Chris Hayes, Author at BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications

A New Director and Department Chair Announced for College of Fine Arts and Communications

Chris Hayes — Thu, 06 May 2021 16:36:30 +0000

New leadership will oversee the School of Communications and the Department of Theatre and Media Arts Two departments within the College of Fine Arts and Communications will welcome new leadership this spring, while also recognizing the immeasurable contributions of those leaders who are passing the torch. Megan Sanborn Jones has been named as the new chair for the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, filling the role held by Wade Hollingshaus for the past six years. Mark Callister takes on the role of director of the School of Communications following six years of leadership by Ed Carter. The term will take effect on June 1 for Callister and July 1 for Jones. OUTGOING CHAIRS Ed Adams, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications, expressed his gratitude and recognized Hollingshaus for his contributions. “Wade has been integral to so many conversations about diversity, inclusion, student mentoring, arts production, curriculum changes, remote learning and preparation for AUR and NAST reviews,” Adams said. “During his six years as chair, I have had the privilege of a collaborative relationship with Wade. I value his insight, thoughts and unwavering commitment to the TMA faculty, staff and students.” “The past six years, I have been humbled to work and learn alongside the highest caliber faculty and staff. I’m so grateful that even though I will no longer be serving as their chair, I continue to work alongside these same dear colleagues,” Hollingshaus said. “I am especially pleased to hand the reins of the Theatre and Media Arts Department over to Dr. Megan Sanborn Jones. She is full of vision and spirituality and love for students. I am very excited for the future of our department under her leadership.” Adams also had high praise for Carter’s contributions. ‘“I have really appreciated working with Ed. He has undertaken initiatives in creating study abroad opportunities, transitioning from the Bradley Agency to Y Digital, resurrecting the comms studies program and more,” Adams said. “Ed has overseen some great new faculty and staff hires. Endowments have been created, and experiential learning funds have poured in. I have felt a collaborative relationship with Ed, and I will miss working with him.” “Serving as the School of Communications director has been challenging but rewarding for me. I have learned a lot,” Carter said. “The School faculty, staff and students are a remarkable group of talented and committed learner-disciples. We have a bright future ahead and I look forward to supporting Dr. Mark Callister’s leadership.” NEW CHAIRS As for the new chairs, both departments will be in good hands thanks to the broad experience and expertise of Jones and Callister. In addition to teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, both have impressive lists of publications, leadership roles, awards and grants to their credit. Megan Sanborn Jones, Department of Theatre and Media Arts Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts and a master’s degree in theatre and media arts from BYU. In 2004, she received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in theatre historiography from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Since beginning her career at BYU, Jones has served on multiple committees, filling leadership roles such as the department associate chair and the co-chair of the department’s rank and status committee. She has received two distinguished university awards, including the Alcuin Fellowship and Wesley P. Lloyd Award for Distinction in Graduate Education. In addition to her many awards and grants, Jones has several prior and forthcoming publications in scholarly journals. She has published two books: “Contemporary Mormon Pageantry: Seeking After Our Dead” (2018) and “Performing American Identity in Anti-Mormon Melodrama” (2009), which won the Smith Pettit Award for the Best First Book of the year on Mormon history. Jones belongs to a distinguished list of professional organizations and has served as guest lecturer or keynote speaker for multiple conferences. During her career she has directed and/or choreographed more than three dozen stage productions in addition to her own stage and film acting experience. She has also been integrally involved in the design of performance spaces for the new arts building. “We collectively support Megan’s appointment and believe she will be a force for good in all of the matters that the department will encounter in the next three years,” Adams said. Mark Callister, School of Communications Callister came to BYU in 2005, and in 2014 earned the rank of professor in the School of Communications. As an undergraduate he received two bachelor’s degrees from BYU in English and international relations. He then earned a master’s degree in business from BYU in 1991 and a doctorate in communications from the University of Arizona in 1997. Prior to 2005, Callister taught at Western Illinois University, Pima Community College and the University of Arizona. At Western Illinois University, he received the Outstanding Teacher Award in 2002 and the Distinguished Professorship of Communication Award in 2000. Callister’s professional service has included acting as peer reviewer for articles of eight national journals. He has had major administrative and committee commitments as associate chair over honors, graduate studies and faculty research and productivity, as well as eight other school committees. He served as director of the Communications Research Center from 2009 to 2012, and from 2015 to the present. He is the recipient of two university awards: the Randall L. Morgan Teaching and Learning Faculty Fellowship Award in 2011, and the Alumni Professorship in 2020. “Dr. Callister is a hard-working and dedicated faculty member who has a deep commitment to the mission and aims of a BYU Education, to his students, to his responsibilities as a colleague, and to producing excellent scholarship,” Adams said. Reflecting on the changes taking place within the college, Adams said, “The progress any organization makes under its leader is a reflection of the strength and capability of the individuals in that organization. We thank Wade Hollingshaus and Ed Carter for their efforts to serve the students and support the mission of their departments. “I express the collective gratitude from the Dean’s Office for all they and their associate directors have done to further the important work of both students and faculty,” he continued. “Both men have left a lasting legacy. I am also confident that our new chairs will serve with the same level of dedication as they face a broad range of challenges and triumphs in the years ahead.”

