It's probably farther away from Hollywood trends and culture than anyone could imagine, but BYU's media arts program has all it takes to produce successful film grads.

Jeff Parkin, who teaches film production in the Department of Media Arts, will direct his first feature film in Provo in June. The production of "Together Again for the First Time," starring Patty Duke, David Odgen Stiers and Joey Lawrence, will employ 40 BYU student interns and graduates.

Parkin said he was impressed with BYU's film program.

"One of the strongest parts about [the program] is the individual concern the faculty has for students," Parkin said. "I went to USC film school, and it's a bigger school. Unless you really went out of your way to find some mentors, it was difficult to have that happen." Parkin said.

Production teachers Parkin and Tom Russell were hired specifically to do professional work, giving students the opportunity to work on the production of a real film.

"I would have loved to have such an opportunity at their age - to be able to be close enough to the director and see how that part of it works, and to be mentored by other professionals," Parkin said.

"Together Again" - adapted from a Christmas play that premiered at BYU in 1985 - asks what kind of sacrifices a family is willing to make to connect with one another. The mother, played by Oscar winner Patty Duke, and the father, played by David Ogden Stiers, both have children, aged 17 to 21, from previous marriages who struggle with being in the same house for the first time since the marriage that made them siblings.

"We looked at a lot of people, and what was really gratifying was how many of them really liked the script, and because they liked the script were willing to take smaller parts," Parkin said.

Recent BYU grad Justin Cook will be working with Parkin on "Together Again" as production manager.

"I'm kind of a nerd and I really am actually excited about working with these stars - these people who have some renown," Cook said.

Being a professor has changed Parkin's approach to filmmaking, including how he hires cast and crew.

"Because I want to make opportunities for students, I find myself making a lot of decisions on the film based on how the professionals we hire will interact with the students," Parkin said. "There are some people who I may have hired in other situations, but I chose not to hire on this one because I was concerned about whether or not they'd be good mentors."

Being at BYU offers students another unique aspect of life to influence their filmmaking.

"Another strength of the department is the faculty's commitment to the gospel, and to helping students incorporate their beliefs into their films," Parkin said. "I'm not talking about only making Mormon films that are solely for an LDS audience - although I think that is a valid form we shouldn't abandon."

Parkin said the critical film studies faculty, who teach film history and analysis, help students create better, more meaningful films.

"Our emphasis is not just on creating students who are going to make movies, but on creating students who are going to think critically not just about movies, but about life." Parkin said. "That translates not only to film, but to living. We don't just say 'Here, come learn how to use a camera.'"

After the release of "Napoleon Dynamite" and "New York Doll" - both made by BYU film grads - BYU's film scene has received national attention.

MTV's Kurt Loder wrote, "the light of [the LDS Church] has begun to shine out from movie screens, of all places," in an MTV.com article, published in October 2005. Loder cited "Napoleon Dynamite" as "distinguished by the warm, unquestioning acceptance that it accorded its eccentric characters," and "New York Doll" as a "bottomlessly tolerant embrace to a man whose life might otherwise have been written off as a complete, wretched failure."

Copyright Brigham Young University 23 May 2006