One Frame at a Time: Aspiring Videographer Isaac Frye Captures Stories Through the Lens

Films are subjective and often not to everyone’s liking, but when Isaac Frye is behind the camera, everyone watches.

That attention reached its peak this fall when one of Frye’s videos was played in the Stone Castle during a playoff football game.“Probably the one I’m most proud of is the video I did for the school that was played in the Castle,” Frye said. “I haven’t had a video played in front of a crowd like that before.”

Isaac Frye, a 17-year-old senior, has gained recognition with his recent videography work for the school’s football team, along with a growing portfolio of creative projects. His work includes videos following starting point guard, Braden Howard, as well as car photos and films, music videos, wedding videos, and films documenting his outdoor adventures.

Athletic Director Blaine Brown said Frye’s talent stood out early on.

Brown explained that Frye was asked to create the playoff hype video and worked closely with school staff to refine it.

“He sent it in for approval, and we tweaked it three or four times,” Brown said. “He was very good at making adjustments, which is a big part of working in this field.”

For Frye, videography began as a hobby rooted in his personal interests before growing into something much larger.

“I started out with cars: filming cars with my phone,” Frye said. “That was about four years ago, when I was a freshman.”

As his skills developed, so did his perspective on what it takes to succeed in the industry. When asked what advice he would give to aspiring filmmakers and videographers, Frye emphasized persistence and effort.

“Sometimes the elevator’s not always open, so you have to take the stairs. If it means putting in more effort, then you have to put in more effort,” Frye said.

Football coach Joshua Holt said Frye’s work had a noticeable impact on the team.

“It was really good,” Holt said. “It was almost like a highlight video for our kids, and it spread like wildfire on social media. The players really enjoyed it.”

Holt added that Frye’s work reflects the mentality of the team itself.

“The way he portrayed us showed a team that was going to fight no matter what,” Holt said. “That’s exactly what this group did all season.”

That work ethic is reflected not only in Frye’s dedication, but also in the style of his videos. He credits his creative inspiration to director Christopher Nolan, specifically his 2010, Oscar-winning film “Inception.

“It was trippy, and it was a huge cliffhanger, and I like things that build,” Frye said, describing “Inception’s” plot and presentation. “When [a movie is] left on a cliffhanger, you can kind of decide what the ending is.”

Frye incorporates those elements of suspense and anticipation into his own work, often building tension before releasing it through emotional payoff.

However, Frye says creativity alone is not enough. Patience, he believes, is essential to the process.

“Patience is absolutely so important because of how much you have to do, and how sometimes results don’t come right away,” Frye said.

Along with patience, Frye has developed extensive technical knowledge. What began as filming on an iPhone has evolved into skill using professional-level equipment.

“I use a Sony a7R III and a DJI RS3 Mini,” Frye said. “I use Sony because that was the brand I started out with, and I prefer Sony’s user software over other cameras.”

The Sony a7R III is a top-of-the-line camera known for its superb image quality and versatility, making it suitable for sports, landscapes, portraits, and travel. The DJI RS3 Mini is a high-quality camera stabilizer.

Brown believes Frye’s abilities surpass those of a high school student.

“What he does rivals what you see colleges and larger programs put out,” Brown said. “For being a high school kid, his work is off the charts.”

Despite his success, Frye remains realistic about his future. While many students plan to attend college for filmmaking, Frye believes experience and networking matter most.

“Connections matter more than schooling in this industry,” Frye said.

Holt agreed, noting Frye’s potential moving forward.

“I can definitely see him making a career out of this,” Holt said. “He’s already doing things most kids his age aren’t.”

When it comes to creativity, Frye says ideas rarely come from forced effort. Instead, inspiration often strikes during everyday moments.

“I’ll be driving and something just comes to my head, or I’ll be watching another video that helps spark ideas,” Frye said. “It just comes to me, and then I put it together.”