Spy Hop Productions

What an incredible feeling to see your dreams come to life! My journey started as an artist, drawn to the power of creativity and self-expression. Over time, that passion grew into a deep commitment to arts education—helping young people find their voices, and share their creativity with the world. Now, I’m beyond honored to step into the role of Executive Director at Spy Hop—an organization I love and believe in with all my heart. A huge thank you to everyone I’ve worked with along the way—mentors, colleagues, friends, and the amazing young artists who inspire me every day. Your support, wisdom, and creativity have shaped my path, and I’m so grateful. Here’s to the future of Spy Hop and all the incredible work ahead! Let's do this!?

We are excited to announce that Larissa Trout has been named Spy Hop's new Executive Director beginning March 21, 2025. With over 15 years of dedication to our mission, Larissa is a passionate advocate for the arts and amplifying youth voice. Read the full press release to learn more about Larissa and to read a letter from our board chair: https://lnkd.in/gkmFEJNb

At Spy Hop, we believe in the power of creativity as a pathway to success. Art of the Game was more than just a workshop—it was an opportunity for young people to explore career pathways in sports, fashion, and design through hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world industry connections. In collaboration with CounterPoint, Utah Jazz, and Project Success Coalition, this Black History Month event exemplified our shared mission: to empower young creatives with the skills, confidence, and mindset they need to shape their futures. Combining arts education, youth development, and career preparation ensures that young voices are heard and valued as catalysts for change. A huge thank you to our partners, mentors, and the incredible young minds who showed up ready to learn, create, and innovate. The future is bright!

TICKETS NOW ON SALE for Mission: Is Possible, our upcoming Annual Benefit! ??????????? Throw on your 007 chic or Spy Kids kitsch and dive head-first into a night of youth performances, presentations, and fundraising. Together, the mission is possible. Get your tickets today, before the early bird special ends: https://lnkd.in/gCH2W3xx

I am proud to join NBCUniversal’s #CreativeImpactLab as a mentor on the Creative Council! Over the next few months, I will be working with nonprofit creative agency Spy Hop Productions on marketing videos that tell the story of the National Urban Indian Family Coalition, which advocates for American Indian families living in urban areas through partnership and awareness. I am particularly excited to mentor the Spy Hop apprentices as they continue to learn our trade and build their portfolios, setting them up for a successful career in the industry. Stay tuned to see the work!

Big things happening at Spy Hop! We’ve teamed up with Wake the Great Salt Lake (wakegsl.org), an arts initiative tackling one of Utah’s biggest environmental challenges: the decline of our beautiful Great Salt Lake. This partnership puts teen creatives at the forefront of storytelling using film, audio, and design to educate and inspire action. Over the winter, our film and audio apprentices dug into the Great Salt Lake’s story, meeting with scientists, journalists, and activists to understand this critical ecosystem. With this knowledge, they turned their insights into influential films and soundscapes, blending creativity with conservation. This spring, our design apprentices are working to create zines—small but mighty publications—to educate peers and policymakers alike. Through illustrations, storytelling, and data visualization, these zines will make the urgency of the Great Salt Lake’s decline impossible to ignore. Sometimes, the best way to change the world is to put the right words (and art) into people's hands.

Thank you. We are so grateful for all the generous donations we've received over the last seven days! Together, we raised $5,972 to fund the professional futures of Utah’s youth. We hope you've enjoyed learning more about Phase 2 Productions and the amazing youth we have the privilege of working with.

Our Open Mic last Friday was a huge hit! We had so many amazing performers, and the space was so supportive and warm. Thank you to everyone who performed and all of the wonderful folks who joined us for the evening. ??

Filming the production of Orange Soda, a PSA for the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation, our students worked alongside and were mentored by industry professionals. This structure is “different than a regular college class,” said Bryan. “It is more immersive, compact, and close-knit. You help each other, and it gets to the point where you’re like, yeah, I am comfortable doing this.” We are so grateful for all the generous donations we have received this week. Together, we have raised $5,333 — can you help us reach our goal of $6,000? Donate today: https://lnkd.in/ghZX_bVM

Filmmaking isn’t offered at Amelia’s high school, so she comes to Spy Hop to learn the fundamentals of expressing her voice through film. The fellowship expanded her perspective on filmmaking and helped her figure out what she wants to learn to pursue her goal of making full-length feature films. There’s no better time to make a difference in the lives of teens like Amelia and Max. If you donate now, your donation will be generously matched (up to $1,500). Make sure our youth have access to courses and training not available in their schools. Donate today: https://lnkd.in/gShrBGzC