KRISTIE MOSS / Scroll
Jacob Fry, a junior from Rexburg, is currently working as an assistant to the director for an independent film Crossing Paths in California. Part of the job includes attending all meetings and shadowing the director. Filming is scheduled to begin May 15.

BYU-I student works on major film production

Gloria Layton LAY04003@BYUI.EDU A&E Asst. Editor

With a lot of ambition but very little experience, Jacob Fry, a junior from Rexburg, is headed down to sunny California in early April to break his way into the film industry.

When Fry was offered a position as assistant to director Charles Oliver working on the film Crossing Paths for Whitelight Entertainment, he jumped at the opportunity.

“It’s neat because unless you are a director or a producer, you really won’t have an experience like this,” Fry said.

As an assistant to Oliver, Fry gets to work side by side with the director, to be in all of the meetings Oliver attends and watch what a director does first hand.

Crossing Paths is currently in the pre-production stages, with filming scheduled to start May 15.

Although this experience is a lucky break for Fry, it didn’t come without hard work. Fry practiced writing screenplays and making his own films here at BYU-Idaho, taking every opportunity he could to learn about the film industry.

“I have always had a philosophy that an opportunity passed up closes a whole world of future learning experiences and other opportunities,” Fry said.

Fry doesn’t believe it is necessary for students to get out of Rexburg in order to break into the film industry. Fry suggested students work hard to gain a steady, upward education in film.

“Self motivation plays a big role in this. Since there isn’t a film program at BYU-I, reading and practicing breaking down movies scene by scene with a script in hand is as good as it gets,” Fry said.

Fry also stressed the importance and value of internships, in the film industry or in preparation for any occupation, because of the people students can talk to and watch as ways to learn more.

“I am within reach of industry professionals of nearly every realm of filmmaking. Most of them are more than willing to answer my questions,” Fry said.

Fry hopes to continue working in the film industry in the future because he believes film can change people for better or worse.

“The thought of being able to tell a story that can touch someone intrigues me,” he said.

Fry plans to develop his filmmaking skills in the future by shooting commercials and industrial film to improve his creative and technical skills.

“The experience I am having is priceless,” Fry said.

The film Fry is currently working on, Crossing Paths starring Minnie Driver, is a drama about what happens when two strangers, Ana and Saul, cross paths and their lives are tragically changed in an instant.

Years later, Ana goes to visit Saul, the man who destroyed her life, in prison and they both discover who they are and how far the soul will go to survive, according to www.telosfilms.com.