Film crew makes documentary about BYU-I organs

There’s a romance about cinema.

Larger-than-life characters glide across the screen with surreal precision in a world created through the lens of a camera.

Right now at BYU Idaho, a film crew is bringing one of the school’s largest characters to life.

“Every organ has a personality,” said Troy Hinckley. “Some organs are very raspy and big, and some organs are very smooth and subtle.”

Hinckley is the director of photography for a new documentary project by director Steve Vest called, “The King of Instruments.”

“You see the front of the organ, and the large pipes are out there, because it makes it look really grand,” said Hinckley. “But what we’re trying to show is the complexity of the instrument.

That’s the point behind the grassroots documentary project — to showcase the personalities hidden beneath the surface of the university’s world class organs.

“I had a small idea, really,” said director Steve Vest. “I was just going to film someone at the organ and get some shots of the pipes.”

Vest said as the idea grew, so did those characters’ personalities. He knew a simple production wouldn’t be enough.

“It just kind of snowballed from there,” he said.

The idea snowballed into quite the film, with a crew of students and professionals, and a cast of 5 characters — all organs on campus.

“Mozart called it the king of all instruments,” said Vest.

That’s where the title of Vest’s film comes from.

“That’s what i’m hoping to showcase with this documentary, is the grandeur of this instrument and hopefully build a better appreciation for it,” said Vest.

To capture each and every detail of such a complex personality, Vest and the crew are putting technology and hardware to work.

Cranes swoop digital SLR film cameras over the organ during a weekend shoot as Hinckley keeps a close eye on the shot.

Vest’s documentary will likely be used by the university to showcase the priceless organs on campus.

As production continues, Vest has started a website for the film where folks can log on and keep up-to-date with the shooting process and learn more about the cast and crew.

You can visit the site for yourself at www.thekingofinstruments.com