Hi! My name is Alexia Atwood and I am a Video Productions Emphasis! This semester I had the opportunity to be the director of a short documentary called, “Foundations: A Spirit of Ricks Documentary.” It has been an incredible experience working on this documentary as a director and I would love to tell you all about it!
The Why
I have always loved capturing feelings through video and arranging them in a way that reaches those who watch. When you watch a well done film, you can be transported to that place, feeling, or story. When the beautiful elements of filmmaking are paired with the powerful stories of people just like you, you change. You learn, you grow, you see things in a new light–this is the power of documentaries.
Ideation
When coming up with an idea for this documentary, I wanted it to be something meaningful. There were plenty of fun, novel, or niche things to choose from, but I wanted it to be close to home. I have really been reflecting on my last four years of college here at BYU-Idaho. My time here has changed me as it has countless other people. There’s something special about this place and we can all feel it. That feeling is referred to as the “Spirit of Ricks.” As a descendant of Thomas E. Ricks, and coming from a line of Ricks Alumni, I wanted to share the love I feel for this legacy with others. I have heard students ask, “What exactly is the Spirit of Ricks?” This is what I wanted to portray.
Pre-Production
Throughout my time in the Video Production program, I have been taught countless times that “Pre-production is key!” Although it isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing or exciting job, it is vital to the success of the film. I was in charge of creating a shot list and designing a storyboard of the shots we would be filming. I have got to admit it was a bit boring and stressful at the same time! However, it allowed me to express my vision onto something that could be seen and followed. I also compiled the interview questions that we would be asking our interviewees in order to get a compelling story. This took thought and effort but paid off in the end!
Talent
When it came time to choose interviewees, I wanted someone for three different roles. I wanted a student, an alumni, and a faculty member. I wanted there to be males and females and for them to have a genuine experience with Ricks or BYU-Idaho. Our first subject is Austin Pace, a current student at BYU-I who works at the radio station. Our second subject is Jessica Atwood, a Ricks College alumni who played volleyball for the school. Our third subject is Ashley Smith, a BYU-Idaho faculty member and a Ricks alumni. I conducted preliminary interviews for Austin and Jessica, and my teammate conducted one for Ashley, in order for us to get a good understanding of what their stories are like, and where their passion lies.
Production
The actual filming process of the documentary went very smoothly. We set up all of the gear and cameras before the talent got there or before they settled in. We strived to be as professional as possible throughout the interview process. We made sure that our interviewees were as comfortable as possible. I sat across from each interviewee and asked them the questions that I had developed to retrieve their story. I maintained eye contact and reassuring nonverbal cues like nodding, smiling, and other facial expressions indicating interest and excitement in what they were saying. This helped them feel more comfortable and confident in the story they were telling. We made sure to thank them generously for their time and willingness to help. While filming supplementary footage or B-Roll footage, we tried to be as organized and efficient as possible with each other and with the talent.
Post-Production
Editing is where everything starts coming together. All of the planning and pre-production, all of the filming and production, everything up to this point comes to a climax as we put it together. Trying to pick out the best parts of an interview, the correct B-roll, etc, is very important, time intensive, and stressful. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of having things come together. My producer, my editor, and myself spent many hours cutting, matching, fine-tuning, and making sure everything is perfect!
Conclusion
This experience has been absolutely incredible. It has taught me so much in every area of the video production process, from start to finish. I have come to gain a greater appreciation and understanding of what goes into making a documentary while deepening my love for this University. I have been able to reflect on my own experience here at BYU-Idaho and the foundation the Spirit of Ricks gave me. Come join us on April 7, 2026 at 7:00 pm at the Spori Basement for the premiere!