About Us:

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Organizers:

Scott Christopherson

Scott is a student at Brigham Young University working on Bachelor Degrees in Documentary Film (Media Arts) and Asian Studies on an academic scholarship.

In 2001-2003 Scott severd as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He can read, write, and speak Thai fluently and has worked part-time for the past two years as a teacher of the Thai language at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. In July of 2004, Scott returned to Thailand to create documentaries about the effects of American pop culture on Thai people and customs.

Chris Coy

As an artist/filmmaker Chris has received numerous awards ranging from recognition as a finalist for the prestigious Dore Schary Awards (United Nations) to Audience Choice at the LDSBox Film Festival. He has also exhibited his art at several galleries in the Salt Lake Area while attending BYU on partial academic and talent scholarship.

Chris is currently studying Graphic Design with a minor in film and has worked for the BYU Media Arts department teaching beginning film courses and as a lab proctor in the student Final Cut editing lab. For the past two years he has volunteered as head of publicity for the BYU Final Cut Student Film Festival. Chris was also the recipient of an ORCA grant (summer 2004) to fund his and ScottÕs American Pop Culture in Thailand project.

Andrew Coy

Andrew is currently working as the Office Manager and Program Director for the Alaska Fine Arts Academy in Eagle River, Alaska. He is interested, specifically, in the relationship of art and self-expression to the community.

In addition to being a member of the Board of Directors for the Alaska Fine Arts Academy (a community based music, dance, and fine-art instruction center founded in 1984 in Eagle River, Alaska) he has volunteered as a reading tutor with the adult-literacy program Project R-E-A-D, been involved with the BYU Collegiate Post (the Honor Student publication), has managed a local, independent radio station, and designed or maintained a handful of websites featuring local artists and community programs.

Jack Allred

After three years of experience in digital media, Jack enrolled at the University of California at Santa Barbara as a film major in the year 2000. In 2003, heÕd attained a B.A. in Film Studies, a B.A. in Philosophy with an emphasis in Ethics and Public Policy, and a minor in English.

Since graduating, Jack has crewed dozens of professional videos for businesses, advertising firms, individuals, and television shows around the country. He has produced multiple short films, narrative and documentary, with budgets of up to $35,000. For the last two years, Jack has been employed full time at Spy Hop Productions where he has managed the production of nearly 100 video projects, mentored hundreds of students, and instructed over two dozen video classes.

Jade Grimmius

Currently, Jade is finishing her degree in Computer Science with a minor in Multimedia at Oregon State University. She has been awarded several scholarships including the Julius M. Riddle Multimedia Scholarship.

Although Jade spends a lot of time in front of computers, her real love is working with people. From 2002-2004 she served an 18 month service mission in Thailand for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There she learned to speak, read, and write Thai. She loves the Thai people. Although Jade and Dave grew up in towns only 10 minutes apart, David and Jade had never met until their experience in Thailand. They married in September 2004.

Dave Griffith

From 2002 to 2004, David served as an LDS missionary in Thailand. During this time he developed a strong bond with the Thai people and developed a greater understanding of their amazing culture. He can speak, read, and write Thai fluently.

David is a student of Business Administration at Oregon State University. He has many interests including international relations, media management, and film. One of his career goals is to work for the U.S. Department of State.

Rob Nyland

Rob is a recent graduate of Brigham Young University, where he received his BA in Media Arts Studies, with an emphasis in sound. He has worked on a number of student and professional shoots, including The Best Two Years, Pride & Prejudice and the upcoming film Moving McAllister.

Rob has also spent time in New Zeland and Tonga working with Maori university student's film shoots. In the fall of 2005 Rob will begin a Masters in Mass Communication at BYU where he plans to study Media Literacy.

Board of Directors:

Sterling Van Wagenen

Sterling Van Wagenen has been involved in the independent film industry for more than 20 years. He has produced and directed numerous films and documen-taries, including the Academy Award winning The Trip To Bountiful. In 1981, along with Robert Redford, he co-founded the Sundance Film Festival and subsequently served as the Executive Director of Sundance Institute.

Amy Jensen

Amy Jensen is a full-time faculty member in the Film Department at Brigham Young University. She received her MA in Film from BYU in 1988 and her PhD (ABD) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an emphasis in Theatre and Film Education. She is currently heading the "Hands On Camera Project" (a media literacy program targeting high-school age at-risk youth in Provo, Utah).

Peter Wilden

Peter Wilden has been involved in Thailand for more than 25 years. He is currently the head of the Thailand branch of Tahitian Noni and Mirinda soft drink company. He is also the head of Thailand's Public Affairs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Fred Shepherd

Fred first became interested in Thailand when, in 1971, he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints there. He has since (on and off) lived, worked, and traveled extensively in Thailand. After the Tsunami in December Fred and his wife, Phensri, decided to become full-time Tsunami relief volunteers and have spent the past 3 months on the ground in Khao Lak, Phuket, and Phanga, Thailand.

Tom Lefler

Tom Lefler is an full-time admin-istrator in the Film department at Brigham Young University and has recently served as the Associate Dean for the Theatre and Media Arts Department. He has pro-duced a number of films including the PBS documentaries "In the Presence of Healers" (2000) and "Brides on the Homefront" (2000). He is perhaps best recognizable for his role as the principal in the recent film, Napoleon Dynamite.

Michael Christopherson

Michael Christopherson is a transactional attorney practicing in Los Angeles, California with the international law firm of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP. Prior to beginning his practice in Los Angeles, Michael received his Juris Doctorate from Cornell Law School and served as law clerk to the Honorable C. Arlen Beam, Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.