Lights, Camera, Conversation: A look back at the CPC Film Series
By Paul Miller
Knightly News Co-Adviser
The CPC Film Series has been a constant on the campus of Central Penn College for over eight years. Beginning in the winter of 2018, this event has seen hundreds of attendees, dozens of presenters, and campus events that will not soon be forgotten.
As the CPC Film Series prepares to celebrate its 30th edition on Feb. 27, with Knightly News President Noah Lopez presenting “Fight Club,” we at The Knightly News thought it important to take a trip down memory lane to discuss the impact of this event on our campus community.
Lights, Camera, Action
Renowned director Nadine Labaki once said, “Cinema is not only about making people dream. It’s about changing things and making people think.” That quote summarizes the original intention and mission of the CPC Film Series. As the original creators intended to provide the Central Penn College campus with an opportunity to not only watch a classic film, but also to have an analytical conversation about the film’s impact on culture, innovation or personal experiences.
The team of Dr. Brant Ellsworth, now dean of faculty and program director of general studies, and Dr. Jared Rife, associate provost, developed what was originally called the Humanities Film Series. The initial event was held on Jan. 26, 2018, as Rife presented the classic summer blockbuster “Jaws.”
When discussing the inception of the film series, both Ellsworth and Rife had very important reasons for wanting to create the event. In discussing the background of the creation of the event, Ellsworth shared, “The study of pop culture was a critical part of my doctoral work in American Studies. Learning came alive for me when I was able to take a topic and medium that I loved (film) and apply the same level of scrutiny, ask the same questions of it, as I had been doing to historical documents in my graduate program.”
He went on to say, “When I started at Central Penn in 2016, I saw an opportunity. The college was looking for programming for students while simultaneously looking for ways to increase engagement with the community. I was looking for ways to share my educational background and promote a love of learning with others, and a film series felt like a perfect solution.”
Rife also has fond memories of the initial presentation of “Jaws” back in 2018. He noted, “When the (Humanities) Film Series launched in 2018, I was immediately drawn to the opportunity to bridge my academic work in popular culture with my genuine love of film. Movies function simultaneously as entertainment and as mirrors reflecting our society back to us—they capture anxieties, aspirations and cultural shifts in ways that textbooks sometimes can’t. Being involved allows me to share that dual perspective with students and community members who might otherwise experience films purely as entertainment.”
In discussing his personal interest in the film series, Rife also discussed the importance. “Personally, these presentations keep me intellectually engaged and connected to the community. There’s something energizing about watching audience members have those ‘aha’ moments when they recognize patterns or themes they hadn’t considered before.”
And while the team was not sure exactly how the reception would be, the launch in 2018 would lead to something that no one could have anticipated: the fact that, over eight years later, the event would become a quarterly staple on campus that many mark their calendars each term.
What is unique about the CPC Film Series is that the organizers have never pushed directly for a film to be presented; instead, offering the individual presenter the latitude to select whatever film they would like to present and to take any approach with that presentation that they feel will work with the audience. Of course, to a certain extent, the group is limited by what films we can obtain the rights to. Rarely has there been an issue here, though the 2023 presentation of “Dawn of the Dead” ran into challenges.
As Rife began preparations for the fall 2023 edition of the film series, he wanted to go with a horror flick that would match the mood of a late October evening, suggesting showing the original George A. Romero “Dawn of the Dead” film from 1978. Unfortunately, due to contractual issues with the original film, Rife had to settle for showing Zack Snyder’s 2004 edition.
COVID-19 leads to a change in direction
As the film series continued through its first two years, the successes of the quarterly event continued to grow. But a fateful day in March 2020 that no doubt we all remember, the COVID-19 pandemic struck and led to a months-long lockdown that impacted the world as we know it.
But the film series continued. While there was no event in the spring 2020 term, the show must go on, as they say. In the summer term of 2020, I had the opportunity to present, be it virtually, a documentary that I created as part of my Ph.D. program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The film, “The Final Out,” chronicled four senior Knights who played their last college baseball game in the 2020 season, starting off with their best record through eight games in program history, 7-1. The film can be seen here. The event was a massive success, coupled with the fact that many people were confined to their homes and the fact that all of the stars of the film attended the virtual screening.
