Alumnus cultivates local film community, encourages creativity in Happy Valley

By Ella Rosloniec UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. — No great film or story follows a linear narrative. There are always challenges and changes, twists and turns — and nobody knows that better than Penn State alumnus Pablo Lopez.

Lopez, film production manager for the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, was recently certified as a film commissioner by the Association of Film Commissioners International. In his role, Lopez works to engage with and support independent artists in Centre County and to promote filmmaking in the region.

Lopez, who earned his bachelor’s degree from Penn State in 2016, appreciates his role as a way to give back.

“When I was in school my first year or so, I was sleeping out of my car,” Lopez said. Still, he said, despite his financial challenges, filmmaking and the support he found in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications allowed him to find connections, happiness and success. Countless hours spent in classrooms and studios allowed Lopez to focus on creating rather than worrying.

One night Lopez was found sleeping beneath a desk in a locked editing room. The next morning, he said, through the kindness of one of his professors, he was connected with emergency housing. When life outside of school was difficult, the Penn State community was a backbone, he said, because of the sincere support people provided.

“Never once was I judged, just helped,” Lopez said.

Along with that personal support, many of those same people helped with his creative efforts as well. “All of the professors have such a passion to make sure that you are aware that regardless of what roadblocks come up, regardless of who may be in your way, when it comes to you producing your film, the most important thing is you and the story that you want to tell,” he said.

“Everyone here helped me get back on my feet. And so, to repay that debt, I want to make sure that they know that I'm committed to this community and to the artists in this area.”

Pablo Lopez, Penn State class of 2016 and film production manager for the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau