The Blog

BYU: Releasing Documentary about Historic 2010-2011 Baskeball Season

2011-08-19T13:33:00.000-07:00

Check out the most recent full length trailer for the new BYU Basketball documentary Amazing that I am working on. It's a feature length doc about the historic 2010-11 season that led Jimmer Fredette to becoming the consensus National Player of the Year and BYU to a Sweet Sixteen birth in the NCAA tournament. Stay tuned for more updates.

Road to the Shire

2011-08-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

So here's a little taste of what I've been working on lately--the most epic adventure ever. Me and two friends are out to convince Peter Jackson and his mates that we should be involved in the making of his films as extras or...whatever. We just want to be involved. You can check our website at roadtotheshire.com. Today we just gave our first interview with a fan site call Middle Earth News. It's really cool check it out.

Adm. Lee Sun Shin or 50 Cent: Live Free or Die Tryin...or something like that

2011-06-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

In the heart of Seoul in a place called Gwanghamun there is a free museum near by the area where the Seoul City Hall is under renovation. Inside you can learn about two very distinct personalities that have shaped and influenced the history of Korea and the consciousness of the Korean people. Above the museum (which is underground) is a square that hosts two epic statues of these Korean men: King Sejong the Great (say-juhng) and Admiral Lee Sun Shin (ee-soon-sheen). I had heard about them before from some Korean dramas but only after my visit did I really gain a fuller appreciation for the great contributions these two men have made.

First the Admiral. Born in 1545 he became one of the most celebrated military leaders in Korean history for his great acts of bravery and leadership during the Imjin War (War with Japan). His most notable battle would be his last as he held off a fleet of 300 Japanese ships from invading the Korean peninsula with a meager 13 Korean vessels. During the battle he was struck by a Japanese bullet and with his last words exhorted , "We are at the height of the battle, do not tell anyone of my death" in order to not hurt the morale of his men. After his death he was awarded the highest military honor of the time, the title Chungmugong meaning the highest loyalty. Many years after he was given a greater title that was something like over 18 characters long. He always celebrated during his career and faced many political set backs having been stripped of his rank many times and forced to become a rank in file soldier. Despite his challenges he remained loyal to his country and was a diligent soldier. He's definitely someone whose character prevailed over whatever hardships or challenges he faced. If you spend any real amount of time with Koreans you will gain a sense of their deep national pride and resiliency. Having been invaded more than any other country its no wonder that the Korean people share a sense of unity and determination to do their best for their own that is incomparable to many other cultures. Adm. Lee Sun Sheen in my mind represents this mentality in his vigor and loyalty in defending his country. In a famous drama he yells "THIS IS KOREA!!!!!!" to the invading Japanese. Another famous quote he is known for is "If you fight to save your life you will die. Those who fight as if they were to die will live" or something to that effect.

Just down the way is another statue even larger than the great admiral's. It is King Sejong the Great, the inventor of the Korean alphabet and generally the most revered leader in all of Korea. His words of wisdom have come to define many Korean cultural ideas and practices including respect for the elderly and all human life regardless of station. In his own words, "The common people are the foundation of any country. It is only when this foundation is strong that a country may be stable and prosperous." The whole purpose for creating hangul, or the Korean alphabet, was based around this idea. He created the alphabet because he felt that his people, who were largely iliterate (due to the difficulty of reading and writing Chinese characters), were unable to communicate their feelings and thoughts in their own language. He believed that if they could not express to him their wishes and feelings through the written word, he could not know of their needs properly. Facing great political opposition he created hangul and gave empowerment to even the lowest of commoners. He also created or over saw the creation of many other inventions that blessed his people including a new calendar system, clocks for common areas, a rainfall measurement device, and a system for writing a recording musical notation so that it could be passed on to the next generation. He is the most venerated leader in Korea and if you spend some time learning about him you can understand why.

The Key to Every Man's Heart: Bacon.

