spy hop productions

An extraordinary chapter in the life of Spy Hop: A look back at Kasandra VerBrugghen’s stewardship at the helm of the nationally known youth media arts organization

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In well-established nonprofit institutions, the ideal leading administrative figure is a visionary leader who by encompassing every dimension of that organization creates the right conditions for fundraising success that ensures the institution’s long-term viability. In 2018, when Spy Hop Productions was poised to announce the largest capital fundraising campaign in its history to build its … Read more

Behind the scenes: Spy Hop’s award-winning PitchNic program set for Nov. 7 premiere of 22nd edition of four student produced films

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PitchNic, one of Spy Hop Productions’ most exciting programs, returns for its 22nd edition this year and this year’s class of young Utah filmmakers is looking to build on a legacy where more than 95% of films that have been produced in the program have gone on to be screened at and win awards at … Read more

Spy Hop Productions to mark 20th anniversary of PitchNic with Nov. 3 premiere of four student-produced short films

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PitchNic, one of Spy Hop Productions’ signature programs,is marking its 20th anniversary this year and is doing so in the manner it knows best, with young Utah filmmakers making their creative debuts in impressive fashion. In its two decades, the PitchNic film program at Spy Hop Productions has succeeded because student filmmakers first learn the … Read more

Sundance 2022: Utah’s film industry continues to grow; finds solid representation in slimmer festival slate

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EDITOR’S NOTE:  Part I is an overview of the Utah film industry in the current moment. Part II (tomorrow) will offer a summary preview of the Sundance 2022 feature-length and short films, which The Utah Review will cover. It was so close. Three weeks before Sundance 2022 (Jan. 20–30) was slated to open, organizers had … Read more

Achieving community in the art of Woodshedding for aspiring songwriters in Spy Hop program

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Y’all just better be just turnin’ back if you want this boy to win ‘Cos practice is the only cure for the predicament he’s in Now devil, it would be a sin for you to get my bow You go on back to hell and to the woodshed I will go Johnny, are you practicing … Read more

Utah arts organizations make transition to online, interactive, live stream platforms, during coronavirus pandemic

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Several major arts organizations in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area have adapted their programming and classes to streaming and interactive platforms. Initial responses and numbers of participants also have been encouraging, indicating that arts and culture are just as essential (if not more so), even as regular routines have been upended by the coronavirus … Read more

Sundance 2020: Utah’s film industry punches well above its weight class, opening doors for indie directors, producers

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Part I covers a broad overview of the state’s film industry and Part II focuses on 16 films with a significant Utah connection that are in the Sundance 2020 slate. On the eve of the most inclusive and diverse Sundance Film Festival in its history (Jan. 23 – Feb. 2 in Park City, … Read more

Excellent class of 2019 Spy Hop PitchNic films ready for festival submissions

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The ambitious objectives for all the student film teams participating in this year’s 17th annual PitchNic project for Spy Hop Productions paid handsomely in a solid quartet of short films, all of which are worthy to submit to competitive film festivals nationally and even internationally. The films premiered Nov. 7 at a sold-out house in … Read more

17th annual Spy Hop Productions’ PitchNic films scheduled to premiere Nov. 7

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Cameron Baer, 19, a Provo High School graduate, nearly quit the PitchNic class at Spy Hop Productions this year. He had successfully pitched the concept for one of the short films to be made in the year-long class. It is a fictional narrative based in part about obsessions and anxieties that can skew one’s perceptions … Read more

Utah Film Center set to present 8th Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Children and Youth March 1-3

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The eighth presentation of the Utah Film Center’s Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Children and Youth from March 1-3 brings in a slate of Utah premieres including films from Swaziland, Kenya, two from Iran and another from the Ladakh region of India. Twelve of the 13 feature-length films are exclusively from outside the U.S. while the … Read more