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"Y" Student's Film Headed to Slamdance
By SCOTT THOMPSON
The Slamdance Film Festival is rolling out the red carpet for up-and-coming filmmakers looking to make it big with a slot on festival's dance card.
"Tolerance," a film made by BYU students at last year's LDS Film Festival, was one of the lucky entries selected for screening at this year's festival, which begins this week in Park City.
The film, about a man who only communicates through postcards, was one of only 90 films chosen out of a field of more than 3,000 entries.
Provo natives Mark and David Finch Hedengren made this film during last year's LDS Film Festival in their 24-hour movie-making marathon, where they ended up taking home the $400 first prize. Since then it has traveled the film-festival circuit and has been featured in other film festivals, winning second place and $2000 in last year's Christopher's College Video Contest.
The three-minute film was shot without sound and the actors portray their characters in the silent-film era style. "Tolerance" stars Divine Comedy veterans Alex Kirry and Brynn Kelly Zimmer, with the Hedengren brothers acting in minor roles.
"I think 'Tolerance' is a tribute to Dave and Mark's tenacity," Zimmer said. "So often we sit around dreaming about how fun it would be to make a movie. Mark and Dave called a few people, grabbed a camera and made it happen."
The ability to make it happen is something the Hendengren brothers, who are only 18 months apart in age, have started to perfect after their long history of working together. The first team effort they said can recall is when 6-year-old David donned his superhero persona "Towel-O" to serve as sidekick to 8-year-old Mark's "Blanket-Man."
However, Mark hung up his superhero costume and began to turn his attentions more towards film.
"I've always loved movies ... there was a period in my life when I would watch 300 movies a year," said Mark, who is currently in the Masters of Fine Arts program at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland. "Deep down I have always wanted to make a movie, so I finally made one."
In all their work together, the Hedengren brothers have never complained of "artistic differences," which can be so common in collaborative works. Part of their synthesis comes from their slightly different personalities. Mark, described by his brother as the more artistic of the pair, directed the film while David served as producer.
"Sometimes in creative endeavors, when I've worked with other people, there's a lot of power struggle and manipulation," said David, a senior majoring in economics. "The nice thing about being brothers is that his victory is my victory." "Tolerance" puts the Hedengren brothers in exclusive company as only three other films made by BYU students have ever been accepted to the Slamdance Film Festival. All screening for Slamdance will be in "The Living Room" at the Treasure Mountain Inn, located at 255 Main St. in Park City.
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Screening Times:
Sun, Jan 22 @1:00 PM
Wed, Jan 25 @ 3:00 PM
Fri, Jan 27 @ 11:00 AM
Copyright Brigham Young University 19 Jan 2006
