Some people have yet to discover their calling, but Dr. Paul Kattupalli, of State College, combines dual passions. His primary profession involves providing medical services at Nittany Urgent Care in State College. He is also pursuing a career as an independent filmmaker, and his feature film debut comes out on DVD today.
“Clash in the College,” which was written, directed and produced by Kattupalli, is a two-hour drama that follows a group of university students as they explore new political identities. Set in the fictional Pittfalls University, the movie was filmed and produced in State College — mostly in Kattupalli’s home, Schlow Centre Region Library and local parks. Most of the actors are from Centre County, he said, and a lot of the production work and editing was done by Penn State students.
“Clash in the College” covers a wide range of social and political issues, including abortion, immigration, government spending and education. Shortly after James (Gabriel Bellotti) begins dating Evelyn (Riviera Abbott), politics begin to drive them apart. Evelyn has bonded with Maya (Chelsea Roe), who thinks it is the government’s duty to help the less fortunate members of society.
James, meanwhile, has joined a campus group led by Quentin (Philip Scott Narsh), a conservative activist who lectures on the free market and religion. All is not well in Quentin’s love life, either, as his uncompromising religious values put a strain on his relationship with his girlfriend, Sarah (Kayla Flick), who does not believe in right/left politics.
“You see the evolution of a typical college kid,” said Bellotti, of Harrisburg, who recently received an associate’s degree in theater arts from Harrisburg Area Community College.
Narsh, of Middletown, a student at Penn State-Harrisburg, said that is was “interesting working as a rookie actor with a rookie filmmaker and director.”
“(Kattupalli) has a really clear vision of what he wants,” Narsh said.
Kattupalli, who has previously made educational documentaries about health issues, said he was drawn to filmmaking because he likes seeing ideas take visual shape. When he immigrated to the U.S. from India 10 years ago, he was stunned by the vitriol from both the right and left sides of the political spectrum.
“Everything looked so quiet and calm on the streets,” he said. “But if you turn on the television or the news channel, you see all the passions flaming out.”
The screenplay for “Clash in the College” was also inspired by his experiences as a physician, Kattupalli said. About 25 percent of his patients don’t have health insurance and pay out of pocket, he added. One of the film’s characters, Maya, argues for government-sponsored health care for low-income groups.
The overarching theme of the film, Kattupalli said, is finding a middle ground.
“A lot of times we get fixated on one position so much it almost stalls the whole process,” he said.
Kattupalli’s next project is a film that deals with human rights, and he hopes to negotiate deals for “Clash in the College” to be featured on iTunes and Netflix.
The DVD is available at www.amazon.com and at www.geronamifilms.com. Stephanie Koons writes this weekly column featuring the Centre Region. Contact her at 235-3927 or skoons@centredaily.com.
