The Cardinal Magazine - Summer 2022

Flipping The Script

By: Nick Szpara `04

Up until the winter of my senior year at Calvert Hall, I was staring down the barrel of a four-year engineering degree. I had AP Calc and AP Physics under my belt and it just seemed like the obvious path to take. Then something flipped. It might have been the urging of Jack Murtaugh ‘61 in Guidance, or the influence of Walt Dobrzycki ‘78 at CHCTV, but I realized that if I was going to choose a path, it had better be something I was passionate about. So instead, I went to film school (where optimization wasn't about AP Calc, but rule of thirds). Since then, I’ve been able to engage my creativity every day, and it’s been immensely rewarding. Now I’m the creative director and a partner at Freedom Digital Media, a video production company in Baltimore. There I have the opportunity to write, direct, shoot, and edit all sorts of projects, including many for The Hall. I work on everything from corporate image pieces to non-profit PSAs; feature films to seven-second commercials. Last year, I was humbled to be a part of the talented team that won a National Sports Emmy Award for NFL 360’s “The Gift of Gaba.” The foundation built at Calvert Hall prepared me well for rigorous academics; I knew this even in my senior year. What I didn’t appreciate until years later was that, much more importantly, it gave me a strong work ethic, a sense of personal accountability, and the confidence to tackle tough challenges. I was lucky to have teachers, mentors, and peers at Calvert Hall that helped set me up for success no matter my path. This experience isn't unique to me. This is true for every alum who graduates from The Hall.

About Nick: Nick Szpara is the creative director and partner at Freedom Digital Media. His recent credits include History Channel, Discovery/TLC, PBS, CBS Sports, Baltimore Ravens, CSX Transportation, McCormick, Northrop Grumman, and the US Army. Nick’s work has been nominated for regional Emmy awards and additional has won accolades at various film festivals. He completed his undergraduate studies at the Rochester Institute of Technology earning a degree in film directing, editing, and cinematography.