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Year of Groundbreaking Theatre Work Earns Honors for BYU Students

Chris Hayes — Tue, 04 May 2021 20:20:43 +0000

Several students received recognition for their work in the Department of Theatre and Media Arts After a year of BYU theatre productions performed entirely online, it seems only fitting that the exceptional student work in those productions was honored at a virtual event. The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival is an annual celebration of college and university theatre accomplishments. It typically begins each February with eight separate regional events across the country, and concludes in April with a national festival in Washington D.C. Students can be nominated in categories such as acting, design and dramaturgy. After being recognized at the regional festivals, winners move on to compete at the national level. BYU is part of Region 8, which includes Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii and parts of California. And this year, for the first time ever, the regional festivals were held online. The Region 8 KCACT festival took place February 10-13, 2021. It included workshops and virtual performances, and honored student work produced during the pandemic. “The regional festival this year was, of course, different than any previous festival, but our students worked hard to prepare presentations of their artistic work as they would have for any in-person conference in previous years,” said faculty member and student mentor Shelley Graham. Other student mentors included faculty members Stephanie Breinholt, Adam Houghton, Tony Gunn, Kris Peterson and Dennis Wright. “The regional student winners represented BYU well, earning commendations, fellowships and opportunities for national recognition,” Graham said. The following students received awards: Charisse Baxter received an Honorable Mention In Dramaturgy for her adaptation and work on “An Ideal Husband.” Angela Moser and Alayna Calderwood won the Region 8 Program Note Award for their work on “Letters From Cuba” and “Manual for a Desperate Crossing.” Elisabeth Goulding was named a DTM finalist in set design for “Illusionary Tales,” and was given an award from the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas. Darci Ramirez was recognized as the actress who best served a new play. Caleb Andrus was a finalist in the Director’s Round. Three students were finalists in the Musical Theatre Initiative: Sage Patchin, Cameron Robbins and Jasmyn Swindall. Two students were finalists in the Irene Ryan Auditions: Sage Patchin and Darci Ramirez. “There was such a variety of work to share,” Graham said. “There were set designs for pieces that were actually built for a stage; projection, sound and light designs for Zoom theatre; costume designs for pieces that had to be bought instead of built, or built on machines at home; makeup designs that ultimately would have to be applied by actors themselves watching Zoom tutorials by the makeup artists; brand new paperwork designed by stage managers for running the unique technical aspects of virtual, or partly virtual, theatre; dramaturgical artifacts that included virtual programs, ‘lobbies’ and post show discussions; and acting performances that were a unique blend of theatrical and screen performance skill.” Congratulations to all the winners!

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Hong Kong Native Ariel Wong Takes Top Prize at National Piano Competition

Chris Hayes — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 18:31:45 +0000

