BYU Rugby on BYU TV International

Just recently, the folks at BYU Television International put together a brief story highlighting the BYU Rugby team's National Championship win using footage shot by our guys, Ben Thompson and Micah Brown, for the BYU Rugby 2009 highlight video. Ben informed me of their desire to do the piece, and we were fortunate to acquire this six and a half minute video clip of the final product!

Also featured is an interview with 2009 All-American and BYU Rugby Forever Anchor Award winner, Apenisa Malani. Although all the commentary in this clip is actually in Portuguese, Apenisa's responses weren't dubbed over... so you can pretty much guess the questions that he was asked. Congrats to Apenisa.

So there you have it, friends... BYU Rugby has made some international news after all!!! (ok, at least in those countries where Portuguese is understood)

Read more...

BYU Rugby 2009 Highlight Video Completed

PROVO, Utah– The nation's first-ever, high-definition collegiate rugby highlight video, featuring footage of the 2009 National Champion BYU Cougars' undefeated season, has passed through the final stages of completion.

"The sport of rugby is still relatively unknown in the US," said Scot Clark, author of the BYU Rugby Forever blog and primary project sponsor. "We wanted to create an easily accessible and highly visual means for people to experience just how amazing [rugby] is, especially as played here at BYU."

The video contains nearly 30 minutes of highlights from the Cougars' home games as well as from their national tournament matches in Atlanta, Georgia, and Palo Alto, California, respectively. Bonus footage includes an "uncut" version of the 2009 National Title match in which BYU staged a stunning upset over former national champion, Cal Berkeley.

Filming, editing, and graphics for the video project were realized as a joint effort between videographers, Ben Thompson and Micah Brown. "I was new to filming rugby, so I didn't really know what to expect at the start of the season," said Thompson. "But Micah and I got to know and love the sport pretty quick, and so the video came together nicely as a result." Over the course of 8 home games and 4 tournament games, Thompson and Brown logged nearly 24 hours of raw footage to create the final product.

DVD and Blu-ray duplication is set to take place in Salt Lake City within the coming week.

To obtain a copy of the BYU Rugby 2009 Highlight Video, payment may be submitted online at http://byurugbyforever.blogspot.com/. Alternate methods of payment can be arranged by emailing byurugbyforever@gmail.com. DVD copies are available for the price of $20, and Blu-ray (high-definition) copies are available upon request for $50, shipping costs included. Supplies are limited.

BYU Rugby Forever is a pioneering presence in the internet realm of American collegiate rugby. BYU Rugby Forever's principal commitment is to increase exposure and recognition of the BYU Men's Rugby team, now and in the future. For more details, visit http://byurugbyforever.blogspot.com/.

CONTACT:

Scot Clark
BYU Rugby Forever
801-369-5188
byurugbyforever@gmail.com

Read more...

BYU Rugby 2009 Highlight Video Update

Although an official press release is still in the works, I am nevertheless proud to offer a brief update on the progress of the first-ever, high definition BYU Rugby highlight video. I recently met with our camera crew, Ben Thompson and Micah Brown, to discuss video editing, advertising, sales, distribution, and other details. (New video cover art by Ben Thompson; photo by Paul Meyers)


At this point, I am pleased to announce that the video will include more than an hour of total content with extended footage of the National Title match against Cal Berkeley. The video will also feature an interactive menu that allows the viewing of match highlights on an individual or sequential basis. An official release date anticipated for early or mid June will be set in the next couple of weeks.

I wish to reiterate the fact that this video is not a documentary; it does not feature interviews or commentary. Rather, it is simply a highlight video, a compilation of great BYU Rugby match moments throughout the 2009 season.

Donations to the BYU Rugby 2009 Highlight Video are still being accepted, and one may join in this effort by simply clicking the "Donate" button on the sidebar. Payment will be sent securely via PayPal, all major credit cards accepted. In return for a minimum donation of $20, BYU Rugby Forever will guarantee the donor a DVD copy of the final product. A complimentary copy in high definition Blu-ray will be offered for donations of $50 or more. Feel free to email byurugbyforever@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.

Please remember, my friends, that a very significant amount of time, money, and effort have gone into this production. Your small donation represents only a tiny fraction of the total project cost. In all honesty, you the donor are the one truly benefiting here by receiving a product much more valuable than your minimal money sacrifice.

Finally, my sincerest thanks go out to all those donors who have contributed to this project thus far. Up until now, a total of $916 have been raised to help subsidize this effort. Thank you so much for showing your willingness to support BYU Rugby Forever's efforts to promote the BYU Rugby team. Looks like we all picked the right year to do so!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Read more...

BYU barely bests Arkansas State, 13-3!

After an obviously grueling test, the BYU Rugby team emerged victorious, beating a brutal Arkansas State side, 13-3! Although the score at the half had BYU down, 0-3, Our boys battled back in the second half to notch two penalty kicks and a try off of a blocked kick.

