Bill Helman - The WoofDriver

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 Brands like Samsung, Sennheiser, Firestone Tires, Amway, Johnson Controls, United States Steel, 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”, “Code 72”, and “My Sundance Obsession” (Special Jury Prize at the 2013 California Film Awards). His latest film “The Arrangement” won over a dozen awards worldwide at numerous Film Festivals. 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, True Magazine, Latin Opinion Newspaper, The Towerlight Magazine and a Featured Cover story on El Hispanic News. Most Recently, Rod has worked as Director and Director of Photography for the Nationally Syndicated shows The Balancing Act, Military Makeover with Montel Career Operation, Designing Spaces (Airing on The Lifetime Channel) and Inside the Blueprint which airs on Fox Business. On a personal note, Lopez and his wife Mariely have a son, Benjamin, and a daughter on the way.