BYU sophomore’s years of musical preparation began at the age of four For the second year in a row, a BYU student has competed in one of the most competitive and prestigious piano competitions in the country: the national MTNA competition. And this year, piano performance major Ariel Wong took home the top prize for her division. Though already a sophomore at BYU, Wong, who was 18 at the time, competed in the high school division. Reaching the MTNA finals required multiple regional wins, each one a step toward the final prize. Wong was named first prize winner in her division for the state of Utah, then as winner of the 2021 Southwest regional division competition, where she competed against the state winners from California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada and New Mexico. Wong first started piano lessons at age four; older sister Alice was her first teacher. She now practices three to four hours a day, though when preparing for a competition that number jumps to six or seven hours per day. “Music is such a huge part of my being. I cannot imagine life without it,” she said. “I love its beauty — you can’t see it but you feel it and it speaks to your soul. When I perform, I feel like music has a power to transport me to another time and space at the moment, and I love sharing that moment with others.” At age 14, Wong’s parents sent her from Hong Kong to the U.S. to provide a broader range of musical opportunities. “I auditioned with Dr. Scott Holden, piano professor at BYU, and have studied with him ever since,” she said. This was when she first learned about the MTNA competition. To enter this year’s competition, Wong had to prepare 30 minutes of music consisting of at least two contrasting styles. “My repertoire this year includes Liszt’s transcription of ‘Liebestod’ (love-death) from Wagner’s opera Tristan und Isolde, ‘Choral et Variations’ from Piano Sonata Op.1 by French contemporary composer Henri Dutilleux, and ‘Variations sérieuses in D minor’ by Mendelssohn,” she said. Some of her favorite composers include Bach and Rachmaninoff. Wong plans to pursue a masters degree after she graduates from BYU. “I’m still exploring paths where I can keep doing what I love — creating and sharing the gift of music, and eventually having a family in the future,” she said. “Music often resonates with me in intimate ways. There are countless times where I teared up playing a piece because it’s healing and is a refuge for me,” said Wong. “Music is such a gift from God and I love to share it so that some might be inspired, energized, touched or comforted.”

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Music Major Josie Larsen on Importance of Self-expression and Rediscovery

Chris Hayes — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 18:17:25 +0000

Larsen — a native of Sammamish, Wash. — will graduate in April with a BA in vocal performance. Singing is an essential part of the past, present and future for vocal performance major Josie Larsen. Larsen is one of two students chosen to represent the School of Music for the 2021 convocation.

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Music Major Greg Smith on How the Arts Can Shape Faith and Purpose

Chris Hayes — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 18:10:12 +0000

Smith — a native of Pampa, Texas — will graduate in April with a BA in piano performance. Greg Smith has his own personal motto: “I place the Eternal before me.”

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Theatre Major Alyssa Aramaki on Human Connection and Healing

Chris Hayes — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 17:59:11 +0000

Aramaki — a native of West Linn, Oregon — will graduate in April with a BA in theatre arts studies. The road to graduation looks different for every student. This truth especially hits home for senior Alyssa Aramaki, who will represent the Department of Theatre and Media Arts for spring 2021 convocation.

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‘Lamb of God’ Film to Feature Talents of BYU Students and Alumni

Chris Hayes — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 17:33:10 +0000

Production about last days of Christ will be released just in time for Easter For anyone familiar with the music of Rob Gardner, it will come as no surprise that his many fans feel a strong connection to his work — especially the musicians who perform it. Last month Gardner assembled an impressive cast of accomplished musicians to create a feature film version of his beloved oratorio “Lamb of God.” It will be released in select theaters across the country on March 12. Gardner, a BYU Marriott School of Business alum, also attended USC, doing graduate studies in the Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television program. He has become an accomplished composer of original works for film, theatre and the concert stage, and is the author of several stage musicals and sacred music oratorios. According to Deseret Book, the work has been compared to Handel’s “Messiah” and Mozart’s “Requiem.” Filming for “Lamb of God” took place on a socially distanced sound stage in Park City, Utah. Capturing the performance on film required gathering a choir, an orchestra and 15 vocal and instrumental soloists, including BYU faculty members Monte Belknap (concertmaster) and clarinet professor Jaren Hinckley. A number of BYU students and alumni were also involved in making the film. One of the soloists was BYU alum and adjunct faculty member Dallyn Bayles, who played Pilate. He is a professional singer, actor, recording artist and teacher who has performed with Broadway tours of “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Misérables.” Bayles first met Gardner at BYU when he played the role of Joseph in a production of “Joseph Smith the Prophet” at Abravanel Hall. When Gardner and producer Rob Moffat approached him about the project, Bayles jumped at the opportunity. “I already knew a lot of the people involved in the production,” Bayles said. “And I love performing Gardner’s work. There’s such a passion behind it. He understands human emotion and expresses it in such a beautiful way, both lyrically and musically.” The oratorio choir was made up entirely of BYU students. Choral conductors from the School of Music offered the opportunity to 30 advanced vocalists based on their audition scores. Student Courtney Lawson was among them. “To be in a group of musicians singing about Christ — it was beautiful,” Lawson said. “It was so great to hear live singing again. It brought me so much joy.” “There’s a synergy between you and the choir and the orchestra, sharing this message about the Savior through such a powerful method of storytelling,” said Bayles. “It’s the story of our personal salvation and our relationship with God and Jesus Christ. I can’t imagine a story that’s more worth telling.” The choir members committed to four hours of rehearsal on set, followed by two days of filming. They arrived early and stayed late, in addition to the lengthy commute to and from Park City. For Lawson, it was worth every moment. “It was exactly what I needed right now: a group of people I knew, singing praise of Christ and His story,” Lawson said. “For many of us it was a reaffirmation of our testimony.” The experience also renewed Lawson’s commitment to a career in arts administration. She reflected on the importance of the arts and the role she hopes to play. “The film was a reminder of what good can come from music and the arts,” Lawson said. “During the pandemic many people have said that the arts aren’t essential. But after seeing the results of this performance, I don’t think anyone can deny its worth. That’s really comforting for me. I need music in my life. Other people need it, and they need people like me to take the risk of educating others.” Bayles agreed. “The arts are a celebration of humanity, the things that bring us beauty and joy,” he said. “I believe the Lord uses the arts as tools of the spirit. Music is the language of heaven. The arts are such a vital part of a holistic education; they develop the heart as well as the brain.” Bayles also reflected on what he loves most about performing. “If I had to choose one thing, it’s the opportunity to do projects of a spiritual nature like ‘Lamb of God,’” he said. “It goes beyond portraying a character; it taps into something very deep in my own heart and soul. It means so much to me personally to use my talents to share that kind of story. It just thrills me in ways that no other kind of work can.” Follow on Social Media: Facebook Instagram

