacob Hinmon joins Media Arts faculty member Tom Russell in a conversation about his film “Night Becomes Day,” which he says seeks to portray the "potential of that connection to affect others and the way we live our lives."

Next, Ryan Arvay sends us a report from his new home in Florida about his experience making "Still Lifes" – a contemplative piece which focuses on the outward expressions of strangers in a diner that in turn make speculations about those around them.

"Still Lifes"

MORE ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS:

Since finishing his studies at BYU in 2006 Jacob was the director of Film and Video Production for the Hinmon Agency, an advertising/marketing agency in McMinnville, OR. As Director he wrote, directed, and produced television commercials, promotional videos, and other video content for the internet. Since then he has recently started his own production company, Four + One Productions.

He is married to Megan Pugmire and they have two daughters, Maddie and Evie.


Ryan Arvay graduated from BYU with a BA degree in directing. Though Still Lifes was his first film at BYU, he had been making "little movies" since he was 12 years-old. Today he resides in the Florida panhandle with his wife and two children. In recent years he has worked as a free-lance illustrator and graphic designer. The DVD packaging for his second student-film - which he created with fellow BYU alum Seth Taylor - was included in the 2005 AIGA 100 (the American Institute of Graphic Design's top honors). He has also recently worked as a journalist and a photographer. His most current project will be conducting interviews and recording oral histories for a local non-profit organization. Though Ryan has worn many different hats since graduating, his love of film continues. He is currently developing a feature-length documentary which he says is inspired by his other love - historic preservation.

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

ranchexit.blogspot.com

EPISODE 208: CRISIS AND UNITY

"Barren Earth"

Featuring "Barren Earth" by Bryan Lefler with faculty host Tom Russell

In this episode, former TMA student Bryan Lefler discusses why he chose, as a young, unmarried film minor, to make an ambitious dramatic narrative about an engaged couple dealing with a sobering development that could make or break their union. The film delves into how conditions and relationships are challenged in a moment of crisis, while probing the notion of unconditional love.