This video came about as my production company, New Style Independent Pictures, was working on a series of AntiBullying PSA entitled ‘I Am Not A Bully’ to raise Public Awareness on the issue. As we were working on the PSAs, some of the kids came up to us and told us that they wanted to share their stories on camera. We were completely surprised. They poured their hearts out on camera which made us work that much harder to make sure we got their stories out there.
The main emphasis of the project is to promote awareness on the issue of bullying which is a big problem in today’s society. We will be working with a diverse group of children of various ages having them read scripts about being a bully while others may speak about it from their own experience, if they want to do so. Our goal is to help children everywhere relate to the participants in the project, hoping they realize that anyone can be bullied and anyone can be a bully and not even realize it. We want to send the message that bullying is NOT cool and can have serious consequences.
Website: http://Facebook.com/IAmNotABully
Directed by Rod Lopez
Written by Leila Chawtak
Produced by Rod Lopez, Leila Chawtak & Elsa Bridgwater & Trish Monaghan
Executive Produced by Rod Lopez
Associate Producer: Debbie Tsamoudakis
Director of Photography: Rod Lopez
Camera Assistant: Patrick Boyer
Sound Recordist: Courtney McDougall
Production Assistants: Jordan Nitsch, Mya Montgomery
Gaffer: Damonn Hull
Make-up Artist: Samantha Trionfo
About the Filmmaker
Submitted by Rod Lopez
Award-winning Director, Producer and Founder of New Style Independent Pictures, Rod Lopez has logged numerous accomplishments in the industry, including films, TV programs, music videos, TV commercials, promos and PSAs, working with the likes of the Maryland MTA, The Department of Homeland Security, Johns Hopkins University, The Baltimore Orioles, The United Negro College Fund, The TSA and many more. Rod is also a member of The National Academy of Television, Arts & Sciences (NATAS), National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter and an active voting member of the regional Emmy awards. Most recently, Rod won a National Telly Award for his work with former World No. 1 Ranked Tennis player Mats Wilander.
Over the last few years Lopez has directed the films “Dating License” (Luis Lopez & international film/TV star Ivonne Montero), “Cleaning Law” (Luis Lopez), “Brujeria Fantasma: Ghost Witchcraft” (Angie Jerez), “Sedan de Villain” (a Diamond Award winner at the 2012 California Film Festival as well as a Merit Award winner at the 2012 Best Shorts Film Festival), “Code 72” (an official selection at the 2012 Action on Film Int’l Festival and in development to become a full-length feature film in 2014), and “My Sundance Obsession” (Special Jury Prize at the 2013 California Film Awards).
As Founder of New Style Independent Pictures, a Maryland-based film and video production company, Lopez has directed more than 3 dozen music videos for Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia (DMV) area artists, most notably the acclaimed “Tonight I Am A Problem” for Universal Music Group act Mair. Lopez has also collaborated with a number of celebrities such as actors Boris Kodjoe and Lamman Rucker, veteran Artist Manager Jeff Rabhan and eight-time Grammy-Nominated Singer/Songwriter Ledisi.
Lopez began his career as a minor league player with the Baltimore Orioles, before an injury redirected his focus. He attended the New York Film Academy’s Film Program, focused on Film Directing & Cinematography, where his producing & directing of four short films led to a premiere at Madison Square Garden at the 2001 New York International Film Festival. He also earned a Bachelor’s degree in TV and Film Production from Towson University.
Additional career stops include Programming Manager for Baltimore’s CCTV Channel 19, where Lopez produced 100+ shows, including “Mission of Mercy” featuring game-show host Pat Sajak; “Sports Ministry,” featuring NFL coach Marvin Lewis; and “Ring True Foundation,” featuring former NBA star Manute Bol. Lopez also was the host and producer of “The Rod Lopez Show”, a monthly TV series that aired on Comcast cable throughout the DMV area.
Lopez has also directed “Notivariedades de Maryland,” a weekly news magazine show on D.C.’s Univision. Most recently, he was featured as one of the most prominent independent Filmmakers in the DMV area in the award-winning Documentary “Indie Film Artists: The DMV Truth”. Lopez and his work have been profiled in The Baltimore Sun, The Examiner, The Howard County Times, The Daily Record, ABC 2 News Baltimore, NBC WBAL TV, CBS Baltimore WJZ, CineMaryland, The Baltimore Messenger, Latin Opinion Newspaper and a cover on The Towerlight Magazine.
Filmmaker’s Website: https://newstyleip.com/