Even when the Central Penn community returned to campus in the fall of 2020, room restrictions for large gatherings were in effect. As long-time Knightly News President Leslie Heimbaugh was preparing to show Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” something happened that the organizers never wanted to hear. Heimbaugh had COVID-19.
Ever the trooper she is, Heimbaugh recorded her presentation to be viewed on campus. Nearly 50 people, split over two different rooms on campus, attended the event. And while Heimbaugh still regrets missing the presentation in person, again, the show must go on.
In a recent interview with Rife, he shared how the film series evolved. He shared, “The series has matured beautifully from its early days. Initially, we were finding our footing and figuring out what resonated with audiences in terms of choosing films and how to structure meaningful pre and post-film discussions. Over time, we’ve become more intentional about film selection, ensuring we’re presenting works that speak to contemporary issues while also representing diverse voices and perspectives. What I’m especially proud of is how the series has cultivated a community of participants outside of faculty whose areas of expertise overlap with film and pop culture.”
The CPC Film Series is born
As COVID-19 lockdowns came and went, the organizers of the presentation decided the Humanities Film Series had run its course. Starting in 2021, the event was rebranded as the CPC Film Series, opening up the stage for others outside of the humanities department.
This shift led to an amazing opportunity for a variety of individuals to present, as well as for several clubs to be represented on campus. For instance, Professor Margie Stuski (formerly of our legal studies department) presented on the classic “Erin Brockovich,” while Professor Johnna Whitcraft (formerly of our criminal justice department) presented “Olympus Has Fallen.”
This shift also led to a variety of student and alumni presenters. Knightly News Hall of Famers Leslie Heimbaugh (“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”), Jenelle Dulack (“Hairspray”), Brian Christiana (“V for Vendetta”), and two-time presenter Dylan Bowman (“1917” and “At War With Myself”/”Vintage”) all graced the stage for unique experiences in their own right.
In total, the CPC Film Series has had 20 different presenters throughout its duration. People from our faculty, staff, current students and alumni have all been a part, offering their interpretation and impact on their lives of the films they selected. If you are interested in the dates, times and presenters, you can see the list here.
The role of The Knightly News in the CPC Film Series
Initially, the Humanities Film Series and The Knightly News were only linked because of our coverage of the event. From its onset, The Knightly News Media Club designated a film series correspondent, a student reporter whose responsibility it was to interview the presenter and to provide a review of the presentation and film screening. Additionally, it has become a tradition for the presenters to be guests on The Knightly News Podcast each term, a tradition that remains today.
Our first CPC Film Series Correspondent was Heimbaugh. In addition to the internal accolades that Heimbaugh was given through her poignant discussions about the film series events, she was awarded The Knightly News’ first-ever Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Honorable Mention for her review of Dr. Marcie Rovan’s presentation of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.”
After Heimbaugh graduated, the role of CPC Film Series Correspondent moved to Bowman, who, as a filmmaker himself, offered a fresh perspective in his approach to the stories he produced. After Bowman graduated, Nikolai Hogan stepped into the role, one that offered him purpose within our organization. Now that Hogan has graduated, Knightly News Co-Vice President Alex Foley has stepped into the role, offering their first review of the event last fall.
Post-COVID-19, as part of the evolution of the film series, student clubs began getting involved. College Against Cancer, the CPC Gaming Club, Knight Patrol, the Legal Studies Society, and The Knightly News all took turns sponsoring the event, staffing the concession table and taking the opportunity to share more about their club before the show. But in 2023, The Knightly News stepped in to be the permanent sponsor of the event, mainly due to the alignment of the CPC Film Series with the mission of our organization.
The show must go on
Currently, the CPC Film Series is guided by me, Rife, and Library Director Margaret Schachte as the CPC Film Series committee. Each term, the group helps to select a presenter, deal with film licensing, payment, and marketing, and staff the evening with student volunteers to help make sure that the show goes off without a hitch and that the Capital BlueCross Theatre is cleaned after the event.
