Our Story — avrec

This journey began with a love of comics. Dallin was in his mid-twenties and considering going back to college. Not sure what to study, he found that many of his favorite comic book creators got degrees in film. Just 45 minutes south of us, the BYU Media Arts program had recently made headlines after winning multiple awards competing against big name schools. Dallin switched gears from illustration to make his first narrative short film for his film school application and was accepted. Quickly he realized he had found his passion. We started a boutique videography side hustle, which helped pay Dallin’s tuition and allowed us to buy our own camera and sound equipment. We learned so much together on those early run-and-gun jobs that helped build a foundation for our future in filmmaking.

After graduating from film school, the real roller coaster of navigating the film industry began. We not only missed the ample resources film school provided, but the community and collaboration that existed so organically. Jacquelyn was working in the gym industry at the time and had the idea to create a “gym for filmmakers.” For an affordable monthly fee, members would get access to filmmaking resources that are often too expensive and, most importantly, they would be part of a film community.

Avrec Art House opened Fall 2015 with a large coworking room, a conference room, casting/workshop room, equipment rentals, editing bays and a screening room. Over the next 3 years, we grew to over 80 filmmakers and artists, and were part of creating multiple feature films, short films, and episodic content. In 2018, Utah Film Center absorbed Avrec Art House into their non-profit and rebranded as the Artist Foundry. Dallin continued to manage the space as an employee until July 2020 when the space shut down due to COVID-19. Utah Film Center has started to relaunch the program and we hope the legacy of supporting local artists will live on.

During the years of running Avrec Art House/Artist Foundry, we put our own projects on the back burner. We loved our community and spent the majority of our time setting up events and workshops, serving on committees, and taking countless meetings to support filmmakers however we could. Dallin especially became the go-to person for multiple productions, consulting on countless films and connecting those looking to hire crews, post production work, etc. In 2019 we launched the Auteur Project, which focused on giving first time feature filmmakers the chance to write and direct in a supportive and collaborative environment. Three different short form proof of concept projects went into production. That same year, Dallin was hired by Park City based company Top Dead Center Films to produce back-to-back feature films. The momentum was strong, which made the COVID- 19 shut down a surprise that shifted our entire future.

Our passion for filmmaking and community remain, although the path has shifted. We are excited to have our own projects at various stages of production through this production company, shortened to “Avrec.” During quarantine we started a band (No Shooting Friends, Joseph) and are having the time of our lives playing live shows and recording music with so many talented musicians. Dallin is an adjunct professor at UVU and has found a passion for teaching and utilizing the same skills that made Avrec Art House/Artist Foundry a success.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for taking part in our story. We can’t wait to see what’s next.