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On the Map: Brad Barber’s ‘States of America’ Earns Nationwide Exposure

Chris Hayes — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 22:43:00 +0000

Representing more than a decade of work, the first installment of the filmmaker’s visionary short film project aims to connect and unify Americans one state at a time At the crossroads where art and purpose meet, you’ll find filmmaker Brad Barber. During his childhood years in Tennessee, his parents loaded the family into the car on a regular basis to explore surrounding states. Barber’s fate was sealed: he’d gotten a taste for travel — and gained an early appreciation for the diversity and beauty of the U.S. Fast forward a few decades to Barber’s busy life as documentarian, professor and associate chair for the BYU Theatre and Media Arts Department. All roads have led to this moment. WORLD Channel and pbs.org recently aired the first 29 completed episodes of “States of America,” Barber’s ambitious project to make a short film about one resident from every state in the union. Born in California and raised in Tennessee, Barber now calls Utah home after earning degrees from BYU and USC. All three states have captured a piece of his heart. His strong connection to each place led to a pivotal question: How do people decide where they come from? Barber admitted that “the number of years here have tipped the scales a little toward Utah.” It’s where he met his wife, artist Susan Krueger-Barber, a frequent collaborator who has co-directed several “States of America” episodes. After first crossing paths in an honors history class at BYU, the real spark ignited soon after: she was the subject of a student film about artists; he was a cameraman on the project. Origin Story Barber’s chosen art form of documentary filmmaking dovetails nicely with his desire to tell stories that capture our shared humanity. Together with TMA professor Scott Christopherson, he made a powerful impact with the multi-award-winning documentary “Peace Officer” in 2015, about a former sheriff who investigates the killing of a family member by the very SWAT team he founded. Making “States of America” was a natural progression for Barber after his work on “Beehive Stories” for KBYU (now BYUtv), which featured one person from each county in Utah. He has refined his process over the years, hammering out logistics and settling in on a visual style. In 2009 he adapted one of the early “Beehive Stories” episodes to be the first entry in “States of America” (Utah). As he visited new states on personal and work trips, he started chipping away at the long list of states to feature. He has since received generous support from a variety of department and college grants. Each finished piece is a snapshot into the life of a single person. Think “Humans of New York” but as a series of short films, set to a pitch-perfect musical score by series composer Micah Dahl Anderson. You meet Joyce from Connecticut, an immigrant from St. Vincent who has adopted six foster children. Then there’s LaVona from Arizona, who was born the day that Arizona became a state in 1912. The stories are authentic and moving, expertly capturing the universal elements of being human. Sometimes Barber finds subjects through friends and family; sometimes the connection is a happy accident. He and his wife have even become friends with a few of his subjects — including Beth from Iowa, who fed them huge farm-to-table meals in a cabin she and her husband built themselves. Journey to PBS From the beginning, Barber ultimately hoped the project would get picked up by PBS. “It was the natural home in my mind,” he said. “This outcome has been so satisfying, to see my films with the PBS logo, a network I revere so much.” But it didn’t happen overnight, and it took plenty of perseverance and ingenuity. In 2017 Barber had more than 20 completed films to work with. He saw promise in the freemium model — the idea that offering free content can lead to meaningful outcomes. Barber edited a trailer and hired designer Thea Lorentzen to set up a website. He built a social media presence, then began posting the films for free. Arizona was the breakthrough state, the eighth film posted and the first to garner serious interest from a PBS station. This led to a partnership with KQED (San Francisco’s PBS station) and a distribution deal with WORLD Channel, a national public television network, to begin airing and streaming the films in 2020 on their web platforms, PBS.org and the PBS app. “The remaining 21 state films we make will likely have the same type of rollout in the coming years,” Barber said. The Bigger Picture Barber finds inspiration in a quote by Benedictine nun Mary Lou Kownacki, which the beloved Fred Rogers kept in his wallet: “There isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you’ve heard their story.” Fostering empathy is always the goal. In a recent essay he composed for WORLD Channel Barber wrote, “‘States of America’ is dedicated to exploring diverse cultural and physical landscapes across the United States.” He hopes viewers will embrace that diversity as a part of our nation’s identity and reject the growing trend of divisiveness. “Just since starting this project in 2009, we’ve seen the divide in our country become significantly more extreme,” he said. “Some information silos have even helped normalize xenophobia, white supremacy and increasingly dangerous misinformation.” Healing the divide, he believes, lies with each of us as we seek to broaden our experience both close to home and in the larger world. Barber sees BYU’s mission of Race, Equity & Belonging as a good starting point for important conversations. The next step is turning those words and ideas into measurable action. “I hope that highlighting a wide spectrum of people and their lived experience in the states they call home can be a small, apolitical nudge toward our better natures,” Barber said. “When we get to know others who are different from ourselves, it is harder to hold prejudice. While I didn’t start out with a political agenda on this project, I do hope ‘States of America’ pokes holes in predetermined beliefs Americans may have about other Americans.” A New Generation Barber’s dual role allows him to pass on his knowledge to the next generation of filmmakers at BYU. He mentors three to four students at a time in an advanced-level theatre and media [...]

