Amid the often noiseless, aimless clutter of democratized media through digital technology and Internet dissemination is the collective voice of 11 young filmmakers in Utah who have produced an exceptional quartet of short films – a portal to fresh perspectives on matters of the heart and mind important to our society and community.

The films will be shown Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at The Broadway Theater on 300 South – part of the fifth annual Pitch-Nic Premiere of Spy Hop Productions.

The Pitch-Nic program is just one aspect of Spy Hop Productions, a nonprofit organization that helps teenagers cultivate their experience and skills in the documentary arts, film/video production, audio engineering, and interactive media. A rare opportunity for student filmmakers, Pitch-Nic matches them with professional mentors and community sponsors so that they can realize a screenplay from start to finish. Each film was produced by funds raised at Spy Hop’s Annual Benefit, an Unconventional Auction, in March.

The Selective Echo had the privilege of screening the films in advance:

Despite the fact that the filmmakers ranged in age from 16 to 19, the films reveal serious, talented voices that deserve to be nurtured continuously and extensively. The quality of the Pitch-Nic films serve notice that groups such as Spy Hop are enormously effective in amplifying and sustaining young voices that ultimately will become the respected creative film artists of the next generation. These films are not just a pivotal point for these young filmmakers but also for our community support and awareness of groups such as Spy Hop Productions.

The four films featured are:

Two Loves – Simply, this is an extraordinary film of sensitivity, dignity, and honesty, an appropriately contemporary expression of the iconic poem by the British poet Lord Alfred Douglas that became famous at Oscar Wilde’s trial: “Then sighing, said the other, ‘Have thy will, I am the love that dare not speak its name.’” Smartly edited, the film chronicles the experiences and expressions of five individuals who continue their personal challenge to find the balance between affirmation and their Mormon faith. Remarkably comprehensive in depth and perspective given the compact frame, the film conscientiously explores the complex continuum of reconciliation without the filmmakers drawing their own conclusions. I cannot recall a locally made film that has addressed the issue so articulately as Two Loves in bridging an uncomfortable divide without fear of judgment or retribution. This film should be seen and discussed in church wards, schools, and community organizations. The film was made by Hannah Long and Michelle Ripplinger.

The Neighbors – Stark in its sparseness of dialogue, the film takes its cue from the 1964 stabbing death of Kitty Genovese in Queens, New York and from the opening chapter of Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point in which he chronicles the bystander problem in an urban environment of alienation and isolation. The student filmmakers have created the proper mood with the four apartment unit settings, demonstrating precisely the psychological phenomenon that in assuming someone else will make the call, one’s own responsibility for action is diffused and subjugated to their own crises and problems. Attentive to the small details, the filmmakers effectively demonstrate the “power of context” which suggests that people are more sensitive to their environment than what they seem. The film was made by Jenirae Reynolds, Matt Haight and Sasha Vitelli.

The Big Bad Wolf – This is an engaging, entertaining, resourceful film that explores a surprisingly wide range of social, cultural, and psychological dynamics of fear and its sources. It deftly incorporates clips of horror films such as Nosferatu, newsreel footage from World War II and the Cold War, the chronicles of three filmmakers fighting their own demons of fear, and expert commentary from psychologists and film/media historians. A good sense of pace and timing drive this compact presentation, which also involves birds, acupuncture and a cemetery. The film was made by Dan Tham, Lauren Everton and Stacey Murguia.

Jerry – Yes, even zombies have romantic crushes. A gentle comedy with an easy-going musical touch, this film features an office zombie (Jerry) – complete with sores and discolored skin – whose target of affection is the most attractive and most popular coworker. The problem is that she has eyes for another office zombie who overwhelms Jerry’s capabilities for personality and communication. Good vocals and Jerry’s patiently insistent lurch nicely punctuate the sole comedic offering in this year’s selection. The film was made by Conor Long, Richard Herbert, and Gary Hansen.

Tickets — $5.50 for students and $8 for adults – are available at the door. A panel discussion featuring the young filmmakers will follow the screening.

All proceeds will help sustain Spy Hop’s programs. Sponsors for Pitch-Nic include Salt Lake Film Society, Display Business, TV Specialists, Inc., Carlucci’s Bakery, Redman Movies & Stories, Inc., Systematic Printing, Tony Caputo’s Market & Deli, Red Rock Brewing Company, and Delta Limousines.