What people “see” is the event itself. What they do not see is the time it takes to make everything come to be, especially with the presenters. Rife pointed out, “People might assume you just show up and talk about a movie you like, but there’s significant research and preparation involved. For each presentation, I’m considering the film’s production context, its reception history, its place within genre conventions, and its cultural relevance—both when it was released and today. With ‘Jaws,’ for example, I explored everything from 1970s American anxieties about nature and capitalism to the film’s revolutionary impact on blockbuster filmmaking. You’ve essentially condensed a semester’s worth of film studies into an accessible, engaging presentation. The goal is to illuminate without lecturing, to provoke thought without dictating interpretation. That balance requires careful preparation and a deep understanding of both the material and your audience.”
For me, someone who has presented five times over the eight-year history of the event, the thing that I like most is that I get to share personal stories about the films I have shown. For instance, when I presented on “A League of Their Own,” I got to share my experiences about my love of baseball with the audience. For “Groundhog Day,” I had the chance to share the impact the film has had on me, someone who was born on Feb. 2. In 2024, Groundhog Day fell on a Friday night, always when we conduct the film series events, so I knew I must present. So, I got to spend my birthday with many friends and family that day, truly one of the most memorable occasions I have had in my professional career.
What makes this unique?
Without question, the CPC Film Series is one of the most unique events on campus, not only for its composition, but for the opportunity for students, faculty, staff and community members to experience our beautiful Summerdale campus and to have a free experience in the days of a $15 movie ticket (add on another $20 for snacks).
Schachte shared that she feels the event is so unique because, “I love hearing the reactions and commentary from everyone in the theater as we watch the movie together. The last movie we watched was ‘Scream,’ and people were shouting at the characters (“Look behind you!”), laughing at the funny parts, and screaming at the jump scares. It’s also nice because members of the community are welcome to attend. I’ve been able to invite my friends to campus and introduce them to people. It’s also exciting to sit with my co-workers, relax, and watch a movie when usually we are only interacting in professional contexts.”
In terms of its uniqueness, Ellsworth pointed out, “The (CPC) Film Series is unique among the events Central Penn College offers because it combines education, community and critical engagement, turning a simple film night into an intellectually enriching and socially interactive campus experience.” He went on to say, “A film can be entertainment, but our appreciation for it doesn’t have to stop there. It can also be a source for a greater understanding of the culture that created it and that consumed it.”
Final thoughts
Honestly, I had never thought about the longevity of the CPC Film Series until I was preparing for the 2024 edition of The Knightly News Hall of Fame celebration last fall. Because two former presenters, Bowman and Dulack, were being inducted, I thought it would be interesting to learn more about the past presenters, so I dug through the archives and found the dates, times and presenters of all of the events. It was at that point that I realized my presentation of “Scream” last fall was the 29th edition of the event, and that our next would be number 30.
When I offered Lopez the opportunity to present in February, he was taken aback by the fact that this was the 30th edition, noting that he feels an obligation to do something special to celebrate. So, with all of this said, The Knightly News Media Club would like to invite everyone in the campus community to attend the event. It will take place on Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. in the Capital BlueCross Theatre, with Lopez presenting on the 1999 David Fincher film “Fight Club.” As always, admission is free and snacks will be available for donation to The Knightly News.
What does the future hold for the film series? It remains to be seen. But what we can promise you is that it will continue to be a quarterly event on campus that we can look forward to, offering our faculty and alumni opportunities to speak about their favorite films, and a chance for us all to go to the theatre in the age of streaming, all while offering attendees a classic film that is free to enter. The credits may roll for now, but the story is far from over.
Editor’s note: While there are far too many people to thank for the successes over the years, The Knightly News would like to thank the Central Penn College Student Services department for its continued support of the CPC Film Series. And, from us, thank you to everyone who has presented, volunteered or attended these events. We hope to see you on Feb. 27!
