Dylan Bowman and Nik Hogan pose for a photo in the Underground following the CPC Film Series.

The CPC Film Series returned to the Capital Blue Cross Theater last Friday with a triple-feature event celebrating the work of Central Penn College alumni. 

The evening featured three films from filmmakers Dylan Bowman and Nik Hogan, whose projects demonstrated the wide range of creative paths available to aspiring storytellers. The event also marked a first for the series, as Hogan’s “Nik & Trevor: The First Day” became the first animated film ever screened as part of the CPC Film Series. 

Prior to the screening, both filmmakers joined the Knightly News Podcast to discuss their work and creative processes. 

Bowman, a Fellowship Studios filmmaker and Knightly News Hall of Fame inductee, brought two original films to the event: “Plaster Heart” and “Vintage.” During the discussion, he reflected on the inspirations behind each project, the themes that shaped their stories and the different approaches he took while creating them. 

Hogan, a former CPC Film Series correspondent, discussed the years-long journey of bringing “Nik & Trevor: The First Day” to life. He shared insights into his animation process, his personal connection to the story and his perspective on the animation industry. 

As the lights dimmed, the audience settled in for the first film of the evening. 

“Plaster Heart” opened the night’s lineup 

The film stars Dominic Mangle as Ethan and Jozeph Quainter as Ethan’s unnamed best friend. The story follows Ethan, a man who has killed his closest companion. His anger stems from unrequited love, as the woman he desired chose his best friend instead. 

After the murder, Ethan discovers a mysterious hole in the basement wall of his apartment building. The discovery forces him to confront uncomfortable truths about himself and his actions. 

Bowman uses lighting and color to create a subtle sense of unease throughout the film. Much of the story is presented through an orange-tinted visual palette that keeps viewers on edge. When Ethan finally confronts the reality of his actions, the tint disappears. 

“The script for ‘Plaster Heart’ came to me in one night,” Bowman said. 

He explained that he had been living in a beautiful former factory converted into apartments, which inspired the setting for the film. 

Bowman said “Plaster Heart” was filmed in just two days. His goal was to create a short but complete story despite the limited production time. 

Bowman also featured “Vintage,” the second film of the evening. The film previously appeared as part of the CPC Film Series but returned with a newly composed score by Rita Veneziale. 

“It has an old soul kind of vibe,” Bowman said. “I always liked old movies and old things, so that’s where my inspiration came from.” 

“Vintage” follows Eugene Lethe, a man living in a postwar world inspired by the 1950s. Bowman creates a retro atmosphere through black-and-white cinematography, a vignette effect and a period-inspired soundtrack. 

As the story unfolds, viewers begin to notice that something is not quite right. Reality starts to bend, revealing that there is more to the story than initially meets the eye. 

Together, “Plaster Heart” and “Vintage” demonstrate Bowman’s strengths as a filmmaker. His ability to use visuals and atmosphere allows him to engage audiences while telling compelling stories. 

Additionally, Bowman announced to the crowd of about 45 people that “Plaster Heart” was accepted into the Pottsville Film Festival and screened there on Saturday. 

“Nik & Trevor” 

“Nik & Trevor: The First Day” concluded the evening and marked another milestone for the CPC Film Series, as it was the first animated film ever screened at the event. 

When asked how he became involved in animation, Hogan traced the project’s roots back to elementary school. 

“I started working on ‘Nik & Trevor’ in fourth grade,” Hogan said. “I made a big comic book, stapled it together, and I was so proud of it. I thought it couldn’t get any better than that. Obviously, I didn’t know I could do more than that.”

Nik Hogan discusses his animated film “Nik & Trevor: The First Day.’

Hogan explained that the story began as a comic book. While the main character was originally inspired by himself, he gradually separated his own identity from the character as the project evolved. The story remained with him for years. 

In 2019, Hogan created an animated pilot episode that serves as a prequel to the events depicted in “Nik & Trevor: The First Day.” 

“I finished the pilot about five years ago,” Hogan said. “I worked on that, and I was very proud of it. So, I decided to keep working on more episodes of the series.” 

The story follows Nik Cooper, a teenager attending public high school for the first time after years of online education. In the story, Nik struggles to adapt to the transition. Eventually, he befriends Trevor Hampton, a shy student who is frequently bullied. The two form a bond through their shared experiences as outsiders, and their friendship begins to grow. 

After completing the pilot episode, Hogan adapted the story into a webcomic published on WEBTOON. He has been releasing episodes on the platform since 2023. 

That’s a Wrap 

Bowman’s films and Hogan’s animated project represent very different approaches to filmmaking. Live-action productions require actors, locations, set design and traditional cinematography. Animation relies on storyboarding, illustration, coloring and frame-by-frame creation. 

While their creative processes may differ, both filmmakers demonstrated the power of storytelling. Through suspense, nostalgia and personal experiences, their films connected with audiences in unique ways. 

More importantly, the evening highlighted what can happen when talented creators continue to invest in their craft. For Bowman and Hogan, the CPC Film Series was an opportunity to return to the place where their creative journeys began and share how far those journeys have taken them.