2011-06-21T06:11:00.000-07:00

In Korean, simply 삼걉살...hope I spelled that right (Sam-gyahp-saal). It's delicious, scrumptulescent, onolicious, da kine, 맛씨다, whatever the word in your lingo it's just good stuff. Man I love food. I always enjoy learning about other cultures through the food they prepare. One thing that I enjoy about Korean food is the plating. You are usually served a variety of side dishes (pahn-chahn) and rather than heap everything on the same plate it all has it's own dish. Usually every restaurant will give you at least two of these when you sit down and you can immediately begin munching with this delightful built-in appetizer. I think it's something about the spread that makes you just feel like you are feasting. All the colors, shapes, and sizes make it more enjoyable to me. Another distinct feature of Korean food is the sneaky heat that's involved. I say sneaky because although everything seems to be red and seasoned with Korean peppers of some incarnation, the spiciness does not jump up and bite you at first like perhaps a Thai dish or some Latin or Mexican dishes. After you take a bite or two you start noticing your nose is running and then before you know it--you're toast. You can't stop now or it will just burn. So you must press on into more deliciousness. That brings me to the last point I love about Korean food--the aspect of sharing. Each side dish is on its own plate that is shared by all at the table. You'll find no individually sectioned off portions here (at least not normally). There's no DMZ when it comes to this tasty goodness. There's something about the mentality of sharing food that really speaks to me on another level. When someone shares food with you it's kind of intimate. You're sharing something we all need, but that is very personal. Anyways... just thought I'd share a few pics of some food and oh don't forget if you are going to eat Korean be sure to have access to some mints; you're going to need them. :)

Soon-tobu-gook

Soon tobu-chee-gay
Easier to show the difference than to explain. As they say, a picture is worth...

Jongmyo Royal Shrine

2011-06-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I went and paid a visit to the Jungmyo Royal Shrine near Gwonnong-dong. It was a very peaceful experience due to the stark contrast between all the sites and sounds of the city and quiet natural scenes of the park and surrounding area. It's kind of a little natural oasis within the city surrounded by tall buildings and bustling traffic. Apparently this area was constructed as a spiritual haven for the Chosun Dynasty and their ancestors. I really appreciated all the detail that went into making the "spirit chambers" that were to be a dwelling place for the ancestors. Each room was covered in white paper both on the walls, floors, and ceiling. There were tons of school children who were there probably on field trips with school as well as many senior citizens who gathered in the park for some kind of speech. I think it was religious in nature, but seemed to be only attended by elderly men. I could be totally wrong as my Korean is not very stellar outside of certain topics. It has been so hot over the past few days and it's made me realize summer is finally here. It was nice to be in the shade. There is so much to see here. Since I have been in vacation mode I haven't been very good at updating the blog... I will have to push myself. :)

Narita, Japan

2011-06-16T18:42:00.000-07:00

So I started my most recent adventure in Salt Lake City, UT where I headed for Tokyo Japan en route to Seoul South Korea. What an adventure it has been so far... After arriving to Narita Airport with virtually no problems, I encountered the Narita Airport security. They looked at my carry on luggage and determined that it was "oversized" (which included my tripod and my skateboard). So they wisked me away to a Delta agent who explained to me the difference for Japan and American standards...well sort of. "It's too big right? Pretty much the standards are different in US and Japan..." That was the explanation :) Then they marked my items fragile, sent them away, and I was on my way to Korea. I thought it kind of ironic when I got on the plane that there was more room for my carry on items than there had been on the plane to Japan. Luckily they didn't charge me. I think. Then came the Incheon airport. I got my bags very quickly, headed for an ATM, picked up a cell phone and travel card and I was out--on the train that is. I was pretty much comatose. I ended up getting off at the wrong stop to make my transfer but got back on. Then the train stopped about half way to my destination and closed. So I took a cab to my hotel where I was checked in by a very friendly man who spoke English. The cabby had a hard time finding the joint however, and I was wondering if that meter was ever going to stop. Luckily it did. Welcome to Korea. It's been rad so far. I can't wait to eat as much as I can and soak up all language that I can in the time I'm here. It's going to be like an episode of Man vs. Food, sort of.