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BYU’s Winter Choirfest Is a Celebration of Strength Amid Struggle

Chris Hayes — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 20:34:18 +0000

The BYU Singers, Concert Choir, Men’s Chorus and Women’s Chorus present an evening of hymns and sacred works Livestream February 12 at 7:30 p.m. For those growing tired of the chilly temperatures and dreary days of winter, the BYU choirs have a remedy: music to warm the heart and uplift the soul. Winter Choirfest is a celebration of choral music, a tradition that showcases four BYU choirs in one memorable evening of performances. Although pandemic restrictions prevent the choirs from performing live this year, the show will go on via streaming on February 12. The BYU Singers, under director Andrew Crane, will perform “Salvator Mundi” from Requiem by Herbert Howells. Howells was a British composer who wrote this moving piece as a personal expression of grief after losing his young son to polio in 1935. “Deep Peace” by Elaine Hagenberg, with text from a traditional Irish blessing, will feature pianist Lindsay Bastian and a string quartet of BYU School of Music students. The program’s third and final piece will be “Fiesta” from Visiones del Llano by Cristian Grases, where the choir mimics the sounds of Venezuelan folk instruments. The choir is leaning into the livestream medium by adding a unique element that will enhance the audience experience. “This will be the first time we will show subtitles on screen during a Winter Choirfest,” Crane said. The Concert Choir has three pieces of its own planned, representative of larger works to be performed at a solo concert later this semester. “It’s a little showcase of what’s to come,” said conductor Brent Wells. With a semester of pandemic safety measures already under their belts, students can focus more of their energy on making music. “We’re old hats with distancing and safety measures,” Wells said. “They almost feel invisible now.” “Jubilate Deo” by Peter Anglea is inspired by Psalm 100 and features an asymmetric meter and rhythmic vocal ostinatos. “Invitation to Love” is based on a poem by 19th-century African-American poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar, expressing the many faces of love. The Concert Choir will close with the Primary song “The Church of Jesus Christ,” arranged by graduate student CJ Madsen. The Men’s Chorus, also under the direction of Wells, has planned a program that will include repertoire centered on American revival meetings and hymns. “The songs have a foot in the past, but are also relevant today,” Wells said. The group will open with a revival hymn, “Zion’s Walls,” followed by “Benedictus,” an excerpt from the Mass in F Major op. 190 by German composer Josef Rheinberger. The choir will close with “There’s a Meetin’ Here Tonight,” a traditional song made popular by the men’s ensemble Cantus. Per Unitatem Fortitudo is the new Men’s Chorus motto chosen by Wells for 2020-2021 and beyond. It’s Latin for “Through Unity, Strength.” Wells feels it is especially relevant this year. “It’s a truism that applies to nearly every aspect of our lives,” he said. “The members support each other; they pray for each other. It’s a beacon in the darkness to keep us focused.” The Women’s Chorus will present a set intended “to offer reassurance, peace and comfort in uncertain and challenging times,” said conductor Sonja Poulter. “This is a huge undertaking, as we will have only had nine rehearsals before the performance.” The choir will begin with Andrea Ramsey’s “Truth.” The message of the piece: you are beautiful, you are enough, you must believe in that, believe in truth. Elaine Hagenberg’s “I will be a Child of Peace” follows, an arrangement of an old Shaker tune and a prayer of peace and purity. The final number is Daniel Kallman’s setting of the spiritual “My God Is a Rock in a Weary Land.” “It’s a powerful declaration that, as the scriptures teach us, God is a God of miracles and our rock, especially in a year like 2020,” Poulter said. “The world has been so disrupted; making music has been tough for so many people,” Wells said. “BYU choirs can continue to perform and make an impact thanks to our livestreamed performances, and our audiences appreciate the positivity.”

