BYU NewsNet - BYU student gets opportunity to intern with Ron Howard

The forbidden fruit was grandpa’s video camera. His family wouldn’t let him near it except for the occasional narrated house tour, and soon Jared Cook’s curiosity grew to become his passion.

From his humble beginnings rolling a Hi-8 camera with high school friends, Cook recently completed an internship with director Ron Howard on the set of the newly released movie “Angels & Demons.”

Cook graduated from BYU in Media Arts just last month. Currently, he works as a freelance editor for BYU productions and lives in Wymount with his wife, Amanda.

Tom Lefler, administrator and manager of the BYU Media Arts lab, was contacted about an anonymous internship in Hollywood and recommended Cook.

“This internship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Jeff Parkin, Cook’s professor and mentor. “BYU is so lucky to even have one of our students considered for such a position. To have it actually filled by one of our students is even rarer. Jared was a perfect choice.”

Cook said he was only aware that it was a Hollywood internship but didn’t know with who until he received the e-mail with “Ron Howard internship” in the subject line.

“I started shaking,” Cook said. “Ron Howard is my role-model.”

Cook said he would like to keep the versatility of a broad range of film genres like those of Howard’s. He especially is drawn to family films and classic underdog plots.

This is in part because Cook said when was growing up they had five movies that were acceptable viewing material for the family because they were wholesome, uplifting entertainment. He said he wants to make more movies of that nature.

His smile was ear-to-ear as he talked about high school beginnings and outrageous story plots. Cook said he enjoys being behind the camera much rather than in front of it.

“I smile too much,” Cook said about his acting skills. “I can’t stop smiling.”

However, his mother, Lynette Cook, said he made an inspiring Horatio in a high school production of Hamlet.

In high school, Cook and his friends, including his best friend John Wilson, created epic movies, combining scenes from “Star Wars” to James Bond.

“We took so many takes because he could never keep a straight face,” Wilson chuckled. “He’d always start laughing.”

“I’m huge on optimism,” Cook said when describing his personality and style in film. His wife, Amanda, agreed.

Amanda Cook, also a Media Arts BYU graduate, worked in the equipment check-out room when she met Jared. Jared Cook said he went to borrow a video camera and met her. He said a lot of people say he was checking out more than just a video camera.

“I want us to be a team at home and in the professional world,” said his wife, “to produce films, write and work together as we go.”

Jared Cook said in the future he would love to own a family company and produce films together with his wife.

It was Jared who first brought the love for movies into the Cook home, said his mother. She said he was the one who was always insisting that they see selected scenes.

Late into high school, Jared developed his own business of editing wedding slide shows. His parents said he has always been creative and had the eye for film. Jared taught his mother the editing aspect and now she is the one who handles the small business.

He hasn’t been without his share of obstacles. He faced a challenging and painful ankle injury, which his mother said has helped him empathize with others.

“He looks for the positive and keeps going,” Lynette Cook said.

“He makes people feel good,” said Grant Cook, his father. “He’s got that magical personality. People are drawn to him.”

Perhaps it was that quality that helped him be successful as the personal assistant to Howard. Jared Cook said he learned tremendous lessons from Howard, Tom Hanks and the specialists on the set of “Angels & Demons.” He received personal tutorials from lighting experts to costume specialists. Jared Cook reflected that this opportunity has been an unforgettable time where he was trained by professionals.

His family and those close to him feel the future is full of possibilities for him. His family is now pushing the video camera into his hands instead of keeping it away.

“I’m excited to see what he can produce for the world,” said Lynette Cook.