ST. GEORGE — The counterculture is chillin’ and creating locally as a local arts collective releases its third film. 

Bumpy Soup is releasing “Flame of the Void: A Stoner Noir!” at Blues Katz Rock N Roll Grill on Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available to the public at the door for $5.

The film’s premiere will feature live music provided by Bumpy Soup and Dead Desert Trio members. An after-party with a live DJ will follow. Pottery and merch vendors will be offering handmade pottery, hand-embroidered shirts and other film-inspired items. 

“Our purpose in creating the collective is to share Southern Utah’s counterculture with the world, as we feel our stories are underrepresented,”actor  Aqua Supreme said. 

Filmed in the spring of 2023, “Flame of the Void: A Stoner Noir!” follows Aqua Supreme as he searches for his beloved Voidz-branded lighter. He will stop at nothing to find his lighter, including kidnapping his friends, sending them on vision quests or restraining them. “Flame of the Void: A Stoner Noir!” is directed by Alek Wiltbank.

This is the third film by the artist cooperative that takes place in “The Bumpyverse,” and the films feature the same main characters. The film is available on the iNDIEFLEX app and Bumpy Soup’s YouTube channel. Supreme said that they also plan to submit the film to festivals worldwide. 

Bumpy Soup was formed in 2020 to produce their movies in-house, from acting to editing and makeup. Some of the group met while attending the Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts (now known as the Utah Arts Academy.) Others attended Snow Canyon and Pine View high schools and met via the music scene between 2011 to 2015.

“We’re all big movie lovers, obviously and a lot of us went to Tuacahn and we’re all artists,” he said. “So we had a little bit of experience with this.”

Their projects started as a creative outlet and have gone on to win awards at some film festivals. Group member Shane Stewart is a professional photographer and videographer. Others have acting and directing experience. Member Patrick Swansborough has been writing the scripts.

“It’s like exaggerated versions of ourselves, and we are going on little adventures,” he said.

The art/comedy collective includes filmmakers, musicians, comedians, visual artists and crafters such as pottery, embroidery, macramé, etc. Bumpy Soup has 11 members, including Alek Wiltbank, Emily Rae, Aqua Supreme, Shane Stewart, Patrick Swansborough, Dej Akin, Chase McClung, Brad Allen, Madi Boyack, Morgan Espitia,and Tyler Huff. 

Supreme said that while many people in Southern Utah make art, only a few places exist to display or perform. He said he appreciated that the owner of Blues Katz is letting them do the show, as the venue has switched to mainly booking cover bands.

Bumpy Soup has released two other films, “Social Insecurity Number” and “Night of the Living Ted.” Plus Bumpy Soup projects include the “Good Show” (web series) and 30 episodes of the Bumpy Soup Podcast.

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