Students In Focus

Passion and Possibility
Premiered: May 10, 2025

In our Season 2 finale, we debut our very first music video and spotlight the creative minds behind it. We also sit down with a recent BYU graduate as she shares her journey navigating post-grad life and building a career right here in Utah.

Next Gen Stories
Premiered: April 26, 2025

This week on Students in Focus, we’re celebrating the creative talents of Utah’s student storytellers. From Utah State University’s broadcast students to an aspiring actress just starting her journey — this episode is packed with inspiration!

Focusing on the fUTure
Premiered: April 12, 2025

Welcome to a brand new episode of Students in Focus! For episode 13 we traveled to the Focus on the fUture Film Festival put together by the Utah Film Commission to celebrate student filmmakers! We sit down with student filmmakers, as well as the production manager and production coordinator of the Utah Film Commission.

Utah's Women in Film
Premiered: March 22, 2025

Welcome back to Students in Focus! This week, we’re celebrating women shaping Utah’s film scene with an exciting lineup of student films and industry insights. We feature 4 different pieces of work in this episode, spanning from AI to rare books.

A Look Behind the Lens
Premiered: February 8, 2025

Join host Katie Neal for another exciting episode of Students in Focus! This week, we spotlight the talented Film Apprentices from Spy Hop Productions and their incredible work with the Wake the Great Salt Lake project. We also hear valuable industry insights from Jenna Rasmussen, Production Supervisor at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Telling Stories with Positive Impact
Premiered: January 25, 2025

This week's episode of Students in Focus features Maya Hardie, a recent graduate of Utah Valley University's Digital Cinema program. Join Katie and Maya as they discuss her journey from film student to assistant director, and take a closer look at some of her impressive work.

Real Youth, Reel Stories
Premiered: January 11, 2025

This episode showcases amazing documentaries from the talented students of Spy Hop Productions' Reel Stories class. Watch as these student filmmakers take control of their narratives, learning to write, direct and edit their own 5-minute documentaries. Each film offers a personal window into their lives, passions, and communities. Discover fresh perspectives from the next generation of filmmakers!

Stories That Shape Us
Premiered: December 14, 2024

This week's Students in Focus showcases student storytelling through three distinct lenses: a community spotlight, a sports highlight, and a short film. We also meet Olga Pedraza-Cano, a first-generation student at Salt Lake Community College, who shares with us her path to finding her voice behind the camera.

Mentorship in Motion
Premiered: November 30, 2024

Join us on this episode of Students in Focus as we spotlight Wayra Arias, a talented young filmmaker from Spy Hop Productions' PitchNic program. Explore the behind-the-scenes magic of this year-long program and the process of creating various short films. We'll also hear from Loren Brunken, a seasoned nonfiction film mentor who's been inspiring the next generation of filmmakers at Spy Hop.

Voices of the West 2024
Premiered: November 16, 2024

Join us as we travel to the heart of Utah's rural communities! In this episode of Students In Focus, we'll meet talented young American Indian filmmakers who are part of the Voices of the West Apprenticeship Program at Spy Hop Productions. Discover their unique perspectives and witness their passion for storytelling as they share their short films with us.

Season 2: Fresh Perspectives
Premiered: November 2, 2024

This episode features student filmmakers exploring the link between winter sports and climate change, an interview with a race-car driver, and a spotlight on talented student filmmaker Elsa Hintz from Utah Valley University. Additionally, there's an interview with Samantha Highsmith, media services lead at LAIKA Studios, sharing her expertise in animation and film.

From Classroom to Camera
Premiered: October 19, 2024

Discover the talent of Utah’s young filmmakers in this episode featuring films from Spy Hop Productions’ Reel Stories class. These aspiring directors share their unique perspectives through captivating five-minute documentaries. Plus, we chat with industry professional Bryan Rowland, showrunner of Welcome to Wrexham, about his journey and insights into the world of filmmaking.

The Art of Storytelling
Premiered: October 5, 2024

In this episode of Students In Focus dives into the world of young filmmaking with a feature on Spy Hop Productions' Watch This! Bootcamp. Discover how these students are using film to explore important issues through a variety of genres. We'll also spotlight the accomplished costume designer Carolyn Leone, whose impressive portfolio boasts over 100 design credits and continues to grow.

Tumbleweeds Festival For Kids Special 2024
Premiered: September 21, 2024

Join the host of Students In Focus, Katie Neal, and guest host Ramona Gale from the Utah Film Center at the 2024 Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition! This episode features screenings of the winning films along with exclusive interviews with the young filmmakers. They share their inspirations and excitement about seeing their work on the big screen.

Frame by Frame
Premiered: September 7, 2024

Students In Focus returns with an exciting new season! Our premiere episode features an interview with a talented animator who contributed to the critically acclaimed Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. We also shine a spotlight on Olympus High School's television production program and Judge Memorial High School's robotics team. To close out the episode, we sit down with script Penny Johnson, whose career spans over four decades in the film industry.

A New Season of Students in Focus
Premiered: September 1, 2024

Our second season of Students In Focus will be airing this month, so stay tuned! We hope you'll join us as we showcase the talents of our students!