Search Institute

Not every teen out there goes through every experience the characters in the movie go through, but everyone has difficulties, especially during high school; they’re some of the hardest years of your life, and this movie shows that we’re listening, we’re trying to help.

-Jordan Mitchell Love, Film Actor, NPR interview with Neal Charnoff 06-27-08

Approached in 2002 by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, Kingdom County Productions was asked to do a statewide project on the lives of Vermont teens. After researching for eight months, and hearing the stories of more than 1000 teenagers around Vermont, Bess O’Brien and Abby Paige used the themes and words they heard to write a script for an original musical, The Voices Project.

To assure the script’s authenticity in reflecting the actual lives, experiences, and struggles of teenagers, a statewide board of youth gave O’Brien and Paige feedback on the script. Many characters were inspired by specific individuals, or combinations of individuals O’Brien and Paige met while researching. When the script was completed, 25 teens came together to write the music. They read the script out loud, decided when songs should occur and what they should be about, and worked in groups to write the music.

The musical, which included actors from all around the state, is about the lives of high school students in Vermont, and it addresses several sensitive issues such as body image, bullying, suicide, and diversity, and brought young people and adults together to talk about them. The production toured in 13 Vermont towns in 2005 and was extremely well received.

In 2007, the script was adapted to a screenplay, and planning began to create the musical into a feature film produced and directed by O’Brien, with a full film crew. Many of the actors from the musical are also in the film, as well as several additional Vermont teen actors. In 2008, the film toured around Vermont, visiting 40 towns with a number of cast members. Discussions were held after the showings and a study guide was created to further support and enrich discussions about the film.

Says O’Brien, “Adults really appreciate it, because it gives a glimpse into what their kid’s world is like.” It gives parents and teachers and other adults a framework with which to begin to understand what is going on in teens’ lives, and to talk about it with them. Young people appreciate that the characters and stories are real and easy to relate to. O’Brien also spoke of the immense sense of pride and responsibility the young actors felt when telling the stories of their peers.

The film has been shown at conferences and events around the country, including the Search Institute Conference. It has also been in several film festivals, including the Palm Beach International Film Festival, the San Francisco International Children’s Film Festival, and the Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival.

For more information on the film, Shout It Out and to order the film and study guide, visit kingdomcounty.com/shout_it_out.html or contact Bess O’Brien at bobrien@pshift.com.

Back to May 2009 Asset Champion.