A refugee from Uganda, Bob Okot shares his story in a documentary made by BYUH alumnus Jeff Collins. His story and Collin's video, received an honorable mention in the 2020 Faith Counts video contest. Photo courtesy Jeff Collins
SUCCESS
through storytelling BYUH alumni say Jeff Collins can make emotional connections through his films BY ALEXANDER TUMALIP
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eff Collins said he has always had a passion for video making, but considered it a hobby until he entered the 2020 Faith Counts video competition. After receiving an honorable mention in the highly competitive contest, he credited his success to his time at Ke Alaka‘i for allowing him to develop his creativity and talent. According to its website, Faith Counts is a nonprofit, nondenominational organization comprised of faith communities representing nearly 100 million Americans, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every year, the organization holds a video contest, which highlights “how faith changes lives, relationships and communities for the better.”
Collins, a 2015 BYUH alumnus, said when his cousin invited him to enter the video contest in August 2020, he wasn’t interested, explaining videos were his hobby, not his job. Yet, he was still intrigued because of the contest’s aim, he said, and the organization’s goal to promote faith in society. “I thought, ‘If I can create a good video, I can impact somebody’s life.’” The organization awarded Collins an honorable mention for his video submission. Collins credited his cousin’s encouragement for his award. “There are numerous entries, so the chances of winning awards are remote,” he said. “My cousin’s convincing made me step out of my comfort zone. I could have made up multiple excuses, but I decided to go for it.” Fellow BYUH alumnus, Reid Crickmore, said Collins lets his videos speak for him. “Jeff’s
creativity really comes out when he gets into it,” he said. “He has the talent to go against the best of the best, but it was at Ke Alaka‘i he began to expand his creative horizons.You can clearly see the impact it has had over time.” Another fellow alumnus, James Astle, said Collins was an example of someone who never focused on himself despite having tremendous talent. “The way the story came together and how he found the individual was perfect,” he said. “Being able to use his own raw talent was so cool to see.” Collins explained his submission was the story of a refugee from Uganda named Bob Okot, whose father was killed by rebel fighters, then he lived in refugee camps, and was eventually selected to come to America. The video used ocean tides to outline the challenges in adjusting to life in the United States and relying
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