RUSSIAN MORMONS

2011-05-21T10:33:00.000-07:00

So here is a sneak peek at a project I am working on from Moscow, Russia right now.

Vote Fictionist and Give 'em 5 Stars!

2011-05-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

Aaron & Alex

2011-04-13T21:46:00.000-07:00

Brandon Davies BYU Suspension

2011-03-03T14:22:00.000-08:00

(As written to The Daily Universe at Brigham Young University Provo, UT

Shout out to my boy Brandon Davies

Brandon Davies towers over his opponents at a height of 6'9" and weighs in at an athletic 235 pounds. Known for his ability to run the floor and his soft hands, Brandon is energetic and aggressive. During his freshman year (a true freshman btw) Brandon played in 35 games and started 1, received a team Academic Excellence award, averaged 5.4 points and 3.0 rebounds, added 13 steals and 14 blocks, and shot .539 from the field and .568 from the free throw line. He scored in double figures 6 times and had 1 double-double and led the team in rebounding 4 times and scoring once. He also helped BYU find its first NCAA 2nd round birth in ages. He had 5 points, 1 rebound and 1 steal in 13 minutes against Kansas State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, had 6 boards, 1 block and 1 steal in 19 minutes against Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament (www.byucougars.com). This season he has played a critical role in helping our beloved cougars in one of the most historic seasons in recent memory. Brandon Davies is huge. He throws it down with the best of them and brings an energy to the paint in terms of rebounds from both sides of the court. He is a superior athlete, an improving student (something that he has really had to work for since his Provo days), and he is human. Whatever the reason, whatever the cause of your recent troubles, just remember you have at least one loyal fan (and probably many more) in cougar nation. We love you. We need you. We don't just trash our heroes when they fall down. We cheer them on to find victory once again. We don't shame or shun those who fall because we ourselves also fall. Don't give up on BYU. We won't give up on you. We all make mistakes, the press just doesn't cover them all. I hope you stay with us and do whatever you have to in order to be here next season. Life is bigger than this moment, it's bigger than this season; you can take the reins and still be chosen (D&C 3:7-11). In the game of life there is still plenty of time on the clock. In fact, there is exactly the amount of time we need to turn it around. Most of all when the buzzer sounds and all this is over I hope this experience finds you a stronger person, with a fresh view on life, and better able to help those in the long mistake line after you. To Brandon Davies and your family much love.

You NEED to start meaningful projects now— you never know how much time you have left.

2011-02-26T11:08:00.001-08:00

You NEED to start meaningful projects now— you never know how much time you have left. Social entrepreneur and business consultant Richie Norton has recently released this captivating and inspiring mini-book for free download at http://richienorton.net. I read this short gem in about 20 minutes. Norton talks about the dilemma we often find ourselves in when deciding the direction to take our lives. Will work dictate where and how we live? Does the pursuit of money not really get our motors turning but seem to drive our life? Do we have to choose between living and working for meaning and working for money? Norton says no. In fact, it seems the real innovators ask how do we do both. I would recommend this short book to anyone looking for a job, struggling to start or maintain a career, and anyone trying to make a difference. It can be downloaded for free at http://richienorton.net.

Jimmer Fredette is the Player of the Year

2011-02-25T19:28:00.001-08:00

Kevin Durrant: "Jimmer is the best scorer in the world"
Chad Ocho Cinco: "J Fredette from BYU is a beast on the basketball court, is he a lock to be drafted top 3?
Scott Van Pelt: "The Jimmer. If your sleepin this is your wake up call."
Nelly: "If you like basketball like me you definitely got to check out this dude named Jimmer Fredette. He is definitely the truth!"
John Wall: "Jimmer Fredette is cold! Respect."
DickieV: "Jimmer is awesome baby!"

