Latin School of Chicago

Latin Magazine » Spring 2016 33 A s soon as Alexis Lopez '15 met film director and producer Carey Lundin '78 at a 2014 Life After Latin panel, he knew he wanted to learn more from her. Lundin, owner of Viva Lundin Productions, is the well-known director and co-producer of the film Jens Jensen e Living Green, and the creator of the highly successful "Citizen Kate" mockumentary web series. Lopez, passionate about photography and film as an upper school student and now as a cinema major at Denison University, was eager to get a sense of what a career in filmmaking is really like. "When I met Alexis, I thought he was 16 going on 66," Lundin recalled about their first conversation. As a Latin student, Lopez created a documentary about Recovery on Water (ROW), a Chicago rowing team comprised of women diagnosed with breast cancer, which continues to sell copies. (All proceeds are given to ROW.) On a 2015 summer trip with the Latin in Rwanda program, Lopez produced a video about the experience of working with children and adults impacted by HIV and AIDS. Ingrid Dorer Fitzpatrick, who coordinates the program, uses the film in introducing new audiences to the program. Lopez plans to return to Rwanda with Dorer Fitzpatrick this summer. "ere aren't as many Latin alums in the arts as there are in other professional fields like business," Lopez explained. "I was trying to decide which career path to take – photography, cinema or something different – and I thought talking to Carey could help me make that decision." Lopez jumped at the chance when Lundin offered him an internship: "She needed someone to do whatever needed to be done, and I wanted to learn everything." He has spent two summers interning with Lundin and hopes to work with her again this summer. "At first I was seen as a 16-year-old boy walking with the director," said Lopez. "Now, I am talking to sponsors and giving my own input. People have started listening to me because I have ideas." Lundin values Lopez as well. "I ask him his opinion, I ask him to edit, to manage projects," she said. "e more he does, the more I give him. I would love for him to be a partner someday." What the two did not realize was that they would become friends as well as mentor/ mentee. "Now, we talk about lots of things," Lopez reflected. "Carey checked in with me through SATs and ACTs and my graduation from Latin. She gives me suggestions and ideas. She is an incredible mentor, in film and in life. I'm very lucky." Lundin agreed: "Alexis has become a friend, someone I see flourishing. It's so satisfying. I hope he becomes a huge success." "I thought alumni events were just a way for people to see their friends from high school," Lopez admitted. "But it is important to connect, to utilize the Alumni Office. ere is so much to learn from someone who has experience in the career you want to pursue." Alexis Lopez '15 & Carey Lundin '78 At first I was seen as a 16-year-old boy walking with the director. Now, I am talking to sponsors and giving my own input. People have started listening to me because I have ideas." – Alexis Lopez '15

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