1/13/16

The braces and jaw ordeal officially came to an end!  The excitement could hardly be contained – and just check out that smileAfter the family party on Sunday, we continued the celebration on Master D’s real birthday by going down to Provo to take him out to dinner.  TT chose a burger worthy of only a 14 year old’s lightening speed metabolism and manly determination and won.  

And now the questions and answers you’ve all been waiting for in Master D’s own hand (well copied and pasted hand):

1.Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you 

want as a dinner guest?

At this point in time, it would be Steven Spielberg. But I think the most interesting part about this dinner would be trying to avoid talking about movies. I’d like to get to know the man behind the man who has successfully made movies for so many years.

2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?

Yes, but only famous as in having a name above the title. I think it would be incredible to have someone be able to say, “Oh, that movie was made by Dhane!”. I don’t think I’d want to have tons of strangers recognize me on the street. Just recognize the movies I’ve made.

3. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what 

you are going to say? Why?

Only on calls I’m nervous about. That way I can avoid muddying it up by saying something strange out of anxious tension. 

4. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?

Breath fresh air, drink lots of water and eat good food. See something extraordinary (beautiful vistas and the like). Watch a movie with a loved one or two. I think I’m thirsty right now.

5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

Two days before my date of birth, sharing the occasion with my uncle and father.

6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the 

mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, 

which would you want?

I have no idea, as I’m not 30 yet. I assume this question is far easier to answer objectively a few years after that age-mark. For now, I’d like to think I would say mind, but having a stellar body at 80 would be pretty cool too. This question also assumes I’m going to have some degenerative brain disorder. I know plenty of people who are lucid at 90! So I will say body. For now. Ask me again a decade after 30.

7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

In a hospital, yelling at the nurses for trying to keep me in a wheelchair. And then my stubbornness will lead to me disobeying their good intentions and falling down stairs or something. I have been forced into a wheelchair twice in my life and both times I loathed it. The first time I argued. The second time I stewed. At 90 or so, I’ll probably yell.

8. Name three things you would want you and your future wife to have in common.

A love for movies, a desire and passion to make the most of this life through work and play, and a love for family.

9. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

My family. They’re not perfect, like I thought as a missionary, but I love them dearly in their flaws and in their perfections.

10. If you could change anything about the way you were 

raised, what would it be?

I don’t think I would have forced myself to work out as often as I did. I like to think that if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have such short legs. (don’t worry, this is a joke) Sure, I’d have been a little pudgier as a kid, but I think testosterone and beautiful girls would have helped me figure it out on my own. 

I’m actually really happy with how I was raised. The trials involved made me into who I am today, and I like who I am.

11. Take four minutes and tell your life story in as much detail 

as possible.

At the young age of 14 months, I was dragged from the state of California and brought to Utah. It was there that I struggled not to become a Utahn for the next 18 years. Along the way I played eight years of football, broke all ten metatarsals in my feet, developed gangrenous skin that had to be scooped out of my leg to avoid amputation, received several dozen stitches, and created countless friendships. In school, I figured out that a 4.0 was a good thing the last two semesters of senior year. That led me to Utah State, an awesome school, with three good friends. After a semester of all A’s, I left on an arduous and beautiful and painful and cathartic and sorrowful once-in-a-lifetime mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Somehow I made it the whole two years, and now I am a BYU film student striving to maintain all A’s. I do fairly well in that regard. Now I spend my days avoiding shaving to spite my school and learning countless things that will help me make wonderful movies in the years to come. 

12. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one 

quality or ability, what would it be?

I think I’d like to be bilingual. Speaking another language instantly increases your potential audience.

13. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your 

life, the future or anything else, what would you want to?

No. I like to make my own path, and determine my own future. I worry I’d muddy something up if I knew about it beforehand. 

14. Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long 

time? Why haven’t you done it?

Yes. Having an awesome family of my own. I haven’t done it yet because in order to have that awesome family, I have to meet the girl I want to actually marry. But I’m far more patient than most of my Mormon peers. And establishing an awesome family entails a good few years of marriage before kids to adventure with my wife. 

15. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

Good relationships with every member of my family. There are plenty of other things I’m proud of, but I think this is one of the most important.

16. What do you value most in a friendship?

Honesty, humor, independence, and reliability

17. What is your most treasured memory?

This changes depending on the time and season. Right now, I would say biking slick-rock with my dad and brother. I don’t remember being worried about any external thing that weekend (like fleeting school assignments or the crush of the month), and I just had fun experiencing an incredibly unique sport with part of my family. 

18. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, 

would you change anything about the way you are now living? 

I would be bolder with going on dates. Or I’d devote more time with it. I don’t actually think I like boldness, just desire. It would be higher on my list of things to do. I talk with my family a lot already. They know I love them dearly.

19. What does friendship mean to you?

Being able to be together without needing something external to do. 

20. What roles do love and affection play in your life?

It is a major source of motivation for me. 

21. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

Making fun of red heads.

I’m kidding.