To learn more visit thejimmershow.com

Top 10 List of Things You Can't Do with Your Cap and Gown

2011-02-09T21:20:00.000-08:00

So apparently there is a trend among college grads these days that shows a decline in those who choose to actually attend the ceremony. This video was put together as part of a campaign to invite graduates to walk at graduation and participate in something meaningful. What do you think? Is walking a big deal?

Sir Ken Robinson: Bring on the learning revolution! | Video on TED.com

2011-01-28T15:25:00.000-08:00

Sir Ken Robinson: Bring on the learning revolution! | Video on TED.com

BMW - Flash Projection / Paper-Plane.fr

2011-01-14T13:48:00.000-08:00

BYU All-American Quarterback Spot

2011-01-05T21:47:00.000-08:00

New Year's: Look Not behind Thee

2010-12-30T18:51:00.000-08:00

Operation Christmas

2010-12-29T17:04:00.000-08:00

Operation Christmas from Jonathan Wright on Vimeo.

Just a little time lapse documenting some Christmas projects. Shot on Canon 7D using a Yongnuo intervalometer, Quicktime 7, and Final Cut Pro.

The Wonder of the Christ Child

2010-12-03T19:30:00.000-08:00

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a very blessed holiday.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-26T18:17:00.001-08:00

BYU vs UofU Food Drive

2010-11-22T21:30:00.000-08:00

Cool Beans from Jonathan Wright on Vimeo.

Commercial shot on Canon 7D Priceless

2010-09-07T22:26:00.000-07:00

This little spot was made for BYU Homecoming and was shot entirely on a Canon 7D.

Cheesycam Fig Rig Test Footage

2010-08-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

As requested from an earlier post here is a little test footage from my fig rig that I shot for LifeLens Media at a recent wedding. (Specs are from Cheesycam) Nothing too dramatic as far as moves go, but I think it helps get a pretty nice hand-held shot that's fairly stable.

Cheesycam takes the cake for DIY

2010-08-02T16:32:00.000-07:00

If you are a DSLR user and are intrested in DIY (do it yourself) projects you should really check out Cheesycam. This guy seems to always be up to something either still or video related and they are really killer projects that are extremely useful and affordable. Here is a little demo of the DIY project I made from references on cheesycam.com. I bought all the parts for a round $20 at Lowes. I prefer Lowes over Home Depot after not being able to find the same variety of parts. I picked up the quick release plate from ebay. Its also on Amazon. The seller is photogearfinder. Sorry for the crappy audio it was straight off my isight camera and I did this rather quickly. I hope you enjoy and check back for more vids. If you would like to see some of my work visit lifelensmedia.com You can also follow us on twitter, youtube, and facebook.

Kristi's Photoshoot for BYU Homecoming

2010-07-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

I took these pics last minute for a poster for the BYU Alumni Association advertising the upcoming Homecoming events. Kristi was nice enough to be my model and she did great! These were a couple of my favorites.

Yo & Michelle

2010-07-06T20:34:00.000-07:00

Yo & Michelle decided to have a traditional Laotian wedding ceremony/reception prior to their temple sealing while they waited on their visas. It began with a blessing where an elder chants a poetic blessing of both counsel and good wishes. Then family and friends tie strings around their wrists and add their own blessings to the couple. Its a really cool symbol for becoming tied together and one as a couple. The food was amazing, the traditional costumes were beautiful, there was dancing and pretty much just a lot of fun.

Mer's photo sesh

2010-06-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Some of my favs from Rachel's Grad Portraits

2010-06-23T20:24:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Rach! Share this with your mom!

Hipster Part 1

2010-06-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

Hipster Part 2

2010-06-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

Hipster: A documentary short about music trends

2010-06-22T21:18:00.001-07:00

Check out my new short doc above and leave me some feedback?

Guatemala Sinkhole and the Silver Surfer?