My camera crew informed me that BYU had a yellow card called on hooker Ra Lawrence early on in the match and later, another yellow called on 8-man and team captain Steve St. Pierre... To add to these woes, Lawrence was then issued a red card shortly after rejoining play. According to our cameraman, Ben Thompson, "BYU was basically playing with 14 guys the whole game."

More thoughts on the match forthcoming in a later post... but for now, congratulations to Our boys for pulling out a tough one! You had all of us fans petrified with anxiety... and rightly so!!!

Wow, what a close game! Amazing... truly amazing. BYU wins again... by a hair!

Read more...

BYU Rugby Commercial featured on ESPNU

My film crew (for the upcoming highlight video) recently collaborated directly with the BYU Rugby team to make this commercial for the National Guard "Game of the Week" that aired on ESPNU. Great work, Ben and Micah!

See the BYU Rugby website for the official press release with further details on the commercial as well as the upcoming BYU Rugby Highlight Video 2009 endeavor. Also, here is the youtube link if you wish to view the commercial full-screen.

Read more...

BYU Men's Rugby Highlight Video 2009 Update!

My friends, the plans for the first ever, BYU Rugby highlight video in High Definition are well on their way to becoming a reality...

I recently met again with Ben Thompson and his business partner, Micah Brown, to discuss our needs and plans to make this video a reality. Basically, these guys know what they're doing, so the final product will surely be an amazing tribute to our team! Two cameras will be used to film all home games (and all tournament games if enough people contribute); one camera will capture a broader view of the gameplay from a fixed position whereas the other camera will run the sideline capturing the action up close and personal. Filming will start this Saturday at the first home game against Weber State University!

To get this project started, I have put my money where my mouth is... $350.00 of my personal funds have gone toward the procurement of the necessary materials for the first few games. Yes, this hefty sum means a lot to someone still in college, but I have faith that BYU Rugby fans everywhere would so contribute if they could.

And guess what??? ... You can contribute!

By donating only $20.00, you will not only aid the cause of promoting BYU's greatest sport, but you will also receive a DVD copy of your own!

Simply click the "Donate" button on the sidebar to submit your payment quickly and securely online to our "BYU Rugby Highlight Video 2009" account with PayPal. All donations will be given directly to the film crew for production costs.

(Anyone wishing to receive a Blu-ray copy may contact me by clicking the button beneath my profile picture for more details)

And so we shall create the saga of the BYU Rugby team in glorious HD fashion!

Read more...

BYU Men's Rugby Highlight Video 2009!

Since last semester, I have been planning with a friend, Ben Thompson, to make a promotional highlight video for the men's rugby team. Ben has experience in making videos and advertisements and actually won a competition for a 30-second promotional piece about the football team that was to air on television. The team staff were so impressed with his work that they subsequently hired him to do additional graphics for the team. In previous discussions with him, I recruited his help in filming and producing an independent highlight film for the BYU Rugby team. He is quite excited to do so and today confirmed that he and a friend of his are fully committed to create this film.

The plan is simply to cover all of the home games, and then create a high quality video using the acquired game film. Ben not only knows what this undertaking entails, but he also has the necessary equipment to do so in a professional manner... basically, this won't be any old, spotty film taken from a stop-start camcorder. Rather, Ben has camera cranes and other professional tools to do all filming in High Definition, and, thereafter, all the necessary computer programs to do precision editing. The product will be quite amazing, my friends, I assure you.

With this video, the team will then have an effective marketing tool, easily reproducible and distributable. Players, coaches, friends, and fans everywhere will be able to purchase a DVD copy to see the success of the team on a scale never-before-realized. Publicly, the video will be posted on this blog and other media outlets, such as youtube.com. The exposure and attraction that this video will generate will significantly boost all current efforts to reach a higher level of respect and support for the BYU Men's Rugby team.

As the plan is to produce this video independent of the team staff and any team funds, a set price of $20.00 for a DVD copy of the film or $50.00 for a copy in Blu-ray will aid in covering production costs. While Ben would usually charge upwards of $40.00 per hour to work on such a project, he has agreed to lower his fees due to his high level of personal excitement and desire; these given prices per copy will attempt to cover his fees.

However, I personally feel that extra means should be provided to compensate him in this effort, regardless of his good will and charitable attitude. I would be pleased if any of you, my friends, similarly assisted in compensating Ben's efforts. All funds will go directly to Ben to pay for the needed film and materials as well as for the extensive hours required in editing.

And after all is said and done, we will be privileged to witness the intensity of the BYU Men's Rugby team in action like never before...

Please email me if you would like to receive the first ever, high quality BYU Men's Rugby Highlight Video; my email address is listed as the first comment if you click the "Comments" link below.

Read more...