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Short Film by Sophia Prestwich Showcases Moms who Skateboard

Chris Hayes — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 18:18:07 +0000

“Skaterhood” tells compelling story of female skateboarders and their ties to motherhood When Sophia Prestwich pitched the idea of making a documentary about women who skateboard, she had already begun to dabble in the sport herself. “I saw other girls skating and was intrigued by their presence in a sport usually so dominated by men,” she said. Prestwich’s film was chosen to be a student Capstone project. This provided funding and led to a mentorship with Brad Barber, Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker and associate chair for the BYU Department of Theatre and Media Arts. Prestwich, who is from England, was not originally planning to attend university at all. But after a conversation with her high school art teacher, she decided to apply to BYU. “I really wanted to push myself to have an adventure, and America sounded fun,” she said. “I’ve been here for five years now.” Prestwich recently graduated from BYU with a major in media arts and an emphasis in documentary. “Skaterhood,” Prestwich’s short documentary film, was released in October 2020. Its three subjects — Xan, Jen and Cass — share a common thread of motherhood. “They were all pretty open about being filmed,” Prestwich said. “Cass and Xan were already posting to social media a lot, and Jen was going to the skate park every morning with her son Max.” Director of photography Skyler Sorensen is a media arts major who will graduate from BYU this spring. He was responsible for lighting and filming, sometimes running two cameras at once. Filming with a three-person skeleton crew (Sorensen, Prestwich and sound mixer David Sant) presented plenty of challenges. “It stretched me to focus on the bare minimum equipment needed to tell a compelling story in a beautiful way,” Sorensen said. One of the most painful yet profound moments of the film was when newly pregnant Xan discovered she had suffered a miscarriage. “When the miscarriage happened, I was cautious about how to approach it, but Xan was the one to suggest including it,” Prestwich said. “She told me that only good things could come from sharing it. It was kind of a miracle, and definitely a learning experience for me. She became a catalyst for empathy.” “One of the duties of being a filmmaker is building relationships with the people you film,” Prestwich continued. “The subjects aren’t actors, but real people with real stories. I learned how emotionally taxing creating films can be, especially documentaries. But I also feel like I changed as a person. I didn’t expect that.” Prestwich shared that one of her favorite moments was filming Xan longboarding in Provo Canyon. “It was just me and my husband Israel,” she said. “I was skateboarding down the canyon with her while holding my camera.” The importance of story is one of the lessons Prestwich learned along the way. “You can have a really cool idea, but if you don’t know how to put it together as a compelling story, it falls apart,” she said. “Our editor, Jenna Schaelling, did a great job with the footage. Editors don’t get enough credit for what they do. “It was also really helpful to have Brad Barber’s advice on how to craft a strong narrative,” Prestwich said. “Brad brought in a few friends from when he was in school who are film professionals now. They watched the documentary and provided feedback. It was great to work with so many talented people!” Prestwich is currently working on several passion projects. “My goal for 2021 is to create like crazy! I’m naturally drawn toward topics of women’s issues.” Her hope is to become a better filmmaker with every project, so people will recognize her work and so she can continue to make films for many years to come. Follow Sophia Prestwich on Instagram.

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