2010-06-01T12:51:00.000-07:00

According to news.nationalgeographic.com a huge sinkhole in Guatemala City (map), Guatemala, crashed into being on Sunday, reportedly swallowing a three-story building—and echoing a similar, 2007 sinkhole in Guatemala.The sinkhole has likely been weeks or even years in the making—floodwaters from tropical storm Agatha caused the sinkhole to finally collapse, scientists say. See link for full story. I know this picture is somewhat lacking taste; however, its the first thing I thought of when I saw the images. I just can't believe the size of this thing. Crazy stuff is happening these days!

The Generations Project New Episodes

2010-01-15T15:53:00.000-08:00

New episodes of The Generations Project are now online and can be viewed at http://www.byub.org/thegenerationsproject. New episodes will air every week on Monday at 8pm Mountain Standard Time.

Join "Coolest Story in your Family Tree" on Facebook

2009-12-09T12:05:00.000-08:00

I have created a new group on Facebook called "Coolest Story in Your Family Tree" that is dedicated to sharing the coolness of your family. Join the group and write a few lines about a story you have heard about your ancestors good or bad, fantastic or funny. You can even upload or short video blog about it on the video tab. Come check it out today!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&ref=mf&gid=223829620357

The Generations Project

2009-12-02T11:15:00.001-08:00

The Generations Project is now accepting applications @ http://www.byub.org/thegenerationsproject

You can also submit a video application by uploading a video such as the ones in this post and the following posts to Youtube then pasting the link in your application.

The Generations Project

2009-12-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

The Generations Project

2009-12-02T11:13:00.000-08:00

The Generations Project

2009-12-02T11:11:00.000-08:00

The Generations Project Discovers Roots and Scary Stories...

2009-11-03T14:16:00.000-08:00

Follow on http://www.byub.org/thegenerationsproject

Olsen Family Soup-Off

2009-10-12T21:48:00.001-07:00

Be there or be lame.

Olsens

2009-10-09T22:44:00.001-07:00

The Generations Project Sneak Peak

2009-10-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

Alternative content

Have you ever wondered why a zest for life runs in your family? Where your comedic timing comes from? Or what’s at the root of your roots. The answer just might be found in your family tree.

Coming up next is a sneak peek at The Generations Project, an innovative new series coming to BYU Television that takes real people on a hands-on journey to uncover fascinating and poignant facts of their family history, all the while discovering more about themselves.

In this exclusive first-look, a young artist asks the question, "Is family worth all the struggle?" Watch as she better understands her own identity through the life and experiences of her ancestors.

Alli Dew Tour 2009

2009-09-21T07:20:00.001-07:00

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2009-09-21T07:15:00.000-07:00

TJ Ellis

2009-09-21T07:14:00.002-07:00

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2009-09-21T07:13:00.002-07:00

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2009-09-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

Brigham City Peach Days

2009-09-13T10:36:00.002-07:00

2009-09-13T10:36:00.001-07:00

Car Show

2009-09-13T10:35:00.001-07:00

Car Show 2

2009-09-13T10:34:00.001-07:00

Car Show 3

2009-09-13T10:33:00.002-07:00

Car Show 4

2009-09-13T10:33:00.001-07:00

Car Show 5

2009-09-13T10:32:00.001-07:00

Car Show 6

2009-09-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

Fair 1

2009-09-13T10:29:00.001-07:00

Fair 2

2009-09-13T10:27:00.000-07:00

Snow Bird

2009-08-09T15:19:00.001-07:00

Hidden Canyon Zion National Park 6

2009-08-03T21:30:00.002-07:00

Hidden Canyon Zion National Park 5

2009-08-03T21:30:00.001-07:00

Hidden Canyon Zion National Park 4

2009-08-03T21:29:00.000-07:00

Hidden Canyon Zion National Park 3

2009-08-03T21:28:00.000-07:00

Hidden Canyon Zion National Park 2

2009-08-03T21:20:00.000-07:00

Weeping Rock

Hidden Canyon Zion National Park

2009-07-31T21:15:00.002-07:00

Alpine Loop 2

2009-07-31T21:15:00.001-07:00

Alpine Loop

2009-07-31T21:13:00.001-07:00

Aspen Ridge MGT Lone Tree 677 E 300 N Provo UT

2009-07-31T21:05:00.000-07:00

If you like broken furniture, water damage, staples stabbing you through the carpet, a mgt company that gets paid to throw your emails away, and maintenance men who come to "fix things", but don't bring any tools and then say "ya..I can't fix that" Aspen Ridge Mgt might be for you. Try Lone Tree Town Homes where decrepit meets design. 677 E 300 N **Disclaimer- your car stereo may already be missing if you take the time to make a visit.

Secret Sauce

2009-07-31T20:30:00.000-07:00

The Colon

2009-07-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

University Ave

2009-07-22T19:05:00.000-07:00

Party Time

2009-06-28T20:47:00.001-07:00

Cubworld JUNE 26TH SPARK LOUNGE IN PROVO

2009-06-20T14:20:00.000-07:00

For all you music lovers out there come check out one of the chillest vocal acts in Provo at Spark Lounge. There is no cover charge but you have to buy something to eat or drink. Don't be cheap; this is worth it and if you got that special someone a great date.

More Stickers 1

2009-03-21T01:29:00.002-07:00

More Stickers 2

2009-03-21T01:29:00.001-07:00

More Stickers 3

2009-03-21T01:28:00.001-07:00

The Generations Project

2009-03-14T19:06:00.000-07:00

This is a new program that I am working on as an assistant producer. The show will air in Novemeber 2009. Check it out at www.byub.org/thegenerationsproject

Logos

2009-03-14T01:12:00.001-07:00

Just a couple ideas I have been working on for some stickers.

Obama Shirts

2009-02-21T12:11:00.001-08:00

If you would be interested in purchasing any of these shirts please contact me by leaving a comment or by emailing me directly at alohaweezy@gmail.com. Click on images to enlarge.

CJ Prestman Logos

2009-02-21T11:41:00.001-08:00

These are a series of ideas I recently have been working on for a friend of mine to help him update some of his logos. Shop CJ Prestman Auto: Where Smart Money Goes! They are your source for quality pre-owned vehicles with no nonsense. Ask for Jason or Shaun.

New Logo version 2

2009-02-12T21:00:00.001-08:00

New Logo Idea

2009-02-12T17:56:00.001-08:00

What do you think? Feedback welcome.

Malakye & 686 Snowboard Jacket Design Contest

2009-01-24T13:13:00.000-08:00

This design was created on 12/29/08. Click here to see the results.

Crank Bike Apparel

2009-01-23T16:14:00.000-08:00

This is concept catalog for some original apparel designed by John Washburn at Fezzari Bikes. It's legit. Support Fezzari!

A Season in Faith's Perfection

2009-01-22T16:29:00.000-08:00

Two days ago the world watched as the 44th President of the United States delivered his inaugural address. His message was clear and straightforward about the challenges that lie ahead of us. He spoke of the spirit of America and the ideals of our founders being the driving force that will bring us through these challenging times. May we unite together at this pivotal time, placing party agendas aside, and truly make a change, united, for the betterment of our world. (Note: this is a typo-graphic portrait made with words, phrases, and letters associated with the rise of the nation's first black American President.)

Untitled

2008-12-29T10:03:00.001-08:00

Distance

2008-12-28T15:48:00.000-08:00

The theme of this drawing is about relationships and the things that come between people. Click on the image to see a larger view.

Couple

2008-12-28T15:39:00.000-08:00

This triptic was inspired by some Chinese watercolor pieces.

Freedom Mural

2008-12-28T15:26:00.000-08:00

This is a concept I have been working on for something memorializing my culture and the American spirit.

Progress Day 2

2008-12-20T01:10:00.000-08:00

This is what the painting looked like at the end of the second day of work. I plan on adding some more little details before framing. Sorry my camera is not very good at the moment.

Panel 1

2008-12-20T01:04:00.001-08